Papasteeze Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 SAM Magazine?McLean, Va., Jan. 12, 2006?If early retail sales are a barometer for resort visits, this could be a banner year. Overall sales for the winter sports market were up 8 percent in both dollars and units for the August through November period of 2005. Sales totaled $696.9 million for the period, compared to $647.8 million reported last year, according to the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Retail Audit. Specialty stores and chains performed equally well, and in several cases, the same categories of goods led the sales rise in both channels. Apparel posted double-digit growth, led by increased sales of soft shell garments, and women?s and junior wear. (And led particularly by women?s and junior soft shells, each up more than 100 percent in specialty stores.) Snowboard apparel was also strong. Technical daypacks, luggage, and sunglasses led the growth in accessories sales, which were also up about 8 percent from a year ago. Snowboard and ski equipment sales rose in the single-digit range, too, led by freestyle boards, twintip skis and ski-binding systems. In specialty stores, which account for more than 75 percent of winter sports market, freestyle snowboard sales were up 24 percent, and topped the sales of freeride boards; twintip sales rose 54 percent, and systems ski sales were up 27 percent. ?Flat? skis (without bindings) still outsell systems by nearly 2 to 1?but that ratio is sinking fast. Last year, it was nearly 3 to 1 for this period. Nordic gear sales were up in specialty stores but down in chains, and overall were up slightly from the previous year. Telemark gear was down more than 20 percent in specialty stores and flat in chains, leading to an overall decline in tele sales after two years of growth. Of the few other categories that were trending down, turtlenecks, snowskates and snow decks, and snowshoes (down 47 percent in specialty stores) led the way. Quote
Sno Mountain Skier Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 Wow, twins got a huge rise.Thats a good thing for the sport. Quote
Gurp Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 Thus starts the twin tip revolution... Quote
toast21602 Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 Wow, twins got a huge rise.Thats a good thing for the sport. how many people that have them actually use them though?? i saw a group of moms the other day with PE's and i highly doubt they are landing switch in the park or hitting some rails.... Quote
DHarrisburg Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 how many people that have them actually use them though?? i saw a group of moms the other day with PE's and i highly doubt they are landing switch in the park or hitting some rails.... All that matters is that they're buying them. Most "soccer mom" skiers started riding PEs because they're wide and cheap. Quote
toast21602 Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 All that matters is that they're buying them. Most "soccer mom" skiers started riding PEs because they're wide and cheap. and those are the ones that most likely are the ocasional skier who know very litte about the sport and curretn trends... who tend to bring their families through the terrain parks... Quote
Sno Mountain Skier Posted January 16, 2006 Report Posted January 16, 2006 and those are the ones that most likely are the ocasional skier who know very litte about the sport and curretn trends... who tend to bring their families through the terrain parks... Yea but if they buy them,then they are funding the development of skis for us. Just matters howyou look at it. Quote
Papasteeze Posted January 17, 2006 Author Report Posted January 17, 2006 There is a Huge advantage to wearing twins while standing on the slopes watching your kids, especially if you have some skiing skills. Quote
toast21602 Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 There is a Huge advantage to wearing twins while standing on the slopes watching your kids, especially if you have some skiing skills. but there is a different between watching your kids use the features the way they should be used (like you do) and parents that dont know the rules of the park or have any park etiqette and allow their kids to do whatever they choose to... Quote
snorovr Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 Speaking of sales trends, I stopped in Sports Chalet today, and that place is sweet. Talked with Kristi for a while and I'm definitely goin in again soon. If people wanna ski on twins then thats fine, hopefully they realize that there is probably a better ski for what they are doing in a non-twin model, but some people just like graphics. When I see someone on twins who isn't using them and never will, I just make sure that I'm in front so they have to deal with my rooster tail of snow and not the other way around. Quote
Papasteeze Posted January 17, 2006 Author Report Posted January 17, 2006 but there is a different between watching your kids use the features the way they should be used (like you do) and parents that dont know the rules of the park or have any park etiqette and allow their kids to do whatever they choose to... Agreed!! What I was referrin to was like filming, holding jumps facing up hill, standing on the edge of race courses and being able to push backwards and not worry about catching an edge. Flipping around and riding switch just for fun. the set of twins I got this year are so nice. I actually have them tuned with a race edge to grip the slick conditions or I can sit back and tail butter the crud as I zip by all the noobs on the connector trails. I liked my lines I rode last year, I love these Karmas for this year! They call Metrons all a one ski quiver... BS! Not in my mind compared to these. Quote
Metz the Jersey boy Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 (edited) Alright, here we go, time for my two cents- Twin tips are NOT JUST FOR THE PARK. The volkl Karmas that Papasteeze and I have aren't even particularly good for a lot of park applications. They're rather stiff and a bit heavy. They can be useful in big air, but are not particularly good for small kickers and rails. What they ARE good for, however, is tree skiing and off piste work. The wider waist allows a lot of float in powder, and the softer tail section combined with the tail tip allows for great maneuverability when you're thrown into the back seat, which sometimes happens in an off piste environment. My point here is that not everyone who's on twin tips is on them for the park. Mine are AWESOME tree skis, and I love everything about them. Edited January 17, 2006 by Metz the Jersey boy Quote
Ski Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 but some people just like graphics. Ha, that's probably exactly it. I was hanging with a friend in a shop the other day and watched a family pick out the 'coolest looking' snowboards. Screw the model, brand, or functionality...GRAPHICS! Quote
adrian Posted January 17, 2006 Report Posted January 17, 2006 Thus starts the twin tip revolution... hm? Quote
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