Snowboarding as Protest: Style, Rebellion, and Community Roots

mywickeddude
Jul 8
3 min read

by Jordan Darcy

Before energy drink deals.

Before X Games medals.

Before it was “cool” to snowboard…

There was a kid with duct-taped gloves and a busted board—dropping into a ski hill that didn’t even want him there.

Snowboarding was born as protest.

Not with picket signs. But with style, defiance, and community.

And even now, under all the branding and billion-dollar board companies, that rebellious heartbeat still pulses through the culture.

This isn’t just a sport.

It’s a statement.

Jonas Boesiger: Retired Swiss snowboard Olympian doing some tricks at the Val D'Isere Snowpark

A Quick History of Rebellion

In the '80s and early '90s, most ski resorts banned snowboarding altogether.

Why?

Because snowboarders were seen as:

Rowdy
Unskilled
“Not serious athletes”
A threat to the polish and prestige of skiing

And so, naturally, snowboarders showed up anyway.

They hiked rails.

They shredded golf courses in the off-season.

They built DIY parks in the woods.

They formed crews, not teams.

And their riding said what words didn’t have to:

“This mountain doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to all of us.”

More Than a Trick List

Snowboarding isn’t just about landing tricks—it’s about how you do it.

Your stance.
Your grab.
Your speed, your steeze, your why.

This is why style matters in snowboarding more than maybe any other mountain sport.

Because every move is personal. Every run is a remix of your identity, your influences, your resistance.

In a world that tells people to conform, clean up, and color inside the lines—snowboarding flips a middle finger and nose-presses down the rail.

The Culture Behind the Carve

The roots of snowboarding are in:

Skateboarding – Street rebellion, creative expression, DIY infrastructure
Hip hop & punk music – Voices of the unheard, unfunded, and unstoppable
Surfing – Flow, freedom, rhythm with nature
Working-class communities – People who couldn’t afford ski gear or didn’t feel welcome at the lodge

This mix birthed something real. And while the industry has tried to polish and sell it, the underground culture never died. It just changed decks.

Jasmine Baird: Canadian Snowboard Olympian making her debut at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Snowboarding as Protest Today

The rebellion looks different now—but it’s still alive:

1. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Riders Claiming Space

Riders like Brooke Jackson, Brian Fuentes, and crews like Unlikely Riders are redefining who the mountain is for. Their very presence is protest.

2. Street Snowboarding vs. Resort Culture

Street riders hit handrails in cities, abandon the resort scene, and create art with their environment. It’s raw, risky, and intentionally not polished.

3. Environmental Advocacy from the Core

Crews like Protect Our Winters (POW) and Wasted Youth know that if the snow goes, so does the movement. Climate action is part of the culture now.

4. Saying No to Big Industry BS

More riders are launching independent brands, making their own films, and saying no to corporate contracts that don’t align with their values.

Style Is Political

Baggy pants. Unlaced boots. Mismatched gloves.

To some, it looks messy.

To others, it’s freedom.

In snowboarding, how you dress, how you move, how you ride—it’s not just aesthetics. It’s resistance to being told what you should be.

That’s why trends in snowboarding aren’t driven by designers. They’re driven by kids on the edge—riding alleyways, building booters with shovels, and filming on iPhones.