NY Times - Has Snowboarding Lost Its Edge
After exploding onto the scene about two decades ago, snowboarding is now sputtering in the United States, according to a recent study by RRC Associates, which tracks trends that affect the winter-resort industry. “Today, there is every indication that the growth in snowboarding we took for granted has stalled, and visitation from snowboarding is headed toward a path of substantial decline,” Nate Fristoe, RRC Associates’ director of operations, wrote in the National Ski Areas Association Journal.
For several months now, Mr. Fristoe’s report has been the buzz of the industry. For some it’s also become a rallying cry to revive this sport, which, with its bad-boy image, was widely credited with saving a dull and moribund ski industry in the early 1990s.
Meh, what do they expect. There is always going to be new people trying snow sports but with how accessible it currently is, anyone who is interested is already there.
Snowfields are doing fine. If they are struggling, it’s generally because of bad seasons, bad management or just not enough runs at their resort.
Plus it’s NY… they don’t call it the Ice Coast for nothing
Meh. Probably written by a skier.
Seriously though, it’s great that snowboarding’s ceasing to be a fashionable “trend”! All the wannabe, tryhard wankers are on twin-tip skis now.
So there’s no decline in Skiers????? Is there an increase in Skiers?????
All sports fluctuate to some degree!!!!!
Only gotta look at what happened to Snow Sports in Japan as a whole!!!!!
Looks like the NY Times needed a filler as their industry is in steady decline?????
No skier’s are staying steady apparently.
They were saying that some men go to skiing but women don’t if women stop snowboarding they don’t go back to snow sports at all.
Personally after what i experienced on my trip there is a LOT the industry can do (for both skiers and boarders) to encourage women in the sport.
The struggle both Kasey and I had getting decent gear (for hire and purchase) was astounding!
Somewhat relevant was that I noticed in Europe there was barely 20% snowboarders to skiers.
Whistler was more like 50/50 but tahoe seemed less snowboarders.
In Australia there is def more snowbaorders than skiers.
I can only imagine that Europe is a lot more old school when it comes to snowboarders vs skiiers. Australia with their minimal snow coverage makes it positive for people to try out everything.
I find at Hotham, early and late season (low season) dominated by snowboarders. late July and August skiers in the majority.
In summary, snowboarders are more dedicated on the whole and ride all season, whereas skiers only come out when the conditions are good 
I find that when I go to the snow, cause I ski and board, that I usually make a decision by seeing what terrain is available. A lot of my friends have reverted back to skiing, because 1. they couldn’t board 2. some of the terrains are so flat that skating across them is a waste of time 3. no one to board with. 4. Hate being on their butt. 5. the T bars and the button bars are not very attractive to go up.
From the European resorts i’ve been to sometimes skiing was more suited actually most of the time and depends who I’m with. But board always win if there is a park around to play in.
Used to ski, exclusively, then a mix of both, depending on conditions and terrain, but as time goes on, just decided to stick on the board, as it is easier on the body. (Those who watched me struggle with the T-Bars at the shred last year may disagree with that last statement… I haven’t exactly grasped that skill yet) 
Did you even go on a T-bar last year? 
I was fast tracking back to skiing (before I dislocated my knee) because I felt I had reached the limit of what I could do on a board and frankly, after 20years boarding it’s become boring! I got into boarding in the early 90’s as it became accessible/popular but had skied on/off for a decade before and at least once a year took a ski lesson (over 12years) even while I was snowboarding (I board 30-100 days/season).
Did my knee training for a FIS boarderX race on my snowboard.
If it wasn’t for my unstabile knee I would be progressing with skiing. I really only stopped skiing (in the 90’s) because my snowboard gear was so much better than my ski gear.
Mostly skiing became attractive again to me because I have access to the best skiers in the country who would loan/give/sell(cheap) me the best gear and help me with technique (though on a social ski with these people I have to board so I can keep up).
Skiing is also a better filming platform, does’t seem to have a limit (in terms of progression) and is naturally tuned to biomechanics.
For me Telemark has the ultimate in cool-factor and freedom.
I believe once I hit my +80’s skiing will be far more doable.
Not that I would ever stop snowboarding - I’m pretty good at it and there are days you have to ride sideways!
I think someone hacked Spaz’s account…
why?
Used to ski, exclusively, then a mix of both, depending on conditions and terrain, but as time goes on, just decided to stick on the board, as it is easier on the body. (Those who watched me struggle with the T-Bars at the shred last year may disagree with that last statement… I haven’t exactly grasped that skill yet)
I had some nasty bruises from tbars.. And refused to do them for a while.. So only took lifts.. Finally bit the bullet and was so determined to do it.. Now that I can when I look back it seems silly that I didn’t pick it up first go.. (I got it first go on skis but that is different)
best advice I ever got given was “look where you going and not at what your doing - focus on the end of the t bar track.. And you will be fine”
and honestly, that was the first time I didn’t fall off after the 1st or 2nd poles..
just relax and let it pull you.. Don’t try and steer.. After a few you can kind of kick the back of the board out a bit to steer away from people that fall off and the support poles. I hated the ones that have a tbar both sides with the poles in the middle cos I always panicked when getting close to the pole, and usually fell off.. I learnt on brumby in Mt. Blue cow and it has the tbar going under and frame as opposed to next to the pole, keep and it and one day it will click.. I’ve ridden most tbars at perisher except Olympic.. Because I can just see me going off the edge when it turns lol!!
I hate T-bars because you can’t take a nap on them. I’ve come close but can’t get any real shut eye.
hOz, that’s great advice, I guess because i don’t have to ride t-bars at home I get lazy…. but I tell you, the sniff of powder that day at the shred, and I got up there on my 3rd try. Sniff of the park, and all I smelled was Shart…. so I didn’t bother 