The Great Rift

I was taking your side of the argument and agreeing with you.  Was just trying to point out, how like you said, a lot of people didn't grow up with skiing being a lifetime sport and didn't  explore the whole experience of skiing.

Didn't mean to imply you were ignorant or yourng at all.  If anything, I see the opposite, and share almost the same scenario as you.

sorry if my earlier post was hard to interpret. It was kind of jumbled fucking mess that I typed out. 

fucking hate being the last post on a page

dude I only really started skiing when I was like 12 (I am form a skiing family, just was more into video games and such before). I was a little park rat kid just like you see on NS, concerned about style and making stupid threads on NS.

this.

once we all actually are skiing and linking turn and get up to the mountain air were all the same. were happy and carefree, we do what we love, skiing.

haha no i know, sorry i wasnt trying to sound like a dick, just the way it came out in that reply post. but yeah man word.

yes, but thats only for the kids who realize that there is more to skiing than lapping the park. sadly, some never do. and i sense a large abandonment of skiing in the future when the next cool thing pops up.

lapping the park is one of the best parts of skiing, I think that itself is enough to get kids addicted for life for skiing'. I am a park rat, I am not even ashamed to admit it, but unless there is like fresh snow I am most likely going to be lapping the park. sorry but carving groomers and "all-mountain" skiing is boring as shit compared to park.

This is exactly what he is talking about. He is saying that there is a new generation, which you seem to include yourself in, that thinks that everything outside the park is "boring shit," as you would say.

I'm not going to hesitate when I day this is the best thread I've ever seen on NS; +k for that. It's thought-provoking. I've been skiing since I was four. I was instantly addicted. Ever since about first grade, I've been going up to my home resort (Schweitzer) every weekend. I experienced the requisite weekly group "lesson" program that wasn't so much lessons as skiing with and meeting new people. So I guess from the beginning it's always been about having fun with friends. It's been about going up, having a good time, skiing the entire mountain, and just skiing for the sake of skiing. It is akin to the business model of Alta Ski Area. So call it the "Alta Mentality." I'm going to be honest with you; I try to avoid the park at all costs. The number of people in there who have no concept of skiing as a lifestyle has just become too much to bear. I can't stand the park rats who have no idea. As previously stated, they would be in there even when there are two feet of fresh, hiking for park features when they could be hiking for pillow lines. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this group seems to be clueless. The other group knows--and they might go into the park, wear tall tees occasionally, or whatever. But for them (us), it's not about trying to stomp a 7. It's not about having the best gear or the coolest clothes. It's about having fun on the mountain in general. And I know some people will say that they are doing the same, "having fun on the mountain." But they don't get it. For one, they're missing so many aspects of skiing that are cooler than park in many respects. For another, they are abusing the lifestyle that skiing promotes because they have become self-centered, ignorant and conceited. Perhaps that's why I avoid the park. So those are my main points I guess. The prior group, those who have the "Alta Mentality," understand the soul of the sport. The other group just doesn't understand. I'm having trouble getting my points across. But I am disgusted by the direction skiing is going (in this regard). Are we going to become the next snowboarding? I am legitimately frightened by the scenario that's unfolding.

I never said everything out of the park is boring shit. I said that skiing shitty snow and groomers is boring shit COMPARED to park, it is. I also would not include myself in the "new" generation of freeskiers considering I have been doing it for like 8 years.

OP-  good call there is a significant generation gap if you will of skiers.  However, i think youre overreacting.  Think about skiings entire history.  there have been many rises and falls in popularity.  the youngsters today who are just getting into it because it is cool can be compared to the hot doggers in the 70's/early 80's or even farther back there was a boom in the 50's i think.  my point is,some kids today after a few years will either give up and latch on to a new fad or get jobs and move into the city or something but there are also kids who are skiers before they realize it and they are the next generation of "lifers" and will continue to live close to mountains and get their kids started at an early age. 
basically the cycle will continue bro.  no need to worry.

not to hate on your post or anything like that, i agree 100%. but at some point you just gotta say who the fuck cares. i  dont care if some kids on the internets want to make some stupid threads about "who has the worst style" or "whose the most thugged out pro". it doesnt affect me or the direction the ski industry is going as a whole. dont let some kids on the internet halfway around the world bother you.

Whenever someone puts their thoughts into complete sentences, and then organizes those sentences into actual paragraphs I am elated. Good grammar and well thought out post. However, I think you're setting up a bit of a straw man with the idea of the newb in a tall-T that was a weekend warrior, but started freeskiing because it's on MTV2 now. I think the former race kid who now had mom and dad buy him twins because that is what's cool is actually a more common story these days (in my limited experience).

There's also an issue of class. I learned to ski when I was 10, but buying a season pass or my own gear was out of the question until I got a job at Burger King when I was 16. My parents couldn't have afforded to send me to race camps and whatnot, but they scraped together one or two family ski days a year. I didn't get a brand new set of skis until college, and I think that has all contributed to my absolute passion for the sport. I suck in the bumps, but I smile my ass off when I charge through them.

I think some of your "grew up racing" purists may have a bit of a jock mentality when they approach the sport (not accusing you of this at all). It's another challenge to be conquered. Some of us that grew up weekend warrioring and are now lucky enough to go more often are able to say that fun is the only goal, every single time we put on a pair of skis. There's also the issue of age, as the older I get the mellower my approach to it all is.

No one asks a skateboarder to have done downhill longboard racing, or luge or whatever. I think the variety of backgrounds and class-levels in other sports has contributed to their success. We could use some of that.

That is a very legitimate post, and I'm glad you've presented your opinion in a respectful way. I've been skiing for about 2 1/2 years now, and although it isn't a lifelong activity to me, I'd like to be adopted into the new-school skiing community that exists today. Freestyle sports have always been an interest to me, and from a new skiers point of view I think every skier on the hill should have an equal chance to be grateful for this sport. I understand that the sport has transitioned in certain ways, but I think newer skiers should also be accepted into this sport in a positive way. Thanks for posting.

some people are just ignorant and like to make stupid posts on NS and others dont...it has nothing to do with lifelong skiers and new skiers.