Dear Editor:

(Re: “Damn divot diggers,” letters, Feb. 16.)

For one week Aspen had the privilege of welcoming the Summit Expression Session ” a collaboration of hard-boot snowboarders from around the world. Anyone who met and talked with any of these riders would have found them to be friendly, courteous people who are very proud of their unique sport. (Imagine that, snowboarders are people, too!)

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Unlike the standard style of snowboarding, the hard-boot rider makes graceful, sweeping turns down the hill, that leave behind grooves in the snow. At the deepest part of the turn, the riders stretch their bodies out to a position practically horizontal to the hill. Personally, I found it amazing to watch and quite beautiful. I am an intermediate skier and I had absolutely no problem skiing right across those grooves. The riders are quite skilled and ride in control of their speed, and there was nothing dangerous about the grooves or anything else from these riders that detracted from my enjoyment of skiing the mountain.

Anyone lucky enough to be in Aspen last week had the opportunity to watch many of the finest “carvers” in the world and to learn about this sport. Too bad some people couldn’t appreciate that.

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Gretchen Filer

Benicia, Calif.