Organization news : Outdoor Foundation Topline Report Lists Fastest Growing and Shrinking Outdoor Sports

The Outdoor Foundation reports that more Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2012 than in any year since it began measuring participation in 2006, although participation declined in some snow and river sports, reflecting the impact of one of the warmest and driest winters in U.S. history.

In its annual topline report on U.S. participation in outdoor activities, The Outdoor Foundation estimates a record 141.9 million participants got outdoors last year, up from 141.1 million participants in 2011. In addition, outdoor participants were more active in 2012 than in past years, taking an average of 87.4 outdoor outings per participant for a total 12.4 billion outings overall.

Participation rates by age remained relatively stable year-over-year in 2012, although rates are still significantly lower for 18-24 year olds than they were in 2007. Young participants are also still less diverse than the nation as a whole.

In 2012, 71 percent of youth and young adult participants were non-Hispanic Caucasian, while 63 percent of all Americans were non-Hispanic Caucasian. The survey did detect a significant uptake among African Americans/Blacks, where participation increase from 7 to 11 percent.
From 2008 to 2012, participation grew the most in:

• Triathlon (Non-Traditional/Off-Road), up 40 percent to 1.44 million
• Adventure Racing, up 35 percent to 2.17 million
• Triathlon (Traditional/Road), up 30 percent to 2.18 millon
• Telemarking, up 23 percent to 2.77 million;
• Skiing (Freestyle), up 22 percent to 5.36 million
• Boardsaling/Windsurfing, up 18 percent to 1.59 million
• Hunting (Handgun), up 17 percent to 3.55 million
• Kayaking (Whitewater), up 13 percent to 1.88 million
• Bicycling (BMX), up 12 percent to 2.18 million
• Kayaking (Sea Touring), up 12 percent to 2.45 million

Participation diminished the most in:

• Skiing (Alpine/Downhill), down 8 percent to 8.24 million
• Skiing (Cross-Country), down 7 percent to 3.31 million
• Rafting, down 5 percent to 3.69 million
• Snorkeling, down 5 percent to 8.01 million
• Camping (RV), down 4 percent to 15.1 million

Results of the survey were taken in January and February of 2013 from a total of 42,363 online interviews with a nationwide sample of individuals and households from the US Online Panel of over 1 million people operated by Synovate/IPSOS. A total of 15,770 individual and 26,593 household surveys were completed. The total panel is maintained to be representative of the US population for
people ages 6 and older. Over sampling of ethnic groups took place to boost response from typically under responding groups.

Source Outdoor Foundation through SportOneSource