Olympic Snowboarder Decries ‘Emo Look,’ Tight Pants Creeping Into Sport

For years, an honor system in the snowboard cross and ski cross fraternity kept racers from straying from the sports’ stylistic sensibilities in an attempt to gain an advantage, according to a report in the New York Times.

But with both disciplines now in the Olympics, there are medals and potentially lucrative endorsement deals on the line.

In a quest for faster speeds, some racers have begun to flirt with a more streamlined look at World Cup events, prompting competitors to call for new rules and stricter enforcement that would preserve fairness and the sports’ cherished aesthetic.

“I think there is a need for a rule” about what can be worn in a race, said Olympic snowboarder Nate Holland, 31, of Sandpoint, Idaho. “I think the problem we have now is the emo look and people trying to use that as an excuse for wearing tight clothing.”

Read the full New York Times article here.

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