This morning the Ski Club of Great Britain will publish its annual 'Industry Report' of data for the British ski market.
Avid observers of the scene will know that various numbers are obtainable from alternative sources. For winter 2013-4, the SCGB said "Not far off million mark" for the number of British skiers and boarders (they normally publish a specific figure - for winter 2012-3 it was "1.4 million", and the previous year it was "1,056,000).
Crystal Ski said "867,700" for winter 2013-4. Then, in February 2015, ABTA came up with a figure of 2.16 million for the same winter. So, essentially, you could choose who you wanted to believe.
In summary, for winter 2013-4, Crystal said 867,700, the SCGB said "Not far off million mark" and ABTA said 2.16 million.
The SCGB figures for the past 5 years have been:
2013-14: "Not far off million mark"
2012-13: 1.4 million
2011-12: 1,056,000
2010-11: 1,072,000
2009-10: 1,120,000
While we await the latest SCGB figure, here is a rear view of the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment (ERNIE), once used to generate Premium Bond numbers:
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
How hard can it be? Well, they could just count the numbers actually going on a package holiday to an Alpine resort and then factor in the numbers that buy a weekly ticket in Scotland. Surely that would be the simplest thing to do? Ok it won't count everyone and might count some folks two or three times but it would at least give a trend?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I love these sort of reports. To some extent it shows the difficulty of actually estimating values from surveys and the difficulty the press has in reporting the reliability of surveys. The pupblic opinion companies probably quote the reliability of their data to the clients (to sort of quote sir Humprey Appelby "well the reputable ones do - but there aren't many of those". http://youtube.com/v/G0ZZJXw4MTA) but this always gets ommited from the press releases.
Utter tosh, how did crystal or ABTA know where I skied last christmas? The only evidence of us leaving the country was three flight tickets to Orio Al Serio with hand luggage.
If our Government haven't got a clue how many illegal immigrants there are in the UK, how can SCGB or anyone else have a clue as to how many of us legals slip out of the country for a bit of a ski. Most people I know don't use tour operators any more, sometimes they drive, other times fly and the durations tend not to be a nice round week any more. Hotels and apartments don't seem to bother get my passport details like they used to either. Based on the above, SCGB seem to inflate the Crystal numbers massively and surely this just makes themselves look less and less relevant. If only 2% of the skiing population are members of the national club, why don't they just retire into a secret little society and stop "reaching out" as corporates like to say.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Accurate numbers and unbiased information about the UK snowsports industry, rather than opinion and PR hype, are increasingly hard to come by.
The Ski Club report is now in its third year and it has had some wildly varying figures but it is now settling down.
In 2013 it claimed 1.4m British people went skiing and yet in 2014 it was down to 1m.
Now it is up to 1.2m.
Not sure I'd agree that this is a 'settling down'. If one is to believe the SCGB figure of c.1 million from last year then 20% growth in skier numbers has occurred (if the 1.2 million figure is accurate). The huge fluctuation of SCGB data of the past 4 years, though, seems to stretch credibility ...
2014-15: 1.2 million
2013-14: "Not far off million mark"
2012-13: 1.4 million
2011-12: 1,056,000
2010-11: 1,072,000
2009-10: 1,120,000
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I was going to say that you need to get out more, but then I realized that I spent about 60 seconds of my life reading this and that in fact I too need to get out.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
count the legs and divide by 2
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@DrLawn,
Not sure this will encapsulate those amazing people who ski with only one, or no legs
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Bearing in mind that skiing in the UK is now a very mature market - availability of package tours has been strong for over 50 years - it seems surprising to me that the size of the market is subject to so much dubious measurement and reporting. I don't quite understand why the market research/reportage is being undertaken by an organisation (SCGB) which was founded as a non-trade body and which is funded by member (consumer) subscriptions.
There is a separate ski trade organisation called Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB).
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
DrLawn wrote:
count the legs and divide by 2
Clearly you've not heard of DSUK!!
Mind you, the speed of some of those guys and girls, I'm surprised not surprised you've missed them.
Used to watch a guy race at CFe with one leg, simply awesome
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
David.Googlesmith wrote:
Bearing in mind that skiing in the UK is now a very mature market - availability of package tours has been strong for over 50 years - it seems surprising to me that the size of the market is subject to so much dubious measurement and reporting. I don't quite understand why the market research/reportage is being undertaken by an organisation (SCGB) which was founded as a non-trade body and which is funded by member (consumer) subscriptions.
There is a separate ski trade organisation called Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB).
There are no valid reasons I can think of why the SCGB shouldn't look closely at and report on the industry.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Count the heads and divide by 1
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
nope still wont work as the brainless boarders and park rats would be missed out
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@PaulC1984, I knew there was a flaw. Instructors have really big heads too, must count double.
Most industry surveys are done for PR purposes and to justify top jobs and remuneration. Ski business will struggle to stay where it is as the population gets older.