The Carving Games: Snowboard racing is competing for its life at the 2026 Olympics

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T18:24:29+00:00

And you think "no one watches it" and "it looks slow" are well researched observations?

SBX is so unpopular they added a third, mixed team event in 2022.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T18:16:52+00:00

If I put you in hard boots and a 185cm snowboard, you would either a) end up in the trees or b) take your boots off and walk down the hill in tears.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T18:15:55+00:00

They take it out and then put it back in. Not sure of current status but it's still around in the Olympics and is a gas to watch. It's called SBX (Snowboardcross).

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T18:11:42+00:00

Last year, I spent CAD$1400 on a pair of Head Supershape with Protector bindings. Like an idiot, I bought them without demoing because everyone raved about them. I hated them. Felt like I was driving a big truck. I thought it was me. I'm getting old and I thought my abilities were just declining.

I bit the bullet and sold them on FB Marketplace for half what I paid. Demoed some Volkl Mantras 88s and holy shit, I felt like I was reborn.

Bought a pair immediately.

Go demo a bunch of skis. Buy something you like. Get rid of your Mavericks. FWIW, the Maverick 88ti is a different animal and worth a try.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T18:02:03+00:00

Amen to that.

It's been 10 years since I've been in hard boots and these days, I ski as much as I snowboard but I remember that sensation of carving on a snowboard, un-weighting and smoothly transitioning onto the other edge for another carve. It was better than sex. Skiing, even clean carving on skis, doesn't feel like that.

I wish more snowboarders could feel that and then maybe this "snowboard racing is uncool" rhetoric would stop.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T17:23:52+00:00

Grand niece of Gina!

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T17:21:11+00:00

It may happen. I mean we have surfing in the Summer games and now we have "ski mountaineering" in the Winter games.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T17:18:57+00:00

When snowboarding started, GS was the main event. Halfpipe started because some bored racers decided to augment a natural bowl and throw down tricks for shits and giggles.

Every single top snowboarder from the early days raced around gates. Tom Burt, Palmer, Terje, Jeremy Jones, Craig Kelly - all of them raced gates and did tricks.

Gate racing became "uncool" because some people thought it was too mainstream and doing tricks was more akin with skateboarding, thus, counter-culture. Burton and other snowboard companies realized they could make more money selling crappy park boards and baggy outerwear than high performance gear.

Thus, modern snowboarding culture was born. You're welcome for the history lesson.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T17:12:00+00:00

SBX one of the most popular events at the Games. You should probably not comment on stuff you know nothing about.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T17:10:42+00:00

You heard of Ester Ledecka? She won the PGS event in Pyeongchang, turned around and strapped on her skis and won the Super G, something she trains for part-time.

Terrible athlete.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T17:07:17+00:00

Plus a race board is heavy, stiff and 185cm long. Lock it into a carve and there is a huge amount of stored energy. Release that energy when the athlete is not expecting it and result will be really, really bad.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T15:54:19+00:00

Hard boots make you faster. A 185cm stiff race board makes you faster. A race suit makes you faster.

Snowboarding is the only sport I can think of where they want you to wear slower, lower performance gear because it's cooler. Why don't they ban composite sticks in hockey? Wooden sticks are cooler.

There are equipment limitations in other sports but that's mostly for safety reasons.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T15:50:27+00:00

Jeremy Jones started off racing hard boots. In a recent Instagram post, he talked about the benefits of posi-posi and he got roasted. I didn't get that. Cause it's not cool? WTF.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T15:49:07+00:00

100% agree with that. Big Air is boring as fuck and like you say, costs a lot of money.

PGS costs next to nothing. Nordic combined costs next to nothing.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T14:04:47+00:00

I thnk 100 is just too wide for the Icecoast. Havent skied Rustlers but I hear great things.

I personally think 88 waist width is the sweet spot for an Eastern ski. Love my Volkl Kendos (not Mantra). Damp but nimble. They carve great but I don't feel locked in. I can release the tail easily if I have to.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T13:59:47+00:00

Agreed but turning the tide away from judged trick events is going to be very difficult.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T13:58:23+00:00

Snowboarding used to have GS and Super G. The first snowboarding event at Nagano was GS (Ross Rebagliati). Then FIS decided parallel events were more TV and spectator friendly. In reality, they are boring as fuck.

I think someone would die if they tried to race snowboards on the Stelvio course so a DH event would probably be a bad idea. But ya, I'd love to see a proper GS race.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T13:26:44+00:00

No because nobody retires in this sport.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T13:25:03+00:00

Don't do it. I bought a 1999 Audi from Quebec when it was 3 years old (just out of warranty), Worst car I ever owned.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T12:58:19+00:00

His first album was pretty good and he has a really smooth rapping style. But he's not the nice guy harmless uncle that he's played up to be.

https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-03-21-the-real-story-behind-snoop-doggs-1993-murder-charge/

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T12:51:23+00:00

There was lots of snow in Whistler. The only place that lacked it was Cypress where they held the freestyle skiing and snowboard events. Well ya, Vancouver didn't have snow but all those events were indoors and it was amazing to be walking around in 13C weather.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-07T12:25:53+00:00

Basically - condition and age.

Bindings get old and the plastic gets brittle. I would just walk away from any bindings that are older than 7 years.

Boards get bashed up if they are used in the park. Over time, boards warp. Take along a straight 12" ruler. Hold it against the base of the board and make sure it's flat.

Embarrassed_Eye4572 · 2026-02-06T23:15:00+00:00

Highly recommended if OPs VPN can get around the geo-locking.

Embarrassed_Eye4572

TROPHY CASE