Replying to The European front
It's happening. The US bred the first great generation of skiers, inspiring those round the globe. But I believe we're experiencing a shift in where we're seeing progression. Europeans have been upping the ante on all aspects of skiing in the past few years, urban, POW, park, big mountain, you name it, the Europeans are getting better and becoming much more on par with the Americans. We've seen a full American sweep at Sochi, but is that not more likely with freeskiing having more roots firmly cemented in the U.S. and a population the size of Europe? It is clear America will have a larger pool of Talent. Besides that, we've seen this year what Europe is gunning for in terms of being overall the best, and the standard in Europe right now is so high, just look at Jesper Tjaser's season this year. There are kids like Luca Schuler and Andri Raggetli busting out triples, Jeremy Pancras spinning to win, Noah Abaladejo doing everything. There's Scandinavians better than the Canadian and American ski level put together and every day it's getting crazier over here. Fabian Lentch's FWQ run is one for the ages, and can't be topped just yet, and Europe is the place breeding skiers that can shred anything and everything. America has more a culture, within modern freeskiing, of staying in the park, whereas here you have guys like David Ortlieb throwing sw 10s in the BC and French guys doing triples for fun, like Gypsy Feeling. The am level is certainly much more rounded than that of the USA, and I think in the next few years European skiers will completely dominate both European and American skiing. It's the same in snowboarding, they're seeing a shift of talent to South America with the likes of Manuel Diaz. This is freeskiing first big shift from the days of Tanner Hall and later guys like Schlopy to the big start up of the European generation dominating, starting with Henrik Harlaut. Look at the X Big air. Harlaut and Kai Mahler have been placing on the podium for two years, Kai inspired Nick Goeppers sw dub nine screaming.
It's a clear trend (from me being an armchair spectator) and I think America has gotta get ready to be surpassed in skill and popularity by the Europeans, perhaps bringing the trend of underrated Euros back to North America instead of here.
tldr- watch out America m8 we'll reck U soon
Click to expand post