Home

I think that the way snowboarding in marketed means that few older people are going to take it up. Just browse any snowboard mag. Most of the photos are of young male riders (and some young female riders) doing huge jumps, tricks, and backcountry riding (avalanche danger). That type of marketing makes most older people think it is not a sport for them. All the articles in the magazines tend to promote the more dangerous side of snowboarding. If the industry wants to attract older people it needs to change how the sport is perceived, and that can only be changed by adjusting the marketing campaign.

Some people my age frankly aren’t in good enough shape to learn to snowboard. They’ve had too many injuries when they were younger, or they are just afraid that they will get seriously injured snowboarding. I have yet to talk any of my friends into trying it. They always say, "I’ll fall and break something". To change that the marketing has to at least include articles that point out the benefits of snowboarding (great exercise, fun, addictive), and point out that you can make snowboarding just as safe as skiing.

Read more...