the winter preference order (combined first, second,
or third choices). Preference for sledding or tobog-
ganing is somewhat positively associated with partici-
pation in swimming, camping, hiking, picnicking,
driving for pleasure and sightseeing, although the
association is not great in some instances. On the
other hand, the preference for sledding or tobogganing
is negatively associated with winter fishing, boating,
and hunting. The strongest association appears to be
with hiking, where 11 percent of those who hike zero
times during the period prefer sledding compared with
41 percent preferring it who hiked 3 or more times
during the period (table 3.12),

Two percent of the population would like to engage
in sledding or tobogganing but do not for some reason.
Among the reasons they gave for not engaging, 42
percent mention facilities are too crowded, inadequate
or distant. This is the highest percentage mentioning
this factor for the winter, although snow skiing (39
percent mentioning facilities) is almost as high. Other
than facilities, ability to sled is mentioned by 21
percent of the population, while 12 percent mention
lack of time and 12 percent mention equipment.
Money as a limitation on activity is mentioned by only
2 percent of the population. From this one may infer
that the provision of facilities at locations convenient
to young people’s homes will increase participation
(table 3.16),

SNOW SKIING

Snow skiing in winter is an activity of only 2 percent
of the population 12 years of age and over. Four
percent of the population engage in the Northeastern
States, compared with 2 percent in the North Central
and West, The percentage participating in the South
is near zero (table 3.01).

For the Nation as a whole, the population engages
0.06 times per person during the winter, which also
is the same as the participation rate for the North
Central States. In the Northeast, however, the partic-
ipation rate is more than twice this (0.16). These
seasonal rates are shown (table 3.01).

19

Some preference (first, second and third choice) is
expressed for snow skiing by 6 percent of the popula-
tion, for the winter months. This places snow skiing
ninth in the preference order, quite a low position.
A preference for snow skiing in the winter is partially
associated with winter participation in swimming,
camping, and to some extent hiking and picnicking.
The preference for snow skiing is negatively asso-
ciated with boating participation (table 3.12).

For the winter period 12 percent of the population
would like to engage in snow skiing, although they do
not engage in snow skiing at present, This is the
largest proportion desiring any activity for the winter
period who do not already engage in it. The most
frequently mentioned reason for not engaging is that
facilities are too crowded, inadequate, or distant
(39 percent so mentioning), Among the other reasons
mentioned, the lack of ability (22 percent) is the most
important reason, although, lack of time (14 percent)
also was mentioned. The lack of money was mentioned
by 9 percent of those who would like to engage in snow
skiing but do not at present. Consequently, it would
appear that the provision of facilities near population
centers would do more to increase participation in
snow skiing than anything else. This applies only to
those areas having the appropriate climate for this
activity (table 3.16). Artificially creating ski runs
holds promise of satisfying part of this need. The
participation rate in snow skiing is not large enough
to identify the demographic characteristics of
skiiers.1/

ve ; ; os gupi
Voter sources provide some information on tais subject:

Theodore A. Farwell, Jr., William C. Estes, Terrence K. Hays,
Jack 4. iicCullov,i, “Consumer Preference in
March 1961, mimeoyrazhed, o privately circulated marketing re-
search report. Proyram development aspects are reported with o
bibliograpny, in “Winter Facilities Development Committ
report to the 1961 New Hampshire Legislature, Senate Joint Re-
solution 1, Apr. 19, 1961. Concord, New Hampshire: State
Plannin; and Development Commission, 1961.



CHAPTER THREE

WINTER SPORTS

Winter sports are popular with the younger popula-
tion—those 12 to 17 years of age. While these activi-
ties are primarily concentrated in the Northeast and
North Central States, as measured by days participa-
tion per person, some parts of the West and South
have sites of heavy participation, although the overall
per capita participation is quite low. Ice skating, sled-
ding, and tobogganing are engaged in considerably
more frequently than snow skiing, The latter is more
strenuous and requires more ideal conditions; hence
there are fewer occasions. The survey data for
analyzing demographic characteristics of snow skiers
are not sufficient for analysis.

Since each activity rests upon the existence of
either ice or snow, increases in participation may be
expected only in areas with these conditions. The only
obvious basis for increasing participation among
young people is through providing facilities near
their homes.

