A couple weeks ago, TIME magazine asked the question, “Is snowboarding getting spoiled by big money?” While the article makes some good points, it’s also annoying.
First, the good points. One, at the professional level, snowboarding is becoming more dangerous. Halfpipe riders are pushing the boundaries of what anyone thought possible, in terms of aerobatics and height. With greater thrills comes the opportunity for greater spills, spills that can be deadly. (I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody dies while trying the Next New Thing in the halfpipe.)
Another good point is that safety equipment can encourage more risk-taking. This is a well-established theory, called the Peltzman Effect, that you see especially in discussions of driving.
And it’s also likely true that corporate dollars have helped accelerate the progression of halfpipe riding, though I suspect that even without Red Bull money (used to build a private halfpipe practice facility), Shaun White would still be pushing back the frontiers of riding.
Finally, a video of Gretchen Bleiler talking about her training routine makes it clear that top riders are truly athletes. (Jump to 2:38 along.)
It doesn’t take long for the nonsense to surface in the TIME article, though: “But as Olympic snowboarders are soaring to new airborne feats, some in the sport are worried about the extreme risks and seemingly endless dollars being spent.” This suggests that the former causes the ladder. Now, it’s true that the opportunity for fame and riches can encourage some riders onward. But there’s also a competitive streak that inhabits the human soul that some people will follow regardless of dollars.
TIME also channels a hippie-style view of snowboarding:
Snowboarders also fear tunnel vision training will be used to “breed” athletes for competition.
“There’s a lot of artistic influence and individuality, which I think is core to what makes snowboarding so awesome,” says Izzo. “We are not necessarily cultivating and developing snowboarders anymore.”
“It scares me,” she adds, “because it really takes away from what snowboarding is and what it should be.”
As the money and risks rise, the loss for snowboarding could be the very things that draw so many to the sport — its accessibility, esprit de corps and sheer pleasure.
I don’t know about you, but my pleasure in snowboarding will be affected if Shaun White or any other elite snowboarder feels like he has lost his individuality, esprit de corps or sheer pleasure. To borrow from a sport that is in season now, golf, playing on the PGA tour must, after a time, be as much of a job as filling out TPS reports each week. But the plight of the professionals does not hinder the pleasure of weekend hackers.
(Thanks to Powd3r for the pointer.)
