The battle between skiers and snowboarders is as old as time. Well, maybe not that old, but definitely older than the internet, the iPhone, and your favorite après-ski beer. It’s a rivalry filled with side-eyes on the chairlift, beef over who gets to use the terrain park, and debates about who really “owns” the mountain.

Yet, despite decades of tension, there’s one thing both sides can agree on: Session apparel looks good no matter how you ride. But before we get too cozy with the idea of unity, let’s take a look at how this snow-fueled civil war started—and why it will probably never end.

The Origin Story: Where the Drama Began

Back in the 1960s, a guy named Sherman Poppen decided to strap two skis together and let his kids ride down the snow-covered hills of Michigan. This brilliant (and slightly reckless) dad move led to the invention of the “Snurfer”, aka snowboarding’s weird ancestor.

Fast forward to the ‘80s and ‘90s, and snowboarding started gaining real traction. Inspired by skateboarding and surfing, riders like Jake Burton and Tom Sims helped turn the Snurfer into a legit sport. But there was one problem…

Skiers. Hated. It.

Snowboarders were the rebellious punks of the mountain, bringing skate culture and baggy pants to the prim and proper ski world. Resorts literally banned snowboarding (some still do...looking at you Deer Valley), claiming it was dangerous, disruptive, and just too cool for the slopes ...

It wasn’t until the late ‘90s and early 2000s that resorts finally gave in. Snowboarding got its spot in the Winter Olympics, terrain parks became a thing, and suddenly, the snowboard scene was everywhere.

But the damage was done—the rift was permanent.

Stereotypes, Trash Talk & Chairlift Tension

Every skier has had that moment where they narrowly dodged a beginner snowboarder sitting smack-dab in the middle of the run. And every snowboarder has been nearly impaled by a ski bro bombing past them with zero regard for human life.

This is where the stereotypes come in:
-Skiers think snowboarders are reckless park rats who clog up runs, scrape all the powder, and sit around taking up space.
-Snowboarders think skiers are elitist, speed-demon robots who hog fresh lines, have an unhealthy love for moguls, and take themselves way too seriously.

Both are kinda true. Both are also completely ridiculous.

Yet, the beef lives on—passed down through generations like an unspoken family heirloom.

Modern-Day Peace Talks (Kind Of)

Today, the skier-snowboarder war is more of a playful feud than an actual grudge match. Most resorts are now an even mix of both, and hybrid friend groups are proof that peaceful coexistence is possible - just ask the Co-Founders of Session!. Some skiers even (gasp) try snowboarding, and some snowboarders (double gasp) switch to skiing after blowing out a knee.

But will the rivalry ever truly end? Absolutely not.

Why? Because we need it. Trash talk is part of the culture. Chairlift debates about who has more control, who looks cooler, and who invented après-ski culture fuel the fun. Without this battle, what would we argue about? (Okay, fine, we’d still argue about snowboarders taking forever to strap in and skiers needing five different poles for one sport.)

The One Thing We Can Agree On

Despite our differences, there is one thing that brings both tribes together—dope apparel that works on and off the mountain. That’s where Session Co. steps in.

Skiers? You want warm, performance-driven layers that look just as fresh in the lodge as they do on a bluebird day.
Snowboarders? You need streetwear-inspired gear that holds up in deep pow and après-ski drinks.
You both want style, function, and gear that actually fits, whether you’re dropping cliffs or just trying to make it down a green run in one piece.

So while the great skier-snowboarder feud will rage on forever, at least we can all look good while fighting about it.

Now get out there, find your Sesh: Be it Skiing or Snowboarding....or whatever that bike-ski thing is we are all confused about..