I'm relatively new to this forum and I seem to read several responses that seem derogatory toward people that don't get many days snowboarding. I don't understand why the harsh vibe toward them.
I started boarding in 1987 and I know some of the seasons between then and now only had 4-5 days. On those days (actually every day on the mountain is the same for me in this regard), I would be waiting in line at the lift for it to open and speed down the hill at 3:55 to get one more run. I would ride straight through and only take 15 minutes for lunch because I wanted to get as much time on the mountain as possible. I didn't progress much those years, but I sure had fun with the available time. Looking back, some of my favorite days were in those years because it was so important just to be able to go.
I got 43 days this year (14 in Colorado) and I'm over the moon happy about how much riding I got to do. I just never thought of myself as a poser in the years I was only able to ride 4-5 times. Any insight is appreciated.
Fuck them fools. Anyone who started riding around 2000 and slags people for not getting enough days is a D-Bag.
I also started snowboarding in 1987 and have not managed to hit the 20 day mark most years since the late 90s. Thankfully this year I got more days in than most. Work, life, kids ....I'd ride every day if I could.
Keep trying to go as much as you can and do what makes you happy on the mountain.
I started riding in '85-86 at Mt BAKER and at 19 years old and a 4 10 hr work week, we were up at BAKER every Fri, Sat and Sun (BAKER wasn't open Mon-Thurs back in those days) rain or shine. It would dump Mon-Thru and Friday was always 2-3' fresh every week.
Now I'm lucky enough to have a job, that I can come and go whenever I like and typically get 20 (powder) days a year in. I ride with guys that we've been riding together for 27 years. The best day this year was just three weeks ago, when my buddy that I started riding with in '85 went up to Stevens after a fresh 11" dump, just like the old days, absolute blast.
Get up there when you can and enjoy, I feel most kids today wont be snowboarding 10 years from now, simply because they're into because it's cool/trendy. Back in the day. you would NEVER have heard anyone say "I used to snowboard", I see more snowboards crammed in the back of garages , that have maybe 1 season on them. These guys bitching about people only getting 20 or less days will more then likely join the "I used to snowboard" crowd.
I got 43 days this year (14 in Colorado) and I'm over the moon happy about how much riding I got to do. I just never thought of myself as a poser in the years I was only able to ride 4-5 times. Any insight is appreciated.
I don't know if it's derogatory, I think it might just be a perception. If you're asking for advice on bindings, and somebody has 60 days on the hill this year on several different bindings, his opinion would be worth more to me than a guy that bought one set and has 5 days a year on them.
For me it probably takes 5 days just to get my legs and lungs back in the shape. I started in 1992 (on a proper board that is) but until the last 6 years or so my longest season was 15 days. I feel like my boarding has changed more in the last 3 seasons of rocky mountain riding than it had in the previous 17 years of boarding before.
Boarding is tons of fun, and there's nothing wrong with only being able to get out 5-10 times a year. But if you're serious about getting seriously good, you've got to get out more than that! Beside who wouldn't want to get out as much as possible?!? :yahoo:
I only get about 20 days a year (started around '98), and I never take offence. I think on the forum it is more out of fun posting a comment than any real problem. It's all about the newbs/5 day'ers attitude. If the guy is talking about getting new gear every season, like the dude who i talked to in keystone. He was on his 3rd board of the season, and the board he tried to sell me was a perfect brand new Never Summer w/zero scratches (unfortuntely to small for me), or the people who blame their gear for their ability. I understand having issue with these people, whether it's on a forum or on the mountain.
But for me the only people who I hate and truly take offence too being on the mountain are the people who stop on a run and stand beside a barrier (get fucking behind them), or stop dead center on a run (get to the fucking side). You're in the way, and creating a safety issue, AND I don't care if you're a 100 day'er or a newb-i hate you!
You'll find that the people who are derogatory tend to be that way all the time. Some people are helful, some people are indifferent, some people are dicks. Just like with real people. :laugh:
Just ignore the richards. If they keep piling on, then they're baiting and that's where a mod gets involved.
Thanks...I was wondering if it had to do with seeing the folks going to the mountains, taking 5 runs the whole weekend and telling everyone how they "killed it this weekend" while standing at the water cooler monday morning.
I think it is a state of mind more than anything. We all can respect someone that is out there giving it their all trying to improve and progress regardless of it being 5 days or 150 days.
You are so correct about the equipment end of things. I bought my first board in 1989 and road that same Sims Fakie 163 for 20 years before branching out. Now, I try to buy 2 new boards each year and at least one new set of bindings to discover my own preferences. I keep finding things that I like better so I guess I'll just keep doing that
1. Are they condescending?
2. Are they ribbing me so I ride more?
There's some people out there that open their mouths about snowboarding when I'm talking about things that I say to myself, "well they're a fucking moron and obviously don't ride" and then there's people that I say to myself, "this guy gets it but I'm going to bust his cubicle jockeying ass so he tries to ride more".
