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Big Mountain Freerding for Olympics?

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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,776
Who else agrees that this shit should be in the Olympics???

I'm just thinking how lame it is to showcase our sport on the biggest stage in ways that are not as genuine as they should be.

I remember years ago reading Freeskier about the things ski halfpipe needed to get into the Olympics were: an established world tour, something like participating athletes from 50+ countries , judging standards, and some high priced votes. One of the major concerns is that Olympic sports are not 'fads' and that they are here to stay.

Well, what is holding back REAL skiing from this (also snowboarding)? What better way to showcase an Olympic venue than it's natural terrain? In my mind the toughest challenge would be judging standards, but I bet this could be overcome.

Someone brought up the point that the recent FWT stop in Russia was canceled due to weather/avy conditions. - The great thing about the Olympics though is that they could have a two week window period for weather!

I used to compete in moguls back in the day, but I don't think that bumps should really stay in the Olympics. I am now convinced that the main reason why so many kids continue to ski bumps at a high level is because it is an Olympic discipline. And yeah, I own an old copy of 'Fistful of Moguls' and love that story. Moguls are a product of resort skiing, but our sport is moving away from this genre, and the bump comp courses are all manicured/altered anyhow.

What I think should be in the Olympics in order of magnitude are as follows: Racing (they can keep the top spot), Big Mountain Freeskiing, Slopestyle, Skier Cross, then Halfpipe; and lastly Moguls. Sorry Speedy et al, Aerials should be dropped. I also think that the ski/snowboard disciplines should closely mirror each other.

Thoughts please!
Feb 10 2010 3:29PM
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.brian
Posts: 1710 - Karma: 233
yes we need REAL skiing, on REAL mountain, with REAL rocks.
Feb 10 2010 3:33PM
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BMS-Productions
Posts: 885 - Karma: 17
REALLY? real really?
Feb 10 2010 3:34PM
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-ROY-
Posts: 3633 - Karma: 1,503
real skiing on real mountains on real cliffs
Feb 10 2010 3:36PM
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peyton
Posts: 1475 - Karma: 1,062
and while we are at it make sure there are REAL people too.. on REAL skis
Feb 10 2010 3:38PM
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BMskier
Posts: 3363 - Karma: 365

i dont think that this is going to happen anytime in the near future because of the judging and spectator aspect.

there wuld need to be a stanard judging format and that is hard forthe dicipline in our sport now. that is why moguls is there to stay because it has a layed out format.

as for spectators how do you propose that a large audience would see this event that will take place basically on top of several peaks? nbc cannot have multiple helis flying around filming. basically it would be hard for people to watch.

lastly, location

Do you think that lake placid would have had the “real mountain” to hold this competition. If the games were to be held at a place like lake placid again, then there is no real challenging place for skiers to do big mountain. Overall I just don’t  see this happening at all

Feb 10 2010 3:42PM
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Deletedtoday
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 399
thatd be sick and candide would dominate
Feb 10 2010 3:46PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,776
Nope. This would make Lake Placid a poor choice for future Olympics (but they have some sort of natural terrain up there right?). Oh well. (I was born in Saranac Lake, NY too: so there's no geographical discrimination)

On spectators: yes, helicopters would be used to film the events as they do already. Also, the comp venues [most] always have a finish corral with hundreds of people anyhow.

Judging - I know that the FWT made efforts to get more standardized judging down, and I bet this could be overcome without jeopardizing the sport too much. I'm not completely sure how this works now but they already use time; they could have point system for tricks; severity of crashes; size of airs; number of airs; overall impression...

So for now I will agree to disagree with you :)
Feb 10 2010 3:53PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
I skied moguls for 4 years and it being in the olympics had NOTHING to do with it. You could make that argument for so many sports. Basically in any non professional sport olympic gold is the biggest accomplishment/dream for those athletes. That doesn't mean they do the sport for the gold, they do it because they love it.

Also why the fuck do you have skiercross above half pipe moguls and aerials? Skiercross is such a bullshit "freestyle" discipline.

The olympics should have:
Alpine- whatever they have now + (skiercross if they want it that bad)
Freestyle- Moguls, Halfpipe, Aerials

Big mountain and Slopestyle should stay out of the olympics.
Feb 10 2010 3:57PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,776
You can't deny that Olympic gold continues to drive the moguls 'system': the spots on the US Ski Team, the coaches, the smaller teams and comps
Love of moguls during the 'freestyle era' (60's-80's) did bring that sport to the Olympics. But now I think that the dream of GOLD is keeping that sport in it's current level of popularity.

It will be much easier to convince me that moguls should stay in the Olympics than that Big Mountain should remain out.

I used to race in high school to get out of school. Then I joined the Waterville Valley bump team on my own. Now, I am trilled to have all of that time in my bag when I send it down a mountain face. But it just makes so much sense to me that the epitome of our sport is in the REAL mountains.

