LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- It never gets old… being number-one. For the 26^th consecutive year, readers of SKI Magazine tabbed Whiteface Lake Placid tops in the east for Off-Hill Activities.

“We’re thrilled to continue this streak,” said New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) president/CEO Ted Blazer. “People come to the region, not only ski and ride Whiteface Mountain (Wilmington, N.Y.), but to experience everything this region has to offer. Our goal at ORDA is to try to create the perfect winter experience that everyone can come to enjoy.”

This past March SKI Magazine readers were polled and asked to rate the ski resorts that they visited during the 2014-’15 skiing and riding season. They ranked Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid in the top-10 of eight different categories. The resort ranked fourth in the categories of après ski, challenge, scenery and lodging. It also received seventh place rankings in character, lodging and value, while finishing 10^th in overall satisfaction. These rankings, combined, placed Whiteface Lake Placid as the east’s fifth best ski resort.

“We are honored to be chosen as the east’s fifth best ski resort,” remarked the mountain’s manager Aaron Kellett. “Our staff takes tremendous pride in making everyone who comes here to feel welcome. That said; we’re not satisfied being fifth, our goal this year is to enhance the guest’s overall experience and to be higher in next year’s survey. Our eyes are set on that top spot.”

Upon walking into the mountain’s base lodge, skiers and riders will notice a newly renovated downstairs area. Walls and signs have been removed, which Kellett says will make for a smooth flow for the guest from the moment they purchase their lift ticket to the time they make their way out to their lesson the gondola or chairlift.

The new solarium in the base camp café is now complete and will include the Taste NY café which highlights only New York based foods, beer, and wine. The additional space will add numerous outlets for charging the phone, Ipod or tablet, a full service coffee bar complete with tap beer, wine and a variety of organic natural food offerings.

On the mountain, a new Pisten Bully 600 free groomer has also been added to the mountain’s fleet. This means that the resort’s entire snow cat fleet is now as efficient and technologically advanced money can buy.

By Kellett’s count, there are now 10 groomers; three Pisten Bully 600 Winch cats, two Pisten Bully 600 Free Groomers, two Pisten Bully 300 Free Groomers and three Pisten Bully Park Bull Groomers.

Finally, 55 new low-energy, high-efficiency guns have been added to the upper mountain trails along with two new mobile fan guns.

Get hot deals now before winter really sets in.  Whiteface is offering early season discounts at up to 60-percent when you purchase in advance online at www.whitefacelakeplacid.com. Start planning your vacation today before the sale ends, Saturday, Oct. 31.

Skiing and riding Whiteface Mountain, home of the east’s greatest vertical drop, is slated to begin Friday, Nov. 27, conditions and weather permitting.

For more information about Whiteface Mountain and all of the activities on ORDA’s Olympic venues, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.