The number of visits to North American ski resorts reached a 30-year record of 56.6 million in the past autumn/winter season. In the U.S., snow sports retailers saw their sales go up by 3 percent to $3.4 billion for the season, and while equipment was flat, apparel was up by 3 percent and accessories were 6 percent higher. The season's sales started badly, culminating in a 12.8 percent year-on-year drop in November, but they subsequently rebounded, recording increased sales every month from December through March. Overall, the retailers' inventories of alpine and touring ski equipment ended up 22 percent higher than a year ago at the end of the season, and they also had 14 percent more snowboards. Instead, their inventories of Nordic ski hardware were down by 11 percent. 

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