Will the rise of The Chinese in Snow boarding hurt the sport

[Canada1]

After catching the Snow Board half pipe show and found myself contemplating the rise of China. I always have loved the Tour de France, but I was an outlier. Then Lance came along and the whole thing sky rocketed in popularity. I wonder if Chinese guys and gals winning these events will hurt. I know the marketing reps will say how many billions live in China and it's an untapped market, but my impression there is that a lot of people are just trying to get fed while a very few are very rich. Not a lot of people overly concerned about the first world problems of which board to buy and which resort to ski. Interested in the perspective a few of you industry types on this new development?

[Bottleman]

Wait, snowboarding is a sport?


Sorry, couldn't help myself Carry on, please.

[char]

Did you think this out before you posted it?

How is having more skiers/snowboarders globally going to hurt snowboarding as a sport?

Rich people are the only ones who can afford skiing anymore anyways.

http://unofficialnetworks.com/2014/1...uerque-journal

[justr]

Yeah. This thread = no sense.

[axebiker]

The Chinese f-up everything they touch...at least for the rest of the world. Why would this be any different?

[Sirshredalot]

I don't know zhang's background, but if the Chinese start winning by throwing washed-out gymnasts at the sport like they did in freestyle aerials, I could see that being an indication that the sport has become over-specialized and overly-professional. That could be a turnoff to people who love smoking weed and hucking it out. But I don't see how it kills the tv ratings for the Olympics and the x games: most of that tv audience probably doesn't ski anyways.

[Canada1]

My point, while poorly articulated, was that it isn't a one for one trade. I believe the industry needs the image and they need the American market. If Zhang replaces White, I'm not sure it ends well for the industry. On a side note, I see the kids who used to go to snow boarding gravitating back to skiing. The vast majority of the park today is back on two planks rather than one.

[char]

My point, while poorly articulated, was that it isn't a one for one trade. I believe the industry needs the image and they need the American market. If Zhang replaces White, I'm not sure it ends well for the industry. On a side note, I see the kids who used to go to snow boarding gravitating back to skiing. The vast majority of the park today is back on two planks rather than one.

It seems like they need people buying snowboards, regardless of who they are.

[Sirshredalot]

My point, while poorly articulated, was that it isn't a one for one trade. I believe the industry needs the image and they need the American market. If Zhang replaces White, I'm not sure it ends well for the industry. On a side note, I see the kids who used to go to snow boarding gravitating back to skiing. The vast majority of the park today is back on two planks rather than one.

Snowboarding has been losing market share for years. Peak snowboarding was probably with people who are 30 years old now. Ski schools have had to do serious re-staffing. We will see if tv exposure keeps snowboarding from a telemark sized niche, but it is no longer a big share of young people.

[jeremysbrown]

I think you mean to ask if the sport will be hurt in north america, which is a completely different question from "will the sport be hurt?" in general. it's like saying - "will the new samsung smartphone cut into the iphone's stranglehold on the market.?" it's not a question that reflects the global reality.

[Canada1]

what percentage of snowboard sales come from North America?

[jeremysbrown]

what percentage of snowboard sales come from North America?

welp, if the stats are to be believed, and you wanna imagine participants and sales are close to the same number (couldn't find sales figures, only participants) about 25%.
this
plusthis

plus the fact that Beijing is considered by many to be the front runner to host the 2022 winter olympics, basically tells you that Europeans currently make up the largest number of people who slide on snow in any form but the asian market in snow sports (like in everything else) is growing and has the potential to grow A LOT more.

[GPP33]

So you're saying that just because America doesn't have the top athlete that the sport as a whole will suffer in America? I say absolutely not. White is an incredible athlete and he's no doubt inspired a buch of pipe riders but I seriously doubt he's had any infulence on 99.9% of the snowboarding populous and the .1% he has truly inspired would be riding even if he wasn't who he is. Now the x-games attendance may be a different story.

[skifishbum]

only if you equate spinny jibby hucky kids on gaytrays and piles of manmade/moved snow or anyone who would emulate such soyness as being needed for the future of the snowsports industries
than jah i'm a "ski" tech and plan on skiing amap reguardless of the cough "industry" or hack "sport"

[neufox47]

Skichina.com

[bornincolorado]

My gf is a Chinese snowboarder

[My Pet Powder Goat]

If they snowboard as well as they drive then we're all doomed

[babybear]

Maybe it will encourage more impromptu chinese downhills? which I approve of

[jetski]

What the fuck is a Chinese downhill?

[Benny Profane]

The Chinese f-up everything they touch...at least for the rest of the world. Why would this be any different?

Own a smartphone? Computer? Buy new tires lately? Wear clothes?

[PNWbrit]

Own a smartphone? Computer? Buy new tires lately? Wear clothes?

Wait until they get hold of GPS.

From the Italians.

[detrusor]

What is a Chinese downhill?

Take a lap


Killing it with the 3-5 year old crowd!

[My Pet Powder Goat]

What is a Chinese downhill?

Take a lap


Killing it with the 3-5 year old crowd!

"What da fucka Chinese downhill?!?" [\Rascist Chinese accent]

Both of u take a lap (perhaps a Chinese fire drill? )

[jetski]

How about you two young fucks hike a rail for your lap...I didnt know how to type all racist!

[babybear]

"What da fucka Chinese downhill?!?" [\Rascist Chinese accent]

Both of u take a lap (perhaps a Chinese fire drill? )

That never gets old haha
although I always thought Kendo was japanese?