NY Times Article: Has Snowboarding Lost Its Edge? - Page 3 - Snowboarding Forum

Maierapril · 01-17-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightRider2613

Well fuck me, that caused the shitstorm of all shitstorms…..anyway, let me clarify a bit to keep the flames at bay. I wrote the damn thing in the heat of the moment after reading the article and getting pissed at the fact that the author seemed to imply that snowboarding was dying a slow death solely due to the fact that former riders were staying home and slaving behind a desk instead of pursuing their hobby. Don’t know why I got so fired up about a NY Times article, but I guess it has been one of those days.

I think the thing that gets me is that I have plenty of friends that sit around all day in an office, come home, watch t.v. for hours, and then go to bed. Rinse and repeat, and that is their life. I think the bigger issue here is a commentary on the state of leisure activities in this country in general. Stats continue to show that Americans spend much less time pursuing leisure activities and far more time connected to their offices as compared other workers in the industrialized world, especially with the advent of cellphones, computers, pagers, and the like. I think that is what pisses me off. As a country, I think we are a bit too obsessed with our careers to the detriment of our passions, and yes, by extension, our families. Some of my fondest memories are from when I was a kid and my dad and I went skiing at the local mountains. That is what we need to get back to. I work a five day a week, 40 hour job as do most people, but I also make time for my interests. I don’t have any kids, but if I did, I would be taking them with me to the mountain and teaching them how to ride.

We absolutely need to keep more people on the mountain, but we need return visitors more than anything else, not just people that come to try it for the day and never come back. We especially need young people to keep riding but of course that also requires parents that have enough free time to take them to the mountain. I want new people to learn the sport, and gapers will always be gapers, but I just think this is going to be difficult to do in the bullshit, cutthroat, capitalist-competitive paradigm that we live in where workers aren’t paid their fair share, and time off is more of a luxury than a right. As others have noted, this is especially true in this current piece of shit economy where many workers are held hostage by their jobs.

That is what the article was hinting at, it is where my frustration lies, and that is what I was trying to discuss as well. Sorry if I offended, it certainly wasn’t my intent to piss anybody off.

I think this just boils down to the fact that you have lazy friends and it's time to make some new ones.

Instead of spending the day watching hours of TV after work, they could be doing something more productive.
Hell...after working 10 hours in the office, I still drive up to the slopes to get a few hours in at the park before going back home to pass out, it's just all about where your priorities are.

trapper · 01-17-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maierapril

Hell...after working 10 hours in the office, I still drive up to the slopes to get a few hours in at the park before going back home to pass out, it's just all about where your priorities are.

Yes but even then it's tough to do something like that during the week when you're busy all the fucking time with either work or shit at home. For example, I don't get home till 6:30 during the week, then I grab dinner, get an hour to hang out with my kids before putting them to bed. That usually takes 20 minutes. So by the time I can even THINK about having some time to myself it's already past 8 and the nearest place to ride is a good 40 minute drive from my house. I would LOVE to ride every night, but having all this shit really prevents me from doing it (and I am in no way trying to climb a corporate ladder. I never take work home).

I guess my point is that even though one of my priorities would be to ride as much as possible, it's just not going to happen unless it's a weekend for me and even that's not always easy. But I'm far from lazy. It's just logistically not something I can do during the week and maybe that is what this article is hinting at. Though I do generally agree with many of Nightrider's points in his last post, I think you can still be a dedicated rider who loves the sport but can't get out as much because of life getting in the way without being lumped into the classification of a lazy ass or a wannabe.

One thing's for sure, when my little ones are a few years older, they will be going with me to the slopes.

Tarzanman · 01-17-2013, 02:48 PM

Its a combination of factors, but I'd guess that the current state of the economy is to blame.

Snowboarders tend to be younger. If you don't live within driving distance (8 hours or less, say) of a slope then it is BIG dollars to snowboard.

A trip with 3 days worth of riding out west would cost me a minimum of $600-$700, and that is only if I found $200 airfare,a resort with $65 lift tickets (Loveland?), and ~$50 a night lodging. I already own my own gear, so a new rider might spend another $400 more. Atlanta is a big airline hub, so it is probably cheaper to fly from here than many other places.

In contrast, If I lived close to a hill, $600-$700 would buy me a season pass to one or two of them.

Spending most of your rent on a 3 day winter vacation is less and less a viable option with disposable incomes falling in the USA.

The 20-somethings who would ordinarily replace the now-30-somethings on the hill have having very hard times finding decent jobs, which is why less of them have the cash to learn to snowboard.

Bicycles are cheap. PS3's are cheap, even booze-filled road trips to Savannah for St. Patty's or New Orleans for Mardi Gras are cheap compared to snowboarding regularly.

If/when the economy improves, numbers will go back up... unless global warming starts melting all the snow off the mountain!

JeffreyCH · 01-17-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Its a combination of factors, but I'd guess that the current state of the economy is to blame.

Snowboarders tend to be younger. If you don't live within driving distance (8 hours or less, say) of a slope then it is BIG dollars to snowboard.

