Daryl Price, a product marketing manager at Giro Sport Design, a leading manufacturer of bike and snow helmets, has witnessed that increase in demand for snowboard helmets. The second largest supplier of snow helmets, Giro tries to appeal to snowboarders by providing a helmet blending function and fashion. The use of helmets is more pronounced in snowboarding than in skiing, Price observed. People who snowboard have more of a mountain biking or snowboard background where they have worn helmets before. It's more of a natural transition for them to wear helmets on the slopes.
Skiers come from all sorts of backgrounds.
A California native, Faraola has been snowboarding for seven years and hasn't returned to skiing even though she grew up skiing with her family. I felt I had reached the limit of my ability in skiing. There are no poles. I feel more free. Describing herself as an intermediate advanced boarder, Faraola frequents California hotspots that welcome snowboarders, like Squaw Valley in Truckee, and Heavenly and Kirkwood in South Lake Tahoe.