1. Is snowboarding on the increase? No, quite the contrary, although it is stronger in North America than in Europe. In France and Switzerland the percentage of slope users who are snowboarding ranges from 6% to 17%.
2. Is snowboarding safer than skiing? It's not entirely clear. There is certainly a fair amount of research showing that snowboarders are more likely to get injured. For example, this study from the US found that, in Taos, the injury rate rose from 206.7 per 100,000 before snowboarders were allowed to 233.8 after the ban was lifted. On the other hand, there is evidence indicating that snowboarders are less likely to be killed. Other factors - such as the younger age profile of snowboarders, and their greater propensity to wear helmets - probably need to be factored in before we have the definitive study. In the meantime snowboarders need to protect themselves against distal radius fractures, while skiers run the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries....
3. Is snowboarding protected by the American constitution? It seems we are about to find out , with a test case now going through the courts. The Utah resort of Alta has banned snowboarders since the 1980s, but a a lawsuit has just been filed to challenge this, on the basis that it is in breach of the 14th Amendment of the US constitution. Two other US resorts, Deer Valley and Mad River Glen also ban snowboarding, but they (unlike Alta) are on private land.
4. Will Britain win medals for snowboarding at the Sochi Olympics? Well, we certainly have a team, and Eddie Eagle-esque they are not. Apparently, 1-2 medals are expected from skiing and snowboarding this February. Here are the Twitter accounts of some of the British snowboarders: @billymorgan89, @jennyjonessnow, @aimee_fuller, @OrmerodKate:
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