Informative Essay On Snowboarding

Today, snowboarding is one of the largest growing winter sports. Snowboarding originated not less than 35 years ago and was the sport for druggies and rebels. Over the years the sport has grown, and now is a major discipline in the Olympics, X-Games, and local resort competitions. In the late 1960’s was the first competition and was held in Vermont. At the time of the first comp, there were only 34 resorts open to snowboarders in the U.S. Was it because the awareness was not built up? Or is there a personal grudge against snowboarders for their rebellious style? Peoples perspective on snowboarders is that they are rebellious, drug induced kids who smoke and get high daily. In fact, a video game was created in 1996 called Cool Boarders…show more content…
One reason may be because when snowboarding began it was started with college drop outs who were most likely “druggy’s” and were seen as rebels. It has always been that skiers were to be preppy and snowboarders were to dress and be “gangster” or a rebel. I am not going to lie, when I snowboard I feel like I need to dress like a snowboarder or I would be out of place. This could be that snowboarders are not rebels, but conformists. It is difficult to describe, but when you are out at a resort, you can just tell if that person is a snowboarder or a skier, and honestly, the ones that don’t seem to be gentleman-like are probably a snowboarder. Movies do not help the situation and neither do video games as I described about Cool Boarders video game. There are many movies about snowboarding and it is usually a group of college aged kids with baggy pants around the knees, large coat with a fur hood grinding rails around the city or town they are in. There is a sense of “coolness” among their peers to not just do tricks in the terrain park but also in front of the local store that may have a stair case outside. Also there is a movie specifically which I personally enjoy is called “Out Cold.” A Movie about some local snowboarders who drink and snowboard. “Out Cold” is a comedy movie, but still shows the style very…show more content…
Snowboarders have their own style. Clothing wise, the only thing that has changed from the 60’s to present time is the colors. They were, and are probably always going to show the baggy, loose style of clothes. This past week I gave out surveys to students at Lake Michigan College. It was a simple survey of only two questions: “What do YOU think a snowboarders style is?” and “If any, what are the stereo-types that are perceived in snowboarders?” Many have told me that the style was big “puffy” coats with fur hoods, bright colored jackets, baggy pants and a beanie. When I asked about the stereo-types, no one said anything about snowboarders being disrespectful or rebellious. They tended to talk about their look, still as a stereo-type. What does this mean? Has the image of drug induced kids left from the image of snowboarding? Look snowboarding today, everyone is snowboarding! You go to a resort, and skiing is the minority. Snowboarders are not sending signals of disrespect or rebellious druggies, they are only everyday “ordinary” people enjoying a fast growing sport that is popular among the younger