Spain Ski Gear & Equipment Market Overview, 2028

Skiing evolved as the most viable mode of transportation in locations where snow could accumulate for months without melting. Skiing as a sport was introduced to the European continent by the Norwegians in the nineteenth century, and it gained popularity at the start of the twentieth century. Winter sports in Spain date back more than a century. The earliest official date of the start of skiing in Spain is December 25, 1908, as a result of the first skiing at Rasos de Peguera. The bulk of ski resorts are located in the Spanish Pyrenees, a mountain range that separates France and Spain. There are around 20 ski areas in the Pyrenees, so there is plenty of variety. Other ski areas in Spain include the Cantabrian Mountains (6 places), Sistema Central (5 locations), the Iberian Mountains (3 locations), and the Sierra Nevada, which has one ski resort and is Europe's most southern ski resort. During the winter, the vast majority of visitors come from Spain, with approximately 34% coming from Madrid and 24% from the Basque and Catalan regions. A further 15% come from France, which is only across the border. However, visitors from much further afield do not now account for a major share of Val d'Aran's tourism. During the rest of the year, visitors are largely from Catalonia, while visitors from further afield, particularly France, are increasing. Every year, there are more,Kirwen remarked. The majority visit the mid-Pyrenees or the southwest of France. Indeed, the rising interest from the French has led to Baqueira creating offices in Bordeaux and Toulouse.

According to the research report "Spain Ski Gear and Equipment Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the market is anticipated to add USD  17.96 Million by 2028. Increased government initiatives to encourage participation in outdoor activities such as skiing and other snow sports, as well as an increase in the number of ski resorts, are some of the primary factors driving increased sales of ski gear and equipment throughout the region. Globally, the number of women participating in various activities, notably winter sports such as skiing, has increased in recent years. Vendors are introducing women's ski gear and equipment. Though women ski at a lower rate than men, manufacturers are playing a significant part in encouraging women by supplying specialized equipment designed specifically for them, such as slender ankles and size differences. Furthermore, major providers separate their products by categorising them into tiers such as intermediate, advanced, and professional. Coalition Snow, for example, is a significant vendor that manufactures women's outdoor recreational equipment such as skis and snowboards. As a result, the increasing adoption of ski gear and equipment by women signals a rise in market growth. Supermarkets and hypermarkets dominated the industry in terms of distribution channels due to the discounted products and options available. Snowinn, Patrick Sport, Pic Negre, and Decathlon Madrid Fuencarral are some of the well-known retailers in Spain. Furthermore, due to increased internet penetration, convenience, and so on, the online segment is predicted to grow at a rapid pace.

In Europe, the Pyrenees are second only to the Alps for good skiing. The Spanish Pyrenees offer a wide range of ski resorts to suit every taste. Whilst perhaps not as well-known as other areas of Europe, they have excellent snow, offer great value, and are easy to get to. The Pyrenees mountain range is separated into three regions: the Aragonese Pyrenees, the Catalan Pyrenees, and the Andorran Pyrenees. Some of the top ski resorts in Spain include Baqueira-Beret, Formigal-Panticosa, Sierra Nevada-Pradollano, Valdezcaray, Navacerrada, and La Molina-Masella. Snow falls in Spain from December to April, with the most falling in April. December is the first month of winter, and cities such as Madrid and Lugo experience harsh cold with temperatures below 3 °C. January is the coldest month in the country, with temperatures below 3 degrees Celsius and mountainous regions coated in snow.

The altitude range of ski resorts is an essential element influencing the presence of natural snow. Using the generally used 100-day rule, Abegg et al. calculated the natural snow-reliability altitude limits for the alpine ski regions of Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy. This stipulates that a ski resort must have a snowpack depth of at least 30 cm for a total of 100 days each season to operate winter recreation activities and be possibly viable. As a result, as mentioned, the degree of altitude required to ensure the practise of alpine skiing varies according to the climate of the various regions. It is assumed that a ski resort is considered profitable if the higher half of its altitude range stays above the altitude limit defined for each type of climate. Results show that the altitude limits rise by 150 m for every 1 °C increase in temperature. Steiger and Abegg updated the latter results through the development of a sensitivity assessment of Austrian ski areas to climate change, estimating a shift in the altitude limit of 250 m per 1 °C increase.

In recent decades, Spanish resorts have made major investments in snowmaking technologies. La Molina in the Catalan Pyrenees was the first resort in Spain to use snow cannons in 1985, and the development of artificial snow systems has accelerated since then. Snowmaking can be expensive for resorts due to the necessity to perform many costly procedures, such as the building of water supply infrastructure and the purchase and installation of snow guns. Estimates for La Molina suggest an average artificial snow production and cost of 625,305 m3 and 553,773 € from the 2006–2007 season through the 2014–2015 season. Energy usage, maintenance, labor, snow grooming equipment operation, and water consumption are all cost categories. This metric can be related to improvements in snowmaking technology. This could include the ability to create artificial snow at higher ambient temperatures while using less water and energy. Snowmaking technology has advanced significantly during the last few decades. Cannons can now produce snow at temperatures of 1.5 °C or higher, compared to temperatures of 4 °C in the 1990s. Another form of innovation that is already in use at some resorts is the use of automated snowmaking equipment, which allows for the production of snow to take advantage of the best meteorological conditions.

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Manmayi Raval

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The Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation (RFEDI) is a private, non-profit organisation that promotes, organizes, and regulates Spanish winter sports. It supports and promotes the training of Spanish winter sports athletes to a high international level, attaining the best possible results in international events with the major involvement of the Spanish Higher Sports Council (CSD). These outcomes improve Spain's image by making our country's snow renowned through the Spain Snow brand. The RFEDI is a member of several international federations and organisations (FIS, OPA, IBU, IFSS), as well as the Spanish Sports Association ADESP, and works in collaboration with the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) to prepare Spanish athletes for the Olympic competition.

As per the World Bank, 47.33 million people are living in Spain, including 23.29 million men and 24.04 million women. An estimated 30.98 million people, or the majority of the population, are between the ages of 15 and 65. 38.34 million People live in urban regions, compared to people who live in rural areas. According to the World Bank, Spain is expected to have a GDP of USD 1.43 trillion, an inflation rate of 3.1%, and a per capita income of USD 30,115.7. According to certain statistics, over 2.3 million individuals in Spain are skiers, which means they participate in skiing. It is one of the top countries in terms of the number of skiers in the country. Furthermore, rising per capita income has a significant effect on the development of the country's skiing market.

Considered in this report
• Geography: Spain
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

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Aspects covered in this report
• Spain ski gear & equipment market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product:
• Skies/Ski Snowboards
• Ski Footwear/Ski Boots and Bindings
• Ski Poles/Ski Sticks
• Ski Helmets
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Gloves/Ski Mittens
• Ski Clothing/Apparel
• Others

By Distribution Channel:
• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online Stores
• Other Distribution Channels

By End-User:
• Men
• Women
• Kids

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and analyzing government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by conducting telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the ski-gear equipment industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.