Some Skiers Just Don’t Like Snowboarders. Live with it.

The Salt Lake Tribune asked its readers to declare their favorite and least favorite mountains for snow sports. It revealed a continued dislike of snowboarders, at least among skiers. The Salt Lake region has two mountains that are ski-only, and that fact drew some positive comments.

In the unscientific “survey,” which drew over 1,100 responses, “Alta ultimately came out No. 1 as the ‘Favorite Resort,’ its prohibition against snowboarders and overall ambiance elevating it over Snowbird.

“Of the 294 people who designated Alta their favorite resort, 114 (39 percent) cited no snowboarders as one reason why. Conversely, 43 of the 60 people (72 percent) who ripped Alta as their least favorite resort based their answer on the snowboard ban, as did 22 percent of those who designated Deer Valley, which also prohibits ‘boards, as their least favorite.”

Among the people who complained about Brighton, 80 cited its reputation as a popular hangout for snowboarders. In the words one reader, the teenaged riders “have a very short and inattentive span to the fact that others are also on the mountain.”

OK, I’ll say it now: Bad snowboarders. Bad.

As a big believer in the power of free markets to peacefully raise standards of living and arbitrate among various interests, I don’t object to ski-only resorts. Banning snowboards is their business decision to make, whether it’s based on the personal taste of owners, or a calculated decision that doing so will increase revenue.

The sooner that advocates of snowboarding adopt this attitude, the sooner the bad-boy image will subside. Then again, that would be the worst thing to happen to a few riders.

Source: “Snowboard, Alta charm the masses in Tribune poll,” Salt Lake Tribune, November 14, 2006.