This editorial speaks volumes...it's from Snowboard Canada. It will no doubt strike a chord. I promise you one thing, however, no matter what happens to niche skateboarding (longboarding, downhill, slalom, ditch, pool, freestyle etc) CW will be here to document it all
INDIVIDUALISM In the formative days of snowboarding-say, in the late '80s-anyone who owned a snowboard was considered an individual. This was before snowboarding even registered on the radar of ski resorts, ad agencies, and the Olympics. Everything was new, everything was fresh. Nothing had been standardized. It was easy to stand out back then, easy to (mind the cliche) do your own thing. If you met another snowboarder, it was kind of a big deal. Everyone's gear was raw and thrown together. No one really cared about what was or wasn't cool, because it was cool enough just to ride a snowboard. Shitty Sorrel boots, shiny K-Way pants and a duct-taped ski jacket? Perfect. You were good to go.
There was a pioneering spirit back then. Everyone who rode felt it, and the resulting camaraderie could never be replicated. Why? Because somewhere along the road to acceptance and popularity, snowboarding took a sharp turn to the right and became a multi-headed monster. (Perhaps a hydra? We're not sure.) One head told you how to dress, another told you what tricks to do, and a third was essentially a slang dictionary (like ebonics for the slopes) that told you how to speak.
I realize that, at this exact moment, I am standing on a slippery slope, one that leads directly to the pit where ranting, bitter old men burn in perpetual hell. But work with me for a second, kids.
I have a point to make: Snowboarding used to celebrate individualism. Used to. It's now closer to a high school cafeteria in spirit, where peer pressure and conformity squeeze out anyone who doesn't fit.
Now, I'm not just talking about the size of your stance or if your wardrobe emotes hip-hop or indie rock. I'm talking about the path you choose and how our greater scene, be it the industry Powers That Be or the ever-influential media, interprets you. If you aren't playing by the so-called rules (whatever they might be), don't expect to get any love. Which sucks. And if you don't know why this sucks, you might as well chalk up the last two minutes you spent reading this to wasted time. Go smoke a bowl or something. The concept of individuality, and its place in snowboarding, was the inspiration behind "The Vanguards," a five-rider interview that examines those who (cliche alert, part 2) do their own thing. This article wouldn't have been a big deal 15 years ago since every snowboarder used to do their own thing. Today? Not so much. It's now rare for these riders to earn a paycheque or a la-page interview or a video part. It's the sacrifice they've made for not compromising their ideals or personalities.
If you take a good read through this issue, and here's hoping you do, you'll notice other strong examples of individuality and the resulting spirit that was once embraced by every snowboarder. Times have clearly changed, and I can't deny that Snowboard Canada, along with every other shred mag, hasn't played a villainous role in creating this problem. But at least we can draw attention to it and hopefully give a few readers the confidence to start fixing it. Lead or follow? It's your call.
I must say that I do not in any way feel the pressure from the kids on the slopes when I'm out on my board. Why waste the energy trying to fit in, when you can be out having fun? I am out there for the thrill of it, and not for the image it portrays. Hell, I could care less if my jacket matches my pants, which they don't. I go out, and ride the terrain park, and hit the slopes, all with the same spirit I have when riding a skateboard. I am competitive, but out to have fun, first and foremost. I am not out to fit into any niche, or group. I am out for myself.
If you feel the need to fit in, then you are out for the wrong reason!
yes well in addition to being a fringe element skateboarder I belong to an even smaller fringe element of snowboarding, I'm an Alpine snowboarder riding the mountain in Hardboots and Plate bindings. The only way I've ever been able to to describe the difference would be to compare a Jeep to a Ferrari. It is a truely different way of dealing with the mountain...carving is a reality istead of sliding and scraping. I can't think of the times I've had to say "yes it's a snowboard" and my personal favorite "being fast means more than straightlining the hill with a speedcheck...try to keep up"
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Originally Posted by livefortoday2007
It is almost like racism to seperate street skating and longboards.
ITs all this acceptance and trend and what's "core" attitude that is a major problem. It should not be news to anyone, because all you have to do is watch the fashion market.
At some point, an "activity" spawns a sort of clique of users that have a common bond thru the participation in the activity. If given enough time, it will turn inside out. The clique, itself, becomes the dominant thing. The activity is not even important, its the ability to get into the clique that is important.
Getting into this clique, is what leading mainstream marketers have associated with being the "in" or "core" product or brand, therefore the consumer (driven by the market) is associating being in the clique as being "in" or "core". The actual activity is not even part of the equation; being in the clique is all that matters. Threaten this ability to remain in the clique, and people get very antsy because they rely on the clique to define them.
Fringe element and niche aspects are where the activity remains the focus, this is very evident from product variance and design. Users have a common ground thru the activity. The mainstream is trying to define niche activities as an offshoot from the mainstream, to gain an acceptance. This is a problem with them not understanding. A niche is an aspect of the activity, not of the clique.
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My comments represent a selfishly one sided 1970's skateboarder mindset, and do not reflect the current fashion-skate-lifestyle industry's views.
It's true, if you're out freeriding and having fun, nobody is going to recognize you for it, but you're not going to seek any recognition. You don't go tree bashing in pow to get recognized, you do it because it's so much better than wasting a powder day hiking the park.
