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Ski touring on groomed slopes is a relatively new outdoor sport that has steadily been gaining interest. So far, little scientific attention has been given to this outdoor activity. Thus, few questions have been asked about the motivation for practising this sport, and even fewer about whether the current COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the frequency of and motivation for ski touring. For this reason, we conducted a large-scale study (n = 6802) in the Austrian Alps. Results revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed the motive structure for ski touring; however, the findings showed that many people have even started to practice this sport. This research note contributes to the existing knowledge by (a) documenting ski tourers’ motives using a large sample, (b) giving insights into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this specific outdoor sport, and (c) showing COVID-19-related impacts on practicing ski touring. Management implications • No changes in motivational reasons for ski touring due to COVID-19 pandemic. • Trend towards outdoor sports, especially ski tours on groomed slopes in the alpine region of central Europe. Amplification of the trend due to the pandemic and the associated restrictions. • As an outdoor sport, ski touring on groomed slopes offers versatile added value for ski tourers, but also huge potential for ropeway operators. • This soft slope tourism can also show alternatives to temporary ropeway closures in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and could also promote tourism (especially day tourism) in small circles at the regional level. • The increase in beginners naturally raises the question of whether this group needs special offers or how to deal with beginners on the slopes. On the other hand, this also raises the question of how to deal with the increase in ski slope users in general.

This study examined involvement in outdoor recreation activities, focusing on whether individuals who are involved in one recreation activity at a high level are less or more likely to participate intensively in other outdoor activities. Participation in fishing in Finland was taken as a starting point. The data were obtained from a large national population survey that included 3592 respondents who participated in fishing. Three groups were distinguished based on behavioral involvement in fishing. The high behavioral involvement (HBI) group reported the highest annual frequencies for most outdoor activities. The moderate behavioral involvement (MBI) group were modestly active in fishing, and moderately active in outdoor recreation in general. Compared to the other groups, the low behavioral involvement (LBI) group participated least frequently in fishing and were also less active in many other recreational activities. The results imply that behavioral involvement in outdoor recreation is cumulative in nature. Management implications The study provides interesting findings for rural tourism and land use management: ● A high level involvement in one activity is not necessarily reducing the participation intensity in others. ● In order to understand activity clusters and key activities in a region, it is strongly recommended to investigate the whole palette of outdoor recreation activities. ● Within the group of fishermen various subgroups exist, which are characterized by different motivation and behavioral patterns. ● These insights may help in offering substitutes for fishing activities or new service packages that include a broader array of activities for people to participate, and to extend their stay and enhance their contribution to the regional economy.

Hot air ballooning as a niche outdoor activity has become popular in the Czech Republic in the last two decades. It provides not only authentic experiences but also a feeling of intense excitement. This research note aims to report on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on balloon tourism. It presents initial results on new ideas regarding opportunities and threats to ballooning in the Czech Republic arising during the coronavirus outbreak. Several methods were used, combining desk research with qualitative in-depth interviews with main balloon flights operators. Despite many unfavourable circumstances, the pandemic situation brought several opportunities for this business stemming from the government measures and shifts in travellers’ behaviour. These opportunities include, for example, the focus on domestic clientele looking for different experiences under pandemic conditions and the strategic cooperation of balloon flights operators with accommodation providers.

Popular snow-based, wintertime activities in Canada and elsewhere such as alpine skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling require cold, snowy winters to support those practicing these pastimes, but ironically, participation in these activities often accelerates climate change through reliance on fossil fuels. This paper, based on a review of scientific literature, attempts to address this irony by suggesting practices that may contribute to the growth of voluntary carbon offset (VCO) sales in the outdoor recreation industry as currently few outdoor recreation businesses in Canada offer VCO programs. The paper highlights the potential link between outdoor recreation participation and environmental concern, identifies socio-demographic groups of interest for targeted advertising campaigns, and identifies approaches for designing VCO programs and increasing VCO purchases. Management implications A strategy for increasing VCO purchases in the outdoor recreation industry is for outdoor recreation businesses to offer VCO programs themselves rather than outdoor recreationists purchasing VCOs through providers unrelated to the outdoor industry. Through recreation activities important to a person, the outdoor recreation industry can facilitate an outdoor recreationist's environmental concern and behaviour. Furthermore, VCO programs provided by outdoor recreation companies would be more visible and accessible to outdoor recreationists who might then be more likely to purchase VCOs. Outdoor recreation companies can increase their VCO sales by: marketing to people with certain characteristics (younger ages, higher education, low carbon diet, appreciative outdoor activity participation, and existing awareness of VCO programs), addressing barriers that adversely affect current offset schemes, considering both willingness to pay (WTP) when setting offset prices and alternative explanations of individuals' WTP to offset the greatest volume of CO2, and ensuring a positive purchase situation.

The U.S. population continues to age, and the large baby boomer cohort is a major influencer. The activity selection of baby boomer visitors to national parks is therefore explored. The literature suggests baby boomers are a group with diverse outdoor interests. Some are interested in adventurous pursuits, while others are interested in more tame forms of recreation. A quantitative study was conducted in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) in California to see if this cohort is unique in terms of outdoor activity interests. In-person surveys collected at SEKI were used to obtain a sample of 403 individuals within the baby boomer age range. The findings suggest that a majority of baby boomers prefer to participate in outdoor activities in SEKI. They see themselves as healthy and active, and enjoy participating in moderate to strenuous, somewhat risky outdoor activities. Management implications For park managers, this research identifies the activities in which baby boomers choose to participate. This research will allow for informed decisions to be made, such as whether to modify existing signage, educate the cohort on the potential resource issues of entering the backcountry with little to no training or experience, and determine whether some resources near developed areas should be made more accessible. Baby boomer visitors are more active than the typical visitor; they engage in many outdoor recreation activities. At the same time, they are aging and may be less prepared for some of the activities they seek out. Overall, this research may enable park managers to adapt by tailoring communication and perhaps facilities and offerings to the large baby boomer cohort.

Mountain biking is a popular outdoor activity exercised from urban parks to wilderness and from dedicated bike parks and new summer facilities in ski resorts to user created trails traversing remote forests. Matching increasing use, research on mountain biking is of growing importance for mountain bikers and other user groups in outdoor recreation on one hand, land managers, conservation organizations, the broader recreation and tourism industry and other management units on the other. This inspired the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism to allocate a Special Issue to present the latest research on mountain biking, including studies from Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.