Contact: Troy Hawks
NSAA Communications
(720) 963-4215
thawks@nsaa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

‘06 Demographic Study Indicates Rise in Youth Participation

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – August 23, 2006– Among the most prominent shifts noted in the 2006 NSAA National Demographic Study is the proportion of children under 18 rising to 15.5 percent in 2005/06, up from 12.9 percent in 2004/05. Meanwhile the average age dropped this season to 35.1. A drop in average age w as observed in all regions except the Midwest and Pacific West, where the average age held steady.

Another significant finding was faster growth of snowboard participation, up 3 percent over last season, following several years of more sluggish growth. This pattern, also corroborated by the latest Kottke End of Season Survey that projects snowboarders accounted for 30.4 percent of visits last season, was driven by a combination of increased participation in key youth age groups, as well as increased snowboarding penetration across all age groups between 10 and 45.

An increase in helmet usage was also noted, an ongoing pattern illustrated in previous years data. Helmet usage continues to remain most prevalent among those under 15 and those 55 years old and older, as well as among advanced and expert participants. Overall, 38 percent of survey respondents were wearing a helmet when interviewed, up from 33 percent last season.

A total of 72 of the United States’ 478 operating ski resorts, or 15.1 percent, were represented in the study with a total of 131,392 surveys completed during the 2005/06 season. To purchase a copy of the 2006 NSAA National Demographic Study go into the Resource Guide under the Marketing section of nsaa.org.

 THE NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, COLO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS NATIONWIDE.

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