I think mostly from the print ads that were in every magazine in publication. It was a full medal sport in 1998 for half pipe and GS and will be again for 2002 in Salt Lake. I missed the cut by two people last time, so I am fired up to go to the next one. I don't get embarrassed very easily. I do stupid things every day.
Life's too short.
Generally speaking, no. I think as long as you're an intelligent person with half a brain, you can enjoy the mountain with other people whether they're on skiis or a snowboard. If you have a problem with people on other equipment you have bigger problems to deal with with yourself. But I've seen kids that age just ripping on snowboards. At home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.