Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 12, 1994 TAG: 9412130037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Snowboarding, considered a fad only a few seasons ago, was a sport that many Southeastern ski resorts hoped would disappear if they looked the other way.
It didn't.
``It is popular. It is here, and it will stay. It is not going away,'' said Sepp Kober, who has seen fads come and go as director of the skiing operation at The Homestead in Hot Springs for 35 seasons.
Now, most resorts no longer shun snowboarders, they welcome them.
The Homestead has a new snowboard halfpipe and park this season.
``The park has all kinds of little jumps, and a railing to slide on,'' Kober said. ``Snowboaders also can use the main slope, or any slope.''
Many Southeastern resorts have more rental boards this season, and most offer lessons. Specialty shops that cater to snowboarders are cropping up in the foothills of ski resorts.
``Snowboards are in high demand,'' said Steve Showalter, of Massanutten Resort near Harrisonburg.
``That is what the kids want right now in the 13-to-18 age group. They are attractive to a very specific age.''
Massanutten draws a large number of snowboarders, probably because it is one of the resorts nearest to the beach, where surfing is popular, Showalter said.
``We decided that we would go ahead and make the plunge into snowboarding when it first got started and build the reputation of having one of the better programs in the region,'' Showalter said.
Other resorts have followed.
``You are not going to sit there and turn down the revenue [for] long,'' Showalter said.
Massanutten opened a snowboard park last season.
``We have been able to work with snowboarders and let them know that we appreciate them being here, if they just conduct themselves in an orderly manner,'' Showalter said. ``We haven't had any problems.''
At Beech Mountain in Banner Elk, N.C., snowboard instruction is available this season for kids as young as 8.
Massanutten even is exploring the idea of making snowboarding a part of their SKIWee program, which is open to skiers as young as 4.
``We will do it if parents want their children to be on a snowboard,'' Showalter said. ``Trying to stay ahead of the consumer is the name of the game.''
by CNB