(I'm so glad Tanner made those REAL comments recently. He's definitely helping my argument!)
Feb 10 2010 4:14PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,776
bump because I misspelled the title.
Feb 10 2010 8:52PM
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eheath
Posts: 61780 - Karma: 124,904
Too hard to judge, FIS would never have any part of it.
Feb 10 2010 8:58PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7817 - Karma: 1,537
Okay, my iPhone is fucking up, so I can't quote you on the location thing, but a place like Lake Placid is a very unlikely place for the Olympics again. Squaw is trying to bring the Olympics back, but supposedly they are having trouble because the terrain isn't steep enought for the Men's DH. I don't think they're too worried about finding the terrain.
Feb 10 2010 10:27PM
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Colston
Posts: 168 - Karma: 113
I happen to be a "big mountain freerider" and i think that it should be the last sport on earth to ever be featured in the olympics. halfpipe yes, big air yes, freeskiing no.
Feb 10 2010 10:36PM
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-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
big mountain should stay away

we have the FWT

its enough. plus every year instead of every 4
Feb 10 2010 10:42PM
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steeze_pizza
Posts: 124 - Karma: 151
I thought that the whole reason IFSA was started was to keep big mountain skiing out of FIS/olympic events.
Feb 11 2010 12:41AM
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brogilvie
Posts: 2607 - Karma: 123
Judged sports are cool, but not that cool. Timed sports showcase finite results, and the winner is absolute. But Our Skiing is Too Good for The Olympics
Feb 11 2010 12:49AM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,087
"some have called for limits on tricks."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/sports/olympics/11danger.html?pagewanted=2&hp

Just wait. In ten years, Olympic/FIS halfpipe will be well on it's way to being as regulated as aerials is now.
Feb 11 2010 4:33AM
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Scott29~
Posts: 1448 - Karma: 62
Would be too many issues with the venues. There are a lot of mountains that wouldnt have an accessible area with the right terrain. They arent going to rule out a city because it doesnt work well with a new event~


It will not happen within the next 50 years~
Feb 11 2010 5:03AM
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feihlination
Posts: 8356 - Karma: 1,084
dont say that, NS is not willing to accept that, better be prepared to get fucked
Feb 11 2010 6:44AM
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Fischer-Addicted
Posts: 1064 - Karma: 30
I see where your going but just because you don't like events doesn't mean they should be taken out. talk to everyone who watches the olympic's and have them watch a few dubs. then put them next to aerialist tricks like the hurricane and i guarantee the only people who are going to like the dubs more are people who are freeskiers or have been. also, the shit they do in moguls and aerials is so hard and takes just as much time and skill (if not more) perfecting it to Olympic levels. I don't think any event should be taken out but I'm always game for them to add more!

Also, your asking for the whole setup to be changed. theres 3 new events in there and thats not going to happen for at least 12 years. Also think about the true popularity of it. People on newschoolers are going to think your idea's great, but the most of the world is going to hate it because they like the traditional sports being in the Olympics.
Feb 11 2010 9:20AM
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Beach
Posts: 237 - Karma: 26
End Thread.
Feb 11 2010 10:29AM
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Pocoyo
Posts: 122 - Karma: 11

Freeskiing would be great to include; it is without doubt the purest form of skiing. The problem is  the Olympics is driven massively by tradition and its hard to get an old dog to do new tricks.

Still if the halfpipe, slopestyle and skiercross got in, big mountain can't be far away.

Digressing a little: As far as bumps is concerned this was originally the only 'freestyle' discipline....but as well all know the freestyle movement has seriously moved on from this! It does therfore seem pretty dated now, the skillz of bump skiing are impressive, but its a short career for the knees! Better off saving them for BIG landings in the park or off cliffs, which lets face it, is more fun to do and impressive to watch.....but thats just my humble opinion.

Feb 11 2010 10:41AM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,776
I will need some help clarifying this, but I think the IFSA was started to keep big mountain skiing out of the hands of the FIS, but not necessarily the Olympics (so long as it could be handled by IFSA).

What would Shane say?
Feb 11 2010 1:06PM
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,459
Chinese downhill?
Feb 11 2010 1:25PM
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Sharpbrick
Posts: 133 - Karma: 20
i agree that it should be in the Olympics its one of those sports that i think people would like to watch and there are lots of comps and people that are around for the sport
Feb 11 2010 1:43PM
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steeze_pizza
Posts: 124 - Karma: 151
I think you are right thats what i was trying to say.
Feb 11 2010 1:44PM
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TimmyP
Posts: 2086 - Karma: 128
.
Feb 11 2010 2:04PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
.....

half-pipe would happen LONG before freeride would.
Feb 11 2010 3:14PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3346 - Karma: 5,776
Click for larger image

Now that they're on, I feel I can post this. N joy!
Feb 12 2010 10:32PM
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49566738265
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Feb 12 2010 11:17PM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6650 - Karma: 1,645
Skier cross is like the beer league of washed up ex World cup racers. It shouldn't be classed as a freestyle event. Are the courses getting tougher yes, but still .... meh
Feb 12 2010 11:44PM
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