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Can it be that...

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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084

somewhere in our hearts is the wish to become a pro skier (more or less) and that we all think kinda that if we get these tricks down, learn those grabs etc... were only two steps away from getting sponsored within the next two years???

AND in every other sport we excel (football, soccer, hockey or whatever) we KNOW that its almost impossible to live from it, so most of us dont even try. we are accepting the true talent of pros and are pretty sure that we cant catch up with them...

but in skiing, its seems like we all try to get a shot at a sponsorship, to get on the same level as the pros (ok we all say were skiing for fun, but id say at least a minor percentage of our skiing is dedicated to improve and to get pro). and we dont appreciate skiing pros as much imo as were appreciating football, soccer or hockey pros...

this is information based on my experiences in the so-called freeski industry. maybe you experienced something else....

Jan 19 2009 1:48PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
im gunna be honest. i have no desire to become pro. i dont even have desire to go into competitions. so i disagree, but hey it could be true for you.
Jan 19 2009 1:57PM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,813
I actualy see it differently. I think both are insanely hard but for two different reasons. Hockey, soccer.... is hard to pierce in because of the sheer amount of people doing the sport. In skiing, I see it as being difficult to peirce because of the level of skill. to be pro now you have to throw down double flips, spin both ways, be good in rails and jumps ( with the exeption of jon maybe ) there is just such a High level of skill that it makes it un atainable for most people. I dont look up to be a pro skier because I know I will never have that much guts even though I consider myself to be a pretty balsy person. I do however try new tricks on one hand for the fun but theres also that little glimmer that it might bring you closer to getting a sponsor to help you out
Jan 19 2009 1:57PM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084

and what about getting a sponsordeal for skis/clothing (like getting them for half the price or whatever) due to some kind of footage you have shot (without comps)?

Jan 19 2009 2:59PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
being sponsored would be nice (free stuff), but you don't get sponsored for nothing. i don't want to turn skiing into work, skiing is what i do to get away from work.
i hope somebody else feels the same.
Jan 19 2009 3:04PM
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ilikeplants
Posts: 1868 - Karma: 17

I ski for myself and to have fun. Sponsorship is just an added bonus if you get it. Skiing is the one thing that I can do as much as I want and never get bored of it. I'd love to be sponsored for big mountain skiing but I don't know if that will ever happen. Right now I'm just going out and having fun and improving everday because it's what I like to do. I look back at how I skiied last year and think "holy shit I have come really far." Last year was my first year skiing. I got in a total of 7 days and would never think of going outside of blue/green runs. I started this year with the same thing but just started to like it more. This beginning of this season I was side slipping down bumps and black diamonds. Now I have like 37 days this season and out skiing a lot of my friends who have been skiing for 4+ years.

Aim towards improving yourself because you want to for person happiness, not because you want to be like every other skier out there.

Jan 19 2009 3:08PM
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baethoven
Posts: 4953 - Karma: 332
dude i know exactly what you mean. i love skiing and it would be sweet to be sponsered, but i know there's no way thats gonna happen to me. Skiing is how i escape stress and i wouldn't trade that for anything.
Jan 19 2009 3:09PM
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hartig
Posts: 8192 - Karma: 10
i wouldnt mind being pro/ or even sponsored..
but i'm definitely not working towards it, i just think this is mad fun
Jan 19 2009 3:17PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
actually i find it to be somewhat the opposite, but it might also be because truthfully, though i love it, that type of skiing just isn't my thing. I know i'd never be good enough to go pro. I still love going and will keep going, and someday i hope to introduce my family to skiing.

but on the other side, soccer is my thing. Unfortunately i  discovered that i am good at goalkeeping when i was 16, so now it's more of a rush of constantly improving in that aspect.

It's all about confidence. I'm not confident in my skiing so i will never go pro, but i am confident in soccer to the point that i'm going to be traveling to Europe in search of a small club that will take me, then try to work my way up from there.
Jan 19 2009 3:31PM
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gbirrd
Posts: 1475 - Karma: 20
uhh nope
Jan 19 2009 3:36PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
I see what your saying, i think. But its definitely the fact that there are so few skiers that are good, and even fewer that are good at park.

As for other sports, my dream isnt football or baseball, its to play lacrosse in college (theres really no pro level worth going to). And this dream isnt to far. Playing at a top D1 school is very hard, but i have been getting letters from D3 school and im not the best player, im definitely good, but the fact that i can get to the D3 level makes me so happy that there really is hope to play college lacrosse
Jan 19 2009 3:42PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
I see it the same way. im just in it for fun.
Jan 19 2009 3:43PM
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*Fujative*
Posts: 8554 - Karma: 183
i would much rather be a pro photographer then a pro skier. im ending my 3rd year in college for photography so even if something happened with skiing i couldnt take it
Jan 19 2009 3:45PM
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MiniMeDanny
Posts: 1737 - Karma: 2,312
i think you mean the opposite

there are more and more good park skiers now, and the level of riding has gotten even more progressive and competitive than it was several years ago

the number of park skiers continues to increase each year (just look at the the number of kids buying twin-tips and the rise in new members who have joined newschoolers) thus the number of kids getting good at park and trying to make a name for themselves increases too
Jan 19 2009 3:49PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5432 - Karma: 11,821

I see what your saying. Even though its rediculous to consider in the back of my mind its always like never give up what if I could make it.

but i only ski cause its fun and its fun to push myself

Jan 19 2009 5:21PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
sponsorship isn't a free ride. You get what you give. Not that it's better to be unsponsored or sponsored; they are different. If you want to go somewhere and make a difference in the ski industry, and will do anything for it and have your life revolve around skiing, then aiming for sponsorship can be a good thing. You have to be willingly be "poor" and never really have any money. But then again, what makes a person rich? is it money or happiness? With sponsorship you sell yourself in exchange for advertisement services that alleviate the financial pitfalls of the skiing lifestyle.

In the wise words of JP Auclair, "I would be skiing a lot more if I wasn't sponsored."
Jan 19 2009 5:35PM
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