Snowsports Industries America (SIA) Participation Deep Dive Report Shows Snowboarding is Most Inclusive of Winter Sports

December 18, 2024

25% of female snowboarders are Hispanic; 13% of participants are Black men

PARK CITY, UT (December 18, 2024) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ — Snowsports Industries America (SIA) today released its deep dive of the 2023-2024 Participation Study, revealing helpful insights into the demographic landscape of winter sports participants. The new report highlights the diversity in snowboarding and cross-country skiing, particularly among Hispanic and Black athletes.

Notable diversity patterns across winter sports participation highlights that among snowboarding participants, Hispanic women comprise 25% of all female snowboard participants, representing the highest proportion of female participants in any snowsport. Similarly noteworthy is that Black male snowboarders make up 13% of male participants, which stands as the highest proportion of male participants across all winter sports disciplines. The study also found significant Hispanic representation in cross-country skiing, with more than 20% of all female participants identifying as Hispanic.

Portions of SIA’s Participation Deep Dive also analyzed numbers culled from the recently-released Participation Study prior to the season, which looked at alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and sledding, which shows a total of 30.26 million participants across all winter sports, with 17.97 million male and 12.29 million female participants.

“This report represents important findings that the industry needs to take note of.” said Nick Sargent, president of Snowsports Industries America. “The diversity we’re seeing, especially in snowboarding and cross-country skiing, reflects the changing demographics of the US as well as the efforts to make these sports more inclusive and accessible to all communities. But, most important to remember, it’s not just about numbers; it’s about creating a welcoming environment where everyone can experience the joy of winter sports.”

Other notable insights from the report include:

• Snowboard participants tend to skew younger for both genders, with a particularly strong representation among younger females
• Female cross-country participants are more likely to participate later in life compared to males
• Alpine ski participants are more likely to be white, non-Hispanic’s, than participants in other snowsports
• Sledding shows relatively balanced participation by gender across age groups, with peak participation among those 12 and under

The study breaks down participation by age groups and racial demographics for each winter sport, providing a detailed picture of the current state of winter sports engagement in the United States.

These data serve as a valuable resource for industry stakeholders, resort operators, and policymakers looking to understand and cater to the changing face of winter sports enthusiasts.

SIA members can access the full report via the member portal, while those interested in becoming an SIA member can visit www.snowsports.org.

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About Snowsports Industries America (SIA):Snowsports Industries America (SIA) is the trade association of the winter outdoor industry. Through SIA membership, brands, destinations, retailers, service providers, and nonprofits solve urgent business problems, adapt to changing pressures, save, and grow. Together SIA and its members spot trends that matter, facilitate industry wide strategy, and innovate to ensure the winter outdoors thrives for future generations.

Founded in 1954, SIA is based in ParkCity, UT. We are #TheBusinessofWinter. For more information and to become a member, visit snowsports.org.