Ski Resorts Had Worst Season in 20 Years.
Visitors to Ski resorts were lower than the previous year, but the sale of snow sport equipment and accessories actually increased. Based on the record number skis and snowboards sold, the economy had little impact on the snow sport industry.
Least Amount of Snow in 20 years. The lack of snow resulted in ski resorts opening later and closing earlier. This was one of a few reasons for skier visitor counts being 10 million less than the previous year - the lowest level since the 1991-1992 ski season .
The 2011-2012 season had 51 million skier visits compared to 60.5 million the previous year, which was the highest ski visit count ever. I don’t have any figures on the actual revenue generated from ski resorts, but will report that once it is compiled.
Snapshot of the 2011/2012 Ski Season:
Snow Equipment Sales Remain Steady.
The good news is, in spite of lower than average snowfall and reduced numbers at ski resorts, the economy doesn't seem to be affecting snow sports consumers. It seems as though the lack of winter snow did more damage to the snow sport business than the weak economy. People were spending money at the sport shops, but the lowest level of snow in 20 years gave them little chance to hit the slopes.
Visitors to Ski resorts were lower than the previous year, but the sale of snow sport equipment and accessories actually increased. Based on the record number skis and snowboards sold, the economy had little impact on the snow sport industry.
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| Ski Resorts Suffered From Lack of Snow |
The 2011-2012 season had 51 million skier visits compared to 60.5 million the previous year, which was the highest ski visit count ever. I don’t have any figures on the actual revenue generated from ski resorts, but will report that once it is compiled.
Snapshot of the 2011/2012 Ski Season:
- 51 million skier visits this year
- 15% drop in skier visits from 2011-2012 (biggest drop since 1980/81 when it dropped 17.6%)
- 50% of ski resorts opened late
- 48% closed early
- Every region in the USA experienced a decrease in overall days of operation with the biggest drops in the Southeast and Northeast regions at around 13%.
Snow Equipment Sales Remain Steady.
The good news is, in spite of lower than average snowfall and reduced numbers at ski resorts, the economy doesn't seem to be affecting snow sports consumers. It seems as though the lack of winter snow did more damage to the snow sport business than the weak economy. People were spending money at the sport shops, but the lowest level of snow in 20 years gave them little chance to hit the slopes.
Snow Sport Market Statistics for the 2010/2011 Ski Season:
| Total Number of U.S. Skier Visits (In Millions) | Northeast 13.9 | Southeast 5.8 | Midwest 7.8 | Rockies 20.9 | Pacific 12.2 | Total 60.7 |
| Total Number of Snow Sports Participants | Alpine 11,504,000 | Snowboarding 8,196,000 | Cross Country 4,530,000 | |
| Gender of Skiers and Snowboarders | Alpine | Snowboarding | Cross Country | |
| Male | 60% | 66% | 66% | |
| Female | 40% | 34% | 45% | |
| Age of Skiers and Snowboarders | Alpine | Snowboarding | Cross Country | |
| 6-12 | 10% | 10% | 9% | |
| 13-17 | 11% | 21% | 8% | |
| 18-24 | 15% | 23% | 13% | |
| 25-35 | 20% | 24% | 22% | |
| 35-44 | 20% | 12% | 18% | |
| 45-54 | 16% | 8% | 17% | |
| 55-64 | 5% | 2% | 9% | |
| 65 + | 2% | 0% | 4% | |
| Products Purchased at Snow Sports Specialty Stores | Apparel $631,484,569 31.3% | Equipment $652,994,205 32.4% | Accesories $733,501,741 36.3% | Total $2,017,980,515 100% |
Products Purchased Online | Apparel $325,164,341 49.8% | Equipment $140,526,198 21.5% | Accesories $186,524,403 28.6% | Total $652,214,942 100% |
