Skiers/Boarders

[replicant_008]

Last week, we had a 'documentary' on our local version of 60 Minutes sensationalising the risk that 'boarders presented to skiers on our ski-hill (Mt Ruapehu). Apart from the fact it was really badly put together - it took one isolated incident involving a skier and a boarder colliding, it tried to play off a stereotype of conflict between old school club skiers and the no-rulz boarders... sigh.

In fact, the documentary suggested one answer was having different areas for the two styles...

Now as what I consider to be a reasonably hard-core skier I don't really give a #$%^ what anyone rides - lots of my friends ski and board. And to be honest I think the ski-hill contributes to the problem by putting too many people up the hill on busy days (we can typically get 20-40 min queues for a 5 minute run).

And over the last 10 seasons riding I think I've had just as many run in's with skiers with bad attitudes as I have boarders...

What does everyone else think? And what were your experiences?

[Ssom]

Skiers are as much risk to Skiers as boarders are.


I do both- I think that teh 60 minutes doco was pathetic and stereotypical

[Gonthrax]

I snowboard, simply because I'm better at it then I am at skiing. I have never seen any of this crap they were talking about. Like you said, most snow sports people don't care how many slippery boards you have on your feet, as long as you act like a decent person and not some asshole who thinks they own the slopes.

[Ssom]

Originally posted by Gonthrax
as long as you act like a decent person and not some asshole who thinks they own the slopes.

Exactly- as long as there is no skater mentality (It's thier fault if they get in the way) then why worry?

[tazdev]

there (from what I have seen) used to be that sort of mentality. But it was just when there were a few boarders and lots of skiers, the boarders got a lot of "shit" thrown their way simply because they were different.

Now days it can be common place to see as many boarders and skiers on the mountian at any given time and they seem to get along better now than they used to.

[BANNED]

some of both groups are crazy! :finger:

[Oz]

I absoutely agree with abovement ioned opinions. I'm an avid, advanced skiier who has no problem at all with boarders. At PB this year, my mate Sean was traversing accross when he was taken out from above from a boarder. He weighs about 110kgs and the boarder would have beenb about the same. NO major injuries, a bit of runaway gear, both ahad a laugh and apologised. The way the slopes should be. It's not what's strapped to your feet, it's all about attitude, man!