And, You Like SeniorsSkiing.com.
The most recent SeniorsSkiing.com reader spring survey explored how readers spend a typical ski day and how much they spend in the process.
As with earlier reader surveys, this one had a 27% response, unusually high in the world of print and digital magazines. It shows that the SeniorsSkiing.com community is enthusiastic and engaged! We plan to use this information to help change perceptions about older snow sports enthusiasts within the ski industry.
Who You Are
- The average age of all respondents is 66.6
- The average number of days skied in 2016-17 was 25.4. Trailmasters, those who reported skiing their age or more, had an average age of 66.03 and skied, on average, 84.49 days. (I’m humbled, with a total of 35 days—less than half my age).
Where You Stay When You Ski
- More than 56% stay at your nearby condo or home or in a hotel or lodge close to the resort. About 44% drive from your homes located up to three hours away.
How Long You Ski and Who You Ski With
- More than 60% ski with one or two companions; about 25% ski alone.
- Almost 50% ski 3-4 hours and almost 38% ski 5-6 hours. About 6% ski six hours or more.
How Much You Spend
- For a typical day at your home resort, 30% of you spend $100 or more per day for lodging, passes, restaurant and at the ski or gift shop.
- For a typical day on an away from home multi-day ski vacation, about 50% spend $200 or more per day.
- More than 53% buy lunch at the lodge. Almost 33% make apres ski beverage and snack purchases at the area. Almost 10% also purchase dinner there.
The survey also requested comments and advice.
You asked for more articles on areas in the Northeast, Midwest, Canada, and Europe, more on equipment, exercise, technique, and discounts. Several readers asked about ride share programs and ways to meet others for a day on the slopes.
One or two readers asked if we could organize content more clearly. A few commented on having to re-enter their email addresses (that happens when the device history is cleared or a new device is used). At least one suggested changing the name because “none of us want to be reminded that we are old.”
Some would like to see more about restaurants and “great culinary experiences.” Requests for more personal stories surfaced, especially about experiences with hip and knee replacements. A few asked for more articles about female skiers, instructors, patrollers. Several asked for more ski club pieces. A few commented with humor, “Tough to ski my age anywhere in the US. There just aren’t that many days in the season.”
Mike and I are committed to continuous improvement for SeniorsSkiing.com. Your input is valuable to that process. We also appreciate the many comments stating “Keep up the good work.” This one seems to sum it all up: “An excellent website with great info…keep on keeping on.”
Do you sell our survey report. Why it is important to know how much we are spending at lunch seems to me information that the ski industry would be the only organization that wants to know. Be straight. We are old but not dumb.
Well, it will help us position our online magazine to future advertising prospects, for one thing. We are currently looking for advertising partners and this kind of information is naturally important to them. We definitely do not sell the information gathered in our surveys to anyone. Straight story.
Reshme, I’ll add to Mike’s earlier response. There is a perception among some ski area personnel that older skiers attracted by discounted passes/tickets also bring their own lunches, thereby generating little if any revenue for the area. The questions about purchases — restaurant, shop, etc. — are intended to collect information that would either verify or dispel that perception. They dispel it. A good question. Thanks for asking. Jon
I usually ski alone and mainly just mornings so that I am not there to spend money on lunch! Have three dogs at home waiting for theirs! Far from the only one leaving late mornings! If I have the opportunity to ski all day a couple of hours or more from home I, of course, buy lunch at the area.
Your stats are just slightly off – I am 85 years old.
Did you respond to our survey? We asked the respondents to our Spring Subscriber Survey 2017 submitted their skiing days and age. The sample represented 27 percent of our readership.
When did you request the survey? I believe I did respond but need a date to track it down to confirm.
Forgive delay in response. You did respond! Thanks a lot. You state you are 83 and skied 63 days last season. A great accomplishment to be sure. But to qualify as a Trailmaster, you have to ski the number of days equal to your age or better. Nevertheless, we admire your achievement and hope you keep it up. Thanks for reading seniorsskiing.com and tell your friends.