US: snow sports sales up 5% despite La Niña
SnowSports Industries America and the Leisure Trends Group have reported sales are up for the months of August to November 2011. Sales were up 5% overall in units and 10% overall in dollars sold, reaching 1.2 billion.
Reverse and mixed camber ski sales doubled from 28,00 units sold through November last season to more than 55,000 sold through November. Insulated parka sales are up 18% in units sold.
The December data is still being tabulated but the lack of snow in the US has so far negatively affected the health of the 2011/2012 winter season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is continuing to call for standard La Niña conditions for the remaining winter months: “During January – March 2012, there is an increased chance of above-average temperatures across the south-central and southeastern US, and below-average temperatures over the western and the northwest-central US. Also, above-average precipitation is favoured across most of the northern tier of states and in the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and drier-than-average conditions are more likely across the southern tier of the US.”
