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November, 2024

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If you can ski Moguls, You can ski ANYTHING

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GreatWhiteNorth
Posts: 77 - Karma: 83
Looking at all of the kids learning how to "freeride ski" (or however you want to say it) today , i realize that myself, and others my age are the last generation of skiers who started off in the Bumps, and man am i glad that i did. When i look at all of the up and coming park skiers now, they aren't just learning tricks in the park, they are learning how to ski in the park aswell. Half the kids i see slay park these days couldn't make the first turn on a steep pow line let alone do the first section of a Bump course. Mogul skiing allows a skier to rip anything on the mountain and it is such a good way to teach kids how to be comfortable on there skis, edging, air awareness, everything you need to become a good overall skier. just look at all the former moguls skiers ripping all aspects of the sport (Tanner being the obvious example) but Seth used to be a mogul skier to as well as J.P, Julien, Vinnie D, Riddle, Hayward, Henitiuk... the list goes on and on. Looking back at how much i hated skiing the mogul line right next to the park, I am so glad i stuck to it for as long as i did because it opens up so many more opportunities for a skier. Instead of just being able to rip the park, you have the whole mountain in-front of you and you can appreciate all aspects of it.
Jul 29 2008 3:31PM
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Jacuse
Posts: 1792 - Karma: 1,549
I agree with you 100%. You can say the same thing with racing to. With both you become very comfortable with your skis and know how they will react.
Jul 29 2008 3:42PM
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t-rent
Posts: 3038 - Karma: 63
same with racing, i did it for one year and it helped my skiing sooo much
Jul 29 2008 3:43PM
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DangerToes
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 33
yea, i really think you should learn how to ski first, racing and moguls being excellent examples. However, i wouldnt go so far as to say that you can ski anything with these backgrounds because ive seen a lot of racer kids blowing it in pow. not that they cant learn to ski pow, its just a separate beast that needs to be learned independently.
Jul 29 2008 3:53PM
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WhoWantIt
Posts: 395 - Karma: 26
I agree because I did moguls and racing before I even started skiing park. And if anyone is LEARNING to ski in the park they will never leave the park.
Jul 29 2008 3:56PM
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GreatWhiteNorth
Posts: 77 - Karma: 83
Racing wasn't my example, racing doesn't do the same thing for you that moguls does. i ve seen plently of racers come out with there brand new pow setups that there rich ass parents bought.. and they die. but give a mogul skier that setup... shit will go down.
Jul 29 2008 3:57PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
It gives you experience and motivation to stay with skiing. I think theres a correlation, but I wouldnt say that being a master of moguls allows you to ski anything. Its a good base to grow from, but many other skiers can achieve that same level just by normal resort skiing.
Jul 29 2008 3:57PM
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GreatWhiteNorth
Posts: 77 - Karma: 83
Racing wasn't my example, racing doesn't do the same thing for you that moguls does. i ve seen plently of racers come out with there brand new pow setups that there rich ass parents bought.. and they die. but give a mogul skier that setup... shit will go down.
Jul 29 2008 3:58PM
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KarmaSkiier
Posts: 461 - Karma: 6
ive taught everything i know myself. starting with pizza to carving then all the way up to things in the park ive been skiing for like 7 years now so i got it all down now
Jul 29 2008 4:04PM
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DangerToes
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 33
i grew up skiing moguls, and im just saying that personally it took me a season of dedicated pow skiing before i really got the hang of it, maybe im retarded, but i really dont think so. Id post this 3 times but i really dont see the point.
Jul 29 2008 4:07PM
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GreatWhiteNorth
Posts: 77 - Karma: 83
For sure it still takes practice, and lots of it. i completely agree. but if you took a racer and a mogul skier, took them to the backcountry for the first time.... who do you think will eat shit the most?
sorry for triple reply, my internet was jibbing out and i clicked the reply button a bunch
Jul 29 2008 4:12PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Backcountry is another world from racing AND moguls, it would be a toss up and more dependent on  things like bravery and adaptability.
Jul 29 2008 4:20PM
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DangerToes
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 33
id like to agree with you being a mogul skier myself, but youve got to give props to racers, they can rip, and their edge control helps them a lot in powder. all im saying is that saying they can ski everything might be overstating, and really only because im bored. and really, throw a mogul skier and racer in any situation, social or athletic, the mogul skier will rape hands down.
Jul 29 2008 4:25PM
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GreatWhiteNorth
Posts: 77 - Karma: 83
Yes, it is a differnt world, but that doesnt change the fact that the skills one needs for moguls (equal boot pressure, staying strong on your shins...etc) would help way more for skiing pow then what racers are taught.
But why are we arguing this? the plain and simple fact is that learning how TO SKI before you go to the park (by either Racing or moguls) sets a skier up to be able to shred the entire mountain wayyyy harder.
Jul 29 2008 4:29PM
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Elg
Posts: 2998 - Karma: 3,880
tHall started with moguls, didn't he?
Jul 29 2008 4:37PM
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DangerToes
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 33
^agreed end of thread
Jul 29 2008 4:37PM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
im in a program where we train on moguls, park and big air
Jul 29 2008 4:43PM
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jca
Posts: 4172 - Karma: 6,310
Once you know preasure control, proper pivoting and upper/lower body separation it allows you to excel all over the mountain, and without those basics its WAY more difficult to learn how to shred everything.
Jul 29 2008 4:47PM
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skiRay
Posts: 7558 - Karma: 926
i can agree with this.. moguls are the shit. soo fun
Jul 29 2008 5:17PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
are just plain ol'retarded?

