LAKE PLACID, New York ??” The survey is complete and the numbers are in for the 2005-06 winter season.

According to a record-setting 6,000 readers of SKI Magazine, Whiteface, with nearby Lake Placid, ranks second among resorts in the eastern United States and third in eastern North America. The survey was conducted by an independent research firm. On average, the respondents skied 23 days last winter.

This Northeastern vacation destination, which hosted the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Goodwill Games and continues to conduct many World Cup competitions, will be highlighted in the October issue of the publication.

Only Mount Tremblant, Que. in the top spot and Smuggler’s Notch, Vt. second, stood ahead of Whiteface / Lake Placid.

From 2000-03, Whiteface held the top spot in the eastern U.S. In 2003-04, Whiteface was ranked seventh; in 2004-05, it improved to sixth.

Among the highlights, the 225 acre mountain was ranked ninth in terrain variety; second in challenge; eighth in value; fifth in lifts; third in dining; third in apr??s ski; 10th in family programs and third in scenery. For the 14th consecutive year, the Whiteface / Lake Placid area graded tops in off-hill activities in North America thanks to its menu of Olympic-style sports. Bobsled and luge rides, ice skating, cross country skiing, ski jumping, World Cup events, shows and concerts complement the skiing and snowboarding. These experiences continue to differentiate Whiteface / Lake Placid from other resorts. The venues are offered not only to the world-class athlete, but to the recreational user as well.

“We thank the survey respondents for considering Whiteface and Lake Placid so highly,” said Ted Blazer, President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid which operates Whiteface. “Ultimately, those who read publications such as SKI are passionate and knowledgeable about their sport. Meeting their expectations gives us an accurate barometer for the evolution of our resort experience.”

Added Whiteface General Manager Jay Rand, “Whiteface management and staff will continue all efforts to maintain our status as a premiere resort. It is these types of surveys and guest feedback that will enable us to provide the best experiences possible in the future.”

To that end, Whiteface has currently embarked on another round of upgrades. For the 2006-07 winter campaign, visitors and residents will see further improvements in snowmaking capacity and grooming. Mountain management succeeded last year in bringing more water to the snowmaking intake, thus running more guns at one time. Whiteface will advance this initiative further this season by bringing yet more water further uphill and run more energy-efficient snow guns simultaneously. In addition, the grooming fleet has increased over the past two seasons with four new cats thus enabling the mountain staff to better farm this new-found, additional snow.

Patrons of Kids Kampus, growing in popularity in recent years, will see that Whiteface has started a two-year expansion. Phase One will open in December 2006, while Phase Two will complete the initiative in time for the 2007-08 season. Also, construction is underway for an additional 350-car parking lot set to open this winter near Kids Kampus.

The Whiteface Unit Management Plan, which can be viewed at whiteface.com, will provide long-term growth as the mountain seeks to expand from its current 18 miles of skiing and riding to the state-mandated maximum of 25 miles. Known as the Tree Island Pod, Whiteface will develop intermediate and expert terrain above Kids Kampus in the direction of the former Marble Mountain. This five-year build-out will come complete with snowmaking and chairlift. It is hoped that the Tree Island Pod initiative will begin in the summer of 2007.

If you would like to enjoy the Olympic Region experience, complete with on and off snow activities, web cams from five locations and up-to-date weather, please log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.