SnowSports Industries of America (SIA) released its most recent Participation Report, showing a slight uptick in participants for the sport.
The 2015/16 season brought 23.5 million snow sports participants out into the cold, up 1 percent from a year ago, officials said.
Other highlights from the report include:
- There were 8.2 million lapsed participants who consider themselves skiers or snowboarders but did not participate last season.
- 41 percent of snowboarders and 34 percent of skiers say they also regularly run/jog for fitness.
- One third of skiing and snowboarding women also participate in yoga.
- There were 2.1 million snowboarders under 18 last season, accounting for 28 percent of the category. At the same time, the snowboard participant base is aging with 25 percent of snowboarders now 35 or older.
- 28 percent of core alpine skiers (who skied nine-plus days) were 45 years old or older last season.
- Females represented 38 percent of the snowboard participant base overall, but only 26 percent of the snowboarding core (participated nine-plus days).
The overall aim of the data produced is to establish levels of activity and identify key trends in sports, fitness and recreation participation in the U.S., officials said. The full report is available to SIA for free and for purchase by others.
“The SIA Participant Report is a detailed view of snow sports participation trends, participant demographic profiles, and differences between core participants and casual participants,” said SIA Research Director Kelly Davis. “The report includes detailed data on downhill skiers, snowboarders, cross country skiers, backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.”
