Winter Olympics Allows Women in All Snowboarding Events; Why not Skiing?!?

21 Aug, 2008

Posted by: Womens Snowboarding Enthusiast In: Womens Snowboarding

I know this blog is about womens snowboarding, but sometimes I think we all should pause and remember the people we share the mountain with - namely, skiers.

Skiers are snowboarders’ brethren. We all like doing the same things - going fast, cruising powder, catching air.

Is there really all that much difference between snowboarders and skiers (on a personal level, I mean)?

Here’s the point, the summer Olympics in Beijing is stirring up the Winter Olympics issue of the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to include womens ski jumping in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Really!

IOC President Jacques Rogge has even stated that because of the low number of women participating in the event (80), including the event would actually "dilute the value of medals won in other events," according to mydd.com.

In the 2006 Winter Olympics, women snowboarders participated in all of the events that men competed in; halfpipe, parallel giant slalom and snowboard cross.

Is it fair at all that women skiers should not be allowed to participate in the same events as men skiers?

A number of women skiers have filed suit against Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee in attempt to allow womens ski jumping, CBCSports.com reported in May.

For the sake of equality on the slopes, I’d say this is something women snowboarders should lend their support to.

Who knows, if issues like this are not addressed, there could be similar snowboarding events that eventually get added to Olympic contests that women won’t be allowed to participate in.