Snowsports Industries America (SIA), in participation with the Physical Activity Council (PAC), released its annual participation study report showing winter sports participation overall by 1.9 percent for the 2019/20 season.

The SIA Participation Study 2019/20 is a comprehensive look at participant demographics in skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, touring, and cumulatively across all winter sports. The study covers demographics, frequency, regional representation, crossover activities, and additional activities.

Other key takeaways from the study include:

  • Participation across winter sports by ethnicity has remained flat for Whites (67.5 percent) and Asians (7.7 percent); decreased 0.5 percent for African Americans (9.2 percent) and increased 0.4 percent for Hispanics (14 percent);
  • The largest segment of skiers are 45-to-54 years-old (19 percent) and the largest segment of snowboarders are 25-to-34 years-old (23 percent);
  • Cross country skiers favored private cross-country centers over public lands;
  • Snowshoers tend to also participate in snowboarding, cross-country skiing and hiking; and
  • Alpine Touring had 705,000 participants and Snowboard Touring had 652,000.

“Participation is a critical data point for our industry. This study is a must-read for any winter outdoor business that wants a better understanding of our current participant base, opportunities for growth and the need to build a more inclusive winter community,” said Maria McNulty, SIA COO.

More of the Study Report can be found here.