Freeride Skiing-Risk-Taking, Recognition, and Moral Boundaries

Area of Science:

• Sociology of sport
• Risk behavior analysis
• Cultural studies

Background:

• High-risk sports research traditionally focuses on psychological factors.
• Sociological perspectives, particularly Bourdieu's, offer insights into social dimensions of risk.
• Freeride skiing culture involves specific values and social dynamics influencing risk-taking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the social dimension of risk-taking in freeride skiing.
• To investigate how credibility and recognition are linked to risk-taking within the freeride culture.
• To understand the social regulation of risk-taking through cultural conventions.

Main Methods:

• Sociological analysis building on Pierre Bourdieu's theories.
• Application of Michelle Lamont's theory of symbolic boundaries.
• Examination of values and social conventions within freeride skiing subculture.

Main Results:

• A clear link exists between risk-taking and credibility in freeride skiing.
• Risk-taking can be conceptualized as a form of social capital.
• Recognition for risk-taking is contingent upon the skier's skill level, indicating limits to the risk-recognition nexus.
• Social conventions and moral boundaries within the subculture regulate risk-taking behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Risk-taking in freeride skiing is socially regulated, not solely a psychological phenomenon.
• Skill level acts as a critical boundary for social recognition of risk-taking.
• Understanding symbolic boundaries is key to comprehending how freeride skiing subcultures manage risk.