Debunking the Myths about Snowboarding
I joined the world of snowboarding I noticed that there were a few false beliefs that non-riders (and some riders themselves) believed about the sport. This misconceptions were keeping people of the slopes, so here I name and shame them in no particular order:
Myth 1 - Snowboarding is too dangerous
Not true - all sports are dangerous if done in an extreme way. Perhaps all the rail jumping stunts and off piste clips associated with the extreme professional riders has led people to think that only the most coordinated dare devils could ever become involved.
To the contrary, most snowboarders just go out a leisurely surf the snow. Hardly anyone does the Evil Knieval style stunts seen in the Funniest home video shots that may have leant the sport this image.
Myth 2 - It's too cold - I prefer the warmth
Come on. Let's get real. I love warm weather too and grew up between LA and the West Indies- but there is a lot to appreciate in the wintery wonderlands of the world. On the mountain, you quickly warm up and forget that it's cold. With the high tech boarding and ski kit they've got these days you'll also find yourself comfortably warm even if you stop for a rest outside on the slope. Apres-board (or ski) you can go to small medieval style chocolate box villages (in Europe) or lumber jack style log cabins (elsewhere) and eat and drink warm things that taste great after a day out in the snow. Stop complaining about the temperature and leave that beach holiday until the summer.
Myth 3 - It's too expensive
No it isn't. The ski world is, like golf and equestrian, filled with upper middle class folk who revel in making you feel like they are doing something elite. Most of them are atrocious skiers and snowboarders who spend one week a year at Swiss 5* resorts and pay through their noses to show off. The fact is, that for £25 an hour you can get a lift pass, rent gear, and have a great time on an indoor slope near you at least once or twice a month. Then you can find cheap-o all in packages to places like Bulgaria (where the snow is good and the people are great), or Slovenia (like Austria, except everyone speaks Slovenian). Ignore the aforementioned who explain to you that it is "too common" to ski/board on a budget. These people just board or ski a few times a year and are hardly real enthusiasts. Get a good year of practice under your belt and then challenge them to a black diamond and see who comes out on top!
Myth 4 - I'm too old -snowboardings for teens
No you're not ... well, unless you are 70+ and use a walker. The fact is that people in their 50's and 60's are learning this sport. Sometimes I'm a young-un on the slope at 32! True, kids are attracted to snowboarding because it is fun and more freeform than traditional skiing. The good thing though, is that snowboarding does not shed it's supported once they get kids and a mortgage. In fact, I'm also a dad (of two baby girls) and I can't wait for them to be old enough to ski and board.
Myth 5 - I am a skier and so don't believe in snowboarding
The "snowboarders-are-from-another-planet-than-skiiers" days are over. Long over. They ended around the same time that the new shape skis emerged (mid-late 90's some time) and skiers (mostly) stopped wearing matching Yves St Laurent one piece jump suits. Nowadays, the multitude of fat shaped skis has revamped the popularity of skiing and encourages the same sort of freeriding as one would find in either big mountain of piste snowboarding or the pipe and rails tricks of the park freestylers. Check out the Orange Ski and Snowboard AIM Series.
Myth 6 - "People (who were not doctors) have told me that I can't snowboard because of blah, blah, blah meaning that I am genetically not pre-disposed"
Hey, if a professional tells you that you shouldn't ski or snowboard, then don't do it. But there are a lot of yahoos out there who will feed you horses boll'ks and call it beef. My favourite one was a two minute long explanation why I can't ride because I am of African descent and my bone and muscle density will cause me to sink beneath the powder. Or how about the one about some races of people having weaker ankles and thus can't do it. The spreaders of this stuff are too be believed no more than those 19th century guys who used to measure skulls to prove intelligence. The fact is snowboarding is made for everyone so don't believe any hype that says otherwise!
Myth 1 - Snowboarding is too dangerous
Not true - all sports are dangerous if done in an extreme way. Perhaps all the rail jumping stunts and off piste clips associated with the extreme professional riders has led people to think that only the most coordinated dare devils could ever become involved.
To the contrary, most snowboarders just go out a leisurely surf the snow. Hardly anyone does the Evil Knieval style stunts seen in the Funniest home video shots that may have leant the sport this image.
Myth 2 - It's too cold - I prefer the warmth
Come on. Let's get real. I love warm weather too and grew up between LA and the West Indies- but there is a lot to appreciate in the wintery wonderlands of the world. On the mountain, you quickly warm up and forget that it's cold. With the high tech boarding and ski kit they've got these days you'll also find yourself comfortably warm even if you stop for a rest outside on the slope. Apres-board (or ski) you can go to small medieval style chocolate box villages (in Europe) or lumber jack style log cabins (elsewhere) and eat and drink warm things that taste great after a day out in the snow. Stop complaining about the temperature and leave that beach holiday until the summer.
Myth 3 - It's too expensive
No it isn't. The ski world is, like golf and equestrian, filled with upper middle class folk who revel in making you feel like they are doing something elite. Most of them are atrocious skiers and snowboarders who spend one week a year at Swiss 5* resorts and pay through their noses to show off. The fact is, that for £25 an hour you can get a lift pass, rent gear, and have a great time on an indoor slope near you at least once or twice a month. Then you can find cheap-o all in packages to places like Bulgaria (where the snow is good and the people are great), or Slovenia (like Austria, except everyone speaks Slovenian). Ignore the aforementioned who explain to you that it is "too common" to ski/board on a budget. These people just board or ski a few times a year and are hardly real enthusiasts. Get a good year of practice under your belt and then challenge them to a black diamond and see who comes out on top!
Myth 4 - I'm too old -snowboardings for teens
No you're not ... well, unless you are 70+ and use a walker. The fact is that people in their 50's and 60's are learning this sport. Sometimes I'm a young-un on the slope at 32! True, kids are attracted to snowboarding because it is fun and more freeform than traditional skiing. The good thing though, is that snowboarding does not shed it's supported once they get kids and a mortgage. In fact, I'm also a dad (of two baby girls) and I can't wait for them to be old enough to ski and board.
Myth 5 - I am a skier and so don't believe in snowboarding
The "snowboarders-are-from-another-planet-than-skiiers" days are over. Long over. They ended around the same time that the new shape skis emerged (mid-late 90's some time) and skiers (mostly) stopped wearing matching Yves St Laurent one piece jump suits. Nowadays, the multitude of fat shaped skis has revamped the popularity of skiing and encourages the same sort of freeriding as one would find in either big mountain of piste snowboarding or the pipe and rails tricks of the park freestylers. Check out the Orange Ski and Snowboard AIM Series.
Myth 6 - "People (who were not doctors) have told me that I can't snowboard because of blah, blah, blah meaning that I am genetically not pre-disposed"
Hey, if a professional tells you that you shouldn't ski or snowboard, then don't do it. But there are a lot of yahoos out there who will feed you horses boll'ks and call it beef. My favourite one was a two minute long explanation why I can't ride because I am of African descent and my bone and muscle density will cause me to sink beneath the powder. Or how about the one about some races of people having weaker ankles and thus can't do it. The spreaders of this stuff are too be believed no more than those 19th century guys who used to measure skulls to prove intelligence. The fact is snowboarding is made for everyone so don't believe any hype that says otherwise!
posted by Parker (VARSITYfitness) @ 03:47
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