So the results are in and it was pretty much unanimous that "hating" is the worse thing to happen to snowboarding since step-in bindings. Hating is essentially the act of zoning in on and attacking a fellow riders personal style (clothes, riding, mustache, whatever). The most obvious and textbook example of hating in general is demonstrated by the more elitist skiers, who start with the shit-talking the moment they see a snowboard... even if said snowboarder were say, an 8-year old, baby-faced child in a pink bunny costume who had cured both cancer and aids.
Within snowboarding, there are the "park police"; the kids who got good--not good enough to be sponsored or win contests, but good enough that they are entitled to shout at you from the lift everything about you that sucks. From a new rider trying to ollie to an experienced rider whose frontside boardslide has gone awry, these are the kids who laugh and jeer at anything that isn't "cool".
On the other side of the spectrum, you've got the "anti-park brigade". These are usually an older generation of snowboarders and skiers; they remember back in the day when *insert park run* was a wide open trail just for them, and some will stop it nothing to keep it that way. They stop in front of kickers, carve ruts and moguls into ramps and in general just make the park a more dangerous place for you and me.
Then there are the haters in your local ski patrol office. When you've been working resorts as long as some of those bastards, you know that if a snowboarder is dressed a certain way you should follow him until he does something wrong and clip his pass... wait, is this really part of the job description?
Even professional snowboarders aren't immune; just head to any video post on TWSNOW.com and read some comments. In fact, I challenge you to find a video where a kid doesn't say something stupid about what a rider is wearing, a feature or snow conditions or the really bold kids will even comment on a riders style/trick choices (which wouldn't be that bad if only they backed it up with a tight video of their own).
Hating can be a tricky subject, though; a double-edged sword of sorts, as where does one draw the line? For instance, some might view the blunt, matter-of-factness of an Angry Snowboarder as a form of hating; others might view the lude and crude shenanigans of one Mark Frank Montoya as a blatant sign of disrespect towards gapers:
I could say more on the subject, but I'd like to hear everyone's personal opinion, particularly regarding the last two examples. I will say this, even I have had my moments... sometimes you just get cut off by one out-of-control gaper too many and something has to be said; but is this "hating" or "regulating" for a better, safer tomorrow?
Was cool except the dick moves on the slopes throwing snow on everyone thinking he is the cool kid on the block. I guess every sport has to have a bitch or to that was beat up in School and now is thinking he is cool.
ReplyDeleteHating will always be a part of snowboarding because of how mainstream it is. While I guess I'm classified as a hater at least most people catch that I'm just more blunt and to the point.
ReplyDeleteIsn't hating the reason we snowboard?
ReplyDeleteUm, Huckleberry Hart..."Isn't hating the reason we snowboard" has GOT to be the most uneducated, ignorant statement to come out of someone's mouth!! I've been riding for almost 20 years and have many pro friends here in Canada. I need to only look to them to see the respect that they and myself give a sport that we LOVE. This includes respect for other riders, new or old. It seems that responses like the ones above are clearly made by idiots that aren't good enough to go anywhere with it, so they feel the need to bully. I'm not innocent, I've pointed and laughed at the Japanese tourists in my town, wearing their wives one piece Bogner ski suits of peacock proportions. A laugh here and there is fine, but to blatantly hate on someone is brutal. You want to hate? Go hate on your mom for raising such an idiot...it's people like you that give the rest of us a bad name.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't your post right there make you guilty of everything you're complaining about? Think before you try to form a thought.
ReplyDeleteIn the defense of skiiers, I've gotten more shit talked to me by people on snowboards (I don't like to say snowboarders because I have a lot of friends who only ride and are chill and also, as an Eagle Co. local, most of these people are tourists, and everyone knows how most locals feel about Texans and the like). A lot of time these people will see me on skis, and start harassing me for being a tool and a pussy, doesn't matter if they're learning how to carve and can only use heel edge to drop down a blue and I can do rail slides, cliff drops, back country, whatever. Also working in a ski/board shop in BC and Vail I've noticed a shift in the last 6 or 7 years in the ski vs. snowboard mentality (a ton of kids and parents coming in for snowboards, more expensive gear being sold, etc.), and also like you elaborated on, the animosity with in these groups. To me at the end of the day it doesn't matter what kind of fiberglass you're on as long as you respect the mountain and the people on it (as cheesy as that sounds).
ReplyDeleteSorry for rambling. Just wanted to let you know you have an awesome blog that I read even as a skiier and I loved the way you ripped BitchBoards apart.
Well, thank you kindly for reading...
ReplyDeleteWow, that's nuts. I mean I've seen kids that are decent riders have their heads swell up too big, but for someone who can barely even snowboard to be harrasing locals... do you think in such cases it's appropriate to give 'em a quick spray and help them cool off, or as a local do you take the higher road and set the example?
It's funny you say this trend has occurred over the last 6 or 7 years, as 2002 is the year Shaun White started winning and slowly grew into snowboarding's poster child... maybe it really is all his fault?