Indiana ski resorts get 'lift' with marketing

The chilly weather that recently rolled across parts of the Midwest and the Northeast is a boon for ski resorts, and many of their marketing departments are offering discounts on introductory lessons in order to pull in people who have never skied before or who simply want to brush up on the basics.

The Indianapolis Star reports that resorts in Indiana are trying to capitalize on January being "Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month," and are promoting the fact that it's not necessary to travel across the country to enjoy some great skiing.

Some ski resorts in the region have offered free introductory lessons in order to make customers more comfortable before they hit the slopes, the newspaper notes.

Earlier in the season, resorts in Ohio were struggling due to the unseasonably warm weather, The Plain Dealer reported. Despite having the machines necessary to make snow, many trails went bare because the temperatures were simply too high. As a result, resorts had to stay closed or only open a limited number of their slopes.

Heidi Flynn, the marketing manager at Clear Fork, near Mansfield, Ohio, told the news outlet that "Mother Nature hasn't been on our side."