After spending last Sunday snowboarding at Vail I experienced some of the highest levels of snowboard prejudice ever. Apparently, the introduction of snowboarding as reputable in the Olympics, X-Games, and other international competitions has not hindered the total disgust most skiers have for the sport. The Skiers vs. Snowboarders battle has been raging ever since one can remember. Even when I first began five years ago, as a non-threatening boarder on the bunny trail, I was deemed as a nuisance. There is a definite stigma running around that snowboarders are nothing but young, punk, stoner kids and that skiers are the wealthy monarchs of the snow. OK, so there is some truth behind that. At local joints, the snowboarders are undoubtedly the bartenders, servers, and baristas while the skiers are enjoying their second home in the mountains.
But, snowboarders tend to be younger, fitter, and have better fashion sense than skiers. (i.e.: You’ll never see a snowboarder wearing a neon jumpsuit with a belt). Personally I’ve always enjoyed the puffy, androgynous look I gain in my fat snow clothing. Typically, it is assumed that I’m a boy, and I hear: “Watch out for THAT guy.” or “Sir, oh sir!” many times while riding. Granted there is a large crop of fresh snowboard bunnies climbing the ranks to join the high level of competition that until recently our men solidly dominated. Young girls are ambitiously diving into the difficult world of boarding–despite lack of upper body strength which is compromised when you ditch the idea of goofy ski poles.
There were many mountains that up until recently banned snowboarding. This immediately attaches a certain rebel spirit to those who participate in such a condemned snow sport. Triumphantly, many resorts are realizing how popular snowboarding has become and retracted their idiocy.
Even so, Josh and I realized yesterday that we were the minority on the hill. Packs of skiers mowed us over on the catwalks, small children were learning how to ski (gasp!) instead of snowboard, and many scoffs and scowls were seen and heard. It became annoying and old really fast. This sort of reaction has prompted many a rebellious slogan or phrase and merely perpetuates a snowboarder’s rage and bias. (I recall a friend of mine once slapped a sticker that read: “Skiing is for Fat Kids” on her board. A ticket taker refused to scan her ticket and forced her to wait in another line).
OK, so maybe the rowdy snowboard reputation is deserved. Despite this, Josh actually heard a skier yell, “Hey, there’s plenty of room here, buddy” for no good reason. And many of us are extremely polite to skiers with zero reaction.