The following article was originally printed in the November 2024 Issue of Slush. To access the full article click here.
Words: Stan Leveille
Illustartion: Kaia Sauter
Could a different snowboarding era be your true calling? Dive into this 10-question quiz and discover for yourself. Mark your answers, follow the instructions below, and uncover which snowboarding era you truly belong to. Who knows—you might just surprise yourself!
What word describes your snowboarding gear style?
A. Classic
B. Hesh
C. Cropped
D. Athletic
What music are you most likely to listen to?
A. Black Sabbath
B. The Postal Service
C. Bronze Playlists on Soundcloud
D. It’s a genre you’ve never heard of
What’s your favorite snowboarding movie?
A. Lame
B. Shoot the Moon
C. Landline
D. Dream Castle
Choose the slang word you’re most likely to say:
A. Gnarly
B. Steezy
C. Lit
D. Ate
What kind of snowboarding competitions do you enjoy watching?
A. RIP Arctic Challenge
B. I miss X-Games Real Snow
C. Superpark was dope
D. Olympics
How do you feel about snowboarding technology?
A. Nothing has ever been better than a regular camber snowboard
B. Board innovations have helped change the game
C. The pant fit still needs work
D. I’ll take it if it’s free
What’s your ideal après activity?
A. Beers in the lot
B. Review the footage
C. Band practice
D. Fortnite
Which of these quotes are you most likely to use from an Iconic snowboard video?
A. “We only ice our lips with Dasni Sahn”
B. “I think I shit myself…I did shit myself”
C. I don’t quote snowboard movies
D. I don’t understand the question
How do you learn new tricks?
A. Ask my friends for help on the lift
B. Watch my favorite videos and study
C. Wait until i get to the spot and go for it
D. Airbag/foam pit
What does snowboarding mean to you?
A. The best passtime
B. It’s an art form
C. Love it, hate the industry.
D. A means to make a living.
SCORING:
"A" Answers - 5 points
"B" Answers - 10 points
"C" Answers - 15 points
"D" Answers - 20 points
50-70 THE GOLDEN ERA
Ah, the dawn of snowboarding, when the world looked at us sideways and the Olympics wouldn’t touch us with a ten-foot pole. You fondly remember a time when snowboarding was more about rebellion than reshares. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe you really do miss the days when your knees didn’t sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies every morning.
80 - 125 TIGHT PANTS ERA
When snowboard pants clung tightly, there was really a cross-section of fashion that we should all miss. Honestly we just catered a bunch of questions towards this era in hopes that no one would see it coming, and then take offense when they got it as their result. If you find yourself wistfully reminiscing about these years, you might just be thrilled that the pendulum of fashion might swing back this way. After all, someone has to counter the current oversized trend that’s eating us alive.
130 - 175 GEN Z ERA
You belong to the cohort that caught the tail end of snowboard superstardom. Raised on its fading glow, you’ve had to reconcile the glossy magazine image of pro snowboarding with its grittier reality. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but hey, every era needs its wake-up call.
180 - 200 THE TIK TOK ERA
Blissfully unaware of the nitty-gritty of going pro, you skate (or rather, board) through life with a camera in hand, ready to redefine snowboarding for the digital age. Just be prepared, the generation just a notch up the age scale—still shy of 30—might poke fun at your exploits, but they can’t deny that you’re setting the new trends, no matter how much we all may hate them.