ew gross vegetables?... no, grandpa... we do not say "ew gross vegetables" we like vegetables... that line of thought is outdated and counter productive to good health or raising children to eat a well balanced diet

SNOWBOARDERS ON THE COVER OF THE WASHINGTON POST
NOT A SPORT FIGHTING TO GET INTO THE OLYMPICS
A SPORT HEADLINING THE WINTER OLYMPICS
NOT A FRINGE SPORT

Snowboarding is a Sport

the other day I was at my father's house and he was telling an anecdote that breeds contempt and hate

the story was about how an elderly PhD friend of his had taken to wearing a flashing light on the back of his helmet or jacket while he skied so that he did not get hit by a snowboarder

as if snowboarders by definition are more likely to cause an accident than a skier

I was livid... I did not want to hear it

I have heard it before and I do not want to hear it again

there is no need to timewarp back to the early 90's when snowboarding was banned at resorts around the country

and guys with hockey hair, a bandanna around their necks, and cb jackets were doing backscratchers and calling snowboarders knuckle-draggers

the myths that snowboards tear up the mountain and what not are just that... myth

it is true... the trajectory of a snowboard and a ski are different

they have different ways to slow and stop

which means they will push snow differently when they take different lines

so yes... a snowboard will move snow differently... but it is not like the snowboard can ignore the bumps and just slice them in half.... the snowboard has to traverse the bumps much like a mono-ski

the skier vs. snowboarder battle irks me in the same way that the road biker vs. mountain biker battle has raged on
pro in group

anti out group

and then prejudice

to think that a person is more at risk being hit by a snowboarder than a skier is a prejudice

not a truism... but a risky generalization

a falsehood

so... 

snowboards and skies do not put people at risk
out of control beginner skiers or out of control beginner snowboarders often people put people at risk

inexperienced skiers and inexperienced snowboarders put people at risk

over zealous arrogant... 

you get the idea

it is not the vehicle... but the user

now... are people saying that the type of person attracted to the sport of snowboarding is less concerned about the well being of their fellow mountain user?

I think not... it is an antiquated attitude that irks me whenever it surfaces

SNOWBOARDING SAVED THE SPORT OF SKIING!

SHUT UP!

skiing was on its deathbed
snowboarding gave skiing a breath of fresh air

introducing the skiier to another way of interacting with the terrain

bringing over body movement from skateboarding and surfing and applying these things to snow

well... that expanded the horizons for skiing and snowboarding

it is true...
the ski does have more control

there are two metal edges on one board that is connected to both legs

skies are balanced better and have four edges

but most dangers are created by the irresponsible behavior

not by the vehicle