Last season as many as 88 percent opted for ‘normal alpine’ skis – the largest share since 1995. Not even ten percent chose snowboard.
– Throughout the 1990s the share of snowboarders grew and by 1999 amounted to more than 20 percent of the riders. But the introduction of carving and twin-tip skis have changed that trend, says Hans Gerremo, Managing Director, SLAO, the Swedish Lift-Owners Association.
Snowboarders converting to carving
With alpine skis we include traditional, carving and twintips. Almost nine out of ten - or 88 percent – of the persons going down the Swedish slopes during the season 2007-08 opted for skis. This corresponds to an increase of eight percent only over the past four years. Over the same period, the share of snowboarders has decreased by four percent to 9.7 percent.
– The introductions of the so easily handled carving skis have meant that a growing number of snowboarders have returned to skis, says Hans Gerremo.
Snowblades also losing popularity
Last season less than one percent opted for Telemark skis in the pistes, which should be compared to 3.2 percent in 1998. The share choosing more odd ways of getting down such as snowblades, peaked four years ago at 5.6 percent; last season reaching less than 2 percent.
The figures are based on a survey conducted among SLAO’s member companies. In total the registrations cover 1.6 million rides.