2007/2008 Snowsports Retail Report

10/07/2008 17:30 MST

The 2007/2008 snowsports season generated $2.97 billion in sales of snowsports equipment, apparel and accessories in specialty stores and on the Internet, according to the 2008 SIA Intelligence Report.

Broken out, equipment sales added up to $834 million, while apparel brought in $1.165 billion and accessories $973 million.

The report also found:
Specialty shop sales increased 3 percent in units and 5 percent in dollars over last season to $1.9 billion.

2007/2008 Internet sales increased 39 percent in units and 46 percent in dollars.

Chain store data was back in 2007/2008 with snowsports sales totaling $616 million -- 15 percent higher than in 2005/2006, the last season measured.

26 million people consider themselves snowsports participants in the United States, but 9 million did not participate in 2007.

The National Ski Areas Association reported 60.5 million skier/rider visits in the United States during the 2007/2008 season -- a new record.