Snowboarding has grown up! Does the industry realize that?

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Video description / background:
My first season as a content creator has put me in touch with many, many different snowboarders from all over the globe. The comments paint a clear picture: people want to be provided with knowledge to make good gear decisions and to improve their riding, and they appreciate it! Older riders are somewhat ignored by the snowboarding industry, whose language and advertising approach is still banking on hype and the 'cool factor' of any given product.
This is my season recap in regards to this channel and a few thoughts on the state of snowboarding as a whole.

#snowboarding

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[jeremysmith]

I am 47 years old and been snowboarding since the early 90s. I got into snowboarding as a transition from skateboarding. Back then both snowboarding and skateboarding were a culture. You didn’t just do the activities, you wore the style, listened the music, watched the videos. So much of who I am today is because of those defining things back then. Today I still find so much content I love for snowboarding. The Bombhole podcasts are incredible. There are many content creators (Tribute Lounge, Angry)that make good videos and information. I have never feared even at 47 walking into any shops. There is a lot of content out there still aimed at the culture of snowboarding. It feels like you are calling out the difference between snowboarders and people that snowboard. The type of people who prefer to watch Natural Selection vs the Olympics. We need to make it accessible for new people and older people to get into the sport, but there also needs to be acknowledgment that there are two different audiences and the industry targets one and that is not based on age and doesn’t need to grow up. You are just making content targeted for an audience that has not traditionally been at the core of snowboarding. Clearly there is a need for this content and that is positive but doesn’t mean what the industry, and content creators are doing is wrong or needs to grow up. Just different audiences based on if they look at snowboarding as a sport or a culture.

[razvanhalmaciu]

Lars! I've said it before and saying it again:
You have created the best snowboarding channel across all platforms, and the info you put out there is bar none the best, most useful, and caters to all ages and types of riders in the snowboarding community.
Keep doing what you're doing, bud!
Your work is very much appreciated.

[timcass]

Just turned 53. You're absolutely spot on with the older demographic's needs. I'd take lessons and would appreciate more focus on non park riding.

[MICHAELJAMESMERRY]

Love the content Lars. Perfect for us geezers. Not worried about superpipe. Just focused on making nice turns, finding powder, and dealing with knee and back pain haha.

[flareblitz]

Thanks for your awesome videos. I'm turning 28 this year (21 seasons on snowboards) and I can already see the snowboard market changing where I know just as much as any snowboard shop retail person but the communication to me as the customer is super misleading. Looking forward to seeing more videos and trying different carving techniques!

[User_RnDMnUmbR]

This channel is exactly what's missing in snowboarding, all the information regarding snowboard width length stiffness. Be able to explain everything in such depth, really do require years of on snow experience. Thanks Lars.

[tommynook]

Just turned 60 this year. I could not agree more with your comments about age and the lack of good information for us “oldies but goodies.” Whenever I hear the word “shred” I shudder. I love a nice blue groomer with no bumps and few people. Nothing against younger people doing amazing things on their boards! More power to them. But the industry needs to realize that what you’re saying is indeed happening and that they are missing a big market.

[rcooper]

I have had so many ah ha moments while watching your channel this season, so thank you Lars for the great content. You provided so much insight into gear design without just reading spec sheets and repeating marketing buzzwords. The industry seems to cater so heavily to the park and pow riders that there are just endless versions of the same twin or slightly directional twin shaped boards out there. I also see so many people on the mountain riding boards that are setup incorrectly with completely non functional stances or are riding boards way too small for their boot size. There is definitely a gap in knowledge out there and your channel has been so refreshing to watch as someone who would rather carve groomers than ride park.

Looking forward to next season, cheers.

[marcusoutdoors]

As a side note on the season. ‘97 was a dire season in Whistler and there was a series of seasons in the ‘80s where the Alps got very little snow. Seasons vary.

