SAM Magazine--North Woodstock, N.H., May 14, 2004--New Hampshire recorded its third best winter in the past decade, posting 2,044,422 alpine skier and snowboarder visits. The figure is slightly above the state's 10-year average and down just 9 percent from last year, the state's second-best ever. Mid-season estimates were for visits to fall by 10 to 15 percent.

After a slow start, favorable weather fueled very strong February vacation visits, which many areas considered the savior of the season.

New Hampshire's cross-country areas also reported a better-than-expected year, with an estimated 131,000 nordic skier and snowshoer visits. Similar to the alpine areas, this is slightly above the state's 10-year average.

Snowtubing facilities, which are operated by 11 alpine and cross-country areas, reported 96,228 visits. \