Last month we reported that the participation in alpine skiing actually dropped 19 percent last winter and overall snow sports participation was down by three percent, according to a new report from SnowSport Industries America (SIA). Now comes news that snowboarding is in a major decline as well.
A quote from the Boston Globe might sum it up best: “For every 25 pair of skis we sell, there’s maybe one snowboard. It used to be 50-50,” said Mike Murphy, Sanchez’s boss at Sportworks in Duxbury.
That’s not good news, and we hope this winter will bring more people to the slopes.
[Via The Boston Globe: Snowboarding appears to be in serious decline]
Burton Snowboards is going Bionic but it won’t cost $6 million. The company has announced that it has partnered with Pharrell Williams and BIONIC yarn to produce an urban line of eco-friendly snowboarding apparel for the 2014 line. These were shown at the recent SIA snowshow in Denver and include the 3L Jacket (above). This jacket fuses three layers of waterproof yet breathable fabric that makes for a jacket that is perfect for the slopes as well as the streets.
At the SIA Snowshow in Denver last week Giro introduced a new “soft-shell” helmet for the snowsport industry that can survive multiple impacts and still keep the wearer protected. The Combyn helmet can flex and bend under pressure and like “Stretch Armstrong” return to its original shape.
Italian helmet maker Osbe have introduced a new stylish ski helmet for those who don’t like to take their time heading down the slopes. This model features an integrated lens/helmet design that eliminates the need for goggles – hence the Osbe United moniker. It features UV-protected, anti-fog lens that even allows skiers to wear prescription glasses if needed. This one just screams speed.
The Light Bohrd is one that will certainly let you be seen on the slopes. This snowboard features the world’s first illuminated graphics technology. It doesn’t really do much but look cool, but oh isn’t that enough.
Just because winter is a time to bundle up with extra layers, doesn’t mean all of us are hibernating. Many of us get out and burn calories on the slopes, ice and take part in other outdoor adventures. SIA, the SnowSports Industries America organization, released its 2012 SIA Snow Sports Participation Report. The top finding shows that 6.9 percent of Americans participate in snow sports, and burn 332 million calories while they do it. 
While probably not much of a problem this season, in years with deep snow or when regions get lots of natural snow, some skiers might find themselves trying to find lost skis. This no doubt cuts down on the fun. It seems like a small problem, but enough that Ski Retriever has come to the rescue with a homing system.