The pandemic participation bump in snowboarding and skiing continued this season and led to record visits at ski areas, the National Ski Areas Association reported Friday.
The NSAA believes strong season pass sales and a continued desire for outdoor recreation were the primary factors in the season’s record-breaking results.
Overall, ski areas reported 61 million visits, up 3.5% over last year.
Interestingly, the growth came even though average snowfall levels this season were lower than the 10-year average.
Regionally, the Rocky Mountain area reported the best results with a record 25.2 million visits.
Other regions that reported increases include the Northeast, Midwest and Pacific Southwest.
Only two regions – the Southeast and Pacific Northwest – reported declines.
Season passes continue to be a driver of visits. For the third season in a row, season passes surpassed day tickets in share of skier visits. Season pass holders made up 51.9% of visits nationally, and day tickets accounted for 37.3% of visits.
The NSAA is very encouraged by the results and what it could mean for the industry overall.
“Strong skier numbers bode well for the long-term health of the sport, especially since participant numbers have been relatively flat over the past decade,” the association said in a statement.