A trip with 3 days worth of riding out west would cost me a minimum of $600-$700, and that is only if I found $200 airfare,a resort with $65 lift tickets (Loveland?), and ~$50 a night lodging. I already own my own gear, so a new rider might spend another $400 more. Atlanta is a big airline hub, so it is probably cheaper to fly from here than many other places.

In contrast, If I lived close to a hill, $600-$700 would buy me a season pass to one or two of them.

Spending most of your rent on a 3 day winter vacation is less and less a viable option with disposable incomes falling in the USA.

The 20-somethings who would ordinarily replace the now-30-somethings on the hill have having very hard times finding decent jobs, which is why less of them have the cash to learn to snowboard.

Bicycles are cheap. PS3's are cheap, even booze-filled road trips to Savannah for St. Patty's or New Orleans for Mardi Gras are cheap compared to snowboarding regularly.

If/when the economy improves, numbers will go back up... unless global warming starts melting all the snow off the mountain!

That's exactly what I thought when I read the NYT article earlier. The wages for entry level jobs has been stagnate for a long time. I remember when I got my first 10/hour job(early 90's), at the time most of my friends were making 4-5/hr. I was in hog heaven, by the time that job got shipped to Mexico, I was making 18/hr. My son has been working the same place for 2 years now and just got a "raise" to 9.50/hr, and most around here still think 10/hour is a good job. I don't really see how the hell anyone gets by on 10/hr these days, things are at least 3 times as much as back in my day.

Beyond that I found this little gem from the L.A. Times, it claims older people are switching back to skiing because it's easier on the body

Snowboarding craze cools as new designs make skiing easier - latimes.com

poutanen · 01-17-2013, 04:21 PM

Here's my favorite quote from the article...

"One reason may be that snowboarding simply doesn’t have the rebel cachet that it once did. Skiing has appropriated everything from snowboarding’s swagger to its trendy clothing to technology like fat skis. Simply put, it’s cool to be on two planks again."

Oh god no. No it isn't. Like rollerblades vs. skateboards this recent surge of young kids wanting to ski instead of board will soon pass.

Or maybe we'll end up with another generation of kids that grew up skiing, and switched to boarding when they get bored on two planks?!?

KIRKRIDER · 01-17-2013, 05:48 PM

And who cares?

less people on my POW. My most precious piece of equipment is my season pass. After my legs.

luckboxing · 01-17-2013, 05:54 PM

Snowboarders dropped from "nearly one-third of visitors" two years ago to 30.2% according to a survey by the National Ski Areas Association.

Snowboarding confirmed dead.

**Donutz** · 01-17-2013, 06:00 PM

As far as the cost of the sport is concerned, who cares if it's snowboarders or skiers? The resorts charge the same amount. Interestingly the article doesn't seem to come right out and say that total numbers are down, although the numbers they do reference would indicate that.

I have heard teenagers say that they are skiing to do something different. So like Microsoft, snowboarding has gone from being the plucky upstart to being the evil empire.

stupidmop · 01-17-2013, 06:06 PM

I find young people switching to skiing odd. I wonder if they have a background in other board sports? I started snowboarding when I was 13. It seemed like the natural thing to do because I also skateboarded and dabbled a little in surfing. Skiing was always out of the question because that background.

Additionally only nerds skied in the 90s.

BurtonAvenger · 01-17-2013, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blunted_nose

Fuck you all. Snowboard or die. I agree with the OP, people that keep the industry going are those who sacrifice things in life so they can ride... I am the same, heck i even quit a job to go snowboarding... it was a shitty job but non the less. Real snowboarders are those who life for it, not shitty gear reviewers that complain about the costs and pro friends who cant afford to snowboard....
I would much rather work a shitty ass job that fucked me up my ass so i could board every day, then worry about the promotion... If you care about your family you might want to get your priorities straight.... LOL, wut? i dont know.... felt like stating a bunch of bullshit. But seriously, i love snowboarding and nobody will stand in my way....

End of retarder rant, shit storm initiating.... 3.... 2.... 1....

Quote:

Originally Posted by blunted_nose

Second thought: New snowboarder emerging each day, Better then the riders before them, tons of them. they push snowboarding to the next level and the old guys simply cant follow. Name one pioneer of snowboarding that could throw down a triple cork?

Quote:

Originally Posted by blunted_nose

I know, i was trolling....

You're a moron. Also Chad Otterstrom 36 years old 1080 dub corks. Kevin Jones same age as Chad triple backflip.

Also pretty sure I clocked more days this week than you have this month.

Face the facts you as a turd nugget don't support snowboarding in any capacity.

Keep trolling little guy maybe one day you'll actually be good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maierapril

The people that keep the industry going are the people that are able to AFFORD the products and services that drive the growth of the snowboarding industry, not through the shitty jobs so you speak of that allows you to barely cover the cost of rent let alone be able to purchase the gear and services that companies depend on to thrive through profits.

Pretty much summed it up.

The truth is the people that drive skiing and snowboarding are those that go on vacations 1 to 2 times a year. Their maximum number of days doesn't exceed double digits. They buy new gear every other year or every three years. They buy that 10 dollar burger in the base area, they stay in that 100 dollar a night hotel room, etc. etc.

