Extreme Sports

Increasing numbers of snowboarders are emerging as a large percentage of the snow tourism industry, but are they a welcome addition? Some U.S. resorts still ban snowboarding, while others are opening the door.

While some resorts do not ban snowboarding, either allowing snowboarding on all property or allotting certain areas for the activity, there are three resorts in the United States that still have complete bans on snowboarding. The issues at the heart of the conflict stem from several reasons, one of them a longstanding rivalry between skiers and snowboarders, a rivalry that can sometimes get a tad nasty.

The big news for snowboarders is that Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico has recently announced that they are lifting their ban on snowboarding. This comes as a result of increased pressure by the public, including a campaign by Burton Snowboards.

The company offered a prize of ,000 to individuals or groups who film their illegal snowboarding, or poaching, at locations where it is not allowed. A representative of the company cautions against the manifesto of this publicity stunt being taken to the level of a civil rights matter, but there is a serious side to the issue. Snowboarders feel that they are discriminated against by the ban.

Taos defends their decision on their Facts and Answers page of their website. Complaints by individuals about the change centered around the impact on the snow levels, protesting that the snowboarders scrape snow off the trails, misbehave on lifts, and are an unwelcome presence in the community. Many others still welcome the change, saying it’s about time. Taos asserts that “Opening to snowboarding allows us to refocus on being a family oriented mountain.”  Read more...

Increasing numbers of snowboarders are emerging as a large percentage of the snow tourism industry, but are they a welcome addition? Some U.S. resorts still ban snowboarding, while others are opening the door.

While some resorts do not ban snowboarding, either allowing snowboarding on all property or allotting certain areas for the activity, there are three resorts in the United States that still have complete bans on snowboarding. The issues at the heart of the conflict stem from several reasons, one of them a longstanding rivalry between skiers and snowboarders, a rivalry that can sometimes get a tad nasty.

The big news for snowboarders is that Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico has recently announced that they are lifting their ban on snowboarding. This comes as a result of increased pressure by the public, including a campaign by Burton Snowboards.

The company offered a prize of $5,000 to individuals or groups who film their illegal snowboarding, or poaching, at locations where it is not allowed. A representative of the company cautions against the manifesto of this publicity stunt being taken to the level of a civil rights matter, but there is a serious side to the issue. Snowboarders feel that they are discriminated against by the ban.

Taos defends their decision on their Facts and Answers page of their website. Complaints by individuals about the change centered around the impact on the snow levels, protesting that the snowboarders scrape snow off the trails, misbehave on lifts, and are an unwelcome presence in the community. Many others still welcome the change, saying it’s about time. Taos asserts that “Opening to snowboarding allows us to refocus on being a family oriented mountain.”  Read more...