IMO, skiing has a wide range of demographics.
Generally speaking, I would guess that skiers / boarders are more affluent. Simply because of cost involved. HOw much does a typical "family" spend on skiing in a year? Even if you only go 10 times, for a family of four from Mass or Connecticut, you are easily talking:
2500 miles on the car at 20 mpg = $450 in gas
Lift passes = let's say $40 a pop and go cheap - $1600
Let's say on average $500 a year in gear, that's probably on the cheap side, but if you average it out and people keep their skis for a while
Not to mention food, etc.
$3k per year is significant money for a lot of people especially if it's a "hobby" and not a lifestyle... you can get way more expensive than that of course if you buy season passes, like getting gear more often or buying better gear, take lessons, buy food or drinks at the mountain, etc etc.
Then again, you have the "ski bum" types that make it work no matter what. They might buy skis and skin up instead so no lift ticket cost. They might already live nearby so gas costs are negligable. Or they might purposely live in a smaller house or drive an older car specifically so they can afford to ski.
I guess it's all about where your priorities are and how to shuffle them to do what you want. One thing is true though - skiing is not a cheap hobby. So you can make it work without being affluent but it requires dedication and probably some level of sacrifice.
On the average, across all skiers, I would probably guess that people who ski are more likely better off than the "average" non-skier.
I woudl say the same thing about people who are into boating, or even golf for that matter.
Generally speaking, I would guess that skiers / boarders are more affluent. Simply because of cost involved. HOw much does a typical "family" spend on skiing in a year? Even if you only go 10 times, for a family of four from Mass or Connecticut, you are easily talking:
2500 miles on the car at 20 mpg = $450 in gas
Lift passes = let's say $40 a pop and go cheap - $1600
Let's say on average $500 a year in gear, that's probably on the cheap side, but if you average it out and people keep their skis for a while
Not to mention food, etc.
$3k per year is significant money for a lot of people especially if it's a "hobby" and not a lifestyle... you can get way more expensive than that of course if you buy season passes, like getting gear more often or buying better gear, take lessons, buy food or drinks at the mountain, etc etc.
Then again, you have the "ski bum" types that make it work no matter what. They might buy skis and skin up instead so no lift ticket cost. They might already live nearby so gas costs are negligable. Or they might purposely live in a smaller house or drive an older car specifically so they can afford to ski.
I guess it's all about where your priorities are and how to shuffle them to do what you want. One thing is true though - skiing is not a cheap hobby. So you can make it work without being affluent but it requires dedication and probably some level of sacrifice.
On the average, across all skiers, I would probably guess that people who ski are more likely better off than the "average" non-skier.
I woudl say the same thing about people who are into boating, or even golf for that matter.