you actually think it takes more athleticism to ski bumps than it does to race? i do both and believe me, it sure as hell doesn't
Jul 29 2008 5:36PM
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
agreed...i didnt learn to ski in the bumps(because a lack of them at my hill) but i spent my first 8 yrs racing, and it really helped me with park and bc skiing.....now that i am comfortable with my skis, i love to rip through moguls, and im positive that if i started skiing in the park without any other background, id be screwed skiing anything else but park
Jul 29 2008 5:43PM
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reverendwrong
Posts: 3145 - Karma: 142
i still race and have done mougls...no difference in athletisism required but different skills are needed......but whatever you do, you cant call yourself a "skier" until u can/have skied pow.
Jul 29 2008 5:44PM
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ben_southworth
Posts: 1063 - Karma: 447
wrong.
ive been skiing moguls for 9 years and im still competing, and i know a lot of mogul skiers that specialize sooo much that they can't really ski at all.
it certinaly helps become comfortable with variable coniditions and gives you a solid base, but it doesn't for sure mean anything
as far as actual skiing ability, racing teaches all of that moreso.
im more confident in a racer than a freestyle skier taking on the backcountry almost any day.
most of the guys you mentioned raced before freestyle even.

what moguls does really well is teaches kids how to pop and get off of jumps then set tricks instead of slinging the shit out of them.

i do agree about the kids growing up in the park though, it happeneing more and more.
Jul 29 2008 5:46PM
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NC-skier
Posts: 423 - Karma: 49
I skied for five years before I even set foot in a park. without that, I would suck at skiing period, in and out of the park.
Jul 29 2008 5:49PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
A clear majority of pros who are over the age of 20 had some form of competitive experience (Whether racing, moguls etc).
Jul 29 2008 5:51PM
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ben_southworth
Posts: 1063 - Karma: 447
apologies for the double post
but just to clarify, thall started with racing first, then moguls, then park, now backcountry

racing and mogul skiing debate aside, any kind of base skiing is necessary. too many people these days can't really ski. they specialize, especially in park, but in moguls as well.

and to the person who compared racers and mogul skiers in any athletic or social situation, you sir, should go play in traffic.
Jul 29 2008 5:58PM
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DangerToes
Posts: 1042 - Karma: 33
hahahah jokes i love it + karma for you sir
Jul 29 2008 6:14PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13110 - Karma: 18,935
Moguls are more refined, precise, less margin for error. Its perfection itself, being in control and making it look good is extremely difficult. It helped me to get a good feeling on skis, learn how to position the body, arms, head...moguls did so much for me.
Jul 29 2008 6:31PM
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XtRemE11
Posts: 5680 - Karma: 246
i could really care less if people didnt start in moguls, i think its sweet that people are pretty much learning how to ski, starting in the park. its creates more individuality and new styles, instead of people having gay perfect racer/old guy form as they cruize through the park, its their own form and way of skiing that came from learning how to ski in the park.