It's up to the individual to decide how they want to take it as sometimes sarcasm can not come across the Internet so clearly. With that said fuck you all I went and rode pow all day today for day like 200 of the season.
I was watching the POW cam all day yesterday at Loveland and seriously wishing I could relocate Kansas and pull Missouri next to Colorado...sounds like it would have been worth the trip...just not worth the divorce ha ha
You suck...but in an I'm jealous way!
200 freaking days...living the dream right there...I think that would seriously cut into my motorcycle road racing though Racing at Heartland Park this weekend and it is snowing here right now...we raced there in the hail before...I guess I just need studded snow tires for the weekend :yahoo:
I got 43 days this year (14 in Colorado) and I'm over the moon happy about how much riding I got to do. I just never thought of myself as a poser in the years I was only able to ride 4-5 times. Any insight is appreciated.
This is the internet, after all, and lots of people unfortunately get caught up in bragging rights or whatever. Also, it's easy to be a dick on the internet.
But seriously, 43 days is a damn solid season. Sure, on enthusiast forums like this you will have a disproportionate number of 100+ day riders, but that's literally like, 1% of all snowboarders. Probably less than that. The average boarder/skier goes like, 5 or 6 times a year. So, for everyone who rides 100 days, there's like 20 other dudes who are only getting out to the mountain twice.
But seriously, 43 days is a damn solid season. Sure, on enthusiast forums like this you will have a disproportionate number of 100+ day riders, but that's literally like, 1% of all snowboarders.
I used to get like 10-20 day a year for my first 5 years boarding. I moved to colorado a couple years ago and this year am around 150 days so far. Still have another month of abasin being open. The more days yo ride, the better you get.
I give people a hard time all the time that live here and ride or ski 15-30 days a season and have become powder snobs. The can't keep up on pow days cause they don't ride enough. Some people that's aren't rally into it but like to hype themselves up, I just don't even bother talking to them. 30+ days is respectable. After being on the mountain a lot you can judge people and how much the ride by how the handle themselves with their gear. Posers/gapers are very easy to spot. 75 day a year rider/skiers are also easy to spot.... I don't really care though, as long as they mind their own business and don't start talking smack, I will always answer questions or let a lost individual follow me to get them to a lift safely and back to the right side of the mountain.
Also, BA has told people before and I agree. Getting over 100 days is really an undertaking and takes definite dedication to get out there every day. Well, he said it more like no fuckin way you get 100 days..... But I have found out exactly what he means over the last couple years. There are no a lot of us that do it.
Here are my assumptions:
1) You work a normal job
2) You live close to the mountains
3) Ski season is from Nov through May (7 total months)
With 7 total months of ski season, you have the potential for 60 total weekend days. That means you have figured out how to go snowboarding for at least 90 days during the week (so far). That is simply amazing....nicely done!
When I did this big mountain challenge a couple months ago I got talking to a few of the competitors who rode 5+ days a week. Most of them lived in Banff or Canmore and worked as bartenders, waiters, one was a grocery store stock boy who worked nights.
They all put snowboarding before anything else in their life, and picked the job to work around their hobby. Unfortunately (or fortunately) guys like me are focused on work first and hobbies second. So for me I'm thrilled to have done 36 days so far this year, and I'd like to hit 40. Next year I'm going to likely patrol, so I hope to do more days than that.
On the other hand, by putting my career first, guys like me will be more likely able to retire comfortably in their 50s instead of 60s, and can spend the last 20 years of their life enjoying retirement instead of having to keep scraping by. (this is vs. guys working dead end jobs to live the mountain life)
Yeah, I do nursing. I work evenings in the winter time. I'm right at 150 days since October. My son is between 185-190 somewhere.
It is very tolling on your body. It's more so because I ride all day and then have to fix all the broke people all night 3-11. The powder days from mid Jan on where killer on the legs. When I don't ride for a few days my joints hurt and muscles get real stiff. I'm trying to hike up vail or ride abasin a few times a week now until the mtn biking and hiking trails are open. Gonna go to Moab next weekend for 5 days for some biking and hiking.....
I have been getting around 25 days the past two years. I have really progressed. Like every other weekend i take a drive to my house in VT and ride with my friends. I wish i could go more. I feel good/bad for the people that get only like 5 days. Good because they make the best of it and it is prob. better than any of my 25 days because they know that is what they got.
I only got 8 days in this season....they were o.k., but nothing like the consistent 2'+ dumps we had two years ago (where I got 20+ days). It's looking like the sierra nevada is only epic on "el nino" years - other than that, it's not much better than the east coast (excluding sun)
if you are a dedicated weekend warrior you can get over 50 days just by riding weekends if you ride where there is a typical mountain snow season. 100 is averaging 4 days a week which isnt all that physically demanding IMO. But they key is having a flexible/no job during the winter and keeping the stoke alive to get you there the next day.
I work a respectable, kinda seasonal job, live in a city and get to ride 100+ days. best of both worlds.
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