Industry News
U.S. ski areas reported a total of 61.5 million skier visits for 2024-25, a 1.7% year-over-year increase, according to preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). It was the second-highest total since the NSAA began tallying skier visits in 1978. Those numbers indicate that the U.S. ski industry is robust and that demand for outdoor recreation remains strong. However, digging deeper into those numbers reveals a much more accurate picture of the 2024-25 season.
Snowsports Industries America (SIA) conducted a survey asking participants several questions to gain insight into the 2024-25 season. In the study, SIA stressed that it is important to consider that this is not a random survey of all snowsports participants. Instead, this data represents the opinions of individuals who are sufficiently engaged in the sport to either attend snowsports expos or be interested in communications from SIA. In this report, SIA refers to these respondents as “Snowsports Enthusiasts” to distinguish between this group of respondents and all snowsports participants as a whole.
Looking back at the numbers of the 2024-25 season, nearly half of enthusiasts (47%) rated their overall personal experience with winter sports this past season as very good and an additional 35% described it as good. That made the 2024-25 season better than the 2023-24 season, where only 32% rated their experience as very good. Only 3 percent of enthusiasts described their experience with the 2024-25 season as bad or very bad, compared to 7% that did so for the 2023-24 season.
The highest percentage for people who thought the 2024-25 season was better than the previous season was due to the quality and amount of snow. 45% of people believed the 2024-25 season was better for this reason, while a person’s schedule and lack of free time ranked first, with 31%, as the reasons why someone thought the 2024-25 season was worse than the 2023-24 season.
According to the SIA end-of-season report, more than four out of five enthusiasts (84%) said they plan to ski at a resort in the next winter season. More than one-quarter also planned to go winter running, hiking, or snowshoeing (27% and 26%, respectively). About one in six enthusiasts said they plan on snowboarding at a resort next winter (15%). The snowsports in which enthusiasts are planning to participate in 2025-26 include:
- Skiing (at resort) 84%
- Winter running or hiking 27%
- Snowshoeing 26%
- Cross-country skiing 25%
- Uphill at a resort 22%
- Backcountry skiing (alpine touring) 20%
- Snowboarding (at resort) 15%
- Sledding 14%
- Telemark skiing (at resort) 9%
- Snowmobiling 8%
- Backcountry skiing (telemark) 7%
- Fat bicycling (in snow) 7%
- Splitboarding 5%
- Ice climbing 2%
- None of the above 3%
According to the data, a total of 81% of winter enthusiasts are planning or thinking of planning a snowsports vacation for the 2025-26 season. 50% enthusiasts said they plan on taking a snowsports vacation, while 31% of winter enthusiasts said “maybe” about planning one next season.
Breaking down the numbers even further, people with the highest household incomes and those in the Northeast were more likely to plan a snowsports vacation next season. 60% of enthusiasts from households with an annual revenue of $150,000 or more planned on taking a snowsports vacation. In comparison, 43% of households with annual revenue of less than $100,000 were planning to take a vacation next season. Regarding regions, 53% of Northeasterners planned to take a winter vacation next season, compared to 43% in the West.
Humans are social creatures, and when it comes to participating in winter activities, more than half say they plan to travel next season with someone. 60% of enthusiasts said they were likely to travel with their spouse or partner, and 57% said they would travel with a friend or friends. Skiing solo isn’t for everyone in this category and only 21% of enthusiasts said they would go by themselves.
Overall, the 2024-25 ski season demonstrated continued strength in the U.S. snowsports industry, with increased skier visits and high satisfaction among engaged participants. While headline numbers point to a successful year, more profound insights from SIA’s survey of snowsports enthusiasts reveal the driving factors behind that success, notably improved snow conditions and positive personal experiences. Looking ahead, the outlook remains optimistic, with a large majority of enthusiasts planning to return to the slopes next season and showing interest in a variety of winter activities. These trends suggest that while economic and regional differences may influence participation, the passion for snowsports remains strong and is likely to carry forward into the 2025-26 season and beyond.
