WEST DOVER, Vermont ??” Despite challenging early-season weather, an abbreviated Christmas holiday vacation period and a very poor January, Vermont alpine ski areas rebounded in February and March to record 4.4 million skier/rider visits for the 2004-05 season. The 4.4 million visits represent a five percent increase over the 4.2 million visits recorded during the 2003-04 season and keeps Vermont ranked as the nation’s third largest ski/ride state behind Colorado and California.

“It was a remarkable accomplishment considering the poor start to the season,” said Vermont Ski Areas Association President David Dillon in announcing the skier day number during the association’s Annual Meeting held at Mount Snow Resort here this week. “Only twice before in the past decade have skier/rider visits reached 4.4 million or above.”

Nationally, skier visits declined 1.2 percent to 56.4 million. Vermont, like the rest of the Northeast, suffered a mild early season with limited terrain available for Thanksgiving. Christmas, while more seasonable weather wise, was an abbreviated holiday period due to Christmas falling on a Saturday. January brought poor weather, leaving Vermont down in business by about 15 percent heading into February. More seasonable weather and aggressive marketing and promotion enabled the state to rebound nicely during February and March.

Vermont Skier/Rider Visits for the Past Decade:

2004 ??“ 2005: 4.4 million
2003 ??“ 2004: 4.2 million
2002 ??“ 2003: 4.4 million
2001 ??“ 2002: 4.1 million
2000 ??“ 2001: 4.5 million
1999 ??“ 2000: 3.9 million
1998 ??“ 1999: 4.0 million
1997 ??“ 1998: 4.2 million
1996 ??“ 1997: 3.9 million
1995 ??“ 1996: 4.1 million