6% drop in snowsports participation in U.S. in 2011-12
By Hugo Martin, Los Angeles Times
Participation in snow sports in the most recent winter season dropped 6 percent, primarily because of a lack of snow and increased work and family obligations for snow sport enthusiasts, according to a study released last week.
The number of Americans who went skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, among other snow activities, typically from Thanksgiving to early spring dropped from 21 million to 19.8 million, according to a report by SnowSports Industries America, a nonprofit trade group for snow sports businesses.
The biggest drop in snow sports was among alpine skiers, whose numbers dipped 11% to 10.2 million this winter season, according to the 2012 SIA SnowSport Participation Report. Participation in snowboarding dropped 8 percent to 7.6 million and cross-country skiing declined 5 percent to 4.3 million, the report said.
Among the top reasons snow sport enthusiasts gave for staying off the slopes this winter season were family commitments (33 percent), work obligations (32 percent) and decreased vacation time (20 percent), according to a survey conducted by the trade group.
Poor weather was cited by about 11 percent of snow sports fans as a reason for staying off the mountains, the survey found.
$96 lift ticket ain’t helpin!
Biggerpicture,
$96 dollars a day is crazy. When I was a kid lift tickets were $3 a day . Now sure, that was 50 years ago and everything has gone up in price but c’mon, 100 bucks to go skiing for what, maybe 6 or 7 hours?
Although I miss skiing very much (due to multiple knee injuries), I don’t miss the expense and slopes crowded with snoboarders and other idiots who don’t know what their doing.
If the ski areas don’t start lowering their prices on tickets and food they will price themselves out of existence.
If I could still ski it would be strictly backcountry on my 215 cm 3 pin Fischers, going up to Meiss Meadow, Echo Rim, Elephants Back or so many other cool places. Boy, those were the days!!!
Take Care, Old Long Skiis