Statistics Has the bloom come off the rose of snowboarding? Perhaps. Anecdotal evidence suggests that teenagers and young adults are moving away from snowboarding and towards twin-tip skis. Even so, a substantial number of snow sports enthusiasts are snowboarders, adults continue to ride, and hey, nobody's getting any younger. There are a variety of reasons, including research methods, why getting a firm grasp on the number of adult snowboarders is difficult. Here are some interesting statistics that we have gathered from the press and industry sources: In the 2006-07 season there were roughly 55 million "skier visits," each of which represents one person with skis or a snowboard visiting a ski area. 28 percent of ski area visitors were snowboarders. This is slightly down from previous years. Poor weather in snowboard-rich parts of the country during the 2006-07 season may have been to blame. The percentage of snowboarders who are female is on a long-term trend upward. In 2006, it was 27 percent. According to one industry survey, during the 2005-2006 season, there were 5.2 million snowboarder visits to ski areas. (Note: This does not include people who were taking the season off.) According to that same survey, 25 percent of all snowboarder visits were by people aged 25 and older, or 1,263,000. According to a survey published in 2007, there were 1.9 million snowboarders aged 25 and up. According to that same survey, the number of riders 35 and up was somewhere between 354,000 and 486,000. The percentage of ski area visitors who are snowboarders varies dramatically from well over half (Pacific Northwest, Midwest) to under 15 percent (Aspen). The percentage of snow sports enthusiasts who are snowboarders declines with age. The following are the percentages of ski area visitors who are snowboarders: 25-34: 41 percent 35-44: 14 percent 45-54: 6 percent 55-64: 3 percent 65+: 2 percent Conclusion The number of mature riders--defined here as those individuals aged 35 and up--ranges anywhere from 354,000 to perhaps 500,000. Even at these numbers, there is a significant market for ski areas, equipment vendors, and others among mature riders. While the sport is still dominated by young males, it is also changing as the population as a whole ages and as medical science and changing expectations open the way to more snowsports participation by mature riders. Businesses that see the trends and find a way to appeal to older riders can find that a niche market on its way to becoming a mass market. (This page was revised 25 March 2008. Sources for the numbers on this page as well as more detailed information about snow sports participation are available for purchase through e-mail). Discussion board Have a question about snowboarding? Stop by the GraysOnTrays discussion board to add your comments or questions about snowboarding history and snowboarding for adults. Return to the home page.