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Why is X Games biased toward snowboarding?

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Mr.Lumpyjumbles
Posts: 151 - Karma: 1,315
There always seems to be more snowboarding events and they seem to promote snowboarding more. I'm fine with this because there's still an awesome collection of skiing events and I like watching some of the snowboarding too, but why is this?

Do they get a lot more viewers on snowboarding events than skiing?

That makes me wonder, what is the common viewer of X Games, people involved in the sports, or just normal people who happen to like watching others hucking their meat?
I guess these people might prefer to watch snowboarding.

All of this being said, X Games is one of the biggest supporters for progression in extreme sports, and I'm stoked to watch all of the stuff this week.
Jan 22 2020 10:54AM 7 0
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CatdickBojangles
Posts: 5849 - Karma: 58,276
Snowboarding is Xtreme. Especially when THE FLYING TOMATO gets in the stunt ditch and you can watch it all in MEGA MO while eating PIZZA ROLLS and drinking RED FUCKING BULL.

Snowboarding just has more appeal to the mass market of people who don't ski or snowboard.
Jan 22 2020 11:02AM 30 0
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eheath
Posts: 59215 - Karma: 98,709
Skiing is certainly popular at xgames, but more people know/watch snowboarding and the xgames has a very "general" audience.
Jan 22 2020 11:19AM 7 1
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STEEZUS_CHRI5T
Posts: 1320 - Karma: 5,191
Snowboarding is WAY bigger. It’s just businesses.

This is an exaggeration but it would be like putting those dumb Harley snow bikes all over their advertisements, it would alienate the audience.
Jan 22 2020 11:43AM 2 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 49639 - Karma: 138,010
Xgames doesnt guve a fuck about events and sports. It will do whatever it thinks the viewers will watch more. Generally that involves getting rid of any cool events to replace with some bullshit even involving a motor. They got rid of bmx dirt for 7 years but shit like motircycles druving around in a circle or people playing xbox is chill.
Jan 22 2020 11:56AM 8 0
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weatcoast
Posts: 4265 - Karma: 40,348
Buy full tilts
Jan 22 2020 12:46PM 12 0
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T0AST.
Posts: 4939 - Karma: 53,817
theabortionatorXgames doesnt guve a fuck about events and sports. It will do whatever it thinks the viewers will watch more. Generally that involves getting rid of any cool events to replace with some bullshit even involving a motor. They got rid of bmx dirt for 7 years but shit like motircycles druving around in a circle or people playing xbox is chill.


I mean 'some bullshit even involving a motor' includes mx which is by and far the most hardcore action sport and deserving of being in the X games imo.

Snowboarding is similar enough to skating at least in appearance therefore it has a much wider appeal to people who have never slid snow.
Jan 22 2020 12:59PM 9 1
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theabortionator
Posts: 49639 - Karma: 138,010
BiffbarfI mean 'some bullshit even involving a motor' includes mx which is by and far the most hardcore action sport and deserving of being in the X games imo.

Snowboarding is similar enough to skating at least in appearance therefore it has a much wider appeal to people who have never slid snow.

No it doesn't. Some bullshit sport involving a motor involves the sports that are barely sport but they have motors so the nascar types are down. Im surprised ultimate burnout hasnt replaced snowboarding yet.

I think snowboardering being more ingrained with parks and being "cooler" or whatever helps. Also the flying potato guy in the halfpipe.

But yeah. Idk they've ditched some prettt solid events for some bullshit over the years. Idk ill still watch.
Jan 22 2020 1:17PM 4 0
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Dilldoes
Posts: 687 - Karma: 5,038
Personal opinion here but I think its to due with X games and snowboarding really gaining traction at the same time.
Skiing had been around and wasn't the cool new thing to promote. I still remember playing ESPN Pro boarder on my PS1.

I think its just the mind set that snowboarding has always "sold" well and is viewed and been presented as "extreme" to the casual viewer while skiing took an unfortunate back seat.
Jan 22 2020 2:47PM 2 0
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Tremblantskier
Posts: 938 - Karma: 5,375
Skiing halfpipe closing out the event this year might be the counter argument.
Jan 22 2020 10:45PM 5 0
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clorox
Posts: 1728 - Karma: 4,825
Remember like 2015 when ski slope got cut with a replay of some halo e sports tournament? God, that was fucking bullshit. Literally watched like 3 people do their run, halo, and then cut back to the slope podium just to spoil what I would've watched elsewhere.
Jan 23 2020 12:39PM 4 0
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Craw_Daddy
Posts: 1693 - Karma: -862
theabortionatorNo it doesn't. Some bullshit sport involving a motor involves the sports that are barely sport but they have motors so the nascar types are down. Im surprised ultimate burnout hasnt replaced snowboarding yet.

