SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., Mar. 7, 2013—Snowfall over the December holidays and into January helped raise snowsport retail sales 7 percent in January 2013 compared to January 2012.

The latest data come from the SIA RetailTRAK, compiled by the Leisure Trends Group.

SAM Magazine—McLean, Va., Mar. 7, 2013—Snowfall over the December holidays and into January helped raise snowsport retail sales 7 percent in January 2013 compared to January 2012.

The latest data come from the SIA RetailTRAK, compiled by the Leisure Trends Group.

Customers spent $550 million at snowsports retail shops in January. Since the beginning of this season last August, skiers and boaders have spent $2.6 billion on snowsports apparel, accessories, and equipment, about 1 percent more than they had spent by January 31 last season but 5 percent behind the record-setting 2010-11 August-January period.

Accessories have shown the greatest year-to-year growth, up 5 percent in sales. Apparel sales have been flat, with equipment sales down 4 percent.

Hot product categories show the growing influence of backcountry and sidecountry gear. They include:

• twin tip skis, up 5 percent in units sold, to 122,900 pairs

• alpine/AT boots, which have more than doubled compared to last season, at 55,000 pairs

• lighter, more technical AT/Randonee boots, up 41 percent in units

• splitboard sales, although still a small category with 2,550 units sold, up 14 percent in units

• action camera sales, up 16 percent in units, to 82,500, and 40 percent in dollars, to $25 million

Sales during February and March typically bring in approximately 20 to 25 percent of the season's total. Snowfall and lower temperatures in February and March this year are helping retailers clear out swollen inventories, and should allow for a full recovery from last season's disappointing sales and participation.

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