Can I Get a Readable Snowboard Magazine?

If you go into a sporting goods or news store and look for a magazine on snowboarding, you may end up disappointed. I know that I am. So here’s what I’m looking for in a snowboarding magazine. (It builds on what I previously wrote on the subject.)

Grown-up language.
By this I don’t mean salty or “adult” language. I know how to use those words but don’t necessarily want to read them in a magazine. What I mean by “grown-up” is high-quality writing. Think of the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times and you begin to get the idea.

Information about snowboards and related equipment and supplies.
When I read magazines that offer reviews of gear, detailed rankings aren’t that useful. For one thing, by the time I get around to buying whatever it is that I’m reading about, the model may have changed. But some information about snowboard gear is a good thing. For example, I’ve read a lot about Magnetraction, available on some boards. A good magazine article would describe what this is, its usefulness and limitations, which companies offer it, how it came into being, and how it fits into the evolution of snowboarding equipment.

Information about ski areas and the resort industry.
What’s new within the resort industry, generally? If the next great thing will be lift chairs with individually programmable iPods built into the safety bar, let me know ahead of time. If Mount Whoozit has a particularly interesting guest service that relates to riding and skiing, talk about it.

Profiles of riders with professional lives.
I’d like to see some stories about people who enjoy snowboarding but who aren’t professional riders. I’m thinking of people who work as accountants, biologists, cardiologists, what have you, and who enjoy getting out on the snow. They’re are easier for me to relate to than the 20-year old bartender. Why and when did they start riding? What do they enjoy about riding?

First-person stories about snowboarding.
This is related to the previous item, but some first person stories would be worthwhile. There are hundreds of thousands of adult riders, and some of them must have some interesting stories relating to learning how to ride, developing skills in a new avenue of life, meeting new friends, and so forth. Let them tell their stories.

Stories about snowboarding trips.
All sorts of interesting things can happen when you go on a trip: Where did you go? What were the surprises, delights, and disappointments of the mountain? Any catastrophes with gear? Weather? How about rituals or group interactions?

What I’m not looking for.
I suppose it might help flesh out my wants by mentioning a few things I’m not looking for: news about the latest industry parties, eye candy that overshadows well-written text, and how to appoint that 7-figure second home.

There’s more I could say, but in short, I’m looking for something that’s both industry and consumer oriented, technical and literary–but always keeping an eye towards a sensible adult audience that has a life off the mountain. Tone is as important as content.