In his New York Times travel article “Has Snowboarding Lost Its Edge?” Christopher Solomon examines why boarding has “lost its mojo” over the last several years. He writes:
One reason may be that snowboarding simply doesn’t have the rebel cachet that it once did. Skiing has appropriated everything from snowboarding’s swagger to its trendy clothing to technology like fat skis. Simply put, it’s cool to be on two planks again.
Chris’s article talks about the waning of snowboarding in the United States. The sport caught on later in Europe, where the picture now, he tells us, is more nuanced:
Traditional Alpine countries like France, Switzerland and Germany have seen sales from manufacturers to shops drop 15 percent over the last two seasons, thanks in part to aging riders stepping away from the sport, said Remi Forsans, an industry veteran and editor of BoardsportSOURCE, which covers Europe and Russia. But snowboarding is still growing among the youth of Russia and former Eastern Bloc countries, where the sport is still relatively fresh, Mr. Forsans said. Worldwide, snowboarding remains “more or less stable,” he said, with about 27 million snowboarders worldwide.
So what are the cool kids doing on skis these days? The answer is, everything boarders can do and more. The trends are as varied as the gear ski manufacturers are dreaming up every season. Specially designed skis were invented years ago to allow skiers to create their own versions of spectacular snowboarding events like half-pipe, big air and boarder cross. Fatter, longer, heavier skis have made it possible for back-country free skiers to trace faster, more direct lines down the slope and do better airborne tricks. The latest trends in this vein are “rocker skis,” bent upward in a bow shape, and the ever-increasing number of niche ski companies like White Dot and black crows.
Back-country ski mountaineering, or ski touring, until recently seen as an activity for grizzled, old-school mountaineers, has reemerged as an extreme activity for a younger crowd. Ski-touring gear, originally designed to facilitate uphill walking and climbing as well as the occasional trip down the mountain, has been reoriented toward more thrilling descents: The skis are fatter and more versatile and the clothing is more fashionable. The activity even has an updated name — free ski mountaineering — and a poster boy: Glen Plake, who became famous in the 1980s for pounding moguls and heli-skiing down impossible cliff-like faces. Mr. Plake can now be seen in a more mellow yet thoroughly modern context climbing the pointy peaks around Chamonix, France, in the latest touring gear.
If you are tempted by the video above, be aware that though the evolution of skis and other equipment has opened up the mountains to more people of all levels, none of the dangers have changed. Many dozens of people around the world die in avalanches, falls and other alpine accidents each year. Hire a professional with local knowledge and take all of the precautions he or she recommends. If you are not convinced, read this piece by John Branch.
Has skiing eclipsed snowboarding for good? Have you tried free ski mountaineering? What are your views on the future of winter sports? Let us know in the comments space below.
IHT Rendezvous: Skiing vs. Snowboarding: What's the Coolest Mountain Sport Now?
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IHT Rendezvous: Skiing vs. Snowboarding: What's the Coolest Mountain Sport Now?
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IHT Rendezvous: Skiing vs. Snowboarding: What's the Coolest Mountain Sport Now?
