Many exciting improvements, including increased snowmaking, herald great season ahead.

As temperatures continue to drop, most ski areas in New York State are now open, and skiers can look forward to great action on the slopes across the state for the upcoming holiday week. In addition, skiers will find many new things at New York's State's ski resorts to make their Empire State ski experience even better this year.

Terrific skiing continues across the state. While warmer temperatures are in the forecast, indications are that they will quickly drop again to more seasonal levels. Skiers are advised to bring their goggles since snowmaking will more than likely continue while the temperatures permit.

Here are just some of the exciting new things happening at New York's downhill ski areas this year:

In the Greater Niagara region, Holiday Valley in Ellicottville has built a new base lodge, the Tannenbaum Chalet. This is in addition to the new Creekside Lodge Learning Center and two new chairlifts added last year. This year, Holiday Valley was ranked #3 overall in Eastern North America ski areas by SKI magazine, which cited the resort's interesting and varied terrain, expansive breadth, thoughtfully placed lifts and distinctive faces.

In the Catskills, Hunter Mountain, in Hunter, continues to receive awards for its Learning Center, now its third year. This $7 million building is a worldwide model for creating the best learn to ski and snowboard programs. Hunter has also broken ground on the Kattskill Mountain Club, a 100-unit quarter share condominium project scheduled to be completed next fall.

Also in the region, Windham Mountain, in Windham, took on a major base lodge expansion last year which included a configuration redesign to create a learning center environment in one portion, complete with its own Starbucks coffee.

In the Adirondacks, North Creek's Gore Mountain has conducted base lodge and saddle lodge improvements. In the Finger Lakes region, just a few minutes from Syracuse, Four Seasons, in Fayetteville, has installed its first double chairlift. The smallest ski area in the state, Four Seasons is a great place to learn to ski.

Most of New York's ski areas continue to improve snowmaking capabilities, representing a significant investment in ski consistency and quality.

For the sixth year, Empire State Development's I LOVE NEW YORK campaign is partnering with Ski Areas of New York for the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, which introduces fourth-grade students to winter mountain recreation in New York State.

With the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, any fourth grade student - from any state - can take advantage of unmatched and unprecedented skiing and snowboarding values from the New York State mountain resort industry for the 2004-05 winter season. Eligible students will receive a �Passport� book containing three coupons for free skiing and/or snowboarding at each of the participating ski areas in New York State. The only cost is a $15 processing fee.

For more information on the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, up-to-the-minute cross-country and downhill ski reports, a free 2004-05 I LOVE NEW YORK Winter Travel and Ski Guide, and New York State events, attractions and lodging information, dial (800) CALL-NYS or visit the I LOVE NEW YORK Web site at iloveny.com.

Press Contact: FOR MORE INFORMATION: Eric Scheffel Empire State Development Bureau of Media Services (518) 292-5274 escheffel@empire.state.ny.us

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