A polite word in the snowboarders ear!

I have just returned from a week in Saalbach Hinterglemm and was alarmed at some of the antics of snowboarders in relation to anyone else on the slope - I don't know what nationality the boarders were, but this is a word of caution to boarders who consider themselves to be above everyone else.

1. You don't own the slope - you should ride with as much consideration for everyone else. I saw several novice skiers taken out by reckless boarders - you just don't do it!

2. Don't hog the top of the slope when you get off the lift. If you have to sit on your board chilling and trying to look cool, please sit to the side, so everyone can gain access to the slope. I saw a whole group of boarders moved on by the lift attendants as they were hogging the whole of the entrance to the run.

3. Remember you don't smash into other people on boards or skis to stop yourself. I saw several people with injuries, both being airlifted off and at our hotel, because they had been hit by a boarder. Injure yourself by all means but don't ruin someone else's holiday and health!

I have both boarded and skied and have consideration for other slope users. This may cause some controversy but it is a warning to boarders that they will get themselves a bad reputation. As I said I don't know what nationality these all were, but it happened all day every day that I was on the slopes. Apart from that Saalbach Hinterglemm was fab!

This last season ( about 60 days on the hill ) I have been hit three times (a lot more near misses) from behind while carving on an alpine board and skis. Every time by a skier.
As for general inconsiderate behavior, it's just a fact that there are more young people on the slopes (on skis and boards). I went to Deer Valley for the first time this year. What made it different, was not that there are no snowboards, but the average age was much older. With twin tips becoming the "in" thing, expect to see much the same thing from kids on skis

Trencher

Oh Please!!!!!!!!!!
I only skim read your list of complaints. Haven't you got anything more constructive to contribute?
Why on earth were you so interested in their nationality? What possible difference could that make. You should be embarrassed.

dgou wrote:3. Remember you don't smash into other people on boards or skis to stop yourself.

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Thats the best bit of advice I've ever read!
What an idiot!

I hate to use my first ever post on this forum to take the p!ss out of a skier, but this is too much!

Mate, you get sloppy boarders and skiers on the slope now, it's a fact and they are usually kids who don't know any better.

If skiers didn't go down the slope in long lines which stretch from one side to the other it would cause fewer accidents, (see I can make sweeping generalisations).

I'm gonna shut up now cos there are too many things I could could write and as I mentioned I don't want to seem like a dick.

Come on dgou, more jems of advice like that please!

Hmmm...seem to have seen a thread like this before!! Nobody is ever going to agree who or what are more dangerous on the slopes, I got taken out by an inexperienced boarder last year and broke my ankle, others have been cracked by skiiers and put in hospital, so think we`re all quits here in the "lessons to be learnt" stakes.

However, Real Pol, just be careful when you`re calling somebody an idiot yet saying it`s a fact that you get sloppy skiiers/boarders, who are usually kids who don`t know any better. If they don`t know better they shouldn`t be on the slopes and I personally do not see age as an excuse for poor mountain etiquette. And sorry, disagree, they should know better if everyone else set a good example! Catch 22...could be any age, any discipline, any Nationality....if you`re going to be reckless and discourteous ...you will be. Sure I`ll be shot down in flames for this but hey ho!

I have nothing against boarders in general, although some people are a bit wreckless on their boards but AS mant people are on their skies!!

Its down to the people that ride boards/skis that are responsible for their actions, not that fact that one rides a different thing to the other.

Nicely said! Cpmletely agree man!

I am a skiier - just to get the record straight before I start. Some very valid points have been made in this thread so far.

My point is that you will get reckless people of any age on ski/board. This year in Tignes I was skiing on a long green, really nice and wide. While I normally ski red/black, on this occasion I was with an inexperienced friend. I stood on the SIDE of the piste. About 30 seconds later a skier going full pelt, tucked down with arms behind his back decided to ski into me (prob doing about 40mph). He threw me up in the air and landed on my back. He said it was my fault and refused to apologise!

I have also been wiped out by a boarder in thick fog who was probably going too fast in the conditions.

At the end of the day there are some great boarders and skiers but not so great also.

I believe boarders get a bad name. Yes they do sit in front of chairlifts, but skiers have a tendancy to stand at the exit of a lift - just as annoying.

So lets all play nice together :)

Oh, by the way, many of my boarding mates are skiing when we go to chamonix in march - it must be the cool thing to do now :D

Iceman