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April, 2025

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The real problem with competition skiing - Winter

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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7290 - Karma: 18,698
So the title may sound a bit odd for a winter sport, but hanging around for the Crankworx Joyride today (before the rain) got me thinking.

If you have not seen the crowds for joyride before give it a quick search, the crowds are huge and the atmosphere is crazy. Compare that to even big ski comps like x games and they just don't compare But why.

a big part I think is the fact that events like joyride happen in the summer. It's hot (usually), sunny and light until late. People come out to watch the comp but also party and that is a big part of why the crowds are so big. People come for the atmosphere of being in the crowd and some don't even watch the riding at all.

Unfortunatly with ski comps the weather quite often sucks. It's cold and often snowy or even raining. This often does not equate to people turning up to have a good time.

So what I'm proposing is we move to the summer. Embrace the uk attitude that a lack of natural snow does not mean you can't ski. Imagine a slope course built from snow flex on a mountain in summer. It could be 30degrees (90 odd for our American friends) and you could sit and watch skiers throw down. Yeah it may seem weird but dry slopes in the summer were always awesome in the uk. Nothing beats skiing in the sun and the warmth.

now I'm not preposing we move the entire ski schedule to the summer but I do think it could be really cool to have a big dry slope event in the summer but maybe I'm just to british at heart. What do you guys think?
10 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
I get where youre going but throwing down on the stuff can be painful, a jump big enough for dubs would be nuts but I dont think even pros would be up for that and after the comp what happens? Kids that are at the hill all the time wont wanna hit a massive jump onto basically had packed ground.
10 years ago
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kirbstopper
Posts: 322 - Karma: 662
You're british. Ride your bike in the summer, ski in the winter. Seems like the logical thing to do.
10 years ago
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IBAM
Posts: 1954 - Karma: 2,351
WCS kinda, you'd think Hood might be able to mobilize resources to host an event like the x-Games or other major event when things get warmer out. But who of the normal TV audience would want to watch skiing in July?
10 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
There also isn't the hate between riders who film and riders who compete. The "lack of style" debate/hate doesn't really exist in the mountain bike world, and different categories of riders all seem to get along. Racers hang out with freeriders, freeriders hang out with freestylers. They just don't care about who does what or who has the least style. So when an event goes down, they all want to show up for it. The mountain bike community is more cohesive and less divisive than the skiing community is, and this for sure plays a part in the turn out at events.

But like you said, it doesn't hurt to hold an event in Whistler (the mecca of mountain biking) and during summer (the season where everyone is glad to go outside).
10 years ago
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,195
onenerdykidThere also isn't the hate between riders who film and riders who compete. The "lack of style" debate/hate doesn't really exist in the mountain bike world, and different categories of riders all seem to get along. Racers hang out with freeriders, freeriders hang out with freestylers. They just don't care about who does what or who has the least style.


I would be interested to see what the average professional mtn biker makes in each division and how much filming vs competing they do. In skiing there is a huge disparity between those who compete and those who film in the streets or bc - and it isn't because those in competition can do tricks the other's can't - it's about advertising and marketing and $$$.

In my experience the rift in skiing has to do with the fact that one aspect of the sport (competing) is more highly valued than filming in terms of dollars. So you can say they are equal and opposite all you want, but they are far from it, and I think that breeds resentment because it isn't like the tricks we see in films are any easier or safer than those done in competition. Just my thoughts.
10 years ago
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Jaggy_Snake
Posts: 2287 - Karma: 1,418
tomPietrowskiUnfortunatly with ski comps the weather quite often sucks. It's cold and often snowy or even raining. This often does not equate to people turning up to have a good time.


Some people...



It's winter. Skier primarily ski during the winter. If you want to watch your favourite pro throw down at WINTER (key word there) X Games, then throw on a coat (jacket/whatever), hat, gloves on and just go watch it. I unfortunately really only have a choice of watching live streams of most US/Canada based events, but if I could I'd be out there with everyone else in the snow and watch it!
10 years ago
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
The cold weather is all part of skiing. If you really want to go watch the best skiers in the world compete, then you will man up and go outside to watch them.
10 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6744 - Karma: 11,760
KatrinaI would be interested to see what the average professional mtn biker makes in each division and how much filming vs competing they do. In skiing there is a huge disparity between those who compete and those who film in the streets or bc - and it isn't because those in competition can do tricks the other's can't - it's about advertising and marketing and $$$.