and as for park rats not being able to ski the rest of the mountain, that bullshit, im a park rat and so are my friends, and we still ski pow every chance we get and we do damn good, it does take alot of really good ballance and stability to be hitting 70 foot jumps and stomping them like its nothing. you still have to know how to ski pretty damn well.
Jul 29 2008 6:33PM
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bbtkd1
Posts: 113 - Karma: 15
racing and moguls are both very helpful. but in competive mouguls with the jumps. you have that knowlege of of how to get air and stuf while racers dont
Jul 29 2008 6:41PM
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AptosFreeskier
Posts: 1240 - Karma: 17
Ouch man are you okay? That was a pretty big fall off your horse.
Jul 29 2008 6:44PM
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StuntCok
Posts: 125 - Karma: 22

While mogul skiing is a much better basis for skiing than park I have seen more than a couple over-specialised mogul skiers who could not ski big mountian.  This includes a friend of mine who competed for the US in the olympics as a mogul skier (name witheld).  She was training in Chile while I was there touring and heli skiing and when she took a day off to ski pow with me she was hopeless.  She could land a corked 7's into moguls though, so we were even ; )

Jul 29 2008 7:01PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
I raced for about 6 years and it gave me so much help in difficult situations. ruts are similar to inconsistent snow (although not the same), and going through those at 60+ mph while holding an edge is a scary-ass experience. I've only done moguls at my mountain and not a mogul course at all...but I know the basics of mogul skiing and through racing those came a bit easier too. I definitely respect mogul skiers but I don't think I could do it, my knees would be gone by the time I was 21. They ALREADY have problems and I'm only 17...
But yeah, mogul skiers, racers, whatever, as long as you have the technique right it will help you in so many ways. Even in the park where you don't really need amazing skiing technique, good balance and pressure will help with rail balance, butters, and air sense.
I don't think you can ski the backcountry perfectly even with mogul/race skills, it takes a long time to get used to any place and the inconsistency/variables in the bc keeps you on your toes, no matter how good you are. It can't be learned, it can only be experienced to the fullest.
Jul 29 2008 7:54PM
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afton_steeze
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 92
those are some money first posts. +karma
Jul 29 2008 8:40PM
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asfffffffffdd
Posts: 1554 - Karma: 1,103
personally I think that the ideal upbring to become a great skier would start with racing. There are so many kids these days that can't even hold a proper edge it's ridiculous, it's something that me and all my friends learned on race team as little kids. Then I think that moguls can truly help your skiing: they improve stability, pop, patience in setting tricks, agility, reaction time, balance, and overall athletisisim more then any other type of skiing can. However, at the same time I think it's important to never focus on any one discipline all the time. I think a true well rounded skier, needs to constantly be cross training in all aspects of skiing, and improving in any one area will then improve them in all areas.
Jul 29 2008 10:30PM
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jwhyte
Posts: 596 - Karma: 21
and there go your kness....
Jul 29 2008 10:38PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,032
meh, i never raced or did moguls and i'd say i can rip pow and steeps pretty good. i've been sking for 13 years though and only 3 of those in the park but still, you deffinatly dont need a racing or moguls background to be a good rider or park skier.
Jul 29 2008 10:42PM
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ginty
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 163
i really didnt do that much racing i did 2 years of it for ski team but i have to say it really helped out
Jul 29 2008 10:48PM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
i think more of the problem than what your saying is just in general the fact that hafl the kids in the park cant ski outside of it. regardless of how they learned to ski and what they can handle but some kid throws a cork 9 but barely can carve a turn? thats messed up
Jul 29 2008 10:54PM
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afton_steeze
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 92
i get what you're saying, but really the bottom line is that any kind of skiing helps other aspects of skiing.
every second spent strapped into your skis helps you improve, no matter what you're doing.
you learn aerodynamics, balance, speed, control, agility, endurance etc.

