Actually, Mad River Glen has had the best skiing in the East in my opinion, and I've skiied them all. It is first and foremost a skiier's mountain. Snowboarding just wouldn't work at all there. You really need to go there and ski it to understand.
Initially, back in the 80's, snowboarder's were welcome at Mad River Glen. But they had trouble getting off the infamous single chair, and often could derail it. So the owner at that time, an elderly woman named Betsy Pratt, decided it was best to ban snowboarders from that part of the mountain. Skiiers were also complaining of what the snowboarders were doing to the snow and moguls on the mountain, as they didn't and still don't make much snow at all. A few weeks later, Betsy Pratt was cursed out in a supermarket by a group of young snowboarders, so she decided to completely ban snowboarding from the mountain. The result is a totally unique experience, completely snowboarder free. The moguls made by nothing but skiiers, and really good skiiers at that, are second to none, and it's a much better atmosphere than on any other mountain I've been to.
Of course, if you're a big trick skiier, stay away. You won't find any terrain parks at MRG. Only really really good woods and moguls. Also, unlike other mountains, you can ski anywhere on the mountain. Like I said, it's by far the best place I've ever skiied, but it's not for everyone. But don't bash them for not having snowboarders. It's that way for a reason.
