She, too, as most resort officials reported, felt there was an increase in destination skiers and a level or slight dip in the number of locals visiting the resort.

Krista Parry, marketing director at Park City Mountain Resort, said overall numbers were comparable to those posted the previous two years, "which we're please with considering the lower snowfall.

"Even with the lower snowfall, skiing conditions were really excellent. We made 30 percent more snow this year than last year. In fact, we were making snow right up to April 1. With the snow we received, and with our snow-making and grooming, we were able to offer our guests great skiing."

Along with good snow conditions, resort officials believe one thing that helped increase the destination or out-of-state skier numbers was accessibility.

"No where else in the country can you fly in and within 35 minutes be standing at the base of seven world-class ski resorts," noted Rafferty. "In most case you land and then have to drive hours. People today are looking for accessibility and we offer it here in Utah."

Elizabeth Dowd, communications director at The Canyons, said the resort had a "fantastic year. We had record numbers over Christmas. Word is getting out about Utah and accessibility. That's one of the things we're pushing: the ease of getting to the resort."

Jay Burke, director of marketing at Solitude, said total numbers for the 2006-07 season were similar to the previous season.

"The number of out-of-state skiers held steady and may have increased a little," he said. "Our local pre-season counts were down. Had we had the snow we had the previous season, I think we really would have had a monumental season."

The Utah season ran from Nov. 15 through May 20.

Ski-related tourism contributed over $700 million to the state's economy during the 2006-07 winter season.

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Skier numbers

                                                                                                                    Season	Skier Days	Rank

                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2006-07	4,082,094	1
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2005-06	4,062,188	2
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2004-05	3,895,578	3
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2003-04	3,429,141	4
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2002-03	3,141,212	6
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2001-02	2,984,574	10
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    2000-01	3,278,291	5
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    1999-00	2,959,778	11
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    1998-99	3,095,347	8
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    1997-98 3,101,735	7
                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    

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