DENVER (AP) -- A snow sports trade group says a lack of snow in December has hurt sales of ski and snowboard gear, but things could turn around if storms keep coming.

SnowSports Industries America research director Kelly Davis said Wednesday that through December, the snow sports market recorded $2.2 billion in sales for the season. That's down 2.2 percent from the same period a year ago.

Snowboard sales are down 4.5 percent in units and 1 percent in dollars. However sales of alpine skiing equipment in specialty stores are up in the West. Davis says it's possible that better snow conditions in the Pacific Northwest are lifting sales in the West.

She says the good news is the economy doesn't seem to be affecting the market that much anymore, and the snow has been falling in recent weeks.