New York officials have been trying to tip the balance in recent years by promoting the state as a first-rate skiing and winter sports destination, part of a broader tourism campaign. The switchover put new marketing muscle behind the resort, and the Olympic Regional Development Authority has renovated Belleayre's cafeteria, upgraded snowmaking and added a new glade, among other improvements. Whiteface claims the East's largest vertical drop — 3,166 feet — and some Olympic cachet because it hosted alpine events during the 1980 Winter Olympics in nearby Lake Placid.