Snow sports participation in U.S. dropped 6% in latest winter season

Participation in snow sports in the most recent winter season dropped 6%, primarily because of a lack of snow and increased work and family obligations for snow sport enthusiasts, according to a study released Friday.

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% to 7.6 million and cross-country skiing declined 5% 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%), work obligations (32%) and decreased vacation time (20%), according to a survey conducted by the trade group.

Poor weather was cited by about 11% of snow sports fans as a reason for staying off the mountains, the survey found.

The drop in participation has already been felt by retailers.

Snow sports retail sales from August 2011 through January declined 12% in number of items sold and 4.5% in dollars spent, compared with the same period 12 months earlier, to $2.7 billion, according to SnowSports Industries America.

In California, ski resort operators reported that the number of visitors on the ski runs dropped this winter season by nearly 25% compared with last season, when snow was plentiful.

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