Vermont’s Ski Industry Showcases Weather Adaptability With Strong Seasonal Numbers
Vermont’s alpine and cross-country ski area members joined industry partners, supporters, and friends at the Vermont Ski Areas Association's (VSAA) 55th Annual Meeting at Jay PeakResort late last week to recap a challenging but successful season.
Despite facing many weather challenges Vermont’s alpine ski areas reported 4.1 million skier visits for 2023-24, down less than half a percentage point from the 2022-23 season. Visitation this season remains 4 percent above Vermont’s 10-year average and outpaces a 6.2 percent decrease in Northeast region visits (12.4 million) and a 6.6 percent decrease in national visits (60.4 million).
Vermont remains the top ski state in the east and fourth largest in the nation, measured by skier visits, a key performance indicator for the snowsports industry. For the 2023-24 season, the state’s ski areas averaged 124 operating days—one more than the 10-year average, and an average seasonal snowfall of 199 inches—a 32-inch increase over last year, and 15 inches above the 10-year average.
“This is a positive result considering the often-challenging weather, particularly during the first half of the season. Such a slight change in skier visits compared to last year highlights the efficiency and sustainability advances that Vermont’s alpine ski areas have made, particularly in snowmaking operations,” said Ski Vermont president Molly Mahar. “Aggressive investment in new technology, agile and flexible operations and hard work delivered the conditions to keep skiers visiting this season – important not only to ski areas but also for all the businesses that rely on strong skier turnout for their own success.” (cont'd below)
