Skiers only: Two Utah resorts among three in the nation without snowboards
Taos Ski Valley, one of the last bastions of snowboard-free skiing, caved to commercial pressure last week and said it will allow snowboarders on the slopes starting at the end of the season. For the family that owns the storied resort, it's an effort to expand the business and retain customers whose children or grandchildren prefer snowboards to downhill skis. But it's a crushing defeat for some lifelong Taos fans, who now are threatening to pack up and sell their New Mexico real estate.
It leaves just three major resorts standing against the snowboarding juggernaut: Alta and Deer Valley in Utah, and Vermont's Mad River Glen.
Relations between skiers and riders (as snowboarders are known) have never been chillier. An age gap helps put the groups at odds.
The majority of skiers who skied more than a day at a U.S. resort this past year were older than 25, according to the National Ski Areas Association; the majority of snowboarders weren't old enough to rent a car. The divide has led each side to generalize about the other: Boarders cast skiers as old, stuffy and conservative; skiers say boarders are young, reckless and rowdy.
Taos, built to resemble Switzerland's St. Moritz, opened in 1955 and is known for its steep terrain, gorgeous scenery and laid-back vibe. Skiers fuel the local economy, buying art, real estate and fancy dinners.
Some locals say boarders won't bring the same kind of money to town. "They bring their lunch to the mountain instead of buying it," says Liz Jamison, a real estate agent and ski instructor at Taos for 22 years.
The announcement "Opens to Snowboarding March 19, 2008," appeared last week in red letters on Taos Ski Valley's Web site; a snowboarder's silhouette still obscures the word "ski" in the slogan "Ski Taos." Within hours, hundreds of people had posted comments, ranging from "How can this happen?" and "NNNOOOOOO!!!!" to "Bout time!" and "This world is so full of prejudice and hate, why bring it into the world of snow sports?"
But with ski revenue sliding and offspring of even the most hard-core skiers gravitating to boards, skiers-only destinations find it hard to keep refusing. Skier and snowboarder visits dropped in the 2006-07 season to a combined 55 million, from close to 59 million in 2005-06, the national ski areas group says. Industry revenue of $4.9 billion in 2005-06 was down slightly from the previous season, according to the group's latest data.
To boost sales, Aspen Mountain began allowing snowboards in 2001; now 10 percent of visitors there come to snowboard. Keystone in Colorado, Park City Mountain Resort in Utah and California's Alpine Meadows began admitting snowboarders more than 10 years ago; now 30 percent of visitors to Alpine Meadows are snowboarders.
Recent comments
Snowboarders have the same rights as skiers get over your self alta...
vincent batres | Sept. 17, 2008 at 8:27 a.m.
Hopefully skiers will learn that the world doesn't revolve around...
Lose Prejudice | Dec. 29, 2007 at 10:14 p.m.
To "Alta Free"
Hopefully Alta and Deer Valley will always
be free...
Skiing Only | Dec. 27, 2007 at 5:02 p.m.
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal 7:25 p.m.
- 'Drop Dead Diva' is frothy fun 6:14 p.m.
- Look for face of God in others 6:14 p.m.
- Bishop on a mission 6:14 p.m.
- Vail's mountain cross inspiring 6:14 p.m.
- Religion briefs 6:14 p.m.
- Teachings on adultery after Sanford 6:14 p.m.
- Church camps closing doors 6:14 p.m.
- Religion around the world 6:14 p.m.
- Did daughter not pay for car? 6:13 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
135 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - LDS seminary principal arrested
120 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
92 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I hope you realize that implicit in your post is an admission that BYU fans...
So, teams are making moves, and folks want the Jazz to do the same. ...
That is all there is too it but all signs indicate the Jazz are going to pay...
You are kidding right? It's not "just churches in Utah" that have wide...
Time for leaders to lead with inspiration and not to be impressed with smooth...
I don't mind giving up Boozer. I mind locking Millsap in at PF for the next...
Posted a long time ago...dude, what are you on? It's dated July 10th. That...
I have known people that live a double life doing extreme good in an effort...
To me, Portland has paid too much money for this Paul Millsap. And my fellow...
Folks love their violence. How about a fight to the death? It's coming.



