The skiing industry was becoming stale. What was needed was something new, something Generation X could call their own. Once considered fringe, snowboarding has become mainstream in the '90s. This figure is consistent with most ski areas across Canada. Long considered pariahs by skiing traditionalists, a schism remains between the two styles.
Skiing lends itself to a style of short radius turns.
With snowboarding, the turning radius is much longer, forcing the rider to use more of the mountain. This fundamental difference creates tension between the two groups. Anticipation is at the heart of skiing and snowboarding. When you're headed downhill, you're constantly assessing the skill level of the people around you. This allows you to anticipate what they are going to do next.