Snowboarding is a dying breed? - Thoughts

OK. There has always been banter between skiers and boarders about which is the most sensible - GOATS v DOS (as my mate calls us D***s on sticks).

But, joking apart - is boarding a dying breed?

The reason I ask this? I went to see a guy last week to have my boots re-fitted (as recommended on this forum - Graham at Rivington Alpine). I asked him why he does not sell any boarding gear. He said it is not selling these days.

We had a laugh.

He said, seriously that is the case. He was saying many boarders these days tend to be over the age of 35 - those that started when it was "cool". IT is no longer that "cool" so they are not buying the gear. He can sell so much more ski gear. The shop was a very nice and tempting shop. He also does a bloody good job at fixing boots!

My girlfriend is swapping from boarding to skiing this season (she saw sense at last - the thumb screws might have helped). Is this going to be a trend?

Thoughts?

I hope so but seriously doubt it..

For a couple of years the number of people in Freance having snowboard lessons has been dropping, while the number having ski lessons has stayed static.
Not a dying breed but not the 'in thing' anymore either. Ski technology has caught up and probably passed the point where boarding was scene as the cutting edge part of snow sports.

I've always thought skiing was cooler than boarding, although SOME of the boarding fashion is nicer than the straight up and down traditional ski gear.

Boarders hurt themselves more, fact. They also cause more problems on piste, fact. They also make a mess on lifts, fact.

However i do think a good boarder off piste looks amazing.

Death of the hill frogs?
No big deal ;-)

You forgot to add that boarders trash the powder far quicker than skiers.

Love your graphic Snapzzz - spot on.

Boarding for ski manufacturers to look at skis. They reshaped them and made skiing easier. They also made skis that enable their users to pull bigger and better tricks than the boarders can, so making skiing cooler than boarding.

5 years ago, snow parks would have been almost skier free zones. Now they are dominated by skiers.

Add in being able to get around a resort without walking, and not spending half your day sat on your backside just under the lip of a roller.......

I am pro boarders, I don't see any decline in the amount of boarders on the slopes ....... perhaps regarding clothing they are doing what I always do .... do I need that new jacket and the answer in most years is no.

d'embarquement bonne

I get confused at the amount of boarders who just seem to sit in the MIDDLE of a slope all day. Is that what they hit the slopes for?

Very few of them seem to actually know what they are doing. The good ones are great, and of course we all need to learn....but why rest in dangerous places? Anyway, rant over.......

stevie999 wrote:I get confused at the amount of boarders who just seem to sit in the MIDDLE of a slope all day. Is that what they hit the slopes for?

Very few of them seem to actually know what they are doing. The good ones are great, and of course we all need to learn....but why rest in dangerous places? Anyway, rant over.......

But their are an awful lot of skiers who do the same 8)