SnowSports Industries America (SIA) released the 2014 Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report Wednesday, reviewing the ups and downs of the 2013/2014 season. The report offers detailed data and statistics on equipment, apparel and accessories sales along with participation information from all six snow sports disciplines including alpine ski, snowboard, cross country ski, freeski, snowshoe and telemark.

Few industries offer a source of detailed and comprehensive market data that is included within SIA Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report, said Kelly Davis, SIAs director of research. SIA members across all categories gain very specific insights from this research that help them strategically move their businesses forward.   

In the 37th annual update, the 2014 Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report explores the record-breaking $3.6B season that was filled with extraordinary weather patterns that included severe drought in the Sierras, polar vortex events that brought arctic cold as far south as Texas and truly excellent snow conditions in the Rocky Mountains.

Sample Report Highlights:

  • 2013/2014 was a $3.6B season, up 7 percent in dollar sales and up 4 percent in unit sales, despite the drought in California.
  • Sales of action cameras were up 10 percent in units sold to 121,000 cameras and up 20 percent in dollars sold to $41 million.
  • More girls bought snowboard equipment this year; junior girls snowboarding equipment sales grew 37 percent in units sold and 36 percent in dollars sold.
  • Alpine insulated tops sales were up 13 percent in dollars sold to $529 million and up 8 percent in units to more than 3 million units sold.
  • Sales of womens specific cross country equipment increased 32 percent in units sold and 28 percent in dollars sold to over $6 million.
  • Apparel accessories including gloves, baselayer, headwear, neck gaiters, etc. increased 7 percent in units sold and 11 percent in dollars sold to $664 million.

SIA data opened up some eyes at our company in regards to what sells, where it sells and for how much. One of the benefits of this report is seeing the big picture to help make the numbers relevant; its not just sales information that makes up the data, its inventories, snow cover, the economy, etc., said Kyre Malkemes, snowboard category manager at Mervin Manufacturing.

The 2014 report provides an easy-to-follow analysis also features stand-alone chapters for alpine, snowboard, cross country, telemark, backcountry-randonee/AT, snowshoe, equipment/apparel accessories and apparel categories. There is also an in-depth executive market summary provided with the Report that digs deeper into the 2013/2014 season.

SIA and Leisure Trends Group stay on top of what is going on and make sure we have access to data that supports and addresses current issues so that as an industry we can make intelligent and informed decisions for our businesses, said Tim Petrick, president of global sales and marketing, K2 Sports.

The 2014 SIA Snow Sports Market Intelligence Report is available at no cost to SIA Members and for $425 to non-members. Full reports on the women’s and juniors-specific snow sports market will also be available this fall. Stay tuned.

To receive a copy of this years report or for more information about snow sports retail sales information and other SIA Research products including the Snow Sports Participation Study, Revisiting Growing the Snow Sports Industry and more, contact Kelly Davis, SIA’s director of research, at KDavis@snowsports.org or by phone at 703-506-4224. Get the latest updates on from SIA research at Snowsports.org/research and by following #SIAdata on Facebook and Twitter.