Snow skiing, in contrast, is an activity that young
adults will travel distances to engage in over a week-
end. Consequently, increases in participation may
well be related to the cost of facilities and the exist-
ence of appropriate facilities within convenient dis-
tances from population centers,

In addition to these activities being heavily partic-
ipated in by youth, and being concentrated in the
Northeast and North Central States, participation
appears to be associated with income and availability.
Rates of participation increase with rurality, and
with income.

Being winter activities, these sports were not
included in the factor analysis reported in appendix
A. Because of the background characteristics of those
who engage, however, they are here presented next to
the youth activities.

Depending upon the skill of the participant, various
facilities are required for snow skiing and toboggan-
ing, but it probably is fair to say that most of the
activity takes place on natural slopes if the participant
is young. This means that proximity of residence to
a natural resource becomes a primary requisite for
participation.

ICE SKATING

Ice skating was engaged in by 7 percent of the
population during the’ winter 1960-61 (December
1960-February 1961). There were 0.52 occasions per
person during this period for the population 12 years
of age and over. However, the participation was
almost altogether in the Northeast and North Central
States, the rates in these regions being approximately
one occasion per person during the winter (tables
2.01 and 3.01),

Males and females participated at about the same
rate (0.56 and 0.47 respectively). Participants are
almost altogether 12 to 17 years old although males

16

participate fairly heavily in the 18-24 agé class,
Participation declines with age. Within the 12-17
year age group, however, participation is quite heavy
(about 2.5 occasions per person), These observations
apply to the Northeast and North Central States,
participation being negligible in the South and West
{table 3.02.19).

The relationship between age and sex set forth
above is the same by size of place of residence as by
region (table 3.03.19).

In the Northeast and North Central States, the
highest rate of participation is among the population
in cities of less than 1 million. It is lowest in the
largest cities (over 1 million), Participation rates
seem to be low in rural farm territory, but our
sample size is insufficient to explore the rural farm
outside of SMA rates for activities with few adherents.
The slight variation by size of place of residence may
reflect unavailability at locations convenient to use in
the larger cities, The combined rates for the North-
east and North Central regions for December 1960-
February 1961, arranged in order of decreasing
urbanization, are presented below:

SMA urban, over 1 million, . . oe 1,51
SMA urban, under 1 million. . oe 2.93
Other urban........ on ae 3.00
Within SMA, rural ... os ae 2,12
Non-SMA, Rural nonfarm. . . . on 2,23
Non-SMA, rural farm... .....20.56. 2/15

1/Northeast omitted because of insufficient sample,

Within the male-12-17 year age group, participation
increases from 2.21 for urban places in SMA over
1 million, to 3,33 for the small urban place not in
SMA, and, then, declines to 1.95 for rural population,
Thus, with age constant, we have a variation by size
of place of residence which may be associated with
availability. The pattern for females aged 12 to 17 is
somewhat similar, her highest participation (5.39
days per person) being in SMA cities under 1 million.
Variations by size of place of residence for other age
groups are similar but the rates are low and conse-
quently vary (table 3.03.19).

The combined Northeast and North Central rates
indicate that participation steps up fairly consistently
from the low to the high income classes. The rate
per person for income of less than $1,500 annually is
0.8 for the Northeast and North Central States com-
bined. The association between age and income (see
appendix C table 1 for the summer survey) is respon-
sible for part of the income-participation correlation,
tending to depress rates in the two lower income
groups and to increase rates slightly in the highest
Income class. Irrespective of these age differences,
however, participation increases with income (table
3.02.19).



‘The combined rates for the winter for the Northeast
and the North Central States, by annual family income,
are presented below.

Under $1,500..... 0.80

$ 1,500 to $ 2,999 : 73
$ 3,000 to $ 4,499 . . . -90
$ 4,500 to $ 5,999 . 2.23
$ 6,000 to $ 7,999 : 2.22
$ 8,000 to $ 9,999 : 3,22
$10,000 to $14,999 . 2.28
$15,000 and over . : 3.90

The relationship with income is not as clear cut when
the entire national sample is considered according to
size of place of residence (table 3.03.19) For the
population over 1 million, the rate increases to the
$6,000 income group, remains fairly constant to the
highest income group when it about doubles, For the
rural population, there is somewhat greater variation,
but nevertheless an increase from the lowest income
group to approximately 1 per person for the $8,000 to
$9,999 income group; for the rural population there-
after, the rate is quite low. Within the SMA’s under
1 million, the highest income group evidences the
highest participation rate, but there is considerable
variation among the other income groups. The same is
true for small urban cities, except that the highest
participation group is the $6,000 to $7,999 income class.
Such variations are partly accounted for by variations in
larger income, and age variations by size of place of
residence. Coupled with the preceeding discussion,
they suggest that lower income groups may participate
somewhat more frequently in the smaller cities than
in the larger ones (table 3.03.19).

