PR: Snowboard Visits Up Ten Percent.
Sport experiences growth despite decline of overall resort visits.

6/1/99

LAKEWOOD, Colo., -- May 26, 1999 ­ Snowboarding visits at snow resorts across the country recorded a growth of roughly ten percent during the 1998-99 based on preliminary results of the Kottke National End of Season Survey, prepared for the National Ski Areas Association by RRC Associates, a research firm located in Boulder, Colorado. Final estimates will be released later this summer, after all of the United States ski resorts close. Overall skier and snowboarder visits were 52.1 million during the season, a total decline of 3.7 percent from the prior year.

The weak early season of 1998-99 resulted from unseasonably warm weather in many regions of the country that extended through the Christmas holiday. This season¹s total compares to 54.1 million visits the prior season, 1997-98, which was the second highest season on record.

A skier/snowboarder visit is defined as one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night and includes full-day, half-day, night, complimentary, adult, child, season and any other ticket types that gives one the use of an area's facility.

"In 1997-98 we had the El Nino weather pattern and this season we experienced ŒLa Nina," said NSAA President Michael Berry. "Regardless, a number of areas reported record seasons while the majority faced weather-related challenges. The good news is that in spite of the highly variable weather conditions nationwide, the industry performed better than may have been anticipated," he added.

In terms of projected numbers, the Rocky Mountain region reported 18.3 million visits, a decrease of 4.8 percent over last season¹s record-setting 19.1 million visits. The Pacific West region which experienced strong early snow conditions, posted 11.1 million visits, a decrease of just 0.6 percent from the near record 1997-98 season. The Northeast was down 1.9 percent from last season, reporting 12.5 million visits. The Southeast experienced a 0.7 percent increase, posting 4.4 million visits. The Midwest experienced a loss of 12 percent, posting 5.9 million visits.

One of the major growth segments of the ski industry continues to be snowboarding. Based on preliminary data, snowboarding increased to 22.9 percent of the total area visits this season, growing by 9.6 percent over the 20.9 percent reported in 1997-98. The compound annual rate of snowboarding growth over the past four seasons is an impressive 17.8 percent, even this season¹s total marks the smallest percent increase during the past six years since the Kottke study began including snowboarding in the 1993-94 season. Several factors may have contributed to the lower than normal growth rate of snowboarding this season including the late start of the season in most regions and the introduction of new shaped skis, the growing popularity of snow skates and other on-snow products.

Obviously, snowboarding represents a significant segment of the ski industry not only in visits generated, but in lesson participation and equipment rentals as well. Shifts are also occurring in the demographic characteristics of snowboarders. Rider profiles are becoming more diverse, reflecting the increasing tendency of traditional alpine skiers to cross over and participate full-time or part of the time in snowboarding. As individuals, snowboarders continue to be more active participants, riding more days per season at the resorts on average than do their alpine skier counterparts.

There were 200 ski area respondents to the Kottke National End of Season Survey at the time the preliminary analysis was completed. Additional responses will be received prior to publishing the final report in July. The final report will detail various key national and regional statistics and barometers of the ski industry.

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