Mad River Glen - Snowboarding

Snowboarding

Mad River Glen is one of three ski areas in the U.S. that completely ban snowboarding, along with Utah's Deer Valley and Alta ski areas. This has caused significant discussion, especially among the snowboarding community. The Mad River Glen cooperative seeks to preserve the area as a "skier's mountain."

Mad River Glen was one of the first places in the U.S. to allow snowboarding during the 1986-87 season and lasted until the 1992-93 season. Unloading issues due to a flat run-off exiting the old single chair led the owner of the resort to limit them to the Sunnyside Double and the practice area chair. Due to heated debate over this issue, Betsy Pratt, Mad River Glen’s previous owner, decided to ban snowboards entirely. Since then, Mad River Glen has been subject to poaching.

Four years later the owner sold the mountain to the Mad River Glen Cooperative. During the 1999-2000 season the co-op sold the 1,667th share to pay off its mortgage. The mountain is now owned by the co-op, who addressed the snowboard ban with a vote. Over 75% voted to keep the ban, and it will take a 2/3 majority to overturn that, making it unlikely that the ban will be lifted soon.