Boulder ski shops prepare for this year's season

The holiday season is here, and with the start of the holidays comes the start of the ski season. Skiing is on the minds of Boulder residents, and the local ski shops are gearing up for their busiest time of the year.

The ski industry in general is on the rebound after a sharp decline during the depression.

According to Snowsports Industries America, snow sports specialty stores sales last year rose above the previous high in 2007. This year is on pace to exceed that total as well, with sales through Black Friday at 20% above last year's mark at this time. Snow sports specialty shops in Colorado accounted for about $277 million in sales last season.

However from my conversations with Boulder ski shop owners, sales might be more based on the snow. Last year was a good snow year for the ski areas in Colorado, and the excitement from last season has carried into the start of this ski season.

The snow could possibly be attributed to the return of La Nina. La Nina is the natural cooling of the eastern Pacific Ocean that occurs every 3-6 years. It causes a cooling of this section of the country and increased snowfall. The cycle started last year and implies another year of high snowfall totals in the mountains again this year.