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

NightRider2613 · 01-17-2013, 10:30 AM

Hey Y'all,
Someone sent me a link to the following article from the NYTimes in which the author claims that snowboarding is "losing its edge." I figured I would post and get everybody fired up a little bit before the weekend.

Here is the link:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/01/20...nted=all&_r=2&

The general thesis that this guy seems to make (and I fully suspect that he may very well be a gaper), is that the sport is falling off because, I kid you not, riders that started during the boom years of the 90's are now in their 30's and are focusing on families and careers instead of snowboarding.

For me, I say good riddance. I am 31 and I make it to the mountain at least four times/week. What's their excuse? They are too busy to ride because they are giving their boss a rimjob so that they can get the big promotion? If toolbags are focusing on climbing the corporate ladder instead of riding, then they weren't true riders in the first place.

As a rider, I am not at all bothered by the fact that the masses are no longer descending upon the mountain to learn the "new fad" that they saw on the Olympics. Most of them don't make it through the first lesson anyway. I say keep the sport pure, and if it means that less of us are doing it, so be it. Personally, I am not a supporter of the "more the merrier" club. There are already way too many assholes on trails and in terrain parks that have minimal riding skills and fuck it up for those of us that know what the hell we are doing. We keep our renegade edge if the community is small. Those that really want to learn for the right reasons will always find the sport. Those that don't, I say don;t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

So, what does everybody think?

BurtonAvenger · 01-17-2013, 10:53 AM

^ Your thoughts are stupid. Less people = less money which = higher cost. Don't know about you but I really don't want to see $150 day tickets here, pricepoints jumping another 50 to 100 dollars on gear, and my pro friends having to sign with shitty brands because they can't make the money they deserve.

Maierapril · 01-17-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightRider2613

Hey Y'all,
Someone sent me a link to the following article from the NYTimes in which the author claims that snowboarding is "losing its edge." I figured I would post and get everybody fired up a little bit before the weekend.

Here is the link:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/01/20...nted=all&_r=2&

The general thesis that this guy seems to make (and I fully suspect that he may very well be a gaper), is that the sport is falling off because, I kid you not, riders that started during the boom years of the 90's are now in their 30's and are focusing on families and careers instead of snowboarding.

For me, I say good riddance. I am 31 and I make it to the mountain at least four times/week. What's their excuse? They are too busy to ride because they are giving their boss a rimjob so that they can get the big promotion? If toolbags are focusing on climbing the corporate ladder instead of riding, then they weren't true riders in the first place.

As a rider, I am not at all bothered by the fact that the masses are no longer descending upon the mountain to learn the "new fad" that they saw on the Olympics. Most of them don't make it through the first lesson anyway. I say keep the sport pure, and if it means that less of us are doing it, so be it. Personally, I am not a supporter of the "more the merrier" club. There are already way too many assholes on trails and in terrain parks that have minimal riding skills and fuck it up for those of us that know what the hell we are doing. We keep our renegade edge if the community is small. Those that really want to learn for the right reasons will always find the sport. Those that don't, I say don;t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

So, what does everybody think?

This has to be one of the dumbest, loaded opinions that I have read in a long while. I'm sure that most people will agree that they'd rather have job security, be able to provide for their families, and not have to struggle to make ends meet than to be able to board a few more days out of the week.

As for the comment of people with minimal riding skills, not everyone starts out at T Rice's current skill level. All people start out as beginners with little to no knowledge and they progress.

stupidmop · 01-17-2013, 11:36 AM

If you have a professional career then NO HOBBIES FOR YOU.

extra0 · 01-17-2013, 11:39 AM

nice contribution to the forum, but seems like a slow news day at NYT.

I snowboard for me...don't care much for what's trendy. My boards aren't the norm and, even though I can (currently) afford the most premium equipment, my outerwear is medium-low end, my goggles even lower. It's just stuff that is the most functional for me/my local conditions. As long as it's still dumping snow and my mountain is still taking me to the top, I don't care what anyone else is doing.

sheepstealer · 01-17-2013, 11:42 AM

The author is actually a fairly well known adventure journalist and has written for a number of well known outdoor magazines/publications including Outside Magazine. I'm guessing he probably skis/rides and he probably has some decent connections in the adventure-sport world so I do not doubt the statistics he throws out.

Still, at the end of the day its pure speculation.

