7 Promotion Ideas For Snowboarding & Winter Sports Brands

Influencer marketing around ski season surged in 2025: Lefty’s analysis of Instagram in-feed posts from January–March 2025 found $82.5 million in earned media value (EMV) across 17 winter brands—and your brand can capture its share with the right promotional strategies. With 87% of skiers and snowboarders checking social media before planning trips and the 2026 Winter Olympics driving unprecedented engagement, snowboarding and winter sports brands have more opportunities than ever to convert website visitors into loyal customers. This guide breaks down seven proven promotion tactics that deliver measurable results across every budget level.

Key Takeaways

• Social media giveaways can generate 11,000+ engagements with minimal investment when prizes match audience interests
• Influencer partnerships drove nearly 800 million impressions in just two months during the 2025 ski season
• Event activations at venues like X Games Aspen reached 26,000 attendees with immersive brand experiences
• Customer loyalty programs deliver 25-95% profit increases with just a 5% improvement in retention
• Email marketing campaigns generate 138% more spending compared to customers who receive no email offers
• User-generated content reduces content creation costs by approximately 40% while building authentic community connections
• Co-branded partnerships can produce $1.2 million in EMV overlap when brands strategically align

1) Run Engaging Social Media Contests and Giveaways

Social media giveaways remain one of the most accessible and high-impact promotional tactics for winter sports brands. The barrier to entry is low—often just the cost of the prize—while the potential reach is massive.

Why It Works

Winter sports enthusiasts are highly engaged on social platforms, making giveaways a natural fit. Coast Range Heliskiing generated over 11,000 comments on a single Instagram giveaway by offering a heliskiing adventure as the prize. Sun & Snow Weekend attracted 400 participants for their festival ticket giveaway using similar mechanics.

Implementation Tips

• Choose prizes that resonate: High-value ski products and experiences attract genuine enthusiasts. As Easypromos notes, "The prize you offer in your giveaway is very important. High-value ski products and experiences attract and convince ski sports fans to participate."
• Use "tag a friend" mechanics: This simple requirement exponentially increases reach as participants share with their networks
• Collect zero-party data: Entry forms with email capture build your marketing database while running the contest

Best Platforms

• Instagram for visual impact and engagement
• Facebook for broader demographic reach
• TikTok for younger audiences and viral potential

Timeline: 1-2 weeks to execute

2) Partner With Winter Sports Influencers and Creators

Influencer marketing in the winter sports space has matured into a highly measurable, high-ROI channel. The 2025 ski season demonstrated just how powerful these partnerships can be.

The Numbers Behind Influencer Success

The ski season generated $82.5 million in earned media value with nearly 800 million impressions in just two months (January-March 2025). Top brands by EMV included:

• Oakley: $15 million EMV
• GoPro: $13 million EMV
• Goldbergh: $10 million EMV

Individual athletes drive significant value too. Mikaela Shiffrin generated $709K in EMV with a 3.3% engagement rate.

Types of Creators to Target

The Lefty report identifies four key creator archetypes in the winter sports space:

• Videographers – High-quality action content creators
• Alpine Trendsetters – Fashion-forward ski lifestyle influencers
• Action Sports Mavericks – Extreme athletes with dedicated followings
• Skicore Fans – Enthusiast-level creators with authentic community connections

Strategic Collaboration Approaches

The most successful brands leverage collaborative seeding strategies. The North Face x Skims collaboration drove significant traction with both fashion creators and athletes. Brand overlap analysis shows Moon Boot, The North Face, and Oakley are mentioned together most frequently, creating opportunities for strategic partnerships.

Timeline: 1-3 months for campaign execution

3) Create Immersive Experiential Mountain Activations

On-mountain brand activations create memorable experiences that drive both immediate engagement and lasting brand loyalty. With the 2026 Winter Olympics approaching, opportunities for experiential marketing are at an all-time high.

Real-World Examples From X Games Aspen 2025

X Games Aspen 2025 drew 26,000 fans, providing a massive audience for brand activations:

• SONIC: Created "Ski-In" windows—a drive-thru reimagined for slopes. They used a branded 12-person Snowcat to transport fans up the mountain.
• Monster Energy: Built a two-story activation featuring live DJ sets and a podcast studio
• Dunkin': Positioned a steaming coffee cup installation on the mountain for maximum visibility

Why Experiential Works for Winter Sports

Event Marketer captured the current moment perfectly: "Temperatures are low but engagement is high this winter as brands bundle up and take their tactics to the slopes. Between the hype around the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the revamp of X Games Aspen and a particularly snowy season for much of the U.S., it's no wonder event professionals are embracing the cold weather as an opportunity for interaction."

