Over the past decade or so, and the past few years in particular, halfpipes have undeniably gone down in popularity.

Like many aspects of the ski world, there are no hard facts to completely back this notion up. But just take a look at your local resort this coming season or think back to last season, and you’ll see exactly what’s going on: Park skiers and boarders alike are now flocking to rails and jumps, and many have opted for street features and the backcountry over the ol’ stunt ditch, too.

That notion—that pipes are losing popularity—triggered a recent discussion at Steamboat Resort in which the management team heavily considered nixing its Maverick halfpipe. In the end, they decided to let the Maverick live on. But, according to a report from Steamboat Today, Steamboat’s local paper, the 18-foot-tall, 350-foot-long pipe uses up to 15% of the resort’s snowmaking resources and sees little use, which means this controversy will surely continue. Jim Schneider, Steamboat’s vice president of skier services, says his team isn’t alone in this, either.

“A lot of resorts are in this debate right now because of the resources required to put in a halfpipe. The discussions are happening, and you’re going to see resorts make these decisions, perhaps this summer or perhaps in the next year or two.”

Jim’s not wrong; Keystone’s highly acclaimed A51 park, for example, ditched its pipe after the 2011-12 season without very much backlash. The park remained one of the best in world, too, though Keystone did decide to add a 15-foot pipe for the 2015-16 season. That pipe received great feedback; it’s far easier for Keystone to maintain, and more realistic for the average skier or boarder to be ride.

At the end of the day, you can’t generalize too much about this topic; it’s all a matter of perspective, and resorts all look at pipes differently. Some places, like Mammoth, are still entirely dedicated to building pipes—proven by the whopping five they sculpted last season. Part of this dedication has to do with a deep historical connection, as Mammoth has always supported pipe skiers and boarders. But, it’s also very much about what lies ahead, according to Mammoth’s Unbound Terrain Park Director TJ Dawoud.

“Building and maintaining halfpipes is obviously a huge commitment, but the level of riding and progression we’ve seen in our entire fleet of pipes makes it all worth it,” he says. “Over the years we’ve been courtside as our local groms have turned into US Team athletes and Olympians, throwing bigger tricks and taking their careers to places bigger than we could have ever imagined. It’s pretty special to be a part of that growth, and we are excited to keep moving forward and expanding our park programs, especially with the 2018 Winter Olympics just around the corner.”

Dawoud agrees with Keystone that the mini-pipe presence is important, too. Ripping a 22-footer (the usual competition size) is simply not appealing to your average guest on the mountain—something resorts increasingly seem to be taking into consideration.

“The level of stoke that comes out of our mini-pipes is great to see across the board,” he says. “Kids feel comfortable enough to drop in and seasoned athletes see it as a place to play and get creative. This year we hosted the Oakley Mini Pipe Challenge, which combined an 8-foot pipe with a variety of jibs and natural features built in the walls. Not only was this a great event for kids, but we had Shaun White, Sven Thorgren, Sammy Carlson, Alex Beaulieu-Marchand and more throwing down and having a blast.”

Say what you want, but the halfpipe is an integral part of skiing’s history that should never be forgotten. Regardless of what big-name resorts choose to do in the coming weeks, months and years, some of our sport’s greatest moments have happened between those massive walls of snow. From the Tanner Hall vs. Simon Dumont rivalry on the men’s side (see a video, below) to the late, great Sarah Burke’s absolute dominance on the women’s side (another video, below), it’s all been crucial in getting skiing to the incredible place it’s in today.