Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Drops Fresh Data On Winter Sports Participation

Snowsports Industries America (SIA), the leading trade association for the winter sports industry, released two major winter sports participation reports today. The first –  “24-25 Season Participation Preview” – offers an early look at topline wintersports’ participation and engagement across alpine skiing, snowboarding, alpine and snowboard touring, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and winter fat tire biking during the 2024-2025 season.  While the full participation report will be issued in September including participant demographics, this sneak peek reveals a nuanced story: while the overall number of US participants in snowsports rose by 2.4%, the mix of activities and engagement levels is evolving, reflecting changing interests, the impact of changing weather patterns, and consumer behaviors.

Key Participation Trend Highlights

• Alpine Skiing remains the largest segment, however, it posted a modest 1.8% decline from last season in the number of unique participants..

• Snowboarding also dipped slightly, down 1.2%

• Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing both posted strong gains, up 5.8% and 5.7%, respectively.

• Sledding participation jumped 4.4% signaling renewed interest in accessible winter fun.

• Alpine Touring (+1.9%) continued its upward trend, while Snowboard Touring ( -1.3%) and Winter Fat Tire Biking (, -0.6%) saw minor declines.

Engagement: Days on Snow

Despite mixed participation numbers, the average number of days spent per participant increased for most major activities:

• Both Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding saw a positive increase in average number of days on snow, suggesting a more dedicated core.

• Cross Country Skiers also increased their average days 

• Alpine Touring and Snowboard Touring saw the sharpest rises in days per participant, highlighting the growing appeal of less-crowded backcountry experiences.

• In contrast, Snowshoeing and Sledding saw declines in average days, indicating these activities may be attracting more casual or first-time participants.

Paralleling the ‘Participation Insights’, SIA’s ‘End of Season 2024-2025 Report’ provides key insights into participation trends, consumer purchasing spending patterns, impacts of weather on participation and sustainability preferences. It also highlights consumer thoughts on the coming season.. Nearly a third of enthusiasts surveyed reported buying less gear this past season. That was due in large part to many already having what they needed, or they found prices too high. Apparel, however, bucked the trend with a large percentage buying new clothing, outpacing expectations. 

Overall excitement remains high, with half of the winter enthusiasts planning to take a snowsports-focused vacation in the coming season, and 95% report being as excited—or more so—about the coming winter as last year. 

While traditional alpine sports face mild headwinds in participation, growth in cross country, snowshoeing, and sledding points to a diversifying base and paints a picture of a resilient and evolving winter outdoor community. Increased dedication among core participants, combined with strong interest in sustainable products and travel, suggests the industry is well-positioned to adapt to changing consumer preferences and environmental realities.

Both reports are exclusively available now to SIA members in the Member Portal, while the full 2024-2025 Participation Study will be available to members in early fall (including breakdowns by age, region, and activity type). For more information, please visit snowsports.org.