Activation Ideas for Different Budgets

High Budget ($50K+):

• Major event sponsorships (X Games, FIS World Cup)
• Multi-day on-mountain installations
• Custom-built branded experiences

Medium Budget ($10K-$50K):

• Local resort partnerships
• Demo day sponsorships
• Après-ski event hosting

Lower Budget ($2K-$10K):

• Pop-up sampling stations
• Photo opportunity installations
• Local competition sponsorships

Investment Level: $10,000-$100,000+
Timeline: 3-6 months for planning and execution

4) Launch User-Generated Content Campaigns and Photo Contests

Photo and video contests transform your customers into brand ambassadors while building a library of authentic content. For winter sports brands, the visual appeal of snowy landscapes and action shots makes UGC particularly powerful.

Why UGC Matters

User-generated content reduces content creation costs by approximately 40% while delivering more authentic engagement than polished brand content. Video searches related to "how to" content grew 70% year-over-year, showing strong appetite for real user experiences.

Contest Mechanics That Work

Easypromos highlights the emotional appeal: "What is more beautiful than a snow-covered mountain with a dash of sunshine and happy faces?" This visual appeal drives participation naturally.

Effective contest structures include:

• Hashtag campaigns: Easy entry, broad reach, automatic content aggregation
• Voting contests: Participants ask friends for votes, extending organic reach
• PhotoFun app integration: Branded frames and stickers ensure on-brand UGC
• Hybrid judging: Combine voting with jury selection for quality control

Prize Strategies

Well-promoted contests typically generate 400+ entries when prizes align with audience interests:

• Seasonal passes to popular resorts
• Gear packages from partner brands
• Exclusive experiences (heliskiing, backcountry tours)
• VIP access to events

Maximizing Content Value

The content generated doesn't end when the contest closes. Winners become brand ambassadors, and their content fuels your marketing automation efforts across channels.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks for campaign execution

5) Build Customer Loyalty and Rewards Programs

Loyalty programs deliver exceptional long-term value for winter sports brands. The data strongly supports investment in retention over pure acquisition.

The ROI of Retention

A 5% increase in retention produces a 25-95% increase in profits. Resorts with loyalty programs see 20% higher retention rates than those without.

Additional retention statistics:

• Customers with post-purchase engagement show 58% higher return rates
• Visitors from exclusive offerings have 34% higher lifetime value
• Nurturing campaigns increase sales by an average of 20%

Program Structures That Work

Points-Based Programs: Reward purchases, referrals, and engagement with redeemable points

Tiered Membership: Create aspirational levels that encourage increased spending. Salomon Japan segments by interests (ski, snowboard, outdoor, running) for personalized experiences.

Season Pass Holder Benefits: FGC Turisme's loyalty club offers invite-only days and pricing to create exclusivity

Loyalty-Exclusive Promotions

Club Pirineu365 demonstrated the power of loyalty integration when over 2,000 members entered a weekend raffle exclusively for club members. These exclusive giveaways and access drive enrollment and engagement.

To keep loyalty members engaged year-round—including the off-season—consider using tools that help you recognize returning visitors across devices and maintain personalized communication.

Timeline: Ongoing program management

6) Implement Strategic Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing remains one of the highest-ROI channels for winter sports brands. The ability to segment audiences and automate personalized campaigns makes email indispensable for both acquisition and retention.

Email Performance Benchmarks

The numbers make a compelling case:

• Email offers drive 138% more spending than customers who receive no offers
• "Are you coming back this winter?" subject lines hit approximately 50% open rates
• Companies using extensive customer analytics outperform competitors 23x in acquisition

Essential Campaign Types

Welcome Series: Onboard new subscribers with brand story, product education, and first-purchase incentives

Condition Alerts: Steamboat Springs reached 45,000 subscribers for spontaneous visit alerts based on snow conditions

Pre-Season Campaigns: Build anticipation and drive early bookings before the season starts

Re-Engagement Flows: Win back lapsed customers with personalized offers

SMS Integration

Don't overlook text messaging. SMS condition alerts can achieve approximately 8x the response rate compared to email, making it ideal for time-sensitive communications.

Segmentation Strategies

Effective email segmentation for winter sports brands includes:

• Skill level: Beginner, intermediate, advanced
• Preferred destinations: Local vs. destination resorts
• Travel companions: Solo, couples, families, groups
• Equipment preferences: Ski vs. snowboard, rental vs. owner

Emulent emphasizes timing: "Seasonal marketing for ski brands requires preparation months ahead of execution. We build campaign frameworks during quiet summer months so that when conditions break in winter, our clients can activate promotions within hours rather than days."

One challenge many brands face is email list decay. Bounced emails mean lost opportunities. Tools that replace bounced emails can help maintain campaign reach.

