What is the soul of snowboarding to you?

Question

I always thought that the focus was in riding in the pow with friends, being expressive and creative.

When I started in about 93 we were anti skiing because they cared too much about how they looked. The snob was outweighing the fun they had. A lot of us were sk8ers. We were raw, rebelious, creative. We were all on the cutting edge because so little had been done yet. I used to hate it when tourists would ask me if I could turn on it. I kinda miss it. You were a freak riding a heavy plank of wood. The skiiers wanted you to fail so they could keep their snoby ski club. If you were a snowboarder you were cool. We had fun and didn't care what others thought.
They need to have a snowboarding documentary that starts out with a kid out riding on a snowcovered golfcourse wishing for the skislopes to let ride him the big mts. Damn it's been a fun ride!

Answer 1

not really sure what the "soul of snowboarding" is but nevertheless, i enjoy both skiing and snowboarding, i started off young skiing, and eventually tried snowboarding just to try something new, to see if i could master it, after a few days, i picked it up, and to this day, i still enjoy both skiing and snowboarding, for only the reason that they are fun, nothing else

Answer 2

I hear ya!

I started in 85 and I came from a skiing and skating background. My favorite tourist question was "So, is that fun?" I always gave them a smart-*** reply like, "No, it sucks but I'm grounded and my mom is making me do it." My friends and I wanted to wear the baggiest clothing we could find because it was the opposite of the tight hot chillys all the skiers were wearing. We didn't care if we were accepted. We knew we'd be snowboarding forever even if the "fad" never took off.

In the beginning, the soul of snowboarding for me was discovery. Just what could I do on this thing? How hard could I carve? How fast could I go? How steep a run could I handle? How high or far could I jump? The bounderies of what was possible on a board were nowhere in sight at this time. The day I first beat my dad to the bottom of the hill on a powder day, I felt like anything was possible.

As I got better the soul settled into style. Everyone was into the most difficult technical tricks ever, I just wanted to make everything I did look good. I wanted to flow down the hill. I wanted to spin slower than everyone else. I wanted to float my airs so well that it looked like I was slowing down time. When I was riding I wanted people to stop and watch because I wanted them to realize that snowboarding was as beautiful as I thought it was. I was always pushing the limits of what I could do but my style was my focus. When my buddies were trying 720's I was going bigger then they were spinning slow, lazy 180's and 360's. My style in the air was late and slow. I'd never grab my board until I was at the apex of my air and while I never tweaked the hardest I made sure to accomplish my trick solidily.

I'm now at the point in my snowboarding where I let the mountain dictate to me what I do. Fall-line riding. Style is still my focus but the mountain is more than just a canvas, it's a teacher. When I get to the top of my line I look to where the mountain tells me to turn and where to go straight. If the mountain decides I need to get into the air, I do it. If I need to stay on the ground and make lots of small turns, I do it. I love riding fast, challenging lines. I love steep, techie chutes. I love wide open bowls and deep, dry powder. I love spring corn and how hard you can rail perfect cordoroy. I love snowboarding.

Answer 3

very good answer, paul g. i can't help but to answer this question to contradict you. skiing isn't all a bunch of snobs. that's mostly the older people. there is a new generation of both skiers and boarders. half of each type spends the whole time hating the other sport. the other half co-exists. I have an immense respect for snowboarders who ride just to ride. There is a beauty in being able to fly with grace and skill and it doesn't really matter what you're standing on, two skis or one board.

don't get me wrong, I cannot stand some snowboarders who try the sport their first time because they think it's cool. but the tried-and-true residents of the mountain, be they boarders or skiers, share the heart (and soul) of the sport.