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 percent over the 2020-21 season. While the total of 3.76 million skier visits ("skier days") is six percent below Vermont’s 10-year average, Vermont’s rebound outpaced the Northeast region’s 4 percent growth.

See historic list of skier visits below.

According to Ski Vermont, this suggests that Vermont was successful in recapturing many skiers and riders unable to visit during the 2020-21 season due to COVID-related travel requirements and the closure of the Canadian border. While the Canadian border was open for most of this past season, COVID testing requirements continued to complicate travel to the US and Vermont for Canadian skiers, resulting in fewer visits from north of the border. Skier visits are the standard measure of business in the industry and a skier visit is defined as one person skiing or snowboarding for one day. 

Early season weather presented challenges for snowmaking operations, limiting the amount of terrain open during the early season, the Christmas-New Year’s holidays and into January. Variable weather over the course of the season led to low snowpack heading into March, and ski areas also saw low snowfall during March, historically one of Vermont’s snowiest months. 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 5th, 2021 and the last to wrap up the season on June 5th, 2022. 

Killington kicked off the ski season in Vermont as usual, and Mikaela Shiffrin won a World Cup race there in November, also as usual. Photo courtesy Killington.

Ski Vermont’s 29 cross-country ski area members benefited from increased interest in outdoor recreation again this season, reporting 350,000 skier visits for the 2021-22 season. This is an increase of 5.2 percent over pre-pandemic numbers and continues a trend of increasing business this decade. 

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, Lieutenant Governor 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. 

“Vermont’s ski industry has faced monumental pandemic-related challenges over the past few seasons, but our ski areas have shown incredible perseverance, resourcefulness, and resiliency in continuing to offer the skiing and riding experience for which Vermont is renowned, said Ski Vermont President Molly Mahar. “Even with last winter’s inconsistent weather, we still saw a solid rebound in business. Our member areas are committed to providing guests with the best possible experience, and as an industry we’re also working to address the barriers keeping would-be skiers from the sport.” Other important issues facing the ski industry are climate change, workforce development, housing, and long-term growth of snow sports. 

Skiing in Vermont is a $1.6 billion industry annually, and an important economic driver in rural areas of the state where many ski areas are located. Ski Vermont’s Fifth Grade Passport helps to get approximately 3,000 children on the slopes annually and proceeds from the program support Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative. 

Vermont Skier Visits The 10-year Vermont median through 2020/21 is 4.0M. Ski Vermont Data 2021-2022: 3.8M 2020-2021: 3.5M 2019-2020: 3.7M (season ended in mid-March due to COVID-19) 2018-2019: 4.2M 2017-2018: 4.0M 2016-2017: 3.9M 2015-2016: 3.2M 2014-2015: 4.7M 2013-2014: 4.5M 2012-2013: 4.5M 2011-2012: 3.9M 2010-2011: 4.4M VBM Historic Data 2009-2010: 4,125,082 2008-2009: 4,068,696 2007-2008: 4,354,621 2006-2007: 3,820,431 2005-2006: 4,147,467 2004-2005: 4,399,273 2003-2004: 4,214,068 2002-2003: 4,470,677 2001-2002: 4,148,438 2000-2001: 4,579,719 1999-2000: 3,957,457 1998-1999: 4,042,461 1997-1998: 4,250,569 1996-1997: 3,971,920 1995-1996: 4,109,109 1994-1995: 3,652,751 1993-1994: 4,308,633 1992-1993: 4,258,191 1991-1992: 3,871,299 1990-1991: 4,100,000 1989-1990: 4,600,000 1988-1989: 4,500,000 1987-1988: 4,850,000 1986-1987: 5,200,000 1985-1986: 4,460,000 1984-1985: 3,850,000 1983-1984: 4,150,000 1982-1983: 3,000,000 1981-1982: 4,000,000 1980-1981: 3,100,000 1979-1980: 2,100,000 1978-1979: 3,200,000 1977-1978: 3,600,000 1976-1977: 3,000,000 1975-1976: 2,600,000 1974-1975: 2,800,000 1973-1974: 1,650,000 1972-1973: 2,300,000 1971-1972: 2,650,000 1970-1971: 2,650,000 1969-1970: 2,400,000 1968-1969: 2,250,000 1967-1968: 1,800,000 1966-1967: 1,650,000 1965-1966: 1,650,000 1964-1965: 1,150,000 1963-1964: 1,175,000 1962-1963: 1,020,000 Source: Ski Vermont. Vermont Business Magazine.

Killington lift line December 2021. Killington photo.

Ski Vermont (Vermont Ski Areas Association) is a proud ambassador of the thriving winter tourism industry in Vermont, where the legislature has designated skiing and snowboarding as the official state sports. Vermont is not only the #1 ski state in the east and third in the US, but also reigns supreme in snowmaking quality and coverage, variety of terrain and historical impact on the sports of skiing and snowboarding - making it one of the most significant ski and ride destinations in the world. Ski Vermont’s mission is to help create a legislative, economic, and social environment in which the state's ski areas can grow and prosper. It serves its 20 Alpine and 29 Nordic member resorts in three major areas: Governmental Affairs, Marketing and Public Affairs.

MONTPELIER, Vt. (June 13, 2022) – Vermont Ski Areas Association