SAM Magazine-Lakewood, Colo., Aug. 5, 2008-The U.S. ski industry totaled a record 60.5 million visits in 2007-08, up 2.7 percent from previous record of 58.9 million visits set in 2005-06, according to the final Kottke End of Season Survey. Improved winter weather conditions and abundant snowfall in all regions except the Southeast contributed to the total. Snowfall increases were pronounced in the Pacific West, up 61 percent; the Rocky Mountains, 45 percent; the Midwest, 34 percent; and Northeast, 28 percent.

Among the regions hardest hit by poor weather in 2006-07, the Northeast rebounded by 20.8 percent, the Midwest by 12.5 percent, and the Pacific West by 12.4 percent. The Southeast gained a more moderate 6.5 percent and the Rocky Mountains rose by 2.3 percent. Additionally, each region except the Southeast exceeded its 10-year average from 1998/99 to 2007/08.

International visits made a big contribution to last season's total, jumping 28 percent from the prior year. Internationals represented 6.3 percent of visits, up from 5.4 percent the previous season.

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