North America Ski Gear & Equipment Market Outlook, 2028

Skiing is a winter sport in which the participants use skis to glide on snow. Traditionally, such sports were played only in cold areas during the winter; however, artificial ice and snow allow for enhanced flexibility. Increasing participation in skiing activities, coupled with growing initiatives to encourage skiing participation, is expected to boost the growth of the North American ski gear and equipment market. Because of its reflective properties, snow cover plays an important role in climate regulation. In January 2021, the snow cover extent in North America reached 15.5 million square kilometers. In 2022, North America will be the third-largest market for the ski gear and equipment industry compared to other major regions. This growth might be attributed to the large number of purchasers who enjoy skiing as a recreational activity in nations like the United States and Canada. North America is expected to show significant growth in the global ski gear and equipment market, owing to increasing international trading activities.

According to the research report, “North America Ski Gear & Equipments Market Outlook, 2028” the market is anticipated to add up to USD 70.45 Million market size during the upcoming timeframe. Increased awareness of the importance of wearing helmets and other ski equipment and gear as a result of increased concerns about skiing-related injuries is expected to drive market expansion in the coming years. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, using a helmet while snowboarding or skiing can prevent 45 percent of adult head injuries and 54 percent of head injuries in children under the age of 15. It claims that not only will wearing a helmet protect the user from minor cuts and bruises, such as those caused by tree branches, but it will also lessen the occurrence and severity of head injuries such as severe concussions, skull fractures, and even death. At the same time, several ski areas and facilities have made helmet use mandatory. This is going to drive the demand for skiing gear and equipment in the future.

The North American region is anticipated to witness dominant growth in the forecast period with the growing number of sports participants in winter games. According to the report, the North American ski gear & equipment market is segmented into various product types, including skis and snowboards, ski footwear (boots and bindings), ski poles and sticks, ski helmets, ski goggles, ski gloves and ski mittens, ski clothing and apparel, and others. Among these product types, the ski clothing segment is leading the market in 2022 with more than 20% share in terms of value. Sports enthusiasts in advanced economies like USA and Canada are focusing on making winter sports a mainstream profession which is likely to be a vital factor in escalating the market growth. Manufacturers are innovating in new wearables that provide actionable insights to improve the skiing performance of customers. Moreover, the sports federations such as SnowSports Industries America (SIA) and National Ski Areas Association have encouraged the participation of contestants in various winter sporting events that are being conducted throughout the year.

According to the obtained data, the total value of imports in the ski and snowboard equipment market increased. Skiing is often regarded as one of the most popular and exciting adventure sports in both North American and European countries. The skiing sports sector has seen an increase in the number of participants and audiences over the years, which can be attributed to the enjoyable experience one can have while participating in sports. Skiing is currently being considered for inclusion in global sporting events such as the Olympics, owing to its growing popularity. There are around 125 million skiers and snowboarders globally as per SIA (Snowsports Industries America) data, with North America contributing 31 million. Skiing is considered an effective cardiovascular exercise as it helps burn calories, strengthens lower body muscles, engages core muscles, and boosts moods. Hence, the demand for skiing equipment is rising. This creates lucrative opportunities for market players. The U.S. also has the largest number of ski resorts in the region.

According to the report, the North American market is segmented into various distribution channels including hypermarkets and supermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and other distribution channels. Among them, the hypermarkets and supermarkets segment is leading the market with the highest market share in 2022. The amount of time allocated toward leisure and sports may include time spent socializing, reading, exercising, and traveling. Even though time spent on leisure and sports can cover a broad range of activities, it is expected to influence demand for ski and snowboard equipment. In that regard, when more time is spent by individuals on leisure and sports, demand for skis, snowboards, and related equipment typically increases. On the other hand, increasing penetration of the internet (90.3%) and e-commerce (71.5%) across the region is direct towards the growing demands of online distribution channels.

According to the obtained data, in 2021, the USA will encounter around 62 million annual skier visits. Individuals' disposable income has increased at a rapid rate in North America, acting as a primary market driver as middle- and high-income consumers in metropolitan regions shift their purchase habits from essential to luxury products and services. People are being encouraged to invest in recreational activities as a result of this trend. Furthermore, the rising number of female skiers, as a result of firms' development of new goods and technology aimed at women's safety, is predicted to boost demand for ski equipment and gear in the near future. The largest factor affecting the ski industry as a whole within the United States is the number of domestic trips residents are able to make each season. With less leisure time, people are unable to travel to a resort for a weeklong stay and this causes an ensuing decline in revenue for the resorts. The trend for ski resort ownership has shifted over the last few decades with smaller resorts shutting shop or being bought out by larger conglomerates such as Vail Resorts & Alterra Mountain Company which own 31 ski resorts across North America.

The United States leads the North American ski gear and equipment market with more than 75% of the market. In the United States, skiing and snowboarding are among the most popular winter sports. On average, the number of skiers in the United States amounted to around 14.94 million, and the number of snowboarders came to around 7.56 million. During the 2019/20 ski season, there were 470 ski resorts in operation in the United States, with an estimated 51.1 million visitors during the 2017/18 season. The state of New York has the highest number of operating ski areas in the United States - 51 as of the 2019-20 season. Breckenridge, Park City, Vail, Whistler, Keystone, Heavenly Mountain, Steamboat Springs, Winter Park Resort, Big Sky, and Killington are some of the most popular ski destinations in North America. The biggest ski area in the United States, Park City is located in the American Rockies overlooking Salt Lake City.

Recent Developments:

• In July 2019, Vail Resort Inc. acquired 17 U.S. ski areas of Peak Resort Inc. to make skiing and riding facilities more accessible to U.S. consumers. This is likely to drive demand for skiing equipment among domestic U.S. consumers.
• In July 2018, American Skiing Company, a subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation acquired LBO Resort Enterprises for USD 137 million to encourage winter sports events and races for professional racers which thereby, increases the demand for skiing equipment among sports professionals.

Covid-19 Impacts:

Most countries in North America were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The lockdown hampered operations in the distribution network as well. The shutdown of many businesses, such as resorts and halls that have facilities for snow sports and events, as well as the imposition of stay-at-home policies, caused a decline in the demand for snow sports apparel. However, the relaxation of lockdown measures, the redesign of distribution channels in the first half of 2021, and the opening of various ski resorts across the region are likely to enhance the demand for snow sports apparel as well as ski equipment during the forecast period.

Major Companies present in the market:

Amer Sports Oyj, Burton Snowboards, Fischer Sports, Skis Rossignol SA, Icelantic Skis, Volcom, Helly Hansen, Coalition Snow, Alpina Sports, Clarus Crop, K2 Sports LLC. patagonia, Arc'teryx, Columbia Sportswear Company, Dainese, Decathlon, Phenix Ski.

Considered in this report

• Geography: North America
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report

• North America ski gear & equipment market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise ski gear & equipments market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico

By Product:

• Skies/Ski Snowboards
• Ski Footwear/Ski Boots and Bindings
• Ski Poles/Ski Sticks
• Ski Helmets
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Gloves/Ski Mittens
• Ski Clothing/Apparel
• Others

By Distribution Channel:

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online Stores
• Other Distribution Channels

By End-User:

• Men
• Women
• Kids

Intended audience:

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the ski-gear equipment industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.