SNOW BORED?
Many skiers and weather-locked skaters are turning to snowboarding. Like skating,
if you've never tried it you might not like it, but once you're on it you're gone.
However, you may run into a few snags in your pursuit of the great white way.
by Stuart Preston
If skateboarding had a good summer, does that mean
snowboarding will have a good winter? Who knows, but
a lot of boarders and board companies are bankrolling
on surfing snow this season. Manufacturers say orders are
way up and technology is increasing at blinding speed.
That's all good news until you try to ride the tram at
Heavenly Valley Ski Resort at South Lake Tahoe. They don't
plan to include snowboarding on their list of things to do
this season...and they're not alone. Out of the 22 or so
ski areas in the Tahoe area, only four allow boarding. It's
like a street skating law in S.F. What good is the tool if
you can't use it?
So what's the problem? Why can't a regular Joe cruise
down the hill sidestance if that's his desire? The reasons
for restrictions vary, but basically it boils down to lack
of familiarity. The resort management is concerned about
the implications of this new breed and their effects on the
traditional ski environment.
Ski area management has a list of answers starting from
the vague definition of the snowboard itself. Currently,
there is no standardization of equipment. Any two by four
with a bunji cord is legally in the same class as the metal
edged, high velocity sleds that rival skis in the slalom
course. When the Heavenly Valley management was in-
troduced to Avalanche Snowboard's 160cm 'fat ski' with
plate bindings and ski boots they dug up the old, "Yes, but,
if we let you on the hill we'll have to let everybody on the
hill" cliche. Wouldn't that be terrible?
Donner Ski Ranch is located at the other end of Lake
Tahoe. They boast an open relationship with the boarding
set. Anything goes, but even if you trip to Donner on the
busiest weekend, don't expect liftline collisions triggered
by packs of out of control board bombers. Strangely, the
"have fun your own way" attitude has been a success. The
quality of both equipment and rider availability has stan
dardized at a more than acceptable level. The mountain
reports only one ski patrol assisted injury all last season-a
broken wrist.
The Director of Marketing at Donner Ski Ranch, Joan
Perry says, "To date, our experiences with snowboarders
have been favorable, with the older snowboarders policing
the younger ones. Negative comments have been few and
far between."
"I think snowboarders understand that they are walk-
ing a very thin line and too much deviation in the way of
reckless skiing, unnecessary rudeness, etc., will result in
a loss of skiing privileges for all snowboarders."
Meanwhile, Heavenly Valley Ski Area, America's largest,
keeps a watchful eye on the development of the sport. Cur-
rently, their policy doesn't allow the use of snowboards,
but they feel there is a possibility in the future. If it is allow-
ed they will offer a quality program including lessons and
rentals. They don't like turning business away.
The future of snowboarding at the resort level is partly
based on continued advancements on both the technical
and educational directions, but also in the area of profit
potential for the resorts. As the youngest board sport con-
tinues to grow up, it will have to prove itself as a bonus
not only to riders, but to the ski areas as well. That proof
is only a matter of time. Of course, there's always that
backyard hill or 'halfpipe' of snow in a creekbed
somewhere that waits for a boarder, board and enough
imagination to tap the hidden energies.
BURTON
PERFORMER
Steve Ruge, frontside air under
blue skies at Donner Ski Ranch.