[hugotwenties]

Lars: first let me say you are one of the very best snowboard youtubers, humble and really knowledgeable. I myself are a quite newbie snowboard hardbooter, but after 20 years of softboot riding, I appreciate all things snowboard related. One thing I would like to see is, focusing or as a primary goal of carving, if you could make a series on tips and general ideas based on terrain and conditions. Since most part of the riders have to challenge theirselves when carving with ice, slush, hardpack, steep, narrow, etcetera types of terrain, I believe it would be incredibly useful and a real legacy to snowboarding in general to have this series. How can we adapt for carving, when we should shift into power sliding, when we are more upright or race oriented, when can we press and/or lean more… as usual there are no mathematical truths, but you are a hell of a rider and once a rider got to an intermediate or upper level, those fine adjustments make all the difference and make the sport way more fun by being able to enjoy all conditions, because let’s face it: perfect mild homogenous corduroy happens very sparsely. Cheers from Barcelona!

[Batwing]

One comment I would make regarding the various age ranges and both the marketing and interest in the sport. I made it a point to introduce my children to snow sports at a young age and they have both thanked me since now that they're young adults and snowboard enthusiast. However, the majority of their friends do not snowboard/ski because their parents chose not to make the commitment of time, money, and patience to introduce them to the sport. The other factor IMHO is the huge increase in costs to enjoy this sport with equipment, lodging, travel, and lift ticket prices.

[ANETOKILLE]

Thanks Lars, this season your channel became my favorite. My perception is that your communication skills are great blending humility, knowledge, experience, entertainment and a very positive and altruistic attitude. I get stoke to improve when listening to your videos, which is really needed when you are nearly 50 years old. My opinion about our community is that snowboarding is becoming old and not getting enough young blood. most of the riders I see in Sweden where I live, are over 30. The economics rule and the answers I get from shop owners in Stockholm and resort admins is that there is not enough market for snowboarding.

Ski is winning more adepts and that is where the industry goes. I hope the snowboard industry reinvents itself or we will probably see fewer products offered, less quality, and the continuation of the snowboarding community being displaced by resorts (fewer parks, less snowboard friendly sidehits, less schools and lessons) and also the impossibility of getting a good snowboard boot fit.

[finboyYYC]

Great watching your channel this year Lars, keep it up!

[marcusoutdoors]

All the points you make are great. I’ve been boarding since the mid 90s and I found your channel extremely useful, especially when buying boots and bindings (I got NOW). As a suggestion I’d like an episode on viewing board, bindings, boots and setup as a system… I.e. matching all your kit for how a person intending to ride.

Most reviewers talk about each piece of kit in isolation.

Actually do a few episodes please on different set ups for different riding types.

On the age thing, as a ‘57 year old teenager (according to my wife), there’s a lot to learn.

As for the shops, they’re rarely useful. “Rad board dude” doesn’t tell me anything.

[stephenwaite]

I wish I could like this 100 times! As a 41 year old snowboarder, I agree with everything you said in this video

[imspaceboyfly]

Review carving boards. Koura, both free carvers, ride’s peace seeker etc. or boards like gnu’s banked country. I think people would appreciate your take on the boards (and the tech they use) in the industry that are aimed at turning primarily.

[thomasjackson]

I’ve enjoyed your channel and having you provide your insights. I’m a 62 year old rider who picked it up after not riding for ~30 years. I’m excited for next season and looking forward to improving my riding experiences.

[Sleddog]

Great season of videos and information, Lars.
Im 55 and HATE..going into snowboard shops.
You just get ignored as they think you're not a snowboarder, you are just looking around killing time or something..
Even though we are older with a pocket full of cash to spend, the young sales people always go straight to the younger customer, who most probably are just looking. 99% of the time.
Or they always tell you what boot they uses and brand they like..
As soon as i hear that i leave.
They just dont understand what older riders need .

[Batwing]

Lars, love your channel and the information you provide. I'm 59 years old and converted from skiing to snowboarding 20 years ago and I can honestly say I've never had more fun. I'm still in a slight state of depression as the season had ended for me, but already training and preparing for next season. Hoping to continue boarding as long as my health will allow.
Cheers and thanks for your channel.

[thomasgebhard]

Kann ich alles 100% unterschreiben! z.B. Wenn ich zu meinem lokalen Snowboard-Shop gehe, besteht das Sortiment fast nur aus Twin-Shapes, Park- und Freestyle-Boards. Da ist kein einziges Board dabei, was mich interessiert. Und wenn ich dann mal nach irgendwas mit "tapered" oder "directional" Frage, gucken mich die Kiddies mit großen Augen an, was will der alte Mann von mir!?