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January, 2025

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Why do people hate racers?

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addie.
Posts: 350 - Karma: 1,432
Ok, so before I get robbed of all karma, hear me out. I ski race. I also enjoy park, pow, and other assorted fun things. What promoted me to write this thread involves today where a group of guys who were obviously skiing park started to make some snarky comments about my race suit and my hard ear helmet. If these same guys caught me on a different day in the park or the backcountry where I'm not dressed that way, they'd be saying things completely different things. I can't speak for everyone but I can speak for myself. I love racing. I love freesking. I just love to fuckin' ski. So, let's hear it: why do you hate racers? or if you don't, what's your opinion on the subject?
Nov 19 2015 5:05PM
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Seanlynch11
Posts: 40 - Karma: 365
Because of their tight helmets
Nov 19 2015 5:06PM
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AgitatedHiatus
Posts: 319 - Karma: 1,053
they r dum






Just kidding. I have no idea why people hate racers, but I really don't care. It's a mountain, and everyone is there because they love some form of skiing.
Nov 19 2015 5:07PM
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addie.
Posts: 350 - Karma: 1,432
Seanlynch11Because of their tight helmets


FIS makes us do it. Trust me we dont like it either.
Nov 19 2015 5:07PM
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RoidedSasquatch
Posts: 114 - Karma: 114
I don't hate racers...
Nov 19 2015 5:11PM
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Skier-Jon
Posts: 310 - Karma: 7,514
I raced for quite a few years and let me tell you that it definitely gave me a great foundation for freestyle.
That being said I think the racing competition style where its all about perfect form and being the fastest is so foreign compared to what we do as freeriders, whereas we want to feel free and try to be as imaginative as possible while it seems like they are basically robots.

Also i feel like in racing there is this elitist culture, back at my home mountain the racers were all definitely a little stuck up, and their parents are even worse. It felt like them and their families were definitely focused on being the best, while we were all just focused on having fun. While the race parents were tuning their kids skis on saturday nights our parents were getting drunk together and trashing rental houses.



Bottom line theres just a fundamental difference between the two and even though were all just skiers theirs bound to be some friction between us.
Nov 19 2015 5:12PM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3201 - Karma: 32,445
I dont think we really hate racers per-say. Its just that Ski Racing sort of embodies the "FASTER, FASTER, WIN WIN WIN" side of skiing that freeskiing generally clashes with. I ski because I love it and seeing that harsh side of the sport kinda freaks me out. That being said, Im friends with a lot of racers, although they seem to be more on the chill side, like me and just love to ski.
Nov 19 2015 5:14PM
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addie.
Posts: 350 - Karma: 1,432
The referenced post has been removed.


What you're talking about with the egos and stuff is exactly why I got into park skiing. I met some really nice, chill people who showed me a side of skiing I never knew growing up in the racing community. But yeah I understand.
Nov 19 2015 5:14PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52051 - Karma: 167,338
Racers are cool depending where you're at. I worked at