I always tend to blame the industry itself. Snowboard companies, skateboard companies, recording studios, soft drink companies, clothing companies - whatever the industry - are all in business for the purpose of making money. The more of their product they sell, the more money they make.
People as a whole are like sheep. They want to be lead. They want to be told what to do. This is where the advertising dollars come to play. They portray your life as more pleasant, meaningful, easier if you buy their product.
Even when it comes to having fun people would rather be told what's fun for them so they don't have to figure it out. The industries love that! It puts THEM in charge. People THINK they are buying what they want, but really, the only choice they have is what the manufacturers put on the shelves. The manufacturers are going to market what makes them the most money for least amount of expense.
It's kind of like the movie Matrix. Most people are content to go on in this life being told what to do, what to wear, what music to listen to, what car to drive, and so on. They are the onse that live and die in those little coccoons, never realizing there is something so much more out there and that you have choices. It's a very small percentage that "wake up" and go after something new.
The problem comes in once the industry sees this new thing. They try to reign it in and "conformatize" it so they can control it and convince people that this is the thing they should be into now. Once they do that, the masses follow along, happy to be spoon-fed their happiness.
Eventually something new will come along that the industries will grab on to, and the masses will follow after that. The masses are asses.
I'm not normally a depressed guy ... I have too much fun stuff going on in my life. People are cool, but the human race as a whole disapoints me.
I remember when I got started there was not alot of variation in equipment to begin with so everyone was pretty much on the same stuff. There was no such thing as snowboard specific clothes for God's sake. As time and money and fashion kicked in to the schene things did diversify but with that the equipment diversified and I was able to get better equipment. By that I mean I was able to get alpine carving/racing boards and hard boots and plate bindings that worked far better. Since then things have become standardized and everything is back to being the same. The only way to get anything I care to ride is to go to very small niche manufacturers. Like Xgecko I want to ride a Ferrari and have no interest in what is currently offered by the mainstream. Burton (amoung a bunch of others) used to carry 3 very different alpine style boards in their line up. Last time I checked there are no mainstream board lines that carry a proper alpine board. People are sheep.
God forbid Longboarding turning into what snowboarding has become. Longboarding is still and individual thing and (thank god) isn't the "cool" thing to do. I for one love snowboarding but it has become so mainstream that individuals simply don't exist in it anymore. I mean, its one thing to not feel the pressure of the mainstream lemmings but its a totally different thing to have the ability to be an individual and to do your own thing. Longboarding still has that appeal to the unique and I pray that I don't live to see the day when it goes the way of street skating and snowboarding.
Well there are Ferrari's to be had and they are usually of a much higher quality and at a lower price (relatively) than the mainstream industry provides. Burton still makes (well sells) Alpine boards though they do it under Addicted 17 brand mostly in Japan. Here in North America they are 3 exceptional builders Donek in Colorado, and Prior and Coiler in Canada. Not many places to get a custom/semi custom board at stock prices (I ride a Coiler BTW) but these three provide a a good product and all have more than their share of pro related R&D behind them Donek and Prior both have riders on their countries Olympic teams and Coiler...World Champ Jasey Jay Anderson rode Coilers to his championship. Of the three Doneks are the easiest to find, they also build cores for a bunch of other boardmakers here in the states. There are a bunch of other board makers F2, Hot, Madd, Nidecker, Swoard and Volkl. There are 6 binding makers with the best being Bomber's and Cateks (think Jimz quality) though not for racers who mostly use cheaper bindings (think Tensor quality....weird I know). Alpine's only equipment shortage is in the area of boot manufacturing with only two makers and and they are expensive. Railing a turn on snow is as awesome on as it is on asphalt with the penalty for error not quite as painfull. As for boarding clothes...from day one, 22 years ago, I've hated the "snowboarder wet a$$" so I invested in The North Face mountain pants/bib's I've been through 2-3 pairs they ain't stylish but they work.
I lived in Japan for three years and snowboarded there often. For all their fad chasing the Japanese have a much wider view of Snowboarding than here in the states...a conservative estimate is that 20-25% ot the riders are on plates and that's across all ages. I once spent a day with a couple in their 60's chasing cord all over the mountain, carving was the only thing we shared as I speak limited Japanese and they spoke no english whatsoever.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by livefortoday2007
It is almost like racism to seperate street skating and longboards.
good article... with snowboarding..the additudes have actualy stopped me from going to some mountains.. its just not fun when you are ridding around tons of snotty rich kids that think they are too cool sitting in the park all day long bein jerks to everyone else.. and i real enjoy riddin the park (prefer some back country kickers any day though) but when all the people in there have the additudes that they think makes them "snowboarders" it gets pretty frustrating
Xgecko-
Thanks for the update.
I am aware of some of the gear (brands) you mention but it has been a while since I have bought any new gear.
I'm still riding a Rossignol Throttle, Burton plates and Burton hardboots.
Not exactly Ferrari gear as far as good alpine gear goes these days but definately got the job done for me.
Ripped cord so hard it would make me giggle all day long and all the way home in the car.
Love the Throttle board, not so hot on Burton plates, Burton boots are far better than the old Raicle's I was on before them.
I still have a pair of Raicle white mountaineer type hardboot
What Snowboarders can teach niche skaters...
