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What to do when the Olympics aren't fun anymore

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Gknow
Posts: 627 - Karma: 358

Article here: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/2012/0725/What-to-do-when-the-Olympics-aren-t-fun-anymore

The truth is many athletes lose sight of the underlying reasons for which they represent their sport...

A gold medal performance is about more than health and skill. It also can be about having fun in the biggest moment of your life. But doing that can be hard, athletes say.

I thought this was important, and while this was technically written regarding the london olympics the idea certainly pertains to our sport. An virgin to the games, skiers should never become short sighted in thinking we huck ourselves wildly through the air solely for medals. Despite what happens, everyone should have some fun.






Jul 26 2012 11:20AM
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edai
Posts: 4988 - Karma: 4,658
TL;DR

But I'd say skiers probably have more fun than most other Olympic athletes because we ski for recreation not because we consider it a competitive sport. Obviously for ranked competitors like TWall, Bobby Brown, or Gus Kenworthy it's a form of income, but it started as just fun. I guess every sport started that way, hanging out with friends at a track meet, swimming in a pool with some homies...But for some reason skiing seems more free to me.
Jul 26 2012 11:29AM
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74267000027
Posts: 302 - Karma: 14
freeskiing hasn't made an olympic appearance yet.
Jul 26 2012 11:36AM
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Forcillo
Posts: 3801 - Karma: 3,580
I get your point, and I agree 100%

track, bball, the other bball, soccer, etc. Were designed all as competitive sports, and 99% of people who play those sports are part of a team and compete. Freeskiing, on the other hand, is a hobby to most, lifestyle to some, and a sport to very few. 3/4 park skiers will never enter a comp in their life. (This is probably wrong, but that's just my estimate) If you ask 10 park skiers at your mountain why they ski, I guarantee the dominant answer would be "to have fun." But if you ask 10 basketball players why they play, more guys would answer "to get better" "to make varsity" or "to win"

There's a whole different story for racers, so I'll just leave them out of the conversation.
Jul 26 2012 11:38AM
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R.I.P.BigTree
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this is what it's all about

Jul 26 2012 7:40PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 5,748
RIP has the right idea ^. Whoever said skiing is a sport to very few is an idiot. Skiing is a sport period. Some take it more serious but it's all fun. Comp skiers regularly comment that as soon as they can let go and have the most fun is when they are most likely to find the podium.
Jul 27 2012 8:17AM
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dbchili
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Jul 27 2012 11:14AM
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