While bike and outdoor specialty retail are below the national retail average of 3 percent, snow specialty has jumped up to 7 percent, The NPD Group's Bruce Dotterer reported during a Snowsports Industries America Industry + Intelligence webinar on Thursday.

Following two lackluster snow seasons, the heavy snowfall this year boosted snowsports in all three channels: chain, specialty, and internet sales. 

Apparel sales rebounded ($3.7 billion) because of strong outerwear and activewear sales, and equipment sales continued their position trend from last season ($1.9 billion), Dotterer said. Specifically, alpine touring and snowboard sales were the largest contributors to the growth.

Winter rentals contributed the most at $253 million, but alpine boots and bindings had the greatest dollar change at 61 percent and 36 percent, respectively, from August 2018 to January 2019.

Snow Specialty Top Performers

Outerwear Tops: Obermeyer, Arc'teryx, Burton, Columbia, Marmot, Helly Hansen, Descente, KUHL, 686, Volcom, NILS, Quiksilver

Goggles: Smith, Oakley, Giro, Anon Optics, Dragon, Scott, Spy, Zeal Optics, Electric, Von Zipper

Snowboard: Burton, Never Summer, Capita, Lib Tech, Ride, Salomon, K2, Arbor, GNU, Rossignol

Nordic Ski: Rossignol, Fischer, Salomon, Alpina, Madshus

Alpine Ski: Rossignol, Blizzard, Volkl, Atomic, Nordica, Salomon, K2, Head Sport, Elan, Line Skis