Despite the fact that snowboarders account for 25-30% of all lift tickets sold in the United States, don’t expect Mad River Glen to lift its ban on snowboards any time soon. While the overall percentage of tickets purchased by snowboarders continues to grow, many question how Mad River Glen can exclude this expanding market. Mad River Glen’s skier-owners (it is America ’s only cooperatively owned, not-for-profit ski area) believe there are enough skiing purists to carve out a viable market niche. Recent results con-firm the theory. “Since the co-op took over ownership of the mountain in 1995 we have shown steady growth across the board,” said Marketing Director, Eric Friedman. “We are fortunate that there is a growing number of skiers seeking the kind of experience that we offer. Sure, we might see a spike in revenues if we allowed snowboards, but money is not our overriding concern; protecting and preserving our unique ski experience is what our owners clearly want.”

Many people don’t realize that Mad River actually did allow snowboards very early on in snowboarding history. Betsy Pratt, Mad River Glen’s previous owner, was friendly to snowboards, but ran into safety issues on Mad River Glen’s main lift, a 1948 Single Chair. After that snowboards were restricted from the Single and then, after a couple of legendary confrontations between Betsy and some local riders, she decided to ban snowboards entirely. When the Co-op took over the mountain the shareholders voted on the issue with more than 75% voting to maintain the snowboarding ban. “We want to make clear that there is no animosity towards snowboarders. The ski industry is very competitive and our ownership believes that the snowboarding policy is the best course for Mad River Glen,” explains Friedman. The reasons for the snowboarding ban vary depending on who you talk to. Some say it would ruin Mad River ’s unique character. “Our Single Chair, the cooperative ownership, the natural snow skiing, the non-commercial atmosphere, and the skiers- only policy are what make Mad River Glen special. We don’t want to end up being like every other ski area,” said Mad River shareholder Jim Tynan. Others believe that snowboarders would ruin the legendary moguls, while still others feel that they would scrape the natural snow off Mad River Glen’s sinewy trails.