Resort skiing requires insane investment in infrastructure and operations. That makes fresh turns a very valuable commodity, and what you see in the ski industry is a natural result. Still, the Whistler example is more about real estate, corporate consolidation, and consumer marketing than it is about the activity of sliding on snow. See Revelstoke or Mt Baker for relatively nearby contrast.
Mountain biking exists on sweet spots on a number of spectra (scalability, sustainability, accessibility, etc ) , compared to things like resort skiing, traditional surfing, or dirt biking for example. Even in places with lots of riders (say greater Vancouver), trail access seems to still get better with more participation due to more volunteers, more stewardship/advocacy. In less urban settings like the Frazier Valley or down here in Bellingham, there's considerably less strain on resources and lots more room for beneficial growth.
In practical terms, that means there are whole swaths of the population to whom the sport is not all that accessible yet, whether that's for cultural, economic, transportation, or disability reasons. Working on ways to build bridges to those folks doesn't turn trail systems into overused waste lands or mean existing riders have to wait in line to drop into their favorite trails. Instead, it means things overall get better for us lucky enough already in the sport (more and better maintained trails), and we get to share something awesome that can enrich other peoples' lives like it does ours. That's pretty win-win in my book.
And that's the beauty of this thing. It's not like surfing, where the locals fiercely guard their break from n00bs and kooks because rideable waves are such a scarce resource. The resulting assholery and holier-than-thou pontificating/gatekeeping about what's core and who defines the soul of the sport is a nasty zero sum game, and in out sport, we don't need that BS. Sure, there are people who have imported that mindset, but frankly, that's on them and can safely be ignored.
March 23, 2024, 9:05 a.m. - Andreas Macke
Resort skiing requires insane investment in infrastructure and operations. That makes fresh turns a very valuable commodity, and what you see in the ski industry is a natural result. Still, the Whistler example is more about real estate, corporate consolidation, and consumer marketing than it is about the activity of sliding on snow. See Revelstoke or Mt Baker for relatively nearby contrast. Mountain biking exists on sweet spots on a number of spectra (scalability, sustainability, accessibility, etc ) , compared to things like resort skiing, traditional surfing, or dirt biking for example. Even in places with lots of riders (say greater Vancouver), trail access seems to still get better with more participation due to more volunteers, more stewardship/advocacy. In less urban settings like the Frazier Valley or down here in Bellingham, there's considerably less strain on resources and lots more room for beneficial growth. In practical terms, that means there are whole swaths of the population to whom the sport is not all that accessible yet, whether that's for cultural, economic, transportation, or disability reasons. Working on ways to build bridges to those folks doesn't turn trail systems into overused waste lands or mean existing riders have to wait in line to drop into their favorite trails. Instead, it means things overall get better for us lucky enough already in the sport (more and better maintained trails), and we get to share something awesome that can enrich other peoples' lives like it does ours. That's pretty win-win in my book. And that's the beauty of this thing. It's not like surfing, where the locals fiercely guard their break from n00bs and kooks because rideable waves are such a scarce resource. The resulting assholery and holier-than-thou pontificating/gatekeeping about what's core and who defines the soul of the sport is a nasty zero sum game, and in out sport, we don't need that BS. Sure, there are people who have imported that mindset, but frankly, that's on them and can safely be ignored.