Generation Vs. Generation

New generations of snowboarders pushing limits!

 It happens as sports develop over time. So do the people participating in it, pushing new limits exploring new ideas/ tricks. What was once considered outrageous is now the new norm.    

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The video link above is Shaun Whites winning run for the 2010 Winter Olympic. This video is the prime example of young up and coming snowboarders trying new tricks, getting more air, and setting higher standards for other snowboarder to follow. 

          Older generations are the OG’s (original gangsters, the masters) of snowboarding. Experiencing the sport when it was in a prime developmental stage. Focusing on better equipment, new tricks, and teaching younger generations to love the sport as they do. Their norms and comfort levels have rubbed off on younger generations, making younger generations have a higher comfort level with a trick that an older rider might have been more timid to do. For example, back in the 1960's when the sport first came around they probably weren't flying through the air performing crazy tricks like the ones in the video posted above. The sport takes time to develop, as do the people, starting off small then seeing how far they can push themselves.

Dare Devils: reckless, daring, and adventurous! Dare Devils are willing to take risk push new limits to get that rush of adrenaline. When participating in any sport one must have a sense of adventure, a desire to be pushed out of their comfort zone. When talking about the sport of snowboarding, it’s easy to see that there are different levels of adventurism. Snowboarders who can't get enough of the jumps and rails, and find it exhilarating to fly off a 50 foot jump and go flying through the air, while others might get their kicks from snowboarding down the hardest run on the mountain. Personally I can't find anything better than going through the trees in search of fresh powder! It’s exhilarating having to watch out for constant obstacles, watching our for trees and being able to make quick adjustments and sharp turns on command. Riding through powder feels like you are soaring through the sky on a cloud, there is no better feeling!

Snowboarders these days are mostly thought of as dare devils who are constantly flying off jumps, hitting rails, and going too fast; however, when the sport first came about that generation of snowboarders were also seen as crazy hooligans riding on only one board (instead of two like skiers) going too fast and push new limits. The comfort level has changed and so has the sport. At first I thought it was a competition between skiers and snowboarders, but now see that it is a clash of generations. As people get older, in most cases, they tend to be more conservative; thus, looking at younger generations as crazy and out of control. But is that really true? Yes younger generations are breaking down new boundaries, but older generations seem to forget that they were once those crazy young kids pushing the limits and getting on others nerves.