Can Music Disorientate you?

Question

I love to listen to my music when snowboarding, with big earphones and heavy bass, but your ears co-ordinate you and help you balance, so can listening to music be dangerous (like falling over and stuff)?

Answer 1

I think it different from person to person

Answer 2

well, the reason music on slopes is dangerous is because you've got people coming up from behind you and if you don't hear them or if there's an accident or if a helicopter needs to land, it could end up pretty badly.

Answer 3

if i'm ridin park most of the day, ya music is a must. i feel disorientated without it... but for pow, nothin is better than hearin snow fly and birds sing.

Answer 4

I'm with you, man.  I love to ride with my tunes blaring.  I don't think it's ever affected me in any "disorienting" kinda way, it actually helps me focus and get "in the zone".  

There is one problem that I've run into though, and that's OTHER PEOPLE.  You ARE less aware of those around you.  Especially those coming from behind.  You don't realize how much you depend on your ears to clue you in on others whereabouts until you don't have your ears anymore:-)  

People will get frustrated with you, especially in a park scene or wherever there is a lot of people waiting on eachother and all.  Take it with a grain of salt, but also realize that it's YOUR responsibility to be conscious of what is going on around you.  If you cut someone off and cause a nasty wreck, as soon as they find out you have phones on, it's all your fault, end of case.  

I usually only ride with phones on when I know I'm practically by myself.  In competitions, you know you're going one at a time, so no one can get in anyone elses way (and in BoarderX, who cares if you get in his way:-)  

So yeah, just be super careful and mindful of others.  With your tunes cranked all the way up, you risk becoming that kid that all the other riders out there want to beat up for giving them a bad name, you know?  Don't be inconsiderate:-)

Have a friggin blast, though!!!!   :-P

Answer 5

I find music very helpful to my snowboarding. It gives me a flow and rhythm that makes it easier to carve to. It can be a problem with too many idiots out there that could care less if they run into you or not. So go ahead and listen to the music, but be careful and be sure to look uphill often.

Answer 6

i just like listening myself cut through the air....

music is for the rooms and parties, when in the mountains, its the mountain's chance to turn me on.

Answer 7

I usually just keep one headphone in, so I can listen to music but still know what's going on around me.  

When I am concentrating, like when I am in the halfpipe, or hitting a big jump, I usually completely tune out what I am listening to even if I have music on.

When I am in sketchy conditions I don't listen to music, because I need to know what is going on under my board.  

When I am in backcountry powder, I don't listen to music because I love the peacefulness of it all.