In 1985, over 90% of U.S. ski resorts banned snowboarding, viewing the emerging sport as a threat to their business and traditions.

Snowboarding faced fierce resistance when it emerged as a commercial sport in the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1985, the National Ski Areas Association reported that approximately 93% of resorts prohibited the activity. This widespread exclusion stemmed primarily from insurance concerns and a cultural divide between traditional skiers and the younger "sideways" riders who embraced the sport.Resort management often justified their bans by citing safety risks, claiming that snowboarders had a "blind spot" due to their sideways stance. They also worried that the sharp edges of snowboards would scrape away soft powder, creating icy patches derisively called "death cookies." Consequently, the few resorts that did permit snowboarding typically required riders to pass a competency test before accessing the slopes.The industry's perspective shifted dramatically in the late 1980s as operators recognized the massive economic potential of the youth market. Stratton Mountain in Vermont became one of the first major resorts to welcome snowboarders in 1983, and others followed suit after the first World Snowboarding Championships were held there. By 1990, the number of resorts allowing snowboarding had surged to nearly 500.Snowboarding achieved mainstream legitimacy when it was included in the Winter Olympic program for the 1998 Nagano Games. Despite this global acceptance, three major U.S. resorts remain steadfast holdouts. Alta and Deer Valley in Utah, along with Mad River Glen in Vermont, continue to maintain their historic bans on snowboarders to preserve an exclusively skier-focused experience.