2.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements— In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary to state fairly the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Results for interim periods are not indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year. The accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010. Certain information and footnote disclosures, including significant accounting policies, normally included in fiscal year financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), have been condensed or omitted. The July 31, 2010 Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements.

Use of Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests along with net income (loss) attributable to the stockholders of the Company are reported separately in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations. Additionally, noncontrolling interests in the consolidated subsidiaries of the Company are reported as a separate component of equity in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet, apart from the Company's equity. However, prior to April 30, 2010, GSSI LLC ("GSSI") held a noncontrolling interest in SSI Venture, LLC ("SSV") (the Company's retail/rental operations) along with a redemption feature as a result of a put option, and as such the Company recorded the redeemable noncontrolling interest in SSV in the mezzanine section of the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet, outside of stockholders' equity. The Company had recorded the redeemable noncontrolling interest at the redemption value as prescribed in the operating agreement between GSSI and the Company at the end of each reporting period. At the end of each reporting period, if the redemption value was below the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest, the difference was recorded in noncontrolling interests as a component of stockholders' equity; however, if the redemption value exceeded the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest the difference was recorded to retained earnings. On April 23, 2010, the Company entered into a transfer agreement with GSSI to acquire all of GSSI's remaining 30.7% ownership interest in SSV for a negotiated price of $31.0 million. The purchase of GSSI's interest in SSV was completed on April 30, 2010, resulting in the Company holding a 100% interest in SSV. As a result of this purchase, equity-noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest related to SSV were eliminated. The following table summarizes the changes in total stockholders' equity (in thousands):


	For the Nine months ended April 30,
	2011									2010
	Vail Resorts Stockholders' Equity			Noncontrolling Interests			Total Equity			Vail Resorts Stockholders' Equity			Noncontrolling Interests			Total Equity
Balance, beginning of period	$	788,770		$	13,617		$	802,387		$	765,295		$	15,411		$	780,706
Net income (loss)		88,395			(58	)		88,337			72,306			5,653			77,959
Stock-based compensation expense		9,338			—			9,338			8,979			—			8,979
Issuance of shares under share award plans		(656	)		—			(656	)		(1,180	)		—			(1,180	)
Tax benefit from share award plans		62			—			62			140			—			140
Adjustment to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		—			—			—			—			(10,338	)		(10,338	)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net		—			393			393			—			3,203			3,203
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest, net of deferred taxes		—			—			—			(2,576	)		(114	)		(2,690	)

Balance, end of period	$	885,909		$	13,952		$	899,861		$	842,964		$	13,815		$	856,779

Fair Value Instruments— The recorded amounts for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The fair value of amounts outstanding under the Employee Housing Bonds (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) approximate book value due to the variable nature of the interest rate associated with that debt. The fair value of the 6.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019 ("6.50% Notes") and the 6.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 ("6.75% Notes") (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) are based on quoted market prices. The fair value of the Company's Industrial Development Bonds (Note 4, Long-Term Debt) and other long-term debt have been estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on current borrowing rates for debt with similar remaining maturities and ratings. The estimated fair value of the 6.50% Notes, 6.75% Notes, Industrial Development Bonds and other long-term debt as of April 30, 2011 is presented below (in thousands):


	April 30, 2011
	Carrying Value		Fair Value
6.50% Notes	$	390,000	$	397,800
6.75% Notes	$	43,937	$	44,431
Industrial Development Bonds	$	41,200	$	46,070
Other long-term debt	$	8,124	$	8,211

New Accounting Standards

Amendments to FASB Interpretation, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities— In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued guidance which is included in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation" which amends the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities. Under this new standard, entities must perform a qualitative assessment in determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity which includes, among other things, consideration as to whether a variable interest holder has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the variable interest entity and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the variable interest entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity. This standard was effective for the Company beginning August 1, 2010 (the Company's fiscal year ending July 31, 2011). The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Revenue Recognition Guidance for Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables— In September 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2009-13, "Multiple-Deliverables Revenue Arrangements" (amendments to ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition," and the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 08-01 "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables") which amends the revenue recognition guidance for arrangements with multiple deliverables. This new standard requires entities to allocate revenue in arrangements with multiple deliverables using estimated selling prices and eliminates the use of the residual method. The provisions of this new standard was effective for the Company beginning August 1, 2010 (the Company's fiscal year ending July 31, 2011). The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.