NZsnowboard.com

Kiaora Everyone,
Robett Hollis from NZsnowboard.com here.

As you may or may not know NZ currently doesn't have a national body for snowboarding. The NZSBA was disbanded last year so basically there is nothing.....

This is my question to you....
Looking at the BIG picture of growing and supporting snowboarding in NZ, If a new National Snowboard Organization was to launch what is the BIGGEST priority of where our energy should go? Where is the future going and what do we need to do NOW to secure it?

eg. Grassroots, schools programs, rider ranking, judging, coaching, mainstream education and awareness etc??

NZsnowboard.com is by riders - for riders and I feel this new Union should be the same. Giving the voice and power directly to the riders.

Snowboarding in NZ needs something and to identify these needs is a step in the right direction.


So what do you think?? Post here or feel free to email your thoughts to info (at) nzsnowboard.com




- Holler, NZsnowboard.com

i say coaching ae..

all those kids that are stepping up..
give them some coaching perhaps through school programs etc.
focus on obviously rider progression and moving up to whats
involved with doing comps etc.
awareness in regards to traveling,sponsorship etc.
give the kids a view of what can be achieved and what they need to do to
get there.

damn i wish i had the same opportunities as todays youth when i was at school.
im 28 and fear its too late for me now.
but love watching the young bucks step it up..

mad respect..

PJ

As much as it sucks to sell out.
To create the base to grow the sport from a multitude of perspectives i.e. media coverage, building a grassroots base, gaining mainstream acceptance, elite competition you need to present snowboarding to the general public in a way that somewhat quashes the current misconceptions of snowboarding.

Problems to deal with
- a few snowboarders don't do themselves a lot of favours in the media - either dumb answers to q's and/or dumb questions asked by person interviewing. mainstream people (parents who pay for kids frst snowboards / drive them up the hill) don't want their kids to end up like that. Personality is great but to gain exposure you need to play the game then once you are recognised, you can play up. Impressions count.

- DIY tv. I know its a start, but to appeal to a wider audience make it a little more professional esp interviews

- Lack of knowledge in wider media - run an info session for regular reporters at the start of the season eg snowboarding 101 thats gives them the basics so when they write an article its less objective (e.g xyz performed a 900 degree rotation with a grab to win the title) and they are more likely to cover an event they understand.

- Funding / access / recruitment - a difficult one to deal with. Theres a program in downtown vancouver that takes disadvantaged kids to whistler for lessons then they have the opportunity for jobs as instructors. Its about creating partnerships, i'm sure mcdonalds or other philanthropic organizations that 'fit' with the target market would be interested in something like that.

- Build partnerships. When you don't know much about something, i.e. building media coverage or gaining access to media , find someone who does and find something you can offer them in return. Many people will be willing to help you if you show them a) what you want b) what you need from them to make it happen c) what it'll cost d) what they get.
Hope these help peace.