Number of individuals that skied Nationals
2022 - 596 - Maize, KS - Currently Registered
2021- 694 - Wilmington, IL
2020 - 531 - Zachary, LA
2019 - 704 - West Palm Beach, FL
2018 - 729 - Maize, KS
2017 - 670 - San Marcos, TX
2016 - 550 - Boise, ID
Nationals participation is a yoyo don't read too much into it. Nationals is down 100 skiers in 36 divisions. That is less than 1 skier per division per event from last year.
Yesterday was the deadline for entry. There will be a few stragglers and they should beak 600. I think having MW regionals & Nationals at the same site only a week later might not help the numbers from the MW region. Some places in the region are 14+ hour drive away.