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Is snowboarding dead?

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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
Tonight I talked with a friend who owns a ski shop.  He told me that snowboard sales and service have decreased by half this season.  He has spoken with some regional reps for snowboards and they have told him that they have seen the same thing.  For whatever reason it seems like the economy has hurt snowboarding significantly more than skiing.  I don't have any statistical data on this, but my friend knows the industry and I'm sure he's not making this up.  What are your thoughts? 
Dec 4 2009 9:11PM
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TheStamos
Posts: 9311 - Karma: 910
90 percent of people who ride get on the hill like 3 times a year and just post there boards up above there bed and talk shit, must not be enough money in the economy for these people to buy new decorations.
Dec 4 2009 9:13PM
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t-roy
Posts: 4041 - Karma: 52
i had not heard of this. anyone else who works in a shop care noticed anything?
Dec 4 2009 9:14PM
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skiseemore
Posts: 988 - Karma: 17
for sure depends on where you are here in fernie we have the best start to the season in a few years so sales of everything to do with snow are up
Dec 4 2009 9:16PM
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ChadThundercock
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 830
thats because most snowboard companies have outsourced to asia, while ski companies have their products made in America and Europe giving us an economic edge in tougher times.
Dec 4 2009 9:16PM
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j.bird
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 15
THIS.

The snowboarding market is like 70 percent kids who go once or twice a year.
Dec 4 2009 9:19PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
How's the economy up there?  Do you think that the Olympics has anything to do with why you guys are having a good season in Canada?
Dec 4 2009 9:22PM
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dugger.
Posts: 227 - Karma: 309
guidos snowboard
Dec 4 2009 9:24PM
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skiseemore
Posts: 988 - Karma: 17
o for sure the economy is starting to bounce back and people are pretty stoked for the olympics haha except for locals of course but there is an excitement the closer it comes to the ceremonies, also as a friend of mine is an instructor theres alot of new skiers and snowboarders getting out there
Dec 4 2009 9:29PM
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Drail
Posts: 14012 - Karma: 10,011
olympics has nothing to do with us having a good season, it has to do with us getting shit loads of snow as to why we're having a good season. that being said, some hills are just opening up here, so I'm not even sure you can say we are having a good or bad season, 'cause i mean - it's just starting.

even though snowboard sales are down right now, i think it's a bit too early (even for you in colorado with your early season and all) to say what is what... i mean, at least wait till after the holidays...




...as for the economy, i personally haven't felt any effects from the "recession" as of yet, and "they" say we're on the rebound... so who knows what the hell is going on.
Dec 4 2009 9:34PM
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ReetsAdeets
Posts: 1531 - Karma: 611
Its cause a lot of snowboarders are just stupid ass posers who think that its cool. Im not saying they all are, I know some who are awesome, but there are way more in snowboarding than in skiing, so it would make sense that they dont buy snowboard stuff in a shitty economy and get Ed Hardy shit instead. Skiers like us though continue too buy stuff because we love the sport and this is what we choose too spend our money on.
Dec 4 2009 11:00PM
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PC.
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 18
I work in a shop and theres a couple interesting trends occuring lately.

Most notably, more and more weekend warrior kids, who will ride... maybe five times a year, are switching to skiing in droves. They see freeskiers and think they look cool, so want to do it. It's really annoying and frustrating.

And as stated before, I would say 70-80 percent of "snowboarders" go up at most five times a year, then gloat about how good they are to their "friends".
Dec 4 2009 11:16PM
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AB_Pow
Posts: 225 - Karma: 103
River Valley Cycle, formerly River Valley Cycle and Snowboards, in Edmonton are no longer selling snowboards because according to them, twin tip skis are starting to take over the snow-sports industry and their sales fell considerably last year.
Dec 4 2009 11:21PM
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MammothAddiction
Posts: 151 - Karma: 16
QFT. I have a friend who gives me guff for skiing, and he probably would be lucky to go 3 times. These type of boarders are the ones you see always sitting icing their butts because they're sore from the butt secks.
Dec 4 2009 11:23PM
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jblaski
Posts: 5566 - Karma: 1,078
Want to know why HCSC is snowboard only? So they don't have to put up with the ignorant fucks like 90% of the posts in this thread.

You skiers bitch and complain about the skier/snowboarder hate being "so 90's". But then you fucking hypocrites sit here and rip everything about the snowboarding community. Take this shit to NSG.
Dec 5 2009 12:36AM
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Delaney
Posts: 621 - Karma: 206
ya
Dec 5 2009 12:38AM
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thelizards
Posts: 4042 - Karma: 43
my shop has had a large increase in snowboard sales
Dec 5 2009 12:39AM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 20
I think it correlated with region. Some regions are seeing higher ski sales, which correlate with lower snowboard sales. Then there is the economic situation, where certain people are going to be effected more than others. I don't think snowboarding is dead, I just think it is slowing down a bit in areas. I think skiing is picking up and the ratios are changing.

Where I am from we have a few "only snowboard" shops. I don't think they are hurting too much more than any other shop (pottery, kitchenware, hardware).
Dec 5 2009 12:45AM
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gakc
Posts: 244 - Karma: 40
how are we dissing the snowboard community in this thread? (the OP)
Dec 5 2009 12:49AM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
This and a couple other posts have some really good points.  The problem with all the poser snowboarders that only go up 5 times a year is that they usually hate skiers and think snowboarding is so cool.  Then when they're at school they brag to their friends about how good they are.  I know a lot of kids in my grade that think they're like so good.  They always talk to me about how awesome they are and shit but they know nothing...
Dec 5 2009 2:27AM
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powderhound123
Posts: 70 - Karma: 39
Dude you suck at life... Take a business class. Its a fucking recession! Sales are down across the board. It does not mean the sport is dying. In February at the Olympics, when Shaun White and the Snowboard Super-pipe event is all over the world news, and no NS ski event is anywhere to be seen, your re-god-damn-diculous stupid theory should be sufficiently put to rest. Until then I hope the NS members are putting you in your place, but I can't be bothered to read any more of this thread.
Dec 5 2009 3:16AM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
chill the FUCK out
Dec 5 2009 3:24AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
snowboarders are made up of a large population that ride 1-7 times a year but always buy new stuff, with the economy many of them could not afford to buy their yearly gear so thats a decrease in sales. while skiing is a very "lifestyle" sport, so even in the bad economy we are still buying gear

thats how i look at it at least
Dec 5 2009 3:26AM
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eheath
Posts: 61604 - Karma: 123,113
I think its snowboard only because its a snowboard camp. High Cascade Snowboard Camp.
Dec 5 2009 3:32AM
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reedwj
Posts: 344 - Karma: 1,262
Snowboarding is just as much a lifestyle sport as skiing for the kids who take it seriously, but there are a ton of kids who snowboard a few times a year and don't give a shit. Most kids who ski are really into it. Skiers are still the clear minority in most schools, and so the kids that put up with the pressure to snowboard but don't change probably take skiing pretty seriously. Enough so that they will prioritize skiing in their budget and buy what they need.

Dec 5 2009 3:50AM
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v0mdragon
Posts: 83 - Karma: 11
my skis made in china. $799  retails. outta here poor folk
Dec 5 2009 5:30AM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Maybe YOU should take an economics class. Research has shown that for the snowsports industry, the income effect has been negative, but the substitution effect of the decrease in income has been sufficiently positive to give a positive total effect.

During recession, families substitute away from expensive foreign holidays, and instead go skiing, etc locally. I know this because two of the world's leading researchers on growth economics are studying industrial change wrt negatvie growth in my department at the moment.

Knowledge. Get some.
Dec 5 2009 5:31AM
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v0mdragon
Posts: 83 - Karma: 11
wow get money and quit bitchin hater
Dec 5 2009 5:36AM
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Ifeinforsnow
Posts: 1394 - Karma: 37
well played sir
Dec 5 2009 1:50PM
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aoe
Posts: 2947 - Karma: 51
BOOM! Sounds like we got another economist in here. Amen brother...
Dec 5 2009 2:19PM
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MNS
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 3,241
no kidding, so many people do that. and they go on how they love snowboarding but just buy nice goggles and a bandana and take photos in their room with it on
Dec 5 2009 2:21PM
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j.bird
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 15
.

Econ fo life...got my finals this week!
Dec 5 2009 2:22PM
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.caleb
Posts: 225 - Karma: 186
two of my friends  switched to skiing last year they said its more fun
Dec 5 2009 2:27PM
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FattyPLankers
Posts: 68 - Karma: 12

As someone who has recently switched over to sking after 10 years of boarding, and has had a fair bit of experience in economics I feel i can shed some light. Its pretty simple, its got nothing to do with the economy, or any of that shit. Everything is evenly affected, as previously stated skis cost just as much as snowboarding stuff. Its called a trend, if we look back at the history of skiing, when the snowboard became popular everyone switched over. Now skiing is the new popular trend.

Snowboarding’s saturated its market and has not progressed. Skiing is experiencing a revolution following the technically evolved twin tip. The sport has been completely revived itself. It basically comes down to the progression of the sport. 

In ten years who knows I may be back on 1 plank again. But for now skiings the cool thing to do, and offers allot more room for originality.

Dec 5 2009 4:40PM
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Coalescent
Posts: 4871 - Karma: 2,063
I do both.  Ski a lot and bought all new ski equipment, and today, I just bought new snowboarding boots.
Dec 5 2009 4:49PM
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Blandct
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 37
eheath dropping knowledge
Dec 5 2009 4:52PM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
Are you insane? This has nothing to do with snowboarding being in decline; it has to do with the economy. Look at ski sales and service stats and I'm sure you'll see the same thing. BTW... go Zags--currently 29-20 to the Zags over Wake Forest.
Dec 5 2009 6:13PM
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kepler.
Posts: 8761 - Karma: 139
That would be lovely if you were right but most major ski companies have at least part of their line made in cheap Asian factories. Volkl, K2, the whole lot.

My random speculation why snowboarding has decreased is this:

From my own observation, I've noticed that it's lower income class people that get in to snowboarding. It makes sense too. I could sell someone a basic snowboard set up for less than $300-350. You just can't do that with skis. The equipment is more technical and more expensive. People see snowboarding as a mainstream sport now that everyone can do. Skiing in most people's minds is still a rich-man's sport. With the economy being so poor people have to give up certain luxuries, and winter sports are definitely a luxury.
Dec 5 2009 6:33PM
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skiingonskis
Posts: 2076 - Karma: 262
no, snowboarding is not dead.
Dec 5 2009 6:38PM
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.Asain-Skiier
Posts: 3708 - Karma: 977
maybe they don't like snowboarding as much as we like skiing?
Dec 5 2009 6:46PM
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TheDude
Posts: 2058 - Karma: 117
alotta snowborders i know even admit thewy like ski culture more
Dec 5 2009 6:57PM
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TheQuailman
Posts: 7382 - Karma: 147

snowboarders are a lot younger than skiers

Older people are a more stable group than younger people.  When the economy is not doing so well teenagers and kids ride the same board as last year, but adults who have a more stable income (don't want to cut corners) will buy a new pair of skis if they need it

Dec 5 2009 7:08PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
Why would that be annoying and frustrating? People see skiers, think its cool, want to do it? I thought that was what we wanted to happen. Not everyone lives near a resort or can afford a season pass, doesn't mean they aren't allowed to ski.
Dec 5 2009 7:20PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
I definitely missed some pretty good stuff today.  I am not claiming to have any hypothesis about this, and nothing about it based on statistical data.  I was surprised to hear about this from a guy who has his finger on the pulse of the industry, but I am not hating on snowboarding.  There is more than one way to get down the hill, and I feel that anything bad for snowboarding has the potential to hurt the whole snow sports industry.  There are some people on NS who know their shit, and this thread was aimed at getting some opinions on if or why this is happening.  That's it. 
Dec 5 2009 9:49PM
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Ski_Punx
Posts: 783 - Karma: 49

snowboarding dead?  nah.... just ask fucking fuel tv !

Dec 5 2009 9:53PM
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SKIU4EA
Posts: 2387 - Karma: 2,072
that's because snowboarders don't buy, they steal each others' boards
Dec 5 2009 10:00PM
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Scrambles
Posts: 2270 - Karma: 63
wait, so rvc carries skis now?
Dec 5 2009 10:05PM
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AB_Pow
Posts: 225 - Karma: 103
not sure what the plan is but my friend took his bike for a year end service and when he noticed that there was no boards for sale and just some jackets and stuff he asked about it and the dude said that they don't carry snowboards anymore cuz skiing is making too much of a comeback.
Dec 5 2009 10:22PM
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snowboardersrule
Posts: 1077 - Karma: 15
this thread makes is nonsensical
Dec 5 2009 11:17PM
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SMH[-__-]
Posts: 545 - Karma: 13
nah its not dead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHEwOz_nk7Q
Dec 5 2009 11:36PM
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shithawks
Posts: 516 - Karma: -16
definatly not dead man snowboarding is banging. But having said that all the little rich kids that buy boards every year arnt getting as much money from their parents because they are hurting. so i dunno sales mean nothing its all about what u do with the shit u got
Dec 5 2009 11:49PM
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