A bumper winter for snow in the Alps and Pyrenees helped France retain its crown as the world's top skiing destination.
Piste-bashers racked up a total of 57.9 million days skiing over the 2012-13 season, a rise of 4.9% on the previous season, according to industry body DSF (Domaines Skiables de France).
The season was marked by excellent meteorological conditions and "exceptional snowfall in all the ranges," it said.
The United States – which had held the No1 position until dethroned by France last year - trailed in second place with 56.9 million days spent on the slopes, a rise of 11.7%.
© AFP/Connexion