Snowboarding competitions: big air and park

For this week I thought I would shed a light on a competitive sport that does not have quite the same amount of national attention like football and basketball but is still highly competitive. This week I interviewed Calvin, an avid snowboarder who grew up competing in park and big air competitions. While competitive skiing and snowboarding may not have the huge fan base that other major sports have, the competitions take place in gorgeous locations, the competitors require skill, athleticism, and practice, and there are few competitions in the world as dangerous. But if you are like me and have never seen one of these competitions it may be hard to wrap your head around what they actually look like. One of the main differences that separates these types of competitions from others is nobody wants anybody else to do poorly. As a spectator, even if you are rooting for one person in particular you get more enjoyment from watching all the competitors landing big tricks and performing at their best. If you have ever attended something like X games, then you may know that you can take the actual competition as seriously as you would like but is for the most part a really fun occasion with lots of music and everybody having a good time. As far as the competition goes, Calvin said "I would get more or less nervous depending on who I was competing against. it also depends on where your competing, but I would definitely get more nervous at the bigger parks. But hey if you get injured you just got to do it again." I wanted to know more about what the crowds were like on the other side. He said "typically in my competitions it was just the parents and coaches of the kids competing. sometimes there would be scouts or sponsors in the crowd as well. Other than that it was really just anybody that wanted to watch." Competitive Skiers and Snowboarders, like many athletes, ride the delicate balance between love of the sport and full dedication to practice to get better. For many people getting up to the mountains is a rare treat and the time is spent more for leisure than the demanding tasks those who compete are expected to accomplish. I believe that the barrier to entry for competitions such as park and big air is a huge reason why the sport may not have as many views as your other major sports, but those that do watch remain a proud fanbase. Although it can be very expensive, if you ever get the opportunity to catch one of these super fun events live you may find yourself become a fan for life.