United States (USA) Ski Gear & Equipment Market Overview, 2028

The USA market is expected to grow over the forecast period and offer an absolute dollar opportunity of US$ 235 Million over the next ten years. Due to its high number of annual tourist visits, the United States is likely to rank second in terms of demand and supply for cross-country skiing equipment. According to the United States Department of Tourism, nearly 79.6 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2018, supporting 15.7 million American jobs. Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports across the world, and it is also recognised as a competitive sport by various organisations such as the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Ski poles and skiing boots are the most important equipment used in this sport, and the growing popularity of skiing as a competitive sport as well as a recreational activity is boosting demand for high-quality cross-country skiing equipment. Furthermore, the growing number of ski resorts and government initiatives to encourage skiing participation are expected to drive the market forward in the coming years. Furthermore, the development of new and innovative products to meet changing consumer needs, as well as technological advancements in this segment, is expected to fuel the market during the forecasted years. According to the USA Consumer Product Safety Commission, the use of helmets by snowboarders or skiers can prevent around 44% of head injuries in adults and 53% in cases involving children below the age of 15.

According to the research report, "United States Ski Gear & Equipment Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the market is anticipated to add USD 60.23 million in the upcoming timeframe. The growing number of initiatives to increase skiing participation, as well as the growing number of people pursuing skiing as a recreational activity, are expected to drive the ski market in the coming years. Among product types, the helmet segment is projected to witness significant growth over the forecast period, owing to the increasing use of helmets in skiing, as they help to protect against or reduce the risk of head injuries from collisions or falls. Over the past decade, the Tecnica Group Ski Competence Center—the biggest employer in town and main production facility for Nordica and Blizzard skis—has produced a majority of SKI Magazine’s top-scoring all-mountain planks, which also happen to be the best-selling skis in the United States. The market was dominated by ski clothing and apparel. This expansion is responsible for the growing popularity of sophisticated and new designs of various types of ski clothing, such as jackets, ski suits, ski pants, and a moisture-wicking base layer. Ski clothing manufacturers are focusing on introducing and creating novel items to meet changing client demands and are grateful for improved technology. New products and features that improve consumer safety are driving this market. 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 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.

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 and Alterra Mountain Company, which own 31 ski resorts across North America. The specialty stores segment is expected to hold a major share of the market as local consumers and athletes can effectively choose and purchase skiing equipment of their choice and comfort in person at such stores. Additionally, the provision of discounts and offers by the stores on bulk purchases of skiing equipment by professional sports consumers is likely to drive further segmental growth.

Recent Developments:
• On May 6, 2022, Amer Sports and Liesheng completed the transaction in which Amer Sports divested Suunto to Liesheng. Amer Sports’ strategy is to focus on developing internationally recognised sporting goods brands within the lifestyle, apparel, and footwear segments with a strong focus on direct-to-consumer channels, as well as an enhanced presence in large markets such as China and the USA.
• In July 2019, Vail Resorts Inc. acquired 17 USA ski areas from Peak Resorts Inc. to make skiing and riding facilities more accessible to US consumers. This is likely to drive demand for skiing equipment among domestic US consumers.

Covid-19 Impacts:
United State was 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.

Considered in this report
• Geography: USA
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report
• USA ski gear & equipment market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

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

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and analyzing government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

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.

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