How the Ski Industry Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Climate Activism

A cultural shift is underway to transform outdoor buffs into stalwarts for climate action. Will it come soon enough to save their sport?

Spatial Patterns of China’s Ski Resorts and Their Influencing Factors: A Geographical Detector Study

This study uses geographic information systems (GIS) and geographical detector techniques to explore the national and regional pattern of the spatial distribution of China’s ski resorts, and quantitatively identifies the main factors that influence their location. Results show that although China’s ski areas are geographically clustered, ski resorts are more likely to be located at high latitudes (northeast and northwest China) than at low latitudes (central and south China). Among the most influential factors are the winter sporting mega-events that explain 70% of the location of China’s ski areas; the 2022 Winter Olympics accounted for 14%. The main factors that contribute to the distribution of ski areas depend on the regions and types of ski resorts. Implications for the ski resorts industry, such as the different practice for hot and cold spot areas of China’s ski resorts, and the future development direction of ski industry, are discussed.

Analysis on the Ski Industry in China

As the living standard increased, more and more people join this sport. The rapid development of skiing equipment and ski resorts stimulates multiple people to experience skiing. This paper analyzes the current situation and development of the ski industry in China. Based on the case study, the author analyzes the prospect and provides suggestions in the end for ski companies.

Polymer composite material based on terpenoid raw materials for the production of plastic skis

В настоящее время лыжный спорт пользуется большой популярностью, поэтому спрос на лыжи постоянно возрастает. В связи с чем развитиенационального лыжестроения является актуальным для нашей страны направлением. Лыжная индустрия развивается быстрыми темпами и на смену деревянным лыжам пришли пластиковые. Одним из составляющих компонентов лыж является полимерный композиционный материал (препрег). Поэтому сейчас производство препрега набирает обороты, создаются новые материалы на их основе. Проведенные исследования позволили разработать рецептуру и лабораторную технологию связующего на основе вторичных терпеноидных продуктов для изготовления препрега с дальнейшим использованием его при производстве пластиковых лыж. Полученные экспериментальные образцы лыж на производственных площадях филиала «Телеханы» Республиканского производственно-торгового унитарного предприятия «Беларусьторг» Управления делами Президента Республики Беларусь, по своим эксплуатационным свойствам находятся на уровне нормативных показателей. Currently, skiing is very popular. Therefore, the demand for skis is constantly increasing. The development of the national ski industry is an important direction for our country. The ski industry is developing rapidly and plastic skis have replaced wooden skis. One of the components of skis is a polymer composite material (prepreg). Therefore, now the production of prepreg is increasing, many new materials on its basis are created. Our research has allowed us to develop a formulation and laboratory technology of a binder based on secondary terpenoid products for the production of prepreg for its further use in the production of plastic skis. Experimental samples of skis obtained at the production arears of the «Telehany» of the Republican production trade unitary enterprise «Belarustorg» of the administrative department of the President of the Republic of Belarus are at the level of standard indicators for their operational properties.

Incidence of recreational snowboarding-related spinal injuries over an 11-year period at a ski resort in Niigata, Japan

BackgroundThere is limited knowledge regarding the incidence of recreational snowboarding-related spinal injuries.ObjectiveThis study investigated the incidence and characteristics of recent recreational snowboarding-related spinal injuries and discussed possible preventive measures to reduce the risk of spinal injuries.MethodsThis descriptive epidemiological study was conducted to investigate the incidence and characteristics of snowboarding-related spinal injuries at the Myoko ski resort in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, between 2006 and 2017. The incidence of spinal injuries was calculated as the total number of spinal injuries divided by the number of snowboarding visitors, which was estimated based on the ticket sales and estimates regarding the ratio of the number of skiers to the number of snowboarders reported by seven skiing facilities.ResultsIn total, 124 (72.5%) males and 47 (27.5%) females suffered spinal injuries. The incidence of spinal injuries was 5.1 (95% CI 4.4 to 5.9) per 100 000 snowboarder visitors. Jumps at terrain parks were the most common factor in 113 (66.1%) spinal injuries, regardless of skill level (29/49 beginners, 78/112 intermediates, 6/10 experts). Overall, 11 (including 9 Frankel A) of 14 (78.6%) cases with residual neurologic deficits were involved with jumps.ConclusionsIn recreational snowboarding, jumping is one of the main causes for serious spinal injuries, regardless of skill level. The incidence of spinal injuries has not decreased over time. Individual efforts and educational interventions thus far have proven insufficient to reduce the incidence of spinal injury. Ski resorts and the ski industry should focus on designing fail-safe jump features to minimise the risk of serious spinal injury.

The Spatial Pattern of Ski Areas and Its Driving Factors in China: A Strategy for Healthy Development of the Ski Industry

<p>The development of ski areas would bring socio-economic benefits to mountain regions. At present, the ski industry in China is developing rapidly, and the number of ski areas is increasing dramatically. However, the understanding of the spatial pattern and driving factors for these ski areas is limited. This study collected detailed data about ski areas and their surrounding natural and economic factors in China. Criteria for classification of ski areas were proposed, and a total of 589 alpine ski areas in China were classified into three types: ski resorts for vacationing (va-ski resorts), ski areas for learning (le-ski areas) and ski parks to experience skiing (ex-ski parks), with proportions of 2.1%, 15.4% and 82.5%, respectively, which indicated that the Chinese ski industry was still dominated by small-sized ski areas. The overall spatial patterns of ski areas were clustered with a nearest neighbor indicator (NNI) of 0.424, in which ex-ski parks and le-ski areas exhibited clustered distributions with NNIs of 0.44 and 0.51, respectively, and va-ski resorts were randomly distributed with an NNI of 1.04. The theory and method of spatial autocorrelation were first used to analyze the spatial pattern and driving factors of ski areas. The results showed that ski areas in cities had a positive spatial autocorrelation with a Moran’s index value of 0.25. The results of Local Indications of Spatial Association (LISA) showed that ski areas were mainly concentrated in 3 regions: the Beijing-centered Yanshan-Taihang Mountains and Shandong Hill areas, the Harbin-centered Changbai Mountain areas and the Urumqi-centered Tianshan-Altay Mountain areas. The first location was mainly driven by socio-economic factors, and the latter two locations were mainly driven by natural factors. Ski tourism in China still faces many challenges. The government sector should strengthen supervision, develop a ski industry alliance, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the ski industry in the future.</p>

Effects of price model copycats in the ski industry

This paper investigates the impact of the introduction of a greatly reduced seasonal ski pass for overnight stays in winter destinations. The analysis covers 59 winter sports destinations in Switzerland for the winter seasons 2012/2013 to 2017/2018, of which 11 introduced the “Magic Pass”. Winter destinations without the reduced ski pass constitute the control group. Panel difference-in-difference estimates show that the Magic Pass in 2017/2018 leads to an increase in domestic overnight stays in the winter season of 31 per cent. However, foreign overnight stays in the same period are not affected by the price discount. Overall, the magnitude of the discount price effect is lower than that of a previous attempt. Control variables such as average snow depth and temperature for the winter months of December to March are not or only marginally significant. Since the positive effects of price reductions are limited to domestic overnight stays, price reductions should be viewed critically.