Keeping with, what appears to be the theme of this week, I want to post a bit about a small point of contention in the world of skiing, and snowboarding. That would be the ongoing underground competition between East coast and Central/West coast skiers and boarders. With the Obvious allure of warmer weather, and deeper powder in places like the famous Tullaride,Collorado, and lake Tahoe region of northern California many do indeed argue that the mountains west of the Mississippi river are where the “real skiing” happens. In opposition, the cold weather, Ice hardened skiers of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Upstate New York tend to believe that if you grow up hurtling down a sheet of ice in sub-zero temperatures, you can brave it anywhere in the world.
I figured I would take this opportunity and weigh the pros and cons of both. Growing up in upstate New York, and learning on mountains in the frozen ice palace that is the Adirondack state park, I can personally attest to the fact that barreling down sheets of ice at a 45-degree angle with little-to-no control puts just as much ice in your veins as it does below your skis. That’s not to say it gives you the edge up on those out west, who deal with more tree-invested glades and avalanches than you’ll ever see on the Atlantic. Not to mention some of the most famous American boarders and skiers come from the West coast Including the flying tomato himself, Mr. Shaun White.
It is true that the big mountain resorts in Utah, California, and Colorado (Telluride reaching 400,000 guests annually) certainly draw more from the vacation crowd in the US, however Recent state ownership of three of the biggest mountains in New York state, Gore mt. (Adirondacks), Bellaire mt. (Catskills), and White Face mt. (Adirondacks), has caused rates to drop and attendance to skyrocket, especially for local Northeasterners, as a whole new population of east coast skiers join the cause.
With a massive increase in ski schools and academies across both east coast and west coast territory, more younglings than ever are taking to the slopes. And as organizations and brands such as ‘Far West Ski Association- The voice of the Western Skier’ and ‘Ski the East- Born from Ice’ keep growing, the competition will keep on for seasons to come in what the Beach boys called the “Endless Summer [ Snowday] “.
Diary of a Fourth Year Junior 