Court Upholds Snowboarding Ban At Utah Ski Resort"

Lowell, spend some time living outside of the PNW. Ski culture is different in other places...

... Martinson apparently skis and would not encounter any issues, aside from the multitude of traverse lines to the goods.

I've skied at Alta, but admittedly have not lived in the area, so I've never been immersed in the culture, whatever it is.

It would be interesting to see a formal definition of the difference between snowboarding and skiing. Is it the sideways stance? I'm guessing it's not the single plank, because I bet a mono-ski would be okay. Jim Martinson's rig is essentially a single plank.

The ban on snowboards just seems arbitrary and silly. If I was to ride Alta on a splitboard (in split mode) would I be classified as a skier or a snowboarder? And if would be okay to ride in split mode, why not in snowboard mode? How about if I'm holding ski poles?

The irrationality of it boggles, but I guess that's Alta's right.

The "Alta Boys" seem to consider themselves men of the world, men of sophisticated pleasures that the rest of us can't appreciate. I suppose stolen glances and discreet touching are all part of the sweet adventure?

"What happens at Alta stays at Alta." Er, hopefully.

I see it as a marketing tool used to sway the narrow minded to one area. It appears to me to be more of a way to keep a specific generation of rider out, and the whole idea that the terrain is not suited for snowboards is nonsense. As the old school skier generation dies off the rules will eventually change (my guess) since more families are diverse in their riding and usually don't stick to only one way to slide. The rules will follow where the money is and so far the skier only tactic works to keep their current customer base happy. In the end its all about the money cuz its just doing business. When I go to Utah I go to Brighton anyway and could care less what Alta does.

Risking slings and arrows I want to comment because now one else has mentioned my concern.  Maybe I'm out of line or touch or just getting old but its an issue with me. 

I skied Alta this year for the first time in ~40 years.  For my wife and I it was an unexpected surprise to not worry about being hit by a snow boarder.  Does anyone else notice this?  I've been hit a couple times by boarders just standing in plain sight on the side of the run.  Jeesh.  Fortunately no serious injury resulted.  A high school buddy was hit by a boarder on Luckyshot a few years ago.  He suffered severe brain injury.  After a year of recovery he was starting to get some mentation back then suddenly succumbed to brain cancer.  I think the events are linked.  He was just a great, healthy and talented guy in so many areas of life.  What a tragedy.  Unfortunately people get hit and killed by skiers too, its a risk sport.  I'd imagine the National Ski Patrol has statistics on collisions.  It would be interesting to see what they show.

I've never boarded so I know diddly.    However, I suspect there is a blind side element that less experienced boarders do not always account for.  My level of concern goes up when there are boarders around.

No boards at Alta will influence our decision to ski there.  We still visit any resort we wish so I'm not that paranoid, just more careful as I age.   I think Alta is purely angleing for my demographic.  Its just their marketing.  Alta is aware of their niche.   

If this were to happen at Crystal I'd be happy but I wouldn't be in favor of it because the choices are more limited here than in SLC.  Utah boarders can ski the same snow right next door at Snowbird as well as many, many other areas very close to SLC.

Fire away.

You're just out of touch. Kooks are kooks on one plank or two.

You're just out of touch. Kooks are kooks on one plank or two.

So true!!