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2 0 1 7 – 2 0 1 8 N A T I O N A L

Study
BY D A VE BELIN & D A VID BECHER, RRC ASSOCIATES

The Short-Term Dynamics & Long-Term Trends that Illuminate the Participant Profile

S ki areas across the country are putting forth a renewed winter season, nearly 200,000 visitor surveys from 93 different
ski areas were gathered as part of the research. Despite this
effort to increase the number of individuals who par­
ticipate in downhill snowsports. To that end, information very large number of individual customer surveys, involvement
about current skiers and snowboarders is relevant and timely, in the study could be improved in terms of the number of ski
as understanding the demographics of existing customers is areas taking part. If you are a ski area staff member, please
critical to finding new ones. The NSAA National Demo­ consider participating in the 2018–19 NSAA National
graphic Study is an important tool to better comprehend the Demographic study.
opportunities and challenges that face downhill snowsports. The study presents numerous insights regarding both
Conducted annually since the 1996–97 season, the the short­term visitation dynamics influencing the industry
National Demographic Study contains a wealth of long­term this past season as well as important long­term trends in the
data about participants in downhill snowsports. The results participant profile. Here are some of the highlights from
of the study are based on customer surveys—for the 2017–18 the study, which is available from NSAA at nsaa.org.

16 | NSAA JOURNAL | EARLY WINTER 2018