Statistics

In 2002-2003, our web site traffic began to level off ... or so we thought. This season (2003-2004), traffic numbers exploded as the early snowfalls markedly drove up interest. For just the core months, December-February, we averaged over 4,850 visitors daily, logging 437,000 visits for the period along with 2.3 million page views and 10.8 million hits. The trail reports continued to shine with over 3,500 logged since mid-October 2003.

We received over 900 survey responses this season, and are very grateful to all of those participants who took the time to fill out the survey. The information is invaluable in helping us with future expansion, as well as attracting sponsors/advertisers.

Profile

Demographics

Demographics have changed only slightly from previous years. In particular, female numbers were down a couple points this season and there were higher numbers of participants from Illinois and Wisconsin.

On a more technical side, we noticed a huge jump in high speed access (only 40% had it two years ago, now its 64%) and more than half reported they owned a digital camera (but we still receive very few photos?).

Experience

Based on the survey participants, the experience numbers remained essentially the same as last reporting. More than 50% consider themselves expert skiers, and over 50% say they classical ski half the time or more.

Trails

 

Numbers Breakdown
	Favorite Birkie Trail 12% Giants Ridge 9% Murphy-Hanrehan 5% Telemark 4% Most frequent Elm Creek 8% Como 8% Hyland Lake6% Theodore Wirth 5% Best grooming ABR 11% Elm Creek 10% Birkie Trail 8% Baker Park 8% New Elm Creek 7% Wolverine 5% Theodore Wirth 4% ABR 4% Blue Hills 3% Trail pass 72% Ski outside North America 25%

Lodging

Telemark continues to be cited as the favorite lodging, but Maplelag jumps up to second place this season. Some other interesting notes:
- NE Minnesota had 40% of the lodging favorites
- Participants who reported staying at a lodging member was up 13% this season.

Dining

This was a new category, and one of those we left open to free responses. That also means we got a tremendously wide range of answers, many of which were difficult to classify into a single choice or category. For the question on your favorite place to eat, the top specific choices were:
- Subway
- Coop's Pizza, and
- Famous Dave's BBQ

Racing

City of Lakes Loppet, after just their second season, has pushed itself up to the third most popular racing event. Distances over 25K were by far the most popular. And, looking at the results of the question on what factors play the biggest role in making a race decision, it is clear there is no single dominant influence.

Equipment

The equipment numbers have some very interesting stories behind the numbers. Fast Wax continues to climb in popularity, now gathering 25% of the skiers polled. However, if you look outside of the Minnesota respondents, then Toko comes in stronger. Gear West and Finn Sisu continue to dominate the favorite store category, with New Moon still very popular, especially outside of the metro area (in Minnesota, Hoigaards moves up to third easily). One other interesting note: In looking at age groups, New Moon was much more popular with older skiers (average age 45) while Gear West had a younger profile (average 35).

Training

No big surprises here. Cycling and running remain the favorites for training, while nearly 70% say they own a pair of rollerskis.

Website

More than 50% of our web site referrals come from people like you -- friends, family, coaches, that spread the news by word of mouth. Thanks! And 60% said they visit the site daily, with nearly all those surveyed saying they stop in at least weekly if not more frequently. The Trails and Racing section are the primary resources.

Comments

• "I think your website is fantastic. I've visited quite a few new ski areas this year because of it. I also like to read what the conditions are like at the trails before I head out for a ski. Keep up the great work."
  
  
• "For 3 years, this site has been as important a factor as anything else - magazines, books, just meeting other people - in my improvement at, and my continually increasing enjoyment of nordic skiing. It's almost as if you've brought a community of people together here that I seldom feel a part of in other other forum. I wouldn't have you change a thing. Thanks for providing a great service."
  
  
• "Stuck in this section of Maine with few other skiers, the web site helps connect me with the rest of the ski world. While the Maine Winter Sports Center is currently running the World Cup, we are 4 or 5 hours drive time from their trails, races and training opportunities. ...
  I enjoy the personal interviews and journals of various skiers. Equipment reviews are important. I heard about Toko Helix wax from your web site and have used it with great success. Keep up the good work. I do buy online from some of your featured shops."
  
  
• "Really like the trail updates, it is good to know from actual skiers what the conditions of grooming and snow are. The pictures are nice when available, but I don't yet own a digital camera so not able to contribute this way.
  I like the special interest stories in the emails you send out. Nice to see local people involved in the sport get recognized. Also nice to have the international results of ski team linked so we can all be informed even if we don't have cable or satelite TV.
  This site provides a great service to sking community, please keep up the great work! Having this as a benefit of WEB almost makes up for all the trashy emails that come through in normal use."
  
  
• "... don't like ski passes. where did the ski pass money go during our snowless winters? i purposely go to trail where i won't get checked for the pass. what the people's republic of three rivers hennepin parks did this year requiring two passes is insane! ..."
  
  
• "I like to see how you train and race in USA. I also like to watch pictures from races. I am a XC coach and it is interresting to see the peoples level. " (from Valle, Norway)
  
  
• "I check out SkinnySki.com BEFORE I have coffee in the morning. That's how important you guys are during the ski season. Keep up the great work!!"

Suggestions

• " For your trail reports, I'd like to see the default listing as just the 'new' reports, as I've little interest in the 10 day old reports. Sometimes I'll check the 3 day reports, but most often just the new reports."
  Become a Skinnyski member -- Skinnyski members have the ability via their account preferences to set the default display age of trail reports and limit them to a specific region. -- Ed.
  
  
• "The only thing I would like to see more information on the high school racing across the state. Also I know that my son looks forward to the photo sections from the races. This year the Mesabi Invitational and some of the section races didn't have the photo sets that they did last year."
  With meets stretched across the state, it isn't possible for us to cover all of the events. However, we do encourage parents to submit photos -- with over 50% of the survey responses stating they have a digital camera, hopefully more will come in next season. -- Ed.
  
  
• "Overall, I truly enjoy your web site. Helps to keep me motivated in an area that often lacks snow. However, it would be nice to have abit of coverage in the Illinois and southern Wisconsin region. No matter what I will continue to monitor your site. I'd love to race more but in our area it is hard."
  Based on survey responses and feedback, we will work on expanded our coverage to start including more information from Illinois. We do try to cover southern Wisconsin, especially the racing season, already. -- Ed.
  
  
• "Faster results of high school races (e.g. Coaches Relays). Getting all the high school conferences to relay race results. List all of the local races available (only the Birkie is listed for the week of the 21st?)."
  We generally post all the high school results (or any XC race results, for that matter) we receive, so if you're not seeing your favorite school, talk with their coach. And as hard as it might be to believe, the Birkie is the only race scheduled on that weekend. -- Ed.
  
  
• "Your site still rocks. Do you think it would be possible to include a trail search engine? For instance, I took a trip to Steven's Point this winter. I tried to use the trail reports and a map to find a trail system nearby. I wasn't succesful. It would have been great to type in Steven's Point or the zipcode and get a list of any trails nearby. I think this may help people try some new trails. I have no idea if this is feasible or not."
  Actually, it's already there. The ski trail listings (Trail section) allow skiers to search for trails by distance, using either a town or zip code as a reference point. Click on the 'Search by distance'. -- Ed.
  
  
• "... I've thought about joining your subscription program, but I'm not sure I understand yet what the real benefits are. ..."
  Much like public radio, you can "tune into" the web site and catch the latest information without paying anything. However, the web site isn't automated nor are the resources involved free. If you enjoy and utilize this resource, the memberships are a way to show your support. -- Ed.

Survey Drawing Winners

And of course, we can't forget the great prizes ...