The snowboard manufacturing industry "is going through a
shrinkage," as the number of snowboard brands has declined
from 239 in '96 to 175 today despite an increase in
participants and interest, according to Penny Parker of the
DENVER POST. Parker: "[I]ndustry observers said they
consider the consolidation a natural response to over-
saturation. ... What happened? Like in other industries
before snowboarding, the small companies were either
swallowed by the bigger players or simply folded." Tim
Wrisley, Dir of Sales & Marketing for publisher TransWorld
Media: "Snowboard companies have a great image but many of
the smaller ones had a business structure that was so
primitive, they couldn't survive" (DENVER POST, 12/4).
WILL OLYMPICS LIGHT A FLAME? In DC, Amy Shipley examines
the popularity of snowboarding and its initial foray as an
Olympic sport in Nagano. InterZine Productions' SOL/
Snowboarding Online Editor Lee Crane said that statistics
show that snowboarding "appeals to a young, largely male
audience that also enjoys mountain biking." An online poll
of 16,000 snowboarders showed 83% are between 12- and 24-
years-old, 90% are single and 48% also participate in
mountain biking (WASHINGTON POST, 12/5).