Nonwhites participate about one-third as frequently
as whites in the Northeast, and about seven-tenths as
frequently as whites in the North Central States
(table 3.02.19). The nonwhite female goes ice skating
about as frequently as the nonwhite male, Thisis also
true for the white male and female (table 3.03.19).

Within SMA, the white male and female rates are
approximately equal, but the female participates about
half as frequently in small cities and in rural areas
as the male (table 3.03.19),

Years of schooling among those 25 years of age
and over appears to have little effect upon ice skating
(table 3.02.19).

Among the employed population 14 years of age and
over, 5 percent went ice skating one or more times
during the winter. The rate is somewhat higher in the
Northeast among clerical and sales workers and in
the North Central States among professional- technical
and operatives and kindred workers, The rates are
generally low among other population categories
(table 3.0219).

White-collar workers who ice skate are more likely
to reside in urban places of 50,000 or more, whereas
laborers who ice skate are more likely to reside'in
small cities (not in SMA). Otherwise there appears
to be little association of occupation by size of place
of residence with skating days per person. Since ice
skating is primarily a young person’s activity, rates
are low among the labor force (table 3.03.19).

17

Ice skating and health

Both male and female, aged 12 to 17 years, who
report their health ‘‘excellent’? participate more
frequently than those who report their ‘health “‘good’’,
For older ages, there is a tendency for participation
to decline as health is rated poorer, but these partic-
ipation levels also are low (table 3.04.19),

Similarly, for younger ages, participation is some-
what greater among those who report no impairments,
compared with those with impairments, The 18-44
group, with lower levels of participation, have the
same rates for the three impairments classes (table
3.04.19).

‘The percentage of the population 12 years of age
and over expressing some preference for ice skating
(combining first, second, and third choices) is 18
percent, exceeded only by driving for pleasure (19
percent) for the winter. Thus, ice skating is highly
favored in areas and at times when it can be engaged
in, As a winter preference, ice skating is negatively
associated with participation in fishing and boating,
but positively associated with participation in hiking
and driving for pleasure. The association is strongest
between a preference for ice skating andparticipation
in hiking, where 50 percent of those who participate
in hiking 3 or more times during the season prefer
ice skating as an outdoor activity (table 3.12),

About 7 percent of the population would like to
engage in ice skating but do not for some reason, The
2 principal reasons are lack of ability (34 percent)
and facilities being too crowded, inadequate, or dis-
tant (35 percent), The next most frequently mentioned
reason for not ice skating is lack of time, Although
lack of equipment was mentioned by 8 percent, lack
of money was mentioned by only 1 percent, The one-
third mentioning lack of skill or ability is the largest
proportion for any winter activity, and the largest
number indicating inability as a reason for not partic-
ipating. For example, $4 percent gave lack of ability
as a Treason for not participating in tennis among the
3 percent who prefer tennis during the spring. The
34 percent indicating lack of ability keeping them from
ice skating among the 7 percent who would like to
engage, represent, of course, about 2 times more
individuals, (See tables 3.16 and 4.16.)

Ice skating is engaged in for brief periods of time,
By and large this requires that the pond be not too
distant from the residence. Traveling long distances
to ice skate under winter conditions does not appear
to be a possibility for a very large number of skating
enthusiasts, Being a vigorous activity, engaged in by
young people during restricted periods of time during
the winter, ice skating probably will not increase
greatly. In areas subject to sufficiently intense cold
during the winter months a program of instruction
would undoubtedly be well received by the young
people. Such programs might be tied into the school
or citywide recreation programs. However, adults
are not likely to respond in large numbers to such a
program. Indoor ice skating may have a more uni-
versa] appeal throughout the Nation, however.



SLEDDING AND TOBOGGANING

These activities are almost exclusively winter
activities (December 1960- February 1961). Nine
percent of the pupulation reported that they engaged
one or more times during this period. This percent-
age, however, is 15 percent for the Northeast and 11
percent for the North Central States. The South and
West engaged much less frequently (table 3.01). Our
analysis considers only the winter rates,

During the winter season, 0.44 occasions per
person are engaged in by the United States as a whole,
The rate per person is 1.05 for the Northeast and 0.37
for the North Central States. The rate in the West is
only 0.09 days per person (table 3.02.20).

