United Kingdom (UK) Ski Gear & Equipment Market Overview, 2028

United Kingdom (UK) Ski Gear & Equipment Market Overview, 2028

Skiing has a long history in Scotland, with resorts like Glencoe and Glenshee being established as early as the 1930s. Although they already had a modest engine-powered tow at the time, the first permanent lifts were erected in the 1950s. Skiing took up in the 1960s, thanks to a number of advances that proved unsustainable, particularly due to uncertain snow conditions. Scotland now has 5 ski slopes in operation, with the opening of Lecht in the 1970s and Nevis Range in the 1980s, including the first modern gondola in the United Kingdom. Despite the fact that many English people like skiing, the United Kingdom has only 10 ski resorts with natural snow, all of which are in Scotland, plus a few ski areas operated by ski clubs in Northern England and Wales. The country does, however, boast about 50 to 60 dry slopes where skiers can slide down slopes covered with synthetic material. There are also six indoor snow centers where skiers may enjoy manmade snow at any time of year. Some of the top ski resorts in the UK are Glenshee, Lecht, Cairngorm Mountain, Nevis Range, Glencoe Mountain Resort, Raise, Allenheads, Yad Moss, and Weardale Ski Resort. Glenshee Resort has the most extensive skiing and snowboarding facilities in the country. Glencoe Mountain resort features the largest vertical drop and the longest and steepest runs in Scotland, peaking at 1'108 meters above sea level with a base elevation of 305 meters.

According to the research report “United Kingdom Ski Gear & Equipment Market Overview, 2028” published by Bonafide Research, the market is anticipated to witness a value addition of USD 32.55 Million market size by 2028. Increased government initiatives to encourage participation in outdoor activities such as skiing and other snow sports, as well as an increase in the number of ski resorts, are some of the primary factors driving increased sales of ski gear and equipment throughout the region. Globally, the number of women participating in various activities, notably winter sports such as skiing, has increased in recent years. Vendors are introducing women's ski gear and equipment. Though women ski at a lower rate than men, manufacturers are playing a significant part in encouraging women by supplying specialized equipment designed specifically for them, such as slender ankles and size differences. Furthermore, major providers separate their products by categorizing them into tiers such as intermediate, advanced, and professional. Coalition Snow, for example, is a significant vendor that manufactures women's outdoor recreational equipment such as skis and snowboards. As a result, the increasing adoption of ski gear and equipment by women signals a rise in market growth.

The UK experiences 23.7 days of snow or sleet on average every year. In Scotland, the average number of days with snow or sleet falls to 38.1. The Cairngorms in Scotland has the most snowfall in the UK, with 76.2 days of snow or sleet falling on average. Cornwall is the least likely to see snow, with only 7.4 days of snow or sleet falling on average each year. The indoor slopes are working hard to bring new individuals into the snow sports industry, which is beneficial to the industry. One indoor ski center offers a Learn to Ski in a Day program that is particularly appealing to first-time skiers and snowboarders. Artificial ski slopes are also excellent places for beginners to learn and become acquainted with skiing. The governing organization of the national snow sport is aiming to teach snow sports to those who have never skied or snowboarded before. Some luxury clubs even have their own synthetic slope. Some of the indoor slopes in the UK include Snow Factor, Snozone, The Snow Centre, Chill Factore, and Snowdome.

Skier visits to the United Kingdom were higher in the 1980s and 1990s than they are today. However, with improved roads and air connections to Europe, as well as the emergence of low-cost flights, the majority of the UK ski industry is now conducted abroad. Every year, about one million skiers visit to the Alps or other winter sports areas. Despite losing some market share, France remains the most popular destination for British skiers, accounting for more than one-third of all visitors. Austria is ranked second, accounting for approximately 25% of the British skier market. The UK is followed by Andorra (approximately 6%), which is comparable to Switzerland (also about 6%), North America (less than 5%), and Bulgaria (about 4%). British skiers used to travel mostly through tour operators (with many prominent firms specializing in winter ski travel), but they are increasingly arranging their own travel and booking their own hotels, or even staying in properties owned by themselves or friends. For the 2012/13 season, 54% of British skiers reported having booked their vacation independently, a percentage that appears to be increasing.

The Scottish resorts receive an average of 200'000 skier visits per year; however, attendance is highly dependent on weather and snow conditions and can increase from one season to the next. The Scottish ski season typically begins in December, but ski lifts occasionally open in October. The season's finish date may also be pushed back. At several resorts, one of the record seasons, 2009/10 winter, stretched until May and even June. Winter 2016/17 was quite harsh, with very little snow. Many snowfalls were shortly followed by mild weather, making slope maintenance challenging. The snow continued to melt before a firm base could be formed. On top of that, there was no snow in the Central Belt or along the coast, so buyers assumed there was no snow anywhere – the no snow in the backyard issue. Attendance was consequently at its lowest point in the previous ten years, prompting Glencoe Mountain Resort to invest in an all-weather snowmaking system. Fortunately, the 2017/18 season was considerably better, with the best attendance in the previous five years. However, the situation deteriorates once more during 2018/19 winter. Just two years ago, attendance was slightly higher than during the harshest winter on record. Ski regions were unable to open entire slopes until February, and then saw some of the warmest winter weeks on record, causing snow cover to thaw quickly. The situation worsened in 2019/20, with relatively few openings before March due to mild weather, and then, when the snow finally fell, ski areas shuttered due to the pandemic. 2020/21 was similarly a disastrous season for Scottish ski resorts, with relatively few openings days because of the pandemic.

As per World Bank, the United Kingdom has a population of 67.3 million people in 2021, 33.25 million of who are men and 34.05 million are women. The majority of the population (422.7 million) is between the ages of 15 and 65. Country regions have 10.8 million people, whereas metropolitan areas have 56.5 million. The UK has a GDP of 3.19 trillion USD in 2021, an inflation rate of 2.5 percent, and a per capita income of US$47,334.4, according to the World Bank. Increasing Per Capita Income is the major factor behind the growth of the Skiing Market in the UK.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets dominated the industry in terms of distribution channels due to discounted products and options available. London Ski Co., Ski Exchange - Boot Lab & Winter Specialists, Ski Bartlett, and Absolute-Snow are some of the well-known retailers in the UK. Furthermore, due to increased internet penetration, convenience, and so on, the online segment is predicted to grow at a rapid pace.

Considered in this report
• Geography: United Kingdom
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report
• UK ski gear & equipment market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product:
• Skies/Ski Snowboards
• Ski Footwear/Ski Boots and Bindings
• Ski Poles/Ski Sticks
• Ski Helmets
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Gloves/Ski Mittens
• Ski Clothing/Apparel
• Others

By Distribution Channel:
• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online Stores
• Other Distribution Channels

By End-User:
• Men
• Women
• Kids

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and analyzing government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the ski-gear equipment industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.