CONWAY — Just as snowboarding breathed new life into the ski industry in the 1990s, backcountry skiing is giving a boost to downhill skiing in general, say local and national retailers.

According to Eric Henderson of Meteorite PR, who handles public relations for SnowSports Industries of America, the combined view of alpine touring equipment (bindings, boots and skis) and backcountry accessories (avalanche shovels, beacons, probes and climbing skins) and backcountry splitboard sales from August 2016-17 to August 2019/March 2020 is an increase of $40 million, or 103 percent.

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