McLean, VA – The U.S. retail snow sports market topped $4.5 billion in 2014-15, according to numbers released this week by the non-profit industry trade association SnowSports Industries America (SIA).

That reflects a two percent increase over 2013-14, SIA researchers indicate.

Split up by retail channel, chain stores had a great year, tallying $2.2 billion, up 13 percent year on year. Online sales channels reported a four percent increase to $997 million. Specialty ski shops didn’t fare as well, down four percent to $2.35 billion.

By category, sales of alpine touring (or AT or randonnée) skis continues to skyrocket, up 30 percent although still occupying only a small slice of the market at $3.3 million. Deep snowfall in northeastern U.S. cities likely contributed to a 19 percent increase in winter/snow boots to $111 million. Other category winners in 2014-15 were action cameras (up 11 percent to $55 million), outerwear (up nine percent to $1.8 billion), AT equipment (up eight percent to $19 million), base layer and handwear (each up six percent to $151 million and $255 million, respectively), and rentals (up five percent to $208 million).