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Woul d you have raced

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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
If you had all of the knowledge you have picked up through your time in the ski community as a toddler, would you have started skiing by learning to race?

I can't answer because I sort of did learnt to ski through racing but I'd like to know what yall think
Oct 17 2015 8:20AM
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Willows
Posts: 442 - Karma: 2,631
I think that you should know the essentials of skiing before specialising in any way. If you are a good skier outside of the park then skiing as a whole becomes much more enjoyable.. I learned to ski by skiing with other people that were pretty avid skiers all over the mountain. Good skiing is more function than form and I've seen many race instructors bash people for not having the "right" form. Learn by doing not learn by being told what to do I guess. I never raced myself, but instead looked at what other people were doing and then tried to mold their styles and techniques to something I found myself comfortable with.
Oct 17 2015 8:36AM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14486 - Karma: 10,635
I came real close to racing in high school. I'm sure it would have been fun. I don't regret not doing it, and I don't kick myself for not doing it.
Oct 17 2015 9:15AM
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yalice
Posts: 27 - Karma: 381
I think racing is really good as long as kids don't forget to get outside the gates sometimes and explore the terrain. starting with the right technique makes it easier for the skier to be comfortable anywhere I feel -
Oct 17 2015 10:15AM
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myllhouse
Posts: 1064 - Karma: 2,157
Moguls were annoying but help.
Once you get em dialed you can jump them and tranny find your way down a mogul field.
Oct 17 2015 10:21AM
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270on420out
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 51,054
My parents pretty put me into a ski daycare that was run by racers. Helped alot, but doing the mogul program in middle school was more fun, and helped alot more (for me at least).
Oct 17 2015 11:44AM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
Not a chance. There are a million ways to develop the skills to become comfortable skiing the whole mountain, and racing is only one of them. I'm thankful for the "try to shred with dad and learn how to find pow" approach, and for not having been overly exposed to pushy rich parents and spoiled children. The competitive vibe in racing culture is pretty much the exact opposite reason of why I ski.
Oct 17 2015 11:51AM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
KevskiNot a chance. There are a million ways to develop the skills to become comfortable skiing the whole mountain, and racing is only one of them. I'm thankful for the "try to shred with dad and learn how to find pow" approach, and for not having been overly exposed to pushy rich parents and spoiled children. The competitive vibe in racing culture is pretty much the exact opposite reason of why I ski.


You've got a very 1 dimensional view of racing. Yes, once you get to 16,17,18 years old it gets really intense and competitive, but for the vast majority of 11,12,13,14 year olds ski racing is just a super sick time for little guys to learn how to rip. Having a 3 times a week committment to get on skis was super influential in making me addicted to skiing.
Oct 17 2015 12:32PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
My summer sport since I was 7 has been drag racing. And while I have really enjoy my time at the track I definitely didn't get into skiing to race. The thing about drag racing and I'm sure ski racing is it's all about performing the "process" better than your opponent. Each run is the same, and you best damn well be consistent our you will probably find yourself packing up and going home. Small things can influence big results which at the end of the day that just leads to stress. I got into skiing to get away from the stress. Was I to get into racing would I probably be a better skier? Probably. but my impression of the sport would have been vastly different as well (and probably not in a positive way.)
Oct 17 2015 1:12PM
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.otto.
Posts: 3493 - Karma: 12,895
I race for my highschool and its definatly worth it, i practice 4 times a week and then ski park right after or before practice,

without racing i would be suck a shitty skier like all the other park rats i know
Oct 17 2015 3:21PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 51,054
KevskiNot a chance. There are a million ways to develop the skills to become comfortable skiing the whole mountain, and racing is only one of them. I'm thankful for the "try to shred with dad and learn how to find pow" approach, and for not having been overly exposed to pushy rich parents and spoiled children. The competitive vibe in racing culture is pretty much the exact opposite reason of why I ski.


