nwBroweather.com

I’ve gotten into this debate a few times. Usually with people who aren’t snowboarders. Some people consider snowboarding to be a Sport. I don’t think it is. I believe it to be a hobby or something you just do. Some people might call it a way of life.

The thing is, snowboarding never was a sport to begin with. Sport entails competition. Football, baseball, basketball, hockey which are about as sporty as you can get wouldn’t exist without competition. You can’t play any of these Sports without an opposing team, or at least one other person to catch a ball or smash into. The premise of snowboarding has nothing to do with competing. It never has. Snowboarding began as an alternative, rogue activity that pretty much just pissed off wealthy white dudes.

Today however, the most visible aspect of snowboarding is the Olympics, X-Games, Shawn White and Mountain Dew–all of which are synonymous with competition. But at it purest form, snowboarding is a one man show. You can drive to the mountain solo, ride solo, and have as good a time or better than you would riding with your friends.

The only legit competition in snowboarding is getting 1st chair on a pow day. And you pretty much have to be a local to win that competition.