The sport of snowboarding has experienced massive growth in recent decades. Twenty years ago there were few snowboards on the slopes. It was seen as a rebellious fringe sport.
Snowboarders were viewed by skiers as little more than a nuisance who routinely got in their way on the mountain. Now, there are just as many snowboarders, if not more, on the mountain as there are skiers. Why has snowboarding become so popular? Why is snowboarding so addictive?
Speed, speed and more speed. If speed is what you want, skiing is for you. In a downhill race, skis will always beat snowboards, but speed is simple, how fast can you get to the bottom, or is it something else. Snowboards are quite fast and the feeling of a snowboarder going through his board and his body often leads to the perception that he is going faster than he really is. Snowboarding is more exciting because of the level of control the skier feels over his or her board. More precise speed control leads to a more exciting race than just speed.
The versatility of a board is another factor in its growing popularity. A board can go anywhere as long as it’s downhill.
Its wider base means scrambling through powder that would bog most skiers down is no problem. It’s also easier to carve and cut with a board than it is with skis, which means moving through a bumpy path is easier on a board. Skiers can venture where skiers dare not go.
Tricks are what most snowboarders absorb. There are many more ways to look great on a mountain with a snowboard than with a pair of skis. Never underestimate the appeal of looking great. Each snowboard can be used in a bowl or half pipe, where special skis are often required to pull off the most impressive tricks.
The final addictive factor of snowboarding is the one shared with skiing. The silence. That crisp silence that is only found when you are going down a mountain. That feeling of speed and isolation that is only accompanied by the hiss of your board on the snow.
It’s an incredible feeling that’s hard to duplicate. It is definitely addictive. Why else would people constantly drag their bruised and aching bodies up a mountain over and over again? They love the rush. They are addicted.