The rivalry between skiing and snowboarding all started in 1960 when an American guy named Sherman Poppen invented the first snowboard for his daughter as a toy. Before the snowboard was invented, skiers dominated the mountains.
At first many ski resorts opposed the idea of allowing snowboarders down their mountains, but they quickly realized the amount of new customers that they could attract.
Now, only a few ski resorts refuse snowboarders.
However, this creates an issue for skiers, who have to share the slopes.
PERSONALITIES
Some skiers label snowboarders as the skate-rat punks that wear bright colors and loosely fitting clothes.
Brad Wolinski (’18) a veteran skier said, “some [snowboarders] can get a little disrespectful.”
Physics teacher Jeremy Smtih, a former skier, switched to snowboarding 10 years ago. He said, “When I was skiing I was annoyed by how much the snowboarders would shave all of the snow off the top.”
However some snowboarders claim that skiers are snobby people who take up the entire mountain.
“Skiers don’t really care about anybody else but themselves when they are going down the slope,” Finley Thibodeaux (’19) said, who started snowboarding seven years ago. “They have no awareness to anybody around them.”
“Skiers are impatient,” Shannon Francis (’20) said. “They go by and get snow all over you, when you are sitting down strapping in.”

COST
The main difference between skiing and snowboarding is the equipment.
Skiers have a set of skis that are bound to a boot with easily attached bindings, and they use poles to assist them. The average cost of skis are around $550.00.
Wolinski said he buys new equipment every five years or so; it all depends on the condition of his skis.
Snowboarding equipment includes a single board with bindings, and boots that get strapped into the bindings. Usually a snowboard will cost anywhere from $350.00 to $1000.00, not including the bindings and boots that also are necessary.
“My snowboard was $400.00,” Francis said. “Once you get one snowboard you can keep it [for a while] as long as you take care of it and maintain it.”
Both winter sports can agree that it is not cheap hittin’ the slopes.
Roundtop, a popular resort for both skiers and snowboarders, charges $69.00 for a weekend eight-hour lift ticket. But discount cards and packages are also available to purchase.
Growing up in Vermont, math teacher Julia Wilson began skiing when she was three, she doesn’t go as much as she used to. With a family of four, “it’s super expensive” and “with the weather around here you never know when you will get to use it,” she said.
INJURIES
Shredding down the slopes can result in serious or fatal injuries, for both skiers and snowboarders.
According to XSI Sports Insurance, skiers are 33% more likely to get a knee injury, and snowboarders are 20% more susceptible to wrist injuries.
Most importantly, both are at a risk of getting a concussion, but helmets are encouraged in order to decrease the chances of a head injury.
TERRAIN STYLES
Basic skiers and snowboarders like alpine freestyle which is also known as downhill skiing/snowboarding.
Aside from the main green, blue, and black slopes, skiers also enjoy Nordic cross-country skiing, and freestyle jumps.
Some snowboarders prefer jibbing. Jibbing is when a snowboarder jumps over rails and obstacles. Snowboarders also like testing their skills in the half pipe.

Despite the feud between skiing and snowboarding, the preference is based on a personal taste.
Taylor Williams (’19) tried snowboarding once but immediately went back to skiing. “It’s a hassle. With snowboarding you have to bind, and unbind,” said Williams. “When skiing you can just get off the lift and go.”
No matter what your preference is, skiing or snowboarding, you have to share the slopes and get along.