Promotional body Snowsport England report that there was a 12% increase in dry slope and indoor snow slope use, year on year (from 2013 to 2014) during the period February to April due to what has been termed the 'Sochi Effect'
The stats, part of the regularly updated 'SlopeTracker' report compiled by Spike Marketing on behslf of the body, also found an 11% increase year on year during the period May to August.
"These figures support anecdotal evidence from slopes and centres around the country reporting on the 'Sochi Effect'" said a Snowsport England statement, "The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead reported their best ever October half term figures, whilst at Tamworth SnowDome their annual Big Bang Snowboard Show was hugely successful with over 560 people taking snowboard taster sessions and a further 168 three to five year olds getting a feel for snowboarding in the Burton Riglet Park over the weekend.
During the 30 Days of Snowsport event at Pendle Ski Club, 45-minute taster sessions were fully booked for the whole day, with three classes (two ski and one snowboard) running at the same time. Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre reported that the winter had started early for them. Centre Manager Kelly Grewcock said: "many lessons are reaching maximum capacity which has meant we are putting on extra group lessons to cope with the demand".
The latest figures from Snowsport England's GO SKI GO BOARD campaign also show a positive trend, with Sport England targets already being met and overtaken. Since the start of the campaign in April 2013 to date, over 25,000 people have taken a one off GO SKI GO BOARD 'TRY' taster session.
The study also found that almost 65% of people said they were extremely likely to continue using a centre and close to 60% of people said they would recommend the centre to friends and colleagues.
"The latest SlopeTracker report has confirmed the positive trend we expected, which is great news for the snowsports industry in this country. From the close work we do with slopes and clubs we have been hearing positive stories about how busy many of them are and the buzz created by the Winter Olympics. We can of course celebrate these figures, but more importantly what we must do now is to try and sustain this upwards trend and keep people coming back to practice snowsports and indeed continue to attract new people to both skiing and snowboarding.
http://www.snowsportengland.co.uk