New Mexico saw an increase in the number of skiers who hit the slopes this past winter, with more than 938,000 people visiting the state's ski areas in the 2015-16 season.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that this season's totals marked a 20 percent increase from the previous five-year average of 783,000 visits and a 3 percent increase from the 2014-15 season.
Ski industry figures show that visits to the state's ski areas contributed $524 million to the local economy, nearly $17 million more than the previous season.
Although the economic impact was above average, Ski New Mexico Executive Director George Brooks says the 2015-16 season could have reached the 1 million-visitor mark if snow levels seen in the early winter months would have lasted throughout the season.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican.
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