Skiers v. Snowboarders: Old School Still in Session

I got an unpleasant reminder that the old skiers versus snowboarders feud still lives in some quarters.

After having lost my ski gloves about a week ago, I decided it was time to pony up and buy a new pair. Since I am a skier as much as I am a snowboarder, I have a pair of gloves for each sport. (The snowboarding gloves have built-in wrist guards, which don’t work well with ski poles.)

So I went to the ski shop where I bought the original gloves a few years ago. As the sales clerk (who might have been the owner of the shop as well) rang up my bill, she asked if I was in a ski racing program.

No, I told her. My alternative activity was snowboarding.

She gave me a startled, and pained look. I flashed her my new business card for the GraysOnTrays web site, which features a drawing of a snowboarding riding down the hill.

She was horrified.

We talked for several minutes about the bad behavior of some snowboarders. Sadly, the misdeeds of some have put snowboarding in general in a bad light. At least in her mind. No wonder they don’t sell any snowboarding gear.

I thought that my pleasant demeanor, and agreeing with her that bad behavior was, well, bad, might make an impression. I’m not sure it did.

The old school is clearly still in session. At the retail level, it can survive if a shop finds alternate revenue streams, such as the ski racer.