hello friends. i have debated creating this thread for many days and almost axed the idea, however, after seeing numerous threads like the "worst style" thread in which some unspeakable posts were made by some younger members i believe the issue has come to a head and it is now time for me to address it. i dont want any hate. just hear me out, because i want to get this off my chest.
there is a rift in the skiing community. its is not between park rats and powder hounds or no poles and poles or even tight pants and baggy pants (not even gonna mention how stupid those debates are, thats a different thread) but rather, between the newcomers and the lifelong skiers.
i personally, have been skiing my entire life. im blessed to have been given that opportunity and i will ski till the day i can no longer make it up a chairlift. (before i continue i would like to make it clear that i am NOT against new skiers. i love new skiers and to steal a bit from Gary Fischer, anyone who skis is a friend of mine.) but i do sense that there is a new breed of skier. a skier that never grew up skiing with their parents. that never went to train gates every weekend and wednesday. that never learned how to properly execute a pole plant and ski bumps, trees, steeps, ice or even POWDER! that came into skiing at the ripe age of about meh, 12? or was once a "one weekend a year" skier turned weekend warrior that eventually picked up twins and eventually found NS.
although i appreciate the latter more, because they have known the joy of skiing without the mass of colorful large marshmallow fashion and without the news that Jesus himself now shreds among us, the former is the problem.
these young guns who have been skiing for around 3 years never knew skiing as a lifetime sport. skiing was just the new hot shit on the X-Games that was cooler than snowboarding. it was like the next skateboarding to them. they do not know anything besides tall tees and thug lifestylez. this is skiing to them. its merely a fashion show with no lasting significance other than the fact that theres is a fun factor in learning pretzels on a box. there is no deeper meaning. there is no understanding of the essence of the sport/lifestyle/activity that we all represent.
now, i'll try and be the devils advocate here, maybe this is the new skiing. maybe i shouldnt voice my opposing opinion on the current "progression" of our sport. but is it? anyone thats been skiing long enough knows that they die a little bit inside when they see new skiers working on "attaining" the status of stylish. when did this happen? when did style have criteria other than the expectation that it represent the individuals own take on skiing as an art?
but i digress... (always wanted to use that line) i have made my point. please think before you post in this. thats all.
