Kimberly MacArthur Graham gave up downhill skiing for snowshoeing five years ago, trading in the crowded slopes and cold lift rides for hikes through the woods with her husband and dogs.
“It’s much more my speed, and it’s a lot less expensive,” said Graham, a 36-year-old Denver painter and marketing director. “I actually like winter now.”
That kind of testimonial is getting the attention of ski resorts and manufacturers interested in cashing in on the sport.
Snowshoeing grew from 2.9 million participants in 1998 to 5.5 million in 2005, according to Boulder-based market-research firm Leisure Trends Group. Through December, snowshoe sales were up more than 45 percent year-over-year for U.S. ski retailers.
“That’s pretty good critical mass on something that only really got going seven or eight years ago,” said Jim Spring, president of Leisure Trends.
Colorado ski resorts and Nordic centers are capitalizing on the trend by boosting rental supplies, dedicating more terrain solely to snowshoeing and offering guided excursions.
Winter Park ski area upped its snowshoe-rental supply by 10 percent last fall and has seen a 20 percent increase in guided tours this past winter.
“There are a lot of people who aren’t explorers,” said Dave Felkley, who has been leading guided tours in Nederland for 20 years. “They’re willing to pay to have a trail marked and guided.”
Offering a wider array of winter activities attracts a broader range of guests and helps extend vacation lengths, ski industry officials agreed.
“More and more people are looking for different things to do during their stay,” said Deanna Belch, who has organized guided snowshoe tours at Telluride Ski Resort for the past three winters. “I think it helps fill a gap in a skier vacation.”
This past winter’s record snowfall in much of Colorado is helping boost demand on local manufacturers.
Boulder-based Crescent Moon said its snowshoes sales are up 15 percent year-to-date.
The company plans to make more than 10,000 pairs this year, said president Jake Thamm.
“Snowshoes have not hit the mainstream yet by any means,” he said. “I think snowshoeing is going to become more popular, particularly as the baby-boom generation ages and looks for alternative ways to stay active and outdoors during the winter.”
That burgeoning population is an important factor in the sport’s growth, Spring said.
“There are a lot of baby boomers who like being outside in the winter but may not be physically up for skiing and snowboarding any longer,” he said.
Redfeather Snowshoes, until recently based in Denver, sold 40,000 pairs of snowshoes in 2005 and said it was on pace to grow by 20 percent this year. It was purchased last month for $2 million by ORC Industries, which moved Redfeather’s operations to La Crosse, Wis.
“The company stood out as having significant potential,” said Todd Bahnub, ORC’s new general manager of Redfeather. “It’s definitely one of the fastest-growing snowsport segments.”
Snowshoes have been around for thousands of years, but major technical advances have been made in recent decades. Early-day bent-wood frames with rawhide lacing have been replaced by aluminum tubing and molded polyurethane bindings.
One hurdle the industry faces in growing sales is the gear’s durability. Most snowshoe manufacturers offer lifetime warranties.
“They’re a durable good,” said Jack Daniels, a manager at the Denver REI. “You don’t see people upgrading a lot.”
Snowshoes average $140 per pair.
The Denver REI store still experienced “double-digit growth” in snowshoe sales this winter, according to Daniels, in part because of the sport’s ease.
“There is no learning curve,” said Claire Walters, Boulder-based author of “Snowshoeing Colorado.” “There is a well-known joke that snowshoeing is a 12-step program. Take 12 steps, and you’re a snowshoer.”
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
