Development vs. Raw Skill

It's hard to say. I definitely have no raw talent in the park. But I'm willing to work hard and put in numerous hours eating crap in order to learn a new trick and progress. After you get that trick you've biffed on 800 times, it's the best feeling ever.

in my eyes, hard work/decelopent is more rewarding than being a natural

thinking other people are naturally talented, is pure ignorance.
everyone has to develop balance from the day they walk, and these days gymnastics ability, along with ski technique make good skiers. the biggest thing kids are missing is learning how to actually ski. kids want to hit rails and jumps on day one... they learned cork spins on a trampoline and think they should send it off kickers... this is a good way to scare yourself/ hurt your self. imagine learning how to kickflip a skateboard without learning how to roll around at speed, do you think you would bust a kickflip down a flight of stairs first try? learn how to ski, balance, and edge, before you go into the park and things will be ALOT easier!
some people DO have natural style, which makes their skiing look smooth and maybe "look easy", but every trick has to be learned the hard way.
i can ski top to bottom switch through race gates even... it took years to develop this technique, and im still learning to look over the other shoulder.

I think there is such thing as a gifted athlete and they might have some advantages but no matter how good an athlete you are it wont replace hard work.

I think most people with bad balance and coordination are discouraged so they don't try to get good. i know a lot of people who don't fall and try again because they don't want to be made fun of. So they just don't try to improve

While some tricks may come easier to certain skiers, work is required for progression.

Some people are more talented, but everyone can develop skill. It just takes people different amounts of trials and errors.

I agree with Chris. Park skiing is a learned skill. You don't have to be a good athlete to be a good park skier Athleticism helps but it's more about courage, determination, luck.

I think its like any other sport....natural talent will obviously come through and more than not develop some rock solid skiers. Obviously those who aren't as athletic or just don't have the balance, etc can work hard enough to overcome it like any other sport.


But I would put some money on it that the vast majority of pros show natural talent from a very young age.

I think the factor the separates people who get really good from those who don't is the drive and mental fortitude to continuously push your skiing's limit day after day for years. I've seen people who aren't particularly 'natural' at skiing become amazingly good, stylish skiers by shredding hard, working tricks they suck at, etc. Whereas most people really never progress because they'll try a new trick maybe only once or, worse yet, never. I doubt innate balance and coordination have that much to do with it, because the movements themselves really aren't that hard once you learn them - which just takes practice. I think having a strong mental game is the separating factor (which is probably at least partially innate / out of our control).