Sledding or tobogganing is almost exclusively a
young people’s activity, the rate being 2.82 occasions
per person among the male population 12 to 17 years
of age and 1.38 among the female population of the
same ages. The participation among older ages is
negligible, being less than 0.16 occasions per person
for the United States as a whole during winter.
Although rates are higher in the Northeastern region,
this general male-female-age pattern is followed in
each region (table 3.02.20), The same is true for size
of place of residence classes, the youngest age group
participating heavier by far (table 3.03.20).

In general, it appears that the lower two income
groups participate much less, nationwide, than the
higher income classes. Part of this effect is due to
the smaller proportion of younger aged persons in
these income classes. Within each region there ap-
pears to be considerable variation by income, both in
days per person participation and in percent partici-
pating (table 3.02.20).

The relationship is somewhat similar for income
classes by size of place of residence. Above the
$3,000 income class, the rural resident participates
more frequently than others to the $10,000 level. For
the two higher income groups, the urban SMA popula-
tion has the highest participation rates. Generally,
however, the variation by income according to size of
place of residence is not great (table 3.03.20).

In the North Central region, white and nonwhite
rates are about the same (0.37 and 0.42 occasions per
person), However, in the Northeast, the nonwhite
participation rate (0.13) is quite low compared with
the white (1.12), Nonwhite participation in other
regions is near zero (table 3.02.20).

By size of place of residence, the nonwhite partici-
pation is highest (0.57) in the small urban place and
lowest in the cities, 50,000 to 1 million (0.01), For
the Nation as a whole, the nonwhite participation rate
is about one-fifth the white rate. Nonwhite females
Participate about one-fifth as frequently as nonwhite
males. On the other hand, white females participate
about half as frequently as white males. The white
female rate is lower than white males in the large
city and rural territory, but about equals the white
male rate in other size of place of residence classes.
Nonwhite female rates are near zero or insufficient
for adequate comparison (table 3.03.20).

Sledding and tobogganing, for the Northeast and
North Central regions combined, increase as one
moves from large cities out toward rural territory,

18

the peak participation rate being among the rural
population near large cities (that is, within standard
metropolitan areas), The rural nonfarm rate is slightly
lower and the rural farm rate cannot be expressed
because of insufficient participation. It is clear,
however, that within the regions having an appropriate
climate, participation rates are definitely associated
with size of place of residence, increasing as the
environment becomes more rural (table 3.02.20). The
winter participation days per person for sledding and
tobogganing, Northeast and North Central combined,
are shown below:

Total 115

Over 1 million. . 92
Under 1 million . 1,06
Other urban... . . 1,29
SMA rural,.... . 2.62
Rural nonfarm, . . 2.09
Rural farm... . . tees an

1/Omitted because of insufficient sample.

By years of schooling among the population 25 years
of age and over, the rate of participation for the
Nation as a whole (0.13) is too small to provide data
for analysis, There appears to be a tendency for the
rate to increase with years of schooling, but the rates
are low and the variation by education is small (table
3.02.20).

Six percent of the employed population engaged in
sledding or tobogganing during the winter. This figure
increases to 11 percent for the Northeast, highest of
any region, There is little variation among occupa-
tions. The rate is highest among laborers (0.42), and
within this group, the Northeastern States show the
highest participation level {1.18 for laborers). Labor-
ers living in rural territory have the highest rate
(0.85). (See table 3.03.20.) Since the participants are
chiefly in the younger ages, occupation is nota signif-
icant variable to consider.

Participation level in sledding or tobogganing is
approximately the same whether the person assesses
his health as excellent or good. This is true for both
male and female, Within the 12 to 17 year age group,
participation is higher for those rating their health
good than those who rate their health excellent, but
this may be due to sampling variation. For older age
groups the participation level is quite low (table
3.04.20).

Among younger ages, participation is somewhat
greater among those who have impairments than those
who do not have impairments. But the difference is
not great, For the whole population, the participation
level declines with an increase in impairments. It
appears that persons with impairments find ways to
engage fairly heavily in sledding or tobogganing,
particularly those aged 12 through 17. Unfortunately,
we have no information on the nature of the impair-
ment (table 3.04.20}.

Pref

ences

Twelve percent of the population in the winter
survey expressed a preference for sledding or tobog-
ganing. This places sledding or toboggaining sixth in