SAM Magazine--November 9, 2009--The New Zealand Ski Area Association announced that the country hosted a record 1,529,000 ski and snowboard visits in 2009, up from 1,402,000 visits in 2008.

About 35 percent of total visits are from Australia, 15 percent are other international visitors, and 50 percent are domestic.

Mt. Ruapehu's marketing manager, Mike Smith, said a combination of very good early snowfalls, a favorable exchange rate for Australian visitors, and Kiwis choosing to stay closer to home all combined for this record-breaking season.

The last area to close was Turoa Ski Area on Mt. Ruapehu, after a five-month-long season.