Judge weighs Utah lawsuit aiming to toss 1 of nation's last bans on snowboarding in ski area

A group of snowboarders suing to get access to a ski area east of Salt Lake City are headed to court Monday.

The snowboarders say the ban on riding in national forest land violates their constitutional rights. Alta ski area attorneys argue snowboarding is dangerous and the lawsuit "demeans the Constitution."

Alta is one of the last ski resorts in the U.S. to ban snowboarding, a rule the boarders say is discriminatory and based on outdated stereotypes.

The ski area's attorneys contend a snowboarder-free hill makes skiers more comfortable and doesn't violate anyone's rights. The U.S. Forest Service agrees.

Alta will ask U.S. District Judge Dee Benson to dismiss the lawsuit in a hearing Monday afternoon.