Revenue from backcountry accessories, which includes skins, beacons, probes, and avalanche shovels, were down 14 percent during the season-to-date (August to December 2021) period after growing by 90 percent during the same period last year, according to The NPD Group.
NPD noted an increase in backcountry-related activities during the previous snow season, as consumers sought ways to get outdoors while practicing social distancing. However, with resorts being less restricted this season and comfort levels rising, Americans are back on the mountain.
According to NPD’s point-of-sale data, Nordic and alpine touring equipment and snowshoes sales had increased growth last season, in some cases doubling revenue; however, this season, sales softened Splitboard snowboards, indicative of backcountry behavior, fell 17 percent after posting triple-digit growth last season.
Alpine and snowboard equipment sales growth was more subdued than other categories last season but accelerated this season. Revenue increased 16 percent and 29 percent, respectively, after each category reached 3 percent growth last season.
Within snowboard equipment, bindings and boots captured the bulk of the business, but its step-in technology gained significantly. Step-in boots and bindings sales increased faster than other snowboard product categories.
