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Appendix A – Recreation Trends Analysis
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<br />
<br />NATIONAL TRENDS IN WATER SPORTS / ACTIVITIES
<br />The most popular water sports / activities based on total participants in 2017 were Recreational
<br />Kayaking (10.5 million), Canoeing (9.2 million), and Snorkeling (8.3 million). It should be noted
<br />that water activity participation tends to vary based on regional, seasonal, and environmental
<br />factors. A region with more water access and a warmer climate is more likely to have a higher
<br />participation rate in water activities than a region that has long winter seasons or limited water
<br />access. Therefore, when assessing trends in water sports and activities, it is important to
<br />understand that fluctuations may be the result of environmental barriers which can greatly
<br />influence water activity participation.
<br />Over the last five years, Stand-Up Paddling (138.9%) was by far the fastest growing water activity,
<br />followed by White Water Kayaking (33.1%), Recreational Kayaking (28.7%), and Sea/Tour Kayaking
<br />(20.8%). Although the five-year trends show water sport activities are getting more popular, the
<br />most recent year shows a different trend. From 2016-2017 Stand-Up Paddling Recreational
<br />Kayaking reflect much slower increases in participation (3.3% and 5.2%), while White Water
<br />Kayaking (-2.0%), Sea/Tour Kayaking (-5.4%) both show decreases in participation numbers.
<br />From 2012-2017, activities declining most rapidly were Jet Skiing (-22.6%), Water Skiing (- 19.4%),
<br />and Wakeboarding (-10.8%). In the most recent year, activities experiencing the greatest declines
<br />in participation included: Boardsailing/Windsurfing (-9.4%), Canoeing (-8.2%), and Scuba Diving (-
<br />7.6%).
<br />
<br />National Participatory Trends - Water Sports / Activities
<br />Activity Participation Levels % Change
<br />2012 2016 2017 5-Year Trend 1-Year Trend
<br />Kayaking (Recreational) 8,187 10,017 10,533 28.7% 5.2%
<br />Canoeing 9,813 10,046 9,220 -6.0% -8.2%
<br />Snorkeling 8,664 8,717 8,384 -3.2% -3.8%
<br />Jet Skiing 6,996 5,783 5,418 -22.6% -6.3%
<br />Sailing 3,841 4,095 3,974 3.5% -3.0%
<br />Water Skiing 4,434 3,700 3,572 -19.4% -3.5%
<br />Rafting 3,756 3,428 3,479 -7.4% 1.5%
<br />Stand-Up Paddling 1,392 3,220 3,325 138.9% 3.3%
<br />Wakeboarding 3,368 2,912 3,005 -10.8% 3.2%
<br />Kayaking (Sea/Touring) 2,446 3,124 2,955 20.8% -5.4%
<br />Scuba Diving 2,781 3,111 2,874 3.3% -7.6%
<br />Surfing 2,545 2,793 2,680 5.3% -4.0%
<br />Kayaking (White Water) 1,878 2,552 2,500 33.1% -2.0%
<br />Boardsailing/Windsurfing 1,372 1,737 1,573 14.7% -9.4%
<br />NOTE: Participation figures are in 000's for the US population ages 6 and over
<br />Legend: Large Increase
<br />(greater than 25%)
<br />Moderate
<br />Increase
<br />(0% to 25%)
<br />Moderate
<br />Decrease
<br />(0% to -25%)
<br />Large Decrease
<br />(less than -25%)
<br />Figure 4: Water Sports / Activities Participatory Trends (SFIA)
<br />
<br />CORE VS. CASUAL TRENDS IN WATER SPORTS / ACTIVITIES
<br />As mentioned previously, regional, seasonal, and environmental limiting factors may influence
<br />the participation rate of water sport and activities. These factors may also explain why all water-
<br />based activities have more casual participants than core participants, since frequencies of
<br />activities may be constrained by uncontrollable factors.
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