Case in point I grew up in a ski town. I never bought a pass to that resort and didn't buy my first season pass till I was 22 and even then I paid 48 dollars for it. Rode 100 plus days on it, and rarely bought anything at the resort. You think they made money on me?

In Summit County if I pay $550 for my season pass I have it paid before the end of October on an average year. I had 60 days before X mas this year, you think the resort made money on me from that? Nope. I can't remember the last time I bought food in the base area of Breck since the town is right there. They make all their money off the tourists.

Companies it's the same you think they're moving more $550 priced boards or the $329? It's the lower.

Hate the gapers, hate the tourists, hate the guys in denim. But those are the people that keep everything going. Economy sucks and those people have less cash to spend so they're doing other things. I commend anyone that can go out and do what they love as much as they physically and economically can afford in this economy. Not everyone is as blessed as someone like myself that made the choice to ride as much pow and park as possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trapper

Yeah I know. My comment just stemmed from the fact that I've had many more negative encounters in terms of near crashes, rude behavior, etc directed at me by skiers than snowboarders. At the end of the day, you're right, we're all there to enjoy it and the more demand for snowsports in general, the more likely we are to see new hills open up, places expand, etc. so we'd all benefit.

People are people whether skier or snowboarder. I got a snowboard instructor fired on the 21st for being a complete douche bag.

You make a point on new hills. We're losing more hills than we're gaining in the US.

01-17-2013, 02:48 PM	#23 (permalink)
Tarzanman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,394	Its a combination of factors, but I'd guess that the current state of the economy is to blame. Snowboarders tend to be younger. If you don't live within driving distance (8 hours or less, say) of a slope then it is BIG dollars to snowboard. A trip with 3 days worth of riding out west would cost me a minimum of $600-$700, and that is only if I found $200 airfare,a resort with $65 lift tickets (Loveland?), and ~$50 a night lodging. I already own my own gear, so a new rider might spend another $400 more. Atlanta is a big airline hub, so it is probably cheaper to fly from here than many other places. In contrast, If I lived close to a hill, $600-$700 would buy me a season pass to one or two of them. Spending most of your rent on a 3 day winter vacation is less and less a viable option with disposable incomes falling in the USA. The 20-somethings who would ordinarily replace the now-30-somethings on the hill have having very hard times finding decent jobs, which is why less of them have the cash to learn to snowboard. Bicycles are cheap. PS3's are cheap, even booze-filled road trips to Savannah for St. Patty's or New Orleans for Mardi Gras are cheap compared to snowboarding regularly. If/when the economy improves, numbers will go back up... unless global warming starts melting all the snow off the mountain! __________________ Read on another forum: "If someone held a gun to my head and said, "You have to move to Salida tomorrow", I'd probably do it. If they told me I had to go to Breckenridge instead, I think I'd just let them pull the trigger." Last edited by Tarzanman; 01-17-2013 at 02:50 PM.

01-17-2013, 05:48 PM	#26 (permalink)
KIRKRIDER Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 2,212	And who cares? less people on my POW. My most precious piece of equipment is my season pass. After my legs. __________________ 2012/13 -12- Kirkwood days Arbor A-Frame 158 2009-10 Jeremy Jones Hovercraft 156, 2011/12 Burton Driver-X K2-Cinch-CTX Subaru WRX 06

01-17-2013, 06:00 PM	#28 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,702 Blog Entries: 177	As far as the cost of the sport is concerned, who cares if it's snowboarders or skiers? The resorts charge the same amount. Interestingly the article doesn't seem to come right out and say that total numbers are down, although the numbers they do reference would indicate that. I have heard teenagers say that they are skiing to do something different. So like Microsoft, snowboarding has gone from being the plucky upstart to being the evil empire. __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum I hate the parts between winter...

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01-17-2013, 04:21 PM	#25 (permalink)
poutanen Resident Creep-o-saurus Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 3,561	Here's my favorite quote from the article... "One reason may be that snowboarding simply doesn’t have the rebel cachet that it once did. Skiing has appropriated everything from snowboarding’s swagger to its trendy clothing to technology like fat skis. Simply put, it’s cool to be on two planks again." Oh god no. No it isn't. Like rollerblades vs. skateboards this recent surge of young kids wanting to ski instead of board will soon pass. Or maybe we'll end up with another generation of kids that grew up skiing, and switched to boarding when they get bored on two planks?!?

01-17-2013, 05:54 PM	#27 (permalink)
luckboxing Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Whistler Posts: 76	Snowboarders dropped from "nearly one-third of visitors" two years ago to 30.2% according to a survey by the National Ski Areas Association. Snowboarding confirmed dead.

01-17-2013, 06:06 PM	#29 (permalink)
stupidmop Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 65	I find young people switching to skiing odd. I wonder if they have a background in other board sports? I started snowboarding when I was 13. It seemed like the natural thing to do because I also skateboarded and dabbled a little in surfing. Skiing was always out of the question because that background. Additionally only nerds skied in the 90s.