I think snowboardering being more ingrained with parks and being "cooler" or whatever helps. Also the flying potato guy in the halfpipe.

But yeah. Idk they've ditched some prettt solid events for some bullshit over the years. Idk ill still watch.


Dog go watch some x games real moto. shits fuckin cool. Colby Raha and Axell Hodges are my favorites to watch. I guess you need to ride dirtbikes to really find it interesting but It definitely qualifies as a sport. Personally I'm stoked on seeing timber sleds and snowmobiles at x games.
Jan 23 2020 12:59PM 4 1
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gonzo6266
Posts: 18 - Karma: 225
ESPN just further proving how out of touch they are. Fools are just in it for the cash grab, but IMO our sport needs whatever limelight it can get. although skiing is def gaining traction in the mainstream, boarding is regarded in the mainstream eye as the main action sport on snow. They do give skiing it’s time of day tho - I started riding park because of Sammy Carlson’s trip rodeo
Jan 23 2020 1:44PM 4 0
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CLQ
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 11,194
We should be thankful that the X Games gives our dying sport any airtime at all. They probably just do it out of pity
Jan 23 2020 2:03PM 7 0
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extravert
Posts: 1098 - Karma: 3,024
More people ski than snowboard, but snowboarders associate what they are doing more with the Extreme sports they can watch on X games. Your average skier doesnt relate to Ski slopestyle because it is so different from their experience of skiing groomers all day. They view park skiing and park boarding as both different things, and will be impressed watching either, whereas everyone with a board thinks they are Shaun White. In other words, boarding exists in the popular mindset as synonymous with tricking, whereas park skiing feels more like a small subset of the overall skiing group.
Jan 23 2020 2:13PM 3 0
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GrandThings
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 23,052
BiffbarfI mean 'some bullshit even involving a motor' includes mx which is by and far the most hardcore action sport and deserving of being in the X games imo.


This. I dont dirtbike or snowmobile so I dont find them particularly fun to watch, but they are undoubtedly the most gnarly.

Hell, they had to take Snowmobile best trick out of the lineup because someone died a few years ago. Crazy shit.
Jan 23 2020 2:21PM 1 0
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Dilldoes
Posts: 687 - Karma: 5,038
GrandThingsThis. I dont dirtbike or snowmobile so I dont find them particularly fun to watch, but they are undoubtedly the most gnarly.

Hell, they had to take Snowmobile best trick out of the lineup because someone died a few years ago. Crazy shit.


Shit sucked. I knew Caleb a little from Arena Cross and riding with him out at Little Sahara in Oklahoma. He and his brother were super friendly dudes.
Jan 23 2020 2:43PM 4 0
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GrandThings
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 23,052
skithemidwestttShit sucked. I knew Caleb a little from Arena Cross and riding with him out at Little Sahara in Oklahoma. He and his brother were super friendly dudes.


And if I recall they were actually pro ATV riders that found their way into Snowmobiles or something like that? So badass. RIP to Caleb Moore
Jan 23 2020 2:53PM 3 0
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Dilldoes
Posts: 687 - Karma: 5,038
GrandThingsAnd if I recall they were actually pro ATV riders that found their way into Snowmobiles or something like that? So badass. RIP to Caleb Moore

Yep. He was one of the first to consistently flip a quad. Learned how to ride and flip a sled in like two weeks.
Jan 23 2020 2:59PM 5 0
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halfwatt
Posts: 169 - Karma: 2,141
“Why do you only show snowboarding events when skiers would fit way better?”

”HELLO, I LIKE MONEY”

”That doesn’t answer the qu-“

”MONEY”
Jan 23 2020 4:58PM 2 0
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J_Christoph
Posts: 2519 - Karma: 8,739
eheathSkiing is certainly popular at xgames, but more people know/watch snowboarding and the xgames has a very "general" audience.

No matter how many times I tell people, or how long someone has known me, they will still think I snowboard. Unfortunately, snowboarding is seen as the “cool” or “extreme” snow sport in the heads of the general public. Too many of their dads ski mellow groomers on an old pair of skis from the basement, and that’s their perception of skiing.
Jan 23 2020 5:41PM 3 0
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270on420out
Posts: 7448 - Karma: 50,014
J_ChristophNo matter how many times I tell people, or how long someone has known me, they will still think I snowboard. Unfortunately, snowboarding is seen as the “cool” or “extreme” snow sport in the heads of the general public. Too many of their dads ski mellow groomers on an old pair of skis from the basement, and that’s their perception of skiing.


Same. Now I just tell people I snowboard
Jan 23 2020 5:49PM 1 0
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b0ss
Posts: 600 - Karma: 3,943
A board sport generaly has more appeal to people who do another kind of board sport.
Every skateboarder watches snowboarder, and every surfer watches skateboarding, its all one big happy family.
Jan 23 2020 6:49PM 0 0
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