In my experience the rift in skiing has to do with the fact that one aspect of the sport (competing) is more highly valued than filming in terms of dollars. So you can say they are equal and opposite all you want, but they are far from it, and I think that breeds resentment because it isn't like the tricks we see in films are any easier or safer than those done in competition. Just my thoughts.


It's more about exposure, which means more advertising, marketing, and payouts. It has nothing to do with the trick difficulty between the two avenues or who does/doesn't risk it. In pretty much any sport, comps will always bring more exposure than films and that equates to more money. Riders who compete get paid way more than riders who simply film (who, just like in skiing, also risk just as much as the riders who compete) but there isn't any hate between them. They still all come together for an event like Crankworx.

From what I see on NS, the hate that guys like Goepper get isn't due to income inequality compared to film stars, but due to their "robotic" style. And that's what NS mainly hates about comp skiing- its cookie-cutter nature and lack of style. My point was that this specific debate/divide is simply not part of the mountain bike community and as such its fans and riders are more united and a big part of the reason how they can all come together when a comp comes around.
10 years ago
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T-Van
Posts: 388 - Karma: 2,575
another problem might also be that in ski comps the courses are mostly quite uncreative. As an non skier i think it will get quite repetetive seeing some skiers just spinning around on the same features. They won't notice the variety of tricks, they'll just see some guys spinning and flipping crazy.

We just need competitions with more creative setups, like B&E Inventational for example. These can also be better since they most likely won't be as long and you get an opportunity in seeing more of the event.

Another best example for this are the Red Bull Playstreets, simply and amazing event in a town wich everyone can access. Alot of skiers and non skiers come there to watch some awesome skiing and afterwards go partying.
10 years ago
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T-Van
Posts: 388 - Karma: 2,575
another problem might also be that in ski comps the courses are mostly quite uncreative. As an non skier i think it will get quite repetetive seeing some skiers just spinning around on the same features. They won't notice the variety of tricks, they'll just see some guys spinning and flipping crazy.

We just need competitions with more creative setups, like B&E Inventational for example. These can also be better since they most likely won't be as long and you get an opportunity in seeing more of the event.

Another best example for this are the Red Bull Playstreets, simply and amazing event in a town wich everyone can access. Alot of skiers and non skiers come there to watch some awesome skiing and afterwards go partying.
10 years ago
0 0
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SteveJabroni
Posts: 6 - Karma: 121
I think a big part of why many people show up to Joyride is that it is easily accessible and free to watch. Whereas during WSSF for example you can only watch if you bought a lift ticket. Also size of the course must be considered. For bikes you can use a smaller space and put in more features because the course can wind back and forth in a smaller area. You don't really have that option for skiing making the course much longer. You would have to downsize the features like crazy, but then you wouldn't get the same level of big tricks. The Joyride course is also easier to watch for spectators than most ski comps. You can see every feature from most spots during Joyride. Whereas for ski comps using WSSF as an example (because its the only one I've seen live). You have to pick a feature and you miss out on the rest of the course. Just my 0.02, I agree with you about the weather though
10 years ago
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Poikenz
Posts: 1527 - Karma: 4,311
Ski boots in the summer suck, don't kid yourself.

Spring ski events always seem like the party events, maybe we just need more spring events? It's getting warm have a patio bbq with some beer and your good to go.
Either that or have events in more urban settings where the events are easier to access. No one wants to drive an hour or two to stand in the cold and watch some guy they've never heard of do a flippy spin thing. A few years back they had a rail jam at dundas square in TO, it's a busy area and plenty of people watched, accessibility is key for someone who isn't already following skiing.
10 years ago
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
/\yea i think spring is where its at. the wssf big air is normally in the exact same place as joyride, the crowd doesn't get quite as big, but its pretty close. sure it got moved up the hill this year since we didn't have snow, but on big snow years, get some guns down at the base, build a big ol jump that everyone can see, and do it in late april/may.


or maybe do it in june between winter and summer seasons. make the gondi free for the day and have a comp up by the roundhouse. get some djs, barbecues and beer tents. the booze sales alone would probably pay for the comp with a good enough turn out.
10 years ago
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brend
Posts: 779 - Karma: 3,608
Crankworx Joyride also takes place at the base of Whistler mountain, and everyone watches it in the village where there are literally thousands of people walking around, and it is easily accessible to watch. A big slopestyle line could never be built that close to the village, because there would never be enough snow. If WSI was viewable from the village than it would probably have a similar big crowd.
10 years ago
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CabbyArrant
Posts: 780 - Karma: 4,129
Can you really call your skier if the being in the cold bothers you???
10 years ago
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