‘Unknown’ ranks as the hottest, non-expletive word to describe our current situation as we sit here waiting for winter in late October. As we bid farewell to summer 2020, on the whole boardsports retailers can be relatively buoyant, all things considered. There are plenty of wonder stories of triple digit percentage growth for skateboard manufacturers and surfboard shapers and wetsuit companies not able to keep up with demand. But as we go into autumn and winter, now comes crunch time for the snowboard retailers. We’re facing a really bizarre time, at what is usually a really bizarre time. With COVID-19 still looming large and people pandemic-proofing their businesses to ensure existing and new efforts are untouchable by any such virus again, it is truly mad to think just how dependent the winter sports business is on our fickle mistress, the snow.
