Snow scraping: Do snowboarders push snow down the hill?

Do snowboarders “scrape the snow” off the mountain? That’s an old accusation, but it’s not an entirely fair one.

Now, it’s true that a snowboard can scrape a lot of snow, and push it down the hill.

What is responsible for pushing snow around? People who take on terrain too steep for their ability, and who then resort to side slipping for an escape.

But skiers are well as boarders are guilty of the practice.

Still, grown-up riders would do well to act as if they are under special scrutiny from skiers. Act like an ambassador for the sport, that is, and work your way up to the more difficult terrain. That way, you will maximize carving and thus minimize scraping, and leave the hill in better condition for all of us.