The competitive vibe of racing isn't as intense as most people think. Honestly it's pretty friendly. You just get the occasional kid who thinks they're the next Body Miller.
Oct 17 2015 3:26PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
will_powderYou've got a very 1 dimensional view of racing. Yes, once you get to 16,17,18 years old it gets really intense and competitive, but for the vast majority of 11,12,13,14 year olds ski racing is just a super sick time for little guys to learn how to rip. Having a 3 times a week committment to get on skis was super influential in making me addicted to skiing.


Totally fair. However, even from my experience skiing with friends when I was in the 8-13 range, the racer kids and their parents were definitely more intense about skiing. It may have worked for you, and it's awesome that it got you stoked on skiing, but I wasn't digging that whole dynamic.
Oct 17 2015 6:57PM
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emejohn
Posts: 121 - Karma: 425
high school racing is dope. My whole varsity team has been park skiing together for years, and the racing really helps a lot when skiing anywhere. Also for the most part the kids on the other teams are laid back and will ski with you before the races, but its when you get into the racing clubs when it becomes super intense and no chy11.
Oct 17 2015 7:02PM
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steezelord420
Posts: 141 - Karma: 1,009
KevskiNot a chance. There are a million ways to develop the skills to become comfortable skiing the whole mountain, and racing is only one of them. I'm thankful for the "try to shred with dad and learn how to find pow" approach, and for not having been overly exposed to pushy rich parents and spoiled children. The competitive vibe in racing culture is pretty much the exact opposite reason of why I ski.


You're right it's not the only way but I feel it's the best way. I'm a racer myself but I didn't really start in gates untill I was ten. I was lucky enough to have been brought up chasing my dad and big brother around to their pow stashes and it also helped that I had some sick bc skiing out my back door. Now I could have just kept on going like that but I would't be the skier I am today. Its helped me become more stable and conifdent.

I'm also really sad that people still get the vibes they do from us racers. A lot of us aren't that well off and its no more competitive than any other sport. But hey, skiing is skiing and having fun is all that matters.
Oct 18 2015 12:14AM
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e~b
Posts: 861 - Karma: 2,735
nothing grinds my gears more than seeing a bad skier attempting to ski park. Become a good skier, then transition to park. my dad is a race coach and im thankful he didn't force it upon me, but he taught me how to hold my own while double carving and such
Oct 18 2015 12:45AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
All the best skiers I know skied competitively as kids (either racing or moguls). I think having real coaching helps a lot when compared to kids like me who took a few lessons when they were toddlers but then basically figured the rest out on their own over time. But more than that I think just skiing competitively instead of recreationally makes you way, way better at skiing. I think the difference is that, for me, if I'm out skiing a groomer and i'm going fast and I hit a patch of ice or a weird fall line or see there's a bunch of people on the trail ahead of me or whatever else, I can easily just ease up, slow down, and not make that next turn when I start feeling less than totally in control, while if you're racing in a course, you not only don't control when and where you turn, but if you start feeling like you're making bad turns and getting out of control, you deny the instinct to just slow down and instead starting pushing yourself and seeing if you can make turns you don't think you can make.

Don't know if that made any sense to anyone, but I think just skiing competitively and being in an environment where you're constantly being pushed to go outside your comfort zone really helps you develop skills much faster than you do when skiing recreationally, without any pressure to push yourself and do things you don't feel safe doing.

As far as actually answering the question of whether I wish I had raced as a kid? I don't know. It certainly would have stopped me from spending as much time exploring the woods as I did, which is my favorite part about skiing, but I also would have been a much better skier than I am now had I raced.
Oct 18 2015 7:46AM
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
racing helps a lot, i raced from ages 8-14, gave me a much more solid foundation. back when i started on a park team i was like one of the worst one at jumps and definitely the worst at rails, but learning to ski pipe was a breeze for me, still my favourite thing in the park to this day. id watch other kids do like a 2 pretz 4 on a rail before the pipe, and then just do a bunch of straight airs barely getting above the coping.


