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Has skiing lost its rebel mentality?

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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Watch:







Now you may comment. And yes, I know the segments are all from the same movie, dont you be testin'.

When I was watching the Tahoe stop of the Dew Tour today, it really struck me. Skiing has lost its rebel attitude. Its not just exemplified by the music to each segment or whatever skiers blast in their headphones nowadays. It almost feels like that being a freestyler is almost 'normal'. And theres a distinct difference, at least I think, between the pro's of the past and the pro's of today.

The best metaphor I can muster is this. Take the jumps in the movie. Pit them against the top riders of today. Everyone would be all over Wallisch for stomping a flat 5 off the house to house gap, or on PK for double cork 1260'ing the hood jump in Jon's segment. But I think the riders in the segments I posted have something that many might lack nowadays.

It comes down to Balls. Daring. For me, a backflip off a huge spine with a mute (ala JF) is somehow more poetic than any japan to mute switch 900. Theres something inherently pretty and awesome about just a simple move, done well, tweaked out as far as can be. I dont believe that freesking ever should have gotten so clean and refined as we see in contests today - by definition, we should be the loudest counterrevolutionaries in a kick ass, take no prisoners sport. Somewhere along the way, we lost that. We lost the 'punk'-ish elements in favor for acceptance, trends and idolism.

True freesking doesnt do it for the style. Or the money. Or the fame. Or the chicks, though we will take whatever we can get.

We do it for fun. Fun may be dirty, have ugly landings, sketchy inruns and imperfect in every way. But it takes all those elements combined and have someone tough enough to overcome it all that rings true to the heart of this pseudo-sport. I really hope that there are still people out there, unconcerned and unmaterialistic enough to enjoy the simple pleasure of landing a sketch as shit backflip into trees off that 30 footer Rex first scouted last year. 
Feb 22 2009 6:01AM
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Kristian_Jibber
Posts: 119 - Karma: 42
So what way do you want the sport to go? It has to progress
Feb 22 2009 6:14AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Rowen Obama, thanks - Happy Dayz is still my favourite movie

All this new-school flippy spinny stuff makes me dizzy
Feb 22 2009 6:18AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Tell me what typical run you think will get first place in X-Games slope in 5 years
I think realism needs to come into play here.
Feb 22 2009 6:19AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
before kids get excited, i know the clips in the thread are from Propaganda - i just happen to like Happy Dayz more.
Feb 22 2009 6:33AM
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Kristian_Jibber
Posts: 119 - Karma: 42
At least some 4 on pretz 2 off

And switch doubleflips 14
Feb 22 2009 6:34AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7821 - Karma: 21,850
It seems like the "noobs" that people pick on or ignore are really stoked about learning new tricks like a 360 or a backflip, even if it's sketchy and not 100% dialed in. A thing usually more exciting for people that are new to it than people who live with it on a daily or weekly basis, where it becomes commonplace.

On a different note, I think Jon should hit some backcountry booters and pipe again. All you ever see him do anymore is huge jumps in comps.
Feb 22 2009 7:10AM
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strongmark
Posts: 3278 - Karma: 883
this doesnt even make any sense.

skiing hasnt been "rebellious" since like 1937.
Feb 22 2009 9:53AM
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hedgehog
Posts: 1595 - Karma: 167
this is newschoolers man, you kids are all about trends.
Feb 22 2009 9:55AM
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cool.
Posts: 3457 - Karma: 1,724
that is last year, this year, and next year. you really think people are going to be doing they same runs in 5 years that they are already doing this year and next?

4 pretz 2 was done a long time ago. and if your talking about on a down rail im pretty sure its been done also. and sw dub 14 is going down next year.

if you look at this sport 5 years ago to now, it has progressed soo much. even if it slows down 5 years is a long time and i doubt we will be seeing all the same tricks. but thats just what i think



Feb 22 2009 10:10AM
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.Capn.
Posts: 1454 - Karma: 152
Agreed. I would take back d spins and switch mistys over double flips any day. Those are the two coolest looking tricks in the sport and no one throws them any more.
Feb 22 2009 10:14AM
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AR6-UK
Posts: 100 - Karma: 11
Then quit watching shitty jib vids and watch some damn Seth Morrision.
Feb 22 2009 10:18AM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
I definitely preferred the "new school skier scene" when it first emerged. Back then, the parks were loaded with snowboarders hating on skiers, and skiers throwing down without caring what anyone else thought. Now we all worry about style, clothing and whether our "crew" is respected. Today the park is loaded with punks in xxl tall tee's and g-suits trying to talk smack and prove that they are the best skier in the park, rather than simply being excited to ski, and excited for others who share their passion. A definite new school "generation gap" has emerged.

I still own copies of degenerates, 13, the original ski movie, propaganda and the game. I feel like kids these days need to educate themselves and watch these movies.
Feb 22 2009 10:49AM
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skithebert
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 16
YES.  my heart will always belong to this era of skiing. 
Feb 22 2009 11:02AM
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