Extremely Superior Inline Skating Statistics
Wednesday April 23, 2008
While we worry about inline skating participation, either for recreation, fitness or at specific events, inline skating is currently at the top of the list of extreme sports participants and beats out a few other sports, too.
More people participated in inline skating in 2006 than played touch football, and there are more skateboarders than slow-pitch softball players, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Here are some 2006 SGMA sports participation rates for people age 6 and older:
More people participated in inline skating in 2006 than played touch football, and there are more skateboarders than slow-pitch softball players, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Here are some 2006 SGMA sports participation rates for people age 6 and older:
- Inline skating...13.1 million
- Touch football...12 million
- Skateboarding...11.1 million
- Mountain biking...7.0 million
- Slow-pitch softball... 8.6 million
- Climbing...5.2 million
- Paintball...5.0 million
- Wakeboarding...3.5 million
- Surfing...2.3 million
- BMX bicycling...2.1 million
- Roller hockey...1.3 million
- Boardsailing/windsurfing...1.1 million
Comments
Interesting news Carlessa on inline
participation…..it is a shame though
if the sport begins to be seen as extreme instead of the fun,wholesome,
aerobically oriented fitness exercise
that it can and should be for most
skaters.
yes that is right. but why it is not in Olympic yet?!!!
I will dig around in the SGMA reports and see if our sport is included in other classifications, too. It’s nice to be noticed, but not stereotyped into one category.
I’ll blog Olympics rather than squeeze it in here…
This is similar to figures we used to get passed along to us at IISA years ago. This current number does reflect a significant drop compared to 10 years ago (maybe by as much as 1/2). Also keep in mind that this does not reflect what the SGMA terms as active participation, which would be those who join in a given activity more than 18 times per year. This survey usually covers those who participated 2X or more in a survey year, and the vast numbers of inline skate participants skew towards recreational rink skaters.
To be honest and realistic, we shouldn’t hold our breath for Olympic medal status until participation among fitness/marathon skaters reaches this multi-million figure just for the US.