what i wish i had done more of though was moguls. i was kind of on a team for a season, but i was still in the park most of the time then. it may be a fairly specific skill set, but skiing moguls helps the rest of your skiing a ton. its hard to say, but i may even go as far to say that it helps big mountain skiing more than racing does. they both have there benefits though. obviously going from moguls to park is an easy transition. i know a bunch of mogul skiers that can shred the fuck out of park, yet hardly ski it.


and sure both of them help the rest of your skiing, but just layin down big fast carves, or rippin a zipper line is fun as all hell.


and last but not least, once you have established your fundamentals, i don't think anything will help your skiing as much as simply skiing big mountains. learning to stomp decent sized cliffs will make 80foot park jumps seem kind of mellow. i also find being confident in charging through crud helps a lot with slushy park days.


ok enough rambling from me.
Oct 18 2015 8:57AM
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YoungGun.
Posts: 267 - Karma: 562
Racing is cool as long as you don't act like an asshole. Just be a normal dude. Don't shit all over park skiers.
Oct 18 2015 3:34PM
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APunx176
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,628
e~bnothing grinds my gears more than seeing a bad skier attempting to ski park. Become a good skier, then transition to park. my dad is a race coach and im thankful he didn't force it upon me, but he taught me how to hold my own while double carving and such


The question is when do you officially transition from being a bad skier to a good skier? I can get down double blacks, is that what makes me a good skier? Do you think I'm "qualified" to ski park? Or do I need to be able to huck cliffs and hit pillows first?.

I think everyone should just be able to do what they want without being judged. Most of NS is very hypocritical because everyone talks about how you are free to do what you want, but then half of them go and talk about how you shouldn't jump right into park or that people who only race aren't "real" skiers.
Oct 18 2015 5:39PM
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Brocka_Flocka
Posts: 1215 - Karma: 8,742
Anyone who shits on racing but skis backseat has no right to complain about it.
Oct 18 2015 5:43PM
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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
APunx176The question is when do you officially transition from being a bad skier to a good skier? I can get down double blacks, is that what makes me a good skier? Do you think I'm "qualified" to ski park? Or do I need to be able to huck cliffs and hit pillows first?.

I think everyone should just be able to do what they want without being judged. Most of NS is very hypocritical because everyone talks about how you are free to do what you want, but then half of them go and talk about how you shouldn't jump right into park or that people who only race aren't "real" skiers.

first, being able to hit cliffs has absolutely nothing to do with being a technically good skier at all its just balls, air control and knowing how to land.

second, the difficulty label of stuff you can get down has very little to do with how good of a technical skier you are.

we are in no means saying that being able to ski with good form is the only way to be considered good. i think henrik is a fantastic skier but his form is terrible. being a good skis just means you are good at what you are trying to be good at. if all you want to do is ski park than no one cares about form.

what we are saying is that to be considered a good skier in the more overlying of sense, form and your ability to get down very technically difficult terrain in a fast, controlled and safe manner literally cannot be done without an understanding of the most efficient manner of skiing. which so happens to be classified as "good form"

freeskiing and style are not bound by a single manner of skiing but in reality every type of skiing (setting aside park) is based off of the basics of skiing. but the quote on quote "basics" of skiing some of the hardest principles to learn in any sport. racing just so happens to generally be the most effective manner of learning the basics and my question wasn't an insult to people who aren't technically good skiers it was just a query about how you would have liked to learn to ski.
Oct 18 2015 6:05PM
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e~b
Posts: 861 - Karma: 2,735
APunx176The question is when do you officially transition from being a bad skier to a good skier? I can get down double blacks, is that what makes me a good skier? Do you think I'm "qualified" to ski park? Or do I need to be able to huck cliffs and hit pillows first?.

