Snowboarding in serious decline?

mbedle · Dec 2, 2013

True St Bear - but when you are using percentages like 7.7 or 32.6, I would guess those were calculated on some kind of hard numbers.

dmc · Dec 2, 2013

HowieT2 said:
I'm surprised no one mentioned this yet, but the growth is in the AT market and most who are looking to do sidecountry/backcountry are not doing so on snowboards for obvious reasons.

Or the growth in the splitboard market too...
just about every manufacturer makes them now... crazy

Boston Bulldog · Dec 2, 2013

dmc said:
Or the growth in the splitboard market too...
just about every manufacturer makes them now... crazy

What's a splitboard? A monoski?

Smellytele · Dec 2, 2013

Boston Bulldog said:
What's a splitboard? A monoski?

Two pieces of plywood strapped to your boots for up hill travel that can be joined to form a snowboard for downhill

dmc · Dec 2, 2013

Boston Bulldog said:
What's a splitboard? A monoski?

TheArchitect · Dec 2, 2013

Up thread someone mentioned that snowboarders tend to be younger and less affluent so they don't buy as much gear. The stats say that snowboarding has plateau'd over the last four years, which happens to align roughly with the start of the recession. Perhaps that has played a part? Less disposable income to go boarding at all.

thetrailboss · Dec 2, 2013

TheArchitect said:
Up thread someone mentioned that snowboarders tend to be younger and less affluent so they don't buy as much gear. The stats say that snowboarding has plateau'd over the last four years, which happens to align roughly with the start of the recession. Perhaps that has played a part? Less disposable income to go boarding at all.

No doubt. And the recession is hurting younger folks disproportionately more than others.

ScottySkis · Dec 2, 2013

thetrailboss said:
No doubt. And the recession is hurting younger folks disproportionately more than others.

It hurts a lot.

Boardguy · Dec 2, 2013

I skied as a kid and in college quite a bit then only skied a few times, due to a variety of circumstances. from my mid twenties to my mid 40s. When I had an opportunity to get back into it my son wanted to try boarding so we both took lessons. I skied a few more times over the next season but mostly boarded and then switched to the board full time. I have not been on skies in 15 seasons. Usually I get in 25 to 30+ days a year and I have found that snowboard gear just lasts really well. I am past the "got to have the latest stuff thing" and have not needed to replace a lot of gear. I do have a few boards but none are very new. I am still buying a season pass but not so much equipment. So in my case equipment purchases do not really accurately gauge my involvement in the sport. Every year I say I may rent skis for a day but never seem to get around to it. Maybe this year, but then again.... My son is an avid boarder and backcountry rider (splitboard) and has never been on skis.

BenedictGomez · Dec 2, 2013

C-Rex said:
I think those just getting into sliding on snow will go with what's easier to learn (skiing) unless the people they go with are primarily snowboarders.

Depends. For children, skiing is generally easier to learn. For adults, snowboarding is generally easier to learn. I worked at the ski/snowboard novice area of a large mountain for 6 years, and you'd really notice this in the progress of raw beginner children/adults who were on a full week vacation.

mattchuck2 · Dec 2, 2013

Boston Bulldog said:
What's a splitboard? A monoski?

Jesus. It's almost as if he isn't talking on a device that has the entirety of the world's information on it.

witch hobble · Dec 2, 2013

This thread could be titled "Journalism in Serious Decline?....read this Boston Globe article and you be the judge."

A Southern California ski area manager gives a quote to The Denver Post and it is used by a Boston paper to confirm what the dude at the local ski shop said. Or something.

Anecdotally, I would say there is much contraction in the # of days of many people I used to snowboard with. Also, as the sport was mainstreamed it was no longer a natural pathway for youthful rebellion. And the skis are easier and funner for a wider cross section of people these days than they were in '92. So it goes....there are still badass, ripping snowboarders out there and there are people doing the falling leaf thing and falling on their faces, laying frustrated in the middle of the trail.

Anyone who really thought it was going to "save skiing" had the irrational exuberance/tunnel vision/bubble mentality.

TheArchitect · Dec 2, 2013

BenedictGomez said:
Depends. For children, skiing is generally easier to learn. For adults, snowboarding is generally easier to learn. I worked at the ski/snowboard novice area of a large mountain for 6 years, and you'd really notice this in the progress of raw beginner children/adults who were on a full week vacation.

I can attest to the kids having an easier time learning to ski. My oldest started on a snowboard and after switching said it was much easier. My personal experience trying to learn to snowboard has been the opposite, though. I took a couple lessons and put in 4 days trying to get the hang of it but just can't do it. It's pretty frustrating because it looks like a lot of fun. I'd love to be able to mix it up a bit but I suck at snowboarding :-D

powhunter · Dec 3, 2013

The younger kids that should be getting into snowboarding are too busy playing xbox, smoking blunts, and eating taco bell. That's the reason for the decline

ScottySkis · Dec 3, 2013

powhunter said:
The younger kids that should be getting into snowboarding are too busy playing xbox, smoking blunts, and eating taco bell. That's the reason for the decline

They can do all that on the hill . Xbox gets boring after a while.

dmc · Dec 3, 2013

powhunter said:
The younger kids that should be getting into snowboarding are too busy playing xbox, smoking blunts, and eating taco bell. That's the reason for the decline

And baggy pants... and hip hop music.. and bath salts...

And get off my lawn you kids!!!!

andrec10 · Dec 3, 2013

Someone sounds like an old Codger...

Fallingdown · Dec 3, 2013

I am loving the stereotypes in this thread. Those crazy kids and their bath salts

dlague · Dec 3, 2013

From what I have read the ski industry was in decline a while back when snowboarding was on the rise. As a result twin tip skis emerged and have become the weapon of choice in the park.

In addition, backcountry skiing has taken off to some degree and skis are better for that but snowboarding has responded with split boards. Still not as good in my opinion.

Our kids that snowboard are considering a switch to skiing due to the latest popularity returning to it!

Lets face it there is a whole lot more ski porn out there made by the bigger name production companies like WM, TGR and Sherpas. Kids see that!

Highway Star · Dec 3, 2013

Boston Bulldog said:
What's a splitboard? A monoski?

Check it out here:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=split+board

Snowboarding in serious decline?

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