57% growth for UK triathlon industry
Posted on in Cycles News , Outdoor News
The UK triathlon industry grew 57% since 2012 to be worth £445 million in 2016.
The stats have come from the fifth annual research study from the Triathlon Industry Association (TIA), which comprised an in-depth quantitative survey of 5,529 triathletes and multiple trade interviews. It found that the UK's growing population of 150,000 triathletes, up 7% on 2015, are now spending an average of £2,970 per year on the sport.
Since London 2012, the areas driving growth included wetsuits (up 137%), sports nutrition (up 82%) and event entries, travel and accommodation (up 67%).
Wetsuit sales increased 13% last year, with 72% of those surveyed having bought a new wetsuit within the past three years.
The growing adoption of sports nutrition, up 15% year on year, as a training and race aid was evidenced by 75% of respondents now using nutrition products at least once per week.
Economic uncertainty was unable to stop the industry growing by 4.4% overall in 2016, but the ‘big ticket' purchasing of bikes did suffer, down by 7%. However, 24% of triathletes headed overseas to race outside the UK last year.
37% of those questioned had started their first race in the last three years. Running is still the primary source for new starters, with 56% of new triathletes having previously been runners.
New starters are also the primary drivers of the sport's fundraising efforts. They are almost twice as likely as the average 8% of triathletes, who raise money for charity when they race, with an average haul of £700 per person for good causes.
Mel Berry, TIA Chair, comments on the latest findings: "For a niche yet constantly evolving sport like ours, this annual study is hugely important; it provides us with a detailed understanding of our community, and the trends affecting them, which gives us the vital confidence to make informed decisions, both individually and collectively. I would like to extend a big thank you to all of the 5,529 survey respondents and to the trade representatives who helped fine-tune the report."
The Triathlon Industry Association (TIA) comprises event organisers, equipment manufacturers, tour operators, retailers, distributors and media.
The full 126-page report was produced by independent firm Multisport Research. It is available free to full members of TIA.