and that really goes for all sports. ice hockey coaches sometimes make their teams learn how to figure skate... it pays to be well-rounded in all aspects of your sport, don't just stick to one thing. racing, or skiing bumps for even a couple of days out of the year will not hurt you.
Jul 29 2008 11:14PM
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K2skipunk
Posts: 2837 - Karma: 111
Exactly dude, like me. When my parents taught me to ski, they taught me to keep my feet close, and make lots of turns, they said the more you turn, the more of the mountain your using. When I ski pow with my friends, there is a noticable difference in how we ski it. I make lots of turns, popping in and out of it, making the most of it. Whereas my friends, often give'r shit and charge, and make longer turns. I do sometimes give'r, but popping in and out is how i prefer to ski, but it is hard to do when others go so fast. And I get way more props from ski patrol and other skiers from the lift, especially when I go turn, turn, turn, pop a 180, ski switch pow, switch around, then turn quickly some more. And Bumps have helped me learn to ski, and bumps in pow, is wow.
Jul 29 2008 11:26PM
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doGelyst
Posts: 2492 - Karma: 509
selt taught since I've been 5-6.....think I'm doin alright. Just wish I started park back then :D nah its just be too easy then.
Jul 29 2008 11:29PM
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theoz
Posts: 2379 - Karma: 129
Moguls are the Shit.... if you can ski moguls . you can ski anything... straight up... thank god there are still a few kids in the know...
soo many of you park rats cant ski the rest of the mountain with style... making shitty turns  on a t35 degree slope in 6 inches of pow .. with whack style aint big mountain skiing....
just casue you can do a fakie 10  and 450 onto a rail dont mean your a good skier.. just means your good at huckin and sliding pieces of metal
Jul 29 2008 11:30PM
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tSki
Posts: 956 - Karma: 171

knowing how to ski moguls does not make u able to ski anything at all.
Its way different form compared to other types of skiing, racing helps you ski the mountain way better. I do enjoy skiing bumps tho

Jul 29 2008 11:33PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,790
Pretty much same story here. My dad and watching ski videos since I was 2 definitely helped me be able to ski "the mountain". I've had less time skiing and less time in the park, and I can still ski alright, and my knees aren't gonna be shot earlier because of moguls.
I do agree that it benefits you though.
Jul 29 2008 11:35PM
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bigwhite.steeze
Posts: 8227 - Karma: 1,032
well if you live out west your generally gonna do some type of racing or bumps sometime during the day. i usually get out 75+ days a year and usually every day i race down a groomer or 2 trying to go as fast i can and beat my other friends or race as fast i can to the park(you may think thats lame)

and sometimes you just have to ski moguls to get to a certain area so i usually hit at least a few moguls a day. unless you walk into the park pretty much everyone does some type of racing or bumps or somethin each day. obviously it won't hurt you but after a while it just gets boring so you move onto other things. the main reason i started doing park was because the rest of the mountain just got boring so i wanted somethin new. everyone switches to different aspects of skiing sometime if they keep with skiing so over a lifetime most everyone try's every aspect of skiing.

but on a different note, screw being good and claiming your riding skills lets just have fun!
Jul 29 2008 11:38PM
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Static
Posts: 8561 - Karma: 4,139
fuck moguls
Jul 30 2008 2:57AM
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D-HAWK
Posts: 890 - Karma: 10
ill never leave:]

i cant do moguls for the life of me
Jul 30 2008 3:08AM
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Colston
Posts: 168 - Karma: 113

Thanks for taking the time nathan! I agree, having a solid skiing foundation makes skiing in the park look so much sicker, the more comfortable you are on skis the mroe stomps over washouts.



Jul 30 2008 3:25AM
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SEABURN
Posts: 4859 - Karma: 2,762
I never raced, but I skied with some racers and took a bunch of lessons up until I was 10 or so. I'm pretty comfident with my basics. I've only been skiing park for about 2 years, I'm proud to say I can't stand a whole day in the park. I have to do other stuff.
Jul 30 2008 4:26AM
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punk_rider
Posts: 2327 - Karma: 10
Honestly, park is not skiing. You're not skiing in a park. You're just jumping and "railing". THis is one side of skiing, but it is not skiing.

You ski when your on the snow. Park rats are no skiers to me.

BAckcountry, racing, moguls is skiing. Park isn't.

Ps: I'm doing park too, but I don't feel like skiing there. I'm much more into backcountry freestyle ... but always on natural things, and always as part of a skiing run.

Shaping a kicker then jumping, taking off skis, climbing in the snow, then jumping again is not skiing to me.
Jul 30 2008 5:20AM
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