Skier visits were up across Vermont in 2022

Plummet Trail on Mount Snow in February 2022.
Plummet Trail on Mount Snow in February 2022.

VERMONT - Alpine and cross-country ski areas, supporters, and friends of Vermont’s ski industry gathered at Sugarbush Resort for the Vermont Ski Areas Association’s 53rd annual meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, June 8 and 9.
Despite the lingering effects of the ongoing pandemic, this season Vermont ski areas reported an additional 230,000 skier visits, which is an increase of 6.5% over the 2020 to 2021 season. While the total of 3.76 million skier visits is 6% below Vermont’s 10-year average, Vermont’s rebound outpaced the Northeast region’s 4% growth.  Despite below-average snowfall, several areas were able to extend their seasons thanks to powerful and efficient snowmaking systems. Both Jay Peak and Sugarbush skied into May and Killington again offered the longest season in the East, being the first to spin its lifts on November 5, 2021 and the last to wrap up the season on Sunday, June 5.
 The meeting’s keynote speaker, Dr. Jude Smith Rachele, of Abundant Sun, along with Weiwei Wang, director of development for the Vermont Professionals of Color Network, and a guest discussion panel were a continuation of the industry’s efforts to recognize, understand, and begin to address the barriers to snow sports that many communities have historically faced. Attendees also heard remarks from Agency of Commerce and Community development secretary Lindsay Kurrle, Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, and National Ski Areas Association president Kelly Pawlak.
Industry achievement awards were given to Barbara Ann Cochran, Olympic gold medalist and longtime ski school director at Cochran’s ski area; and Diane Whatley, Stratton Mountain Resort’s director of marketing and sales for her 37-year career with the resort.
Skiing in Vermont is a $1.6 billion industry.
 

The Deerfield Valley News

797 VT Route 100 North
Wilmington, VT 05363

Phone: 802-464-3388
Fax: 802-464-7255

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