SAM Magazine--Lakewood, Colo., May 18, 2009--Based on preliminary estimates, ski areas in the U.S. tallied 57.1 million visits for the 20008/09 season, making it the fifth best season on record. While last year's record of 60.5 million still stands, this year's number, given the circumstances, is still 0.8 percent above the 10-year average of 56.7 million visits.

Broken out, the Northeast was up 5.5 percent from its 10-year average with 13.8 million visits. The Southeast counted 5.62 million, up 3.8 percent from its 10-year average. The Midwest hosted 7.41 million visits, which is 1.1 percent down from its 10-year average; the Rocky Mountain region had 19.79 million, a 1.3 percent increase over its 10-year average; and the Pacific West dropped 5.8 percent off its 10-year average with 10.54 million visits.