The U.S. based Outdoor Industry Association released its annual outdoor activity participation data for 2010. The OIA tracks participation trends and provides annual growth rates by activity and age group. As with any data such as this, I’m always curious how risk focused activities fair in relation to less risk oriented activities. Think mountaineering and whitewater versus trail running and bird watching.
Demographers such as David Foote (Boom, Bust and Echo fame) have long argued that as a society ages, it becomes more risk averse. Logically, this should extend to its choices in recreational activities.
I re-crunched OIA’s numbers to come up with a five year average change in participation (as opposed to OIA’s one year data), and ordered them by amount of change, looking for a possible pattern with risk focused activities (RFA). Specifically, I was looking at whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, rafting, climbing and scuba diving. These activities differ from the others in that confronting risk and risk assessment are both required and continual, beyond the inherent risks themselves.
Activity
|
2006; in 000's
|
2010; in 000's
|
5yr Average Change in Participation
| |
Triathlon (Traditional/Road)
|
640
|
1978
|
209.06%
| |
Kayaking (White Water)
|
828
|
1842
|
122.46%
|
RFA
|
Kayaking (Sea/Touring)
|
1136
|
2144
|
88.73%
|
RFA
|
Adventure Racing
|
725
|
1339
|
84.69%
| |
Boardsailing/Windsurfing
|
938
|
1617
|
72.39%
| |
Snowshoeing *4 yr avg
|
2400
|
3823
|
59.29%
| |
Kayaking (Recreational)
|
4134
|
6465
|
56.39%
| |
Bicycling (BMX)
|
1655
|
2369
|
43.14%
| |
Climbing (Traditional/Ice/Mtnring)
|
1586
|
2198
|
38.59%
|
RFA
|
Skiing (Freestyle) *4 yr avg
|
2817
|
3647
|
29.46%
| |
Skiing (Cross-Country) *4 yr avg
|
3530
|
4530
|
28.33%
| |
Running/Jogging
|
38559
|
49408
|
28.14%
| |
Rafting
|
3609
|
4460
|
23.58%
|
RFA
|
Birdwatching More Than 1/4 Mile From Home/Vehicle
|
11070
|
13339
|
20.50%
| |
Snowboarding *4 yr avg
|
6841
|
8196
|
19.81%
| |
Backpacking Overnight
|
7067
|
8349
|
18.14%
| |
Canoeing
|
9154
|
10553
|
15.28%
| |
Trail Running
|
4558
|
5136
|
12.68%
| |
Skiing (Alpine/Downhill) *4 yr avg
|
10362
|
11504
|
11.02%
| |
Hiking (Day)
|
29863
|
32496
|
8.82%
| |
Scuba Diving
|
2965
|
3153
|
6.34%
|
RFA
|
Bicycling (Mountain)
|
6751
|
7161
|
6.07%
| |
Bicycling (Road/Paved)
|
38457
|
39320
|
2.24%
| |
Climbing (Sport/Indoor/Boulder)
|
4728
|
4770
|
0.89%
|
RFA
|
Hunting (Rifle)
|
11242
|
10150
|
-9.71%
| |
Fishing (Fly)
|
6071
|
5478
|
-9.77%
| |
Fishing (Freshwater/Other)
|
43100
|
38860
|
-9.84%
| |
Skateboarding
|
10130
|
6808
|
-32.79%
|
*all data from OIA’s 2011Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report
No pattern is evident, at least by my definition of risk focused activities. Even as activity ‘groups’, there is variation. Both whitewater and sea kayaking participation is way up (as is recreational kayaking) supporting a group trend, but climbing sees a rise in mountaineering and a fall in sport/gym climbing. In fact, sport/gym climbing at 0.89% has substantially shrunk in participation when compared to population growth (5% over the same period).
This leads me to guess that presence of risk is not a determining factor in recreational activity choice. There is no trend towards or away from risk focused activities (nor even towards ‘thrill seeking’ activities for that matter). Other social cues are playing a greater role attracting new participants to growth activities (triathlon, whitewater and sea kayaking) and away from others (skateboarding, fishing, hunting).
The Outdoor Industry Association’s full document can be found here: