Meet the Snowboarding Competitor with Grandchildren

I'm always open to adding new snowsports-related blogs to my reading list. A new one on my list is Skiing and Snowboarding by Martin Griff, published by NJ.com. Griff writes a regular ski column for the Times of Trenton, and added the blog in December of 2007.

I haven't had time to browse the collection, but it has a mix of photos, short commentaries, and links to full-length columns he has written. Check it out.

One blog entry that caught my attention is "That gray haired guy is a competitor!" It's about Dick Schulze, a retired attorney who teaches snowboarding in Tahoe--and competes in snowboarding events. Somewhere in one of my e-mail boxes, I have a letter from him or from someone else about him from a few years ago. It's good to see that he's still going strong.

Now if you were going to be a 62-year old competing in snowboarding events, which would you pick? Slopestyle? Halfpipe? Big air? Boardercross?

Beware of Your Kids Taking Up Snowboarding Competition

If you’re a snowboarder, your participation in the sport may not be limited to your own turns down the mountain. You may find out that your children want to participate in competitive events. Watch out; that may break the bank.

The Pocono Record makes this point in an article published earlier this year. ("Snowboarders pay price for fame, glory," January 7, 2008)

It mentions a series of competitions at the local and regional level that culminate in a national event held in Colorado. The competitions are sanctioned by the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA), the leading organization for amateur events.

"But many children who qualify for nationals don't get to go," we read. "Why? Their parents would have to spend a fortune to take them there."

Consider that as a parent taking your children to regional events you’re already paying a significant chunk of change for lift tickets, food, gas, gear, team fees, event fees and hotel bills. The costs multiply at the national level:

"Stephen and Shirley Messina of Churchville in Bucks County estimate they spent $10,000 to bring their sons Stephen, 17, and Christopher, 13, to the 2007 Nationals in Lake Tahoe, Calif."

The reason: hotels, tickets, registration fees, and food, among other things.