Lately I have been hearing, seeing, and even talking to others about the state of the snowboard industry as well as the feelings of snowboarders as a community. There has been some confusion as to what snowboarding really is and what it actually means to the ones fully vested in its culture.

As a newer voice involved in the culture of snowboarding, I have spent a lot of time being silent and soaking in the ideals of everyone around me. I have come across a few people that understand it all as well as an astounding number that think they get it but truly have no idea. There's nothing more entertaining yet frustrating than to overhear a conversation amongst people who think snowboarding is all about Shaun White, the Olympics, and how much money you make.

Snowboarding is not about how much money you make, how many people you know, or who you're impressing. It's a way of life that is more than that. It's something indescribeable that can't be fully described through words or actions. It's getting turns in wherever and whenever possible. It's hanging out with friends and watching snowboard flicks when you're jonesing for some snow. It's working your ass off at a dead end job just to buy your lift tickets.

This on-line bullshit where people on forums think they can show how core they are by hiding behind a computer are polluting our community. Anyone can hit up google and shove common known information to anyone too stupid to pay attention. It doesn't mean that person has spent countless hours reading article after article, watching video after video, checking out reviews, or jumping on first chair and riding until last chair.

I seriously feel like something needs to be done to change things. People need to step up on there 'forums' or 'message boards' and get rid of the people that know nothing about what they are talking about. We as snowboarders are supposed to be united and stand for what we believe in. Who cares if you get pissed off because someone calls you out for being stupid. Who cares about how you think you're God's gift to earth. WHO CARES! On-line arguments that have nothing to do with what we were all brought together to talk about it a waste of time.

Also, who cares if you have the latest, most expensive gear. No one cares if you flash around all the money you have. It just makes you look like a tool who's involved in something for social status points rather than the love for what you're doing. If you want to buy a 3 year old board for dirt cheap just so you can save some money and have more turns on the hill, then have at it. I'd rather ride with someone who gets what we're all about over someone who has the dough to throw around and is completely clueless.

Maybe I'm just slightly sensitive to the patheticness of others. Maybe I'm just seeing society for what it really is. Either way, I call bullshit on anyone who thinks they have a clue as to what snowboarding is really about. Get off your ass and shred your face off. Then come to me and try to prove me wrong.