I can think of a number of reasons why the article might be true. Like the article says, snowboarding has always held a "younger" generation (no offense to the older guys on here, this is just a hypothesis). Would it be safe to say that over the last several years snowboarding has declined due to the economy falling out and younger people deciding to forego lift tickets, rentals, lessons, transportation costs, etc? Just an idea.

goalieman24 · 01-17-2013, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maierapril

This has to be one of the dumbest, loaded opinions that I have read in a long while. I'm sure that most people will agree that they'd rather have job security, be able to provide for their families, and not have to struggle to make ends meet than to be able to board a few more days out of the week.

As for the comment of people with minimal riding skills, not everyone starts out at T Rice's current skill level. All people start out as beginners with little to no knowledge and they progress.

Word. Quoted and bolded for truth.

Funny about the "true riders" piece in the original post. To consider yourself a "true rider" yet get all butt-hurt over a measly article...

itchynscratchy · 01-17-2013, 12:18 PM

Wait till you have kids and see how much free time you'll have to get to the mtns

that1guy · 01-17-2013, 12:23 PM

^^^ I have 2 and ride at least 3 days a week. Sometimes the kids come with, sometimes I go alone.

Either way, who really gives a shit what the NYT thinks?

blunted_nose · 01-17-2013, 12:26 PM

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....

01-17-2013, 10:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
NightRider2613 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: The Ice Coast Posts: 80	NY Times Article: Has Snowboarding Lost Its Edge? Hey Y'all, Someone sent me a link to the following article from the NYTimes in which the author claims that snowboarding is "losing its edge." I figured I would post and get everybody fired up a little bit before the weekend. Here is the link: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/01/20...nted=all&_r=2& The general thesis that this guy seems to make (and I fully suspect that he may very well be a gaper), is that the sport is falling off because, I kid you not, riders that started during the boom years of the 90's are now in their 30's and are focusing on families and careers instead of snowboarding. For me, I say good riddance. I am 31 and I make it to the mountain at least four times/week. What's their excuse? They are too busy to ride because they are giving their boss a rimjob so that they can get the big promotion? If toolbags are focusing on climbing the corporate ladder instead of riding, then they weren't true riders in the first place. As a rider, I am not at all bothered by the fact that the masses are no longer descending upon the mountain to learn the "new fad" that they saw on the Olympics. Most of them don't make it through the first lesson anyway. I say keep the sport pure, and if it means that less of us are doing it, so be it. Personally, I am not a supporter of the "more the merrier" club. There are already way too many assholes on trails and in terrain parks that have minimal riding skills and fuck it up for those of us that know what the hell we are doing. We keep our renegade edge if the community is small. Those that really want to learn for the right reasons will always find the sport. Those that don't, I say don;t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. So, what does everybody think?

01-17-2013, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,169	^ Your thoughts are stupid. Less people = less money which = higher cost. Don't know about you but I really don't want to see $150 day tickets here, pricepoints jumping another 50 to 100 dollars on gear, and my pro friends having to sign with shitty brands because they can't make the money they deserve. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

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01-17-2013, 11:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
stupidmop Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 65	If you have a professional career then NO HOBBIES FOR YOU.

01-17-2013, 11:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
extra0 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: CA Posts: 582	nice contribution to the forum, but seems like a slow news day at NYT. I snowboard for me...don't care much for what's trendy. My boards aren't the norm and, even though I can (currently) afford the most premium equipment, my outerwear is medium-low end, my goggles even lower. It's just stuff that is the most functional for me/my local conditions. As long as it's still dumping snow and my mountain is still taking me to the top, I don't care what anyone else is doing.

01-17-2013, 11:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
sheepstealer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 261	The author is actually a fairly well known adventure journalist and has written for a number of well known outdoor magazines/publications including Outside Magazine. I'm guessing he probably skis/rides and he probably has some decent connections in the adventure-sport world so I do not doubt the statistics he throws out. Still, at the end of the day its pure speculation. I can think of a number of reasons why the article might be true. Like the article says, snowboarding has always held a "younger" generation (no offense to the older guys on here, this is just a hypothesis). Would it be safe to say that over the last several years snowboarding has declined due to the economy falling out and younger people deciding to forego lift tickets, rentals, lessons, transportation costs, etc? Just an idea.

01-17-2013, 12:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
itchynscratchy Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 50	Wait till you have kids and see how much free time you'll have to get to the mtns

01-17-2013, 12:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
that1guy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: On the biggest hill in Seattle Posts: 259	^^^ I have 2 and ride at least 3 days a week. Sometimes the kids come with, sometimes I go alone. Either way, who really gives a shit what the NYT thinks?

01-17-2013, 12:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
blunted_nose Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 877	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....