A total of 61.5 million skier visits represents a 1.7% increase over the previous season. But according to the National Ski Areas Association, the number trails the record-setting 2022-23 season by 3.9 million visits, or just under 6%.
NSAA shared the preliminary season data in a press release Monday, May 12.
The post-Covid surge was widely considered an anomaly across the travel and recreation industries. Here in Utah, that season also coincided with a record-setting snowfall.
A skier visit is counted each time an individual uses a lift ticket or pass at a ski area. The current total is still preliminary, as several ski areas, including Snowbird, have extended their seasons.
In a prepared statement NSAA President and CEO Michael Reitzell said the organization set a goal several years ago to reach a three-year rolling average of 60 million skier visits. That benchmark he said has now been surpassed. “While weather will always be unpredictable,” he said, “this year was less volatile overall, and nearly every region saw solid snowfall.”
The 2024-25 season he adds may come to represent a new baseline for the industry. Even if "normal" continues to evolve, he said this season gives a strong point of reference for what steady, healthy growth looks like.
A final number will be released once final numbers are compiled. NSAA has tracked skier visits since the 1978-79 season. The historical visitation data can be found here.
