KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -Forget the Rockies. With the economy in a tailspin, eastern skiers may be staying closer to home this winter.

Destination resorts out West are reporting slower-than-normal reservations, while New England ski areas say their business appears to be benefiting from the downturn – although resort operators everywhere are nervous.

“We were going to (go West), but this year, I don’t think we’re going to, unless the market turns around,” said 49-year-old Sue Martin, of West Greenwich, R.I., who was skiing Friday at Killington.

At Sugarloaf

Maine’s Sugarloaf is promoting a four-day midweek ski-and-stay deal starting at $199 per person, packaging it as an alternative to a vacation in the West.

Other resorts in the East are hearing from first-time customers who might normally fly to Colorado or Utah but are booking with them instead.

“As far as the economy goes, we’re kind of seeing a reverse effect, and I think it’s because people are staying home rather than taking trips out West or to Europe or something,” said Luke Stafford, a spokesman for Mount Snow in southern Vermont.

At Vail Resorts, bookings were down 17 percent (in room nights) at the end of September at its five resorts – Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone, Vail resorts in Colorado and California’s Heavenly Mountain.

Jump in sales of passes

Resorts that rely on drive-in traffic are cautiously optimistic despite the financial turmoil.

Going into the season, some have seen a jump in season-pass sales – 18 percent at Sugarbush, in Vermont – and record skier visits nationally last winter. Lower gas prices could also pay off, making close-to-home ski trips more affordable.

“I do believe that skiing and boarding and winter sports are such a lifestyle decision and those tend to be things that people give up sort of last,” said Ed Stahl, who heads the Stowe Area Association.

“I think real skiers are going to ski,” said the 65-year-old Killington skier Jim Hamilton of Woburn, Mass. “I think the people who come once or twice are going to have second thoughts.”

But if you’re a real skier, you’re going to ski.”

AP-ES-11-21-08 1603EST