Ski Helmet usage up 12% for 2008/09
Study Shows 12 Percent Increase in Helmet Usage in 2008/09
More Than Two-Thirds of Kids 14 and Under Wearing Helmets.
LAKEWOOD, Colo., June 3, 2009 – According to the 2008/09 NSAA National Demographic Study, helmet usage among skiers and riders nationwide increased 12 percent over the previous season. Last season, 48 percent of all skiers and riders were wearing a helmet at the time of being interviewed, up from 43 percent during the 2007/08 season. In comparison, only 25 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2002/03 season. The annual Demographic Study is compiled from more than 130,000 interviews of skiers and riders nationwide. The study also showed that:
- 77 percent of children 9 years old or younger wear ski helmets;
- 66 percent of children between 10 and 14 wear ski helmets;
- 63 percent of adults over the age of 65 wear ski helmets;
- Helmet usage by skiers and boarders aged 18 to 24 is currently 32 percent, representing a 78 percent increase in usage for this age group since the 2002/03 season, when only 18 percent wore helmets.
In addition, overall ski helmet sales (adults and kids) have increased 43 percent over the past two years, dating back to the 2006/07 ski season. Sales of adult ski helmets alone increased 50 percent since the 2006/07 season, according to the SnowSports Industries of America (SIA) annual Retail Audit.
NSAA and its member resorts promote the use of helmets. NSAA views skiing and boarding in a controlled and responsible manner – not helmets only – as the primary safety consideration for all skiers and boarders. This fall, NSAA will be launching a new initiative designed to encourage all kids 14 and under to wear ski helmets. NSAA has set a goal of near-universal helmet usage for all children by 2012. Watch for more information at nsaa.org.
THE NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, COLO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS NATIONWIDE.
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