Timeline: Ongoing management

7) Execute Co-Branded Partnership Campaigns

Strategic partnerships allow winter sports brands to expand their reach, share promotional costs, and create newsworthy campaigns that generate earned media.

Partnership Success Stories

The most successful co-branded campaigns leverage complementary audiences:

• FGC Turisme x Continental: Required email opt-in with data sharing to Continental for giveaway entry
• Barrabes x Atomic She Ski: Ran multiple co-branded giveaways collecting rich customer data
• The North Face x Skims: Created unexpected brand pairing that drove traction with both fashion creators and athletes
• J.Crew x U.S. Ski & Snowboard: Unexpected brand pairing generated significant buzz

Measuring Partnership Value

Brand overlap analysis reveals partnership potential. According to Lefty's research:

• Moon Boot x Goldbergh: $1.2M EMV overlap
• The North Face x Oakley: $700K EMV overlap

These overlaps indicate shared audiences and successful collaborative opportunities.

Partnership Categories to Consider

• Equipment manufacturers: Complementary gear brands
• Hospitality: Hotels and lodges near resorts
• F&B: Restaurants, après-ski venues, beverage brands
• Transportation: Airlines, car rental, shuttle services
• Lifestyle: Fashion brands, accessories, tech

Data Sharing Best Practices

Collaborative promotions can build databases for both brands. Registration strategies like FGC's approach—requiring email opt-in with explicit data sharing—create mutual value while maintaining transparency with customers.

For brands looking to maximize the value of partnership-generated leads, AI-powered persona cohorts can help segment and target new audiences based on real purchase and behavioral data.

Timeline: 1-3 months for campaign execution

How Opensend Powers Winter Sports Brand Promotions

Running effective promotions is only half the battle—you also need to capture and convert the visitors those promotions attract. This is where Opensend becomes essential for winter sports brands.

The Challenge

With 87% of skiers and snowboarders checking social media before planning trips, your promotions drive significant website traffic. But most of those visitors leave without identifying themselves, wasting your promotional investment.

How Opensend Helps

Opensend's proprietary identity graph processes 7 billion+ events daily from 100,000+ US-based sites, helping brands identify anonymous website visitors and convert them into actionable leads.

Key capabilities for winter sports brands:

• Opensend Connect: Captures high-intent visitors in real time and syncs them with your marketing tools for email retargeting, social, postal, and more
• Opensend Reconnect: Unifies fragmented consumer identities across devices—critical when shoppers browse on mobile but purchase on desktop
• Opensend Revive: Automatically replaces bounced emails with active addresses to maintain campaign reach
• Opensend Personas: Creates AI-powered audience segments based on real purchase and behavioral data for smarter targeting

Why It Matters for Promotional Campaigns

When you run a giveaway that generates thousands of entries, or a partnership that drives new traffic, Opensend helps you:

• Identify visitors who engage but don't convert immediately
• Build first-party data ownership for long-term marketing value
• Enable multi-channel retargeting (email, social, postal, SMS)
• Lower customer acquisition costs through better targeting

With integrations for Shopify, Klaviyo, and other major platforms, setup takes under 5 minutes. Opensend is 100% legally compliant with US laws including CAN-SPAM and CCPA.

Ready to maximize the ROI of your promotional campaigns? Check out Opensend's pricing plans or explore success stories from brands across industries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can winter sports brands effectively use social media for promotions?

Focus on high-value prizes that resonate with your audience—experiences like heliskiing trips or seasonal passes outperform generic giveaways. Use "tag a friend" mechanics to expand reach, and collect email addresses through entry forms to build your marketing database. Coast Range Heliskiing generated over 11,000 comments with this approach.

What are the best strategies for converting website visitors in the winter sports industry?

Combine multiple tactics: use behavioral tracking to understand visitor interests, implement exit-intent popups for email capture, and deploy multi-channel retargeting across email, social, and postal. Companies using extensive customer analytics outperform competitors 23x in customer acquisition.

How can loyalty programs benefit a snowboarding brand?

Loyalty programs deliver exceptional ROI—a 5% increase in retention produces 25-95% higher profits. They also enable year-round engagement during the off-season, increase customer lifetime value by 34%, and create opportunities for exclusive promotions that drive deeper brand loyalty.

What role does data play in personalizing promotions for winter sports enthusiasts?

Data enables segmentation by skill level, preferred destinations, equipment preferences, and travel companions. Email offers based on this data drive 138% more spending compared to generic campaigns. Condition-based alerts sent to segmented audiences can achieve 50% open rates.

Is it possible to track customer journeys across different devices for a winter sports brand?

Yes—cross-device tracking is essential since many shoppers research on mobile but purchase on desktop. Platforms like Opensend Reconnect unify fragmented consumer identities across devices, enabling personalized marketing flows regardless of how customers interact with your brand.