Snowsports sector - economic, social and cultural impact: research - technical report

5. Club Survey Questionnaire

Club Survey

The Scottish Government has commissioned EKOS to undertake research to establish the wider impact and contribution that the snowsports sector makes in Scotland. The research covers the five mountain centres (Cairngorms Mountain Resort, Glencoe Mountain Resort, Glenshee Ski Centre, Nevis Range and The Lecht 2090) as well as the range of artificial slopes across the country.

The research includes various aspects, including visitor surveys at the mountain centres and artificial slopes, and we are now keen to hear from clubs.

A short online survey can be accessed here Snowsports Clubs - Online Survey

The deadline for responses is the end of May 2022.

All responses will be treated in confidence. Reporting to the Scottish Government will be in aggregate form to protect the anonymity of respondents.

About your club and its membership

1. What is the name of your club?

2. Where is your club based (i.e. main address)?

(Drop down list of Local Authority areas)

3. What is your club's current total membership?

4. How many members does your club currently have by gender? Please leave blank if you do not know.

• Female:
• Male:
• Prefer not to say:

5. How many members does your club currently have by age group? Please leave blank if you do not know.

• 15 or under
• 16-34
• 35-59
• 60+

6. How many members does your club currently have by ethnic group? Please leave blank if you do not know.

• White (Scottish, Other British, Irish, Polish, Gypsy/Traveller, Roma, Showman/Showwoman, Other white ethnic group)
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups (Any mixed or multiple ethnic groups)
• Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian (Pakistani, Scottish Pakistani or British Pakistani Indian, Scottish Indian or British Indian Bangladeshi, Scottish Bangladeshi or British Bangladeshi Chinese, Scottish Chinese or British Chinese Other)
• African, Scottish African or British African (For example, Nigerian, Somali)
• Caribbean or Black (For example, Scottish Caribbean, Black Scottish)
• Other ethnic group (Arab, Scottish Arab or British Arab, Other e.g. Sikh, Jewish)

7. How many members does your club currently have by disability? Please enter a total (including 0), provide a breakdown if you can, or leave blank if you do not know.

• Total
• Deafness or partial hearing loss
• Blindness or partial sight loss
• Learning disability or difficulty
• Physical disability
• Mental health condition
• Other condition

How membership has changed

8. How has membership changed, if at all, over the five-year period 2015 to 2019 (i.e. the time period before COVID-19)? Please tick one.

• It increased a lot
• It increased a little
• It remained relatively stable (Route to Q11)
• It decreased a little
• It decreased a lot

9. A. Where has the increase or decrease in club membership occurred over this period? Tick all that apply.

• More females involved
• Less females involved
• More males involved
• Less males involved
• More people aged 15 or under involved
• Less people aged 15 or under involved
• More people aged 16-34 involved
• Less people aged 16-34 involved
• More people aged 35-59 involved
• Less people aged 35-59 involved
• More people aged 60+ involved
• Less people aged 60+ involved

B. What has been the main factor?

10. A. Are there any wider factors that have driven the increase or decrease in club membership between 2015 and 2019? B. Please specify.

• Yes (Route to Q10B)
• No

11. A. What, if anything, has been the impact of COVID-19 on club membership – so thinking about membership levels between 2020 and now? Please tick one.

• It increased a lot
• It increased a little
• It remained relatively stable
• It decreased a little
• It decreased a lot

B. Can you provide more detail on the impact of the pandemic on club membership?

12. What, if anything, are the main barriers to increasing club membership? Tick all that apply.

• Lack of facilities to accommodate more people
• Lack of coaches
• Lack of volunteers
• Limited links to schools
• Lack of public awareness
• Other barrier(s) (please specify)
• No barriers

13. What activities and programmes does your club offer/provide? Tick all that apply.

• Learn to ski/snowboard programmes
• Coaching for skills development
• Coaching for competition
• Nordic
• Freestyle
• Coaching
• Snowsports activities aimed at disadvantaged or under-represented groups (e.g. deprived areas, disabled people, etc)
• School programmes
• Active School programmes
• Snowsports trips – in Scotland
• Snowsports trips - elsewhere in the UK
• Snowsports trips – outwith the UK (e.g. Europe)
• Non-snowsports related activities e.g. mountain biking (please specify)
• Social activities/events
• Other (please specify)

14. A. What, if anything, has been the impact of COVID-19 on the range of activities and programmed offered by the club – so thinking about provision between 2020 and now? Tick one.

• Increased
• Stayed the same
• Decreased

B. Can you provide more detail on the impact of the pandemic on activities and programmes offered?

Use of Snowsports Facilities in Scotland

15. A. Which of the following mountain centres in Scotland does the club use? B. How often in a typical year does the club use each one?

Note: B is routed for those selected at A.

A: Tick all that apply

B: More than 5 times in a winter season if weather permits / 2-5 times per season if weather permits / Less than twice per season

• Glenshee
• Cairngorm Mountain
• Glencoe
• Lecht 2090
• Nevis Range
• None (Route Q17)

16. What happened to your club's use of mountain centres in Scotland during the pandemic (i.e. compared to a typical year)? Tick one.

• Increased
• Stayed the same
• Decreased

B. Can you provide more detail?

17. A. Which of the following artificial slope facilities in Scotland does the club use? B. How often in a typical year does the club use each one?

Note: B is routed for those selected at A.

A: Tick all that apply

B: At least weekly / Monthly / Every few months / Less often than every few months

• Aberdeen Snowsports Centre
• Alford Ski Centre
• Bearsden Ski and Board Club
• Firpark Ski Centre
• Glasgow Ski & Snowboard Centre
• Glenmore Lodge
• Huntly Nordic and Outdoors Centre
• Loch Insh Outdoor Centre
• Lagganlia Outdoor Centre
• Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Hillend
• Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex
• Polmonthill Snowsports Centre
• RM-Condor, Arbroath
• Snow Factor, Glasgow
• None

18. What happened to your club's use of artificial slope facilities in Scotland during the pandemic (i.e. compared to a typical year)?

• Increased
• Stayed the same
• Decreased

B. Can you provide more detail?

Reasons for participation

19. A) In general terms, what do you think are the main reasons people have for taking part in snowsports activities? Tick all that apply. B) What do you consider is the main reason? Tick one main reason.

• For enjoyment (e.g. something like to do, enjoy it)
• To improve and maintain physical health and fitness (e.g. overall fitness and stamina, to lose weight, to be more physically active, to have more energy)
• To maintain and improve mental health and wellbeing (e.g. to relax, to unwind, to ease any worry, stress, tension or anxiety)
• To spend time with family or friends (e.g. to socialise, to connect with others, to have shared experiences)
• To be closer to nature (e.g. to enjoy scenery and wildlife, to have access to nature)
• To try or learn something new (e.g. a new recreational activity, improve skills and technique, learn new skills)
• To discover new places (e.g. sightseeing and/or getting to know a new area, cultural interests)

20. What, if any, are the main barriers to participation in snowsports? Tick all that apply.

• Cost of participation
• Lack of facilities
• Time commitments
• Family commitments
• Transport
• Choice in how to spend leisure/free time
• Poor/cold weather puts some people off
• Other barrier(s) (please specify)
• No barriers

Areas for improvement

21. Do you have any ideas of ways in which the mountain centres in Scotland could improve and diversify their offer to increase the quality of the offer/experience and improve their financial sustainability?

22. Do you have any ideas of ways in which the artificial slope facilities in Scotland could improve and diversify their offer to increase the quality of the offer/experience and improve their financial sustainability?

Final comments

23. Do you have any final comments you would like to feed into the research?