I think everyone should just be able to do what they want without being judged. Most of NS is very hypocritical because everyone talks about how you are free to do what you want, but then half of them go and talk about how you shouldn't jump right into park or that people who only race aren't "real" skiers.


im not saying you have to be carving down double blacks and blasting pillow lines. but when kid is pizza-ing and leaning so far back it looks like he's taking a shit, he shouldn't be trying to hit rails. Just get to the point where you are fundamentally sound, that's all
Oct 18 2015 9:02PM
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zard_gawd
Posts: 254 - Karma: 329
fuck yeah. i learnt to ski on a race team, stopped when i was like 13 tho. i dont think i would have really wanted to go any further but im glad i got my turns in early. it was definitely the best way for me to learn and i know im a better skier outside the park because of it
Oct 18 2015 9:13PM
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Connor_Sullivan
Posts: 479 - Karma: 1,686
I really Wish I could have, I hate the whole ski racer vibe but the getting the skills from ski racing would really help me progress. Granted I hadn't even tried to ski until 7th grade where a ski trip was offered to students. Although I picked it up really quickly and got hooked I wish I had or could get some of the tricks and tips they learn throughout seasons of ski racing
Oct 18 2015 9:43PM
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APunx176
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,628
brov1first, being able to hit cliffs has absolutely nothing to do with being a technically good skier at all its just balls, air control and knowing how to land.

second, the difficulty label of stuff you can get down has very little to do with how good of a technical skier you are.

we are in no means saying that being able to ski with good form is the only way to be considered good. i think henrik is a fantastic skier but his form is terrible. being a good skis just means you are good at what you are trying to be good at. if all you want to do is ski park than no one cares about form.

what we are saying is that to be considered a good skier in the more overlying of sense, form and your ability to get down very technically difficult terrain in a fast, controlled and safe manner literally cannot be done without an understanding of the most efficient manner of skiing. which so happens to be classified as "good form"

freeskiing and style are not bound by a single manner of skiing but in reality every type of skiing (setting aside park) is based off of the basics of skiing. but the quote on quote "basics" of skiing some of the hardest principles to learn in any sport. racing just so happens to generally be the most effective manner of learning the basics and my question wasn't an insult to people who aren't technically good skiers it was just a query about how you would have liked to learn to ski.


You can speak for yourself. There are actually people on here who act as if you are not a good skier anywhere without form. I have a friend irl like this.

e~bim not saying you have to be carving down double blacks and blasting pillow lines. but when kid is pizza-ing and leaning so far back it looks like he's taking a shit, he shouldn't be trying to hit rails. Just get to the point where you are fundamentally sound, that's all


Yeah sorry I didn't mean to direct that at you only. And yeah that makes sense
Oct 18 2015 10:30PM
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.FRY.
Posts: 5620 - Karma: 22,861
KevskiTotally fair. However, even from my experience skiing with friends when I was in the 8-13 range, the racer kids and their parents were definitely more intense about skiing. It may have worked for you, and it's awesome that it got you stoked on skiing, but I wasn't digging that whole dynamic.


I 100% agree with you. I raced from when I was 10-17(Last season was my last year racing). I hated the entire atmosphere of racing. It was full of rich spoiled kids, and asshole parents. Racing is awesome, and great for perfecting technique. It's too bad it comes with such a shitty crowd.
Oct 18 2015 10:52PM
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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
.FryI 100% agree with you. I raced from when I was 10-17(Last season was my last year racing). I hated the entire atmosphere of racing. It was full of rich spoiled kids, and asshole parents. Racing is awesome, and great for perfecting technique. It's too bad it comes with such a shitty crowd.


once again .fry speaks the truth the racer crowd is absolute shit. that why im only talking about the coaching
Oct 18 2015 10:58PM
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.otto.
Posts: 3493 - Karma: 12,895
.FryI 100% agree with you. I raced from when I was 10-17(Last season was my last year racing). I hated the entire atmosphere of racing. It was full of rich spoiled kids, and asshole parents. Racing is awesome, and great for perfecting technique. It's too bad it comes with such a shitty crowd.


FRYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 19 2015 9:17AM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
Racing makes you a better skier, some of the best skiers I know are or used to be racers. But be that one kid that goes through the park on race skis cutting people off and using rails as gates
Oct 19 2015 9:27AM
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