PORTLAND (AP) – Maine ski areas posted nearly 1.3 million skier days last season, up 5 percent from the season before and the fourth best season on record, the Ski Maine Association reported Tuesday.

“We had a great season, but not without a challenge,” said Greg Sweetser, executive director of the trade association, which represents 18 ski areas across the state.

Cold temperatures kept the ground snow-covered for the entire season, he said, but the frigid conditions kept skiers off the slopes on several key weekends.

Nationally, the industry set a record of 57.5 million skier days, a result of consistent snowfall across the country.

Maine’s five-year skier day average was 1.26 million; the record of 1.32 million was set during the winter of 2000-2001.

A skier-snowboarder visit is defined as one visit by one person to a ski area for all or part of a day or night.

AP-ES-06-24-03 1333EDT