I am sure many of you are sick of being forced to sit on a computer, waiting for a deadline to roll around, just for a 50/50 chance of registering for the Open.
Computers freeze, the U.S. Open website sees too much traffic, you get bored, you're not on a computer at registration time, the list goes on... Something needs to change to give talent a chance to surface....
Instead, I propose my "U.S. Open" contest:
Each state with, lets say, 4 ski areas or more qualify. If a skier is truly interested, then that athlete will register for an individual state contest, held within the state, for residents. Every state that qualifies will host a state-wide contest; each will provide a similar slopestyle course that will enable the states' best athletes to prove their worth against each other.
After each state has had their individual contests to determine the states' best 4(or whatever amount of) skiers in each discipline, each states' top athletes will meet in a "U.S. Open" final in some arranged venue. From their, a finals venue will play out as top skiers from every corner compete in hopes of winning.
Now I know the kinks haven't been worked out... What about other countries? Or states that hold a wealth of talent? Or states that don't? My idea is far from a finished product, it's just an idea to get some heads turning since the current system isn't working.
Hope you're all having a good season so far,
Dylan