Skip to main content

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S., alpine touring (2nd) and splitboarding (5th) also rank high

Some like small courts, some like wide-open backcountry

A group of people playing a game of pickleball.
Lesli Whitecotton/Unsplash / Unsplash

The stats are in for 2023, and it tells us that Pickleball is the undeniable frontrunner in growth over the past four years. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the racket sport has grown over 170% in the past four years. But it’s not alone in seeing enormous growth. Sports participation has continued to grow as we move out of the pandemic, including several outdoor activities — most notably winter sports — and previously fringe sports.

Recommended Videos

Ingrained in our human nature is the need to feel part of something big that connects us to others. Movements, sports, and ideologies all fit this bill, and the more people who take part, the more we feel validated in our desire to play or push ourselves in that sport. Marginalized or new sports may appeal to those willing to take a risk on an all-new activity, but until that sport gets some traction, you might end up spending hundreds of dollars on a short-lived hobby.

A graph displaying the growth of sports in the US over a four year period to 2023.
ReCreate / ReCreate

What is Pickleball?

Believe it or not, Pickleball originated in the ’60s and has seen steady growth over the past decade. But in 2022, the sport saw a massive boom in popularity as a social and inclusive racket sport. Pickleball is like tennis, with a net dividing the two players — or pairs — and a court divided into zones. But there are elements of both ping-pong and badminton added into the game that add to the fast-paced and fun nature.

The gameplay of Pickleball is simple, but the rules can get complex. The serving team hit the whiffle ball diagonally into the far quarter, and the returning team then initiated a rally. There’s a ‘no volley’ zone seven feet on either side of the net, so you can’t go for the volleyball-style spike into the ground, and like in ping-pong, only the serving team can score a point.

Which winter sports have seen the most growth?

While Pickleball may have taken the top spot, winter sports have claimed three top-five positions. In second place, alpine touring has grown 115%, while in fifth, splitboarding has seen a growth of almost 60%. If you categorize these two together into backcountry skiing and snowboarding, that is some serious growth. On top of that, snowboarding has significantly increased by over 14%. Has there ever been a better time to get started on snow?

As manufacturers continue to create even better alpine touring and backcountry splitboarding gear, more and more people will likely spend winter earning their turns. While this is only a good thing — seriously, more people would do well to venture beyond the groomer and experience the true essence of being in the mountains — remember that the backcountry is an environment filled with hazards. Increased participation in winter sports has the potential to lead to more accidents and more rescue operations. The backcountry is phenomenal, but avalanche training and experienced guides are a must-have.

Tom Kilpatrick
A London-born outdoor enthusiast, Tom took the first ticket out of suburban life. What followed was a twelve-year career as…
The change at Acadia National Park you need to know before you visit
NPS move towards sustainability with cashless payments at Acadia
Thunder Hole, Acadia National Park, Maine

National parks around the country are preparing for the peak season's traffic, but with potential ranger shortages and rising visitation numbers, the National Park Service seeks to reduce transaction times and save money. One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to do this is to go cashless.  Several national parks, like the Badlands and Death Valley, have already made the switch, but as of April 15th, Acadia National Park will officially join the list.

One of the primary factors in this decision is that cash payments represent less than 5% of the transactions in the park. However, during the peak season, rangers can spend up to eight and a half hours per day completing all of the documentation required for cash receipts. This transition to cash promises to free up park staff for more important projects like sustainability measures and visitor services.

Read more
Enjoy up to 50% off from REI’s end of winter sale — hurry!
The Coleman Skydome Darkroom 4-Person Tent on a white background.

REI Co-op just launched its end of winter sale, which is offering camping and hiking deals as well as snow clothing deals. Whether you want to start getting ready for your outdoor adventures during spring, or you're already thinking of preparing for next year's winter season, you wouldn't want to miss the huge savings that you can get from these amazing bargains.

REI Co-op's camping and hiking deals include discounts on sleeping gear, tents, and hiking backpacks, while its snow clothing deals have slashed the prices of different kinds of men's jackets. We highly recommend browsing the sale and hurrying with your decision on what to buy so that you don't lose your chance at savings of up to 50% off, but if you need help in deciding, check out our top picks below.
REI Co-op's camping and hiking deals

Read more
REI’s Traverse is an all-new bear canister that’s tough on bears, easy on humans
The three-piece modular design expands as you need it and is certified bear-resistant to keep your food safe.
Man camping with an REI Traverse modular bear canister.

Protecting yourself and your food against bears is a perennial problem for backpackers, campers, and overlanders in the backcountry (and even the front country, in some areas). The solution has long been traditional bear-proof canisters. But they're typically oversized and overengineered, making them hard to open for not just bears but people, too. REI sought to remedy both of these problems with the all-new Traverse bear canister.

The Traverse combines two clever solutions into a single canister, making it arguably the most unique bear-proof canister on the market. First, it features a modular, three-piece design, including a base, a lid, and an optional extension piece that goes between the two to provide even more capacity. For shorter trips where space is at a premium, combine only the base and lid for 6.75 liters of protected food storage. Add the extender into the middle to increase that storage space to 11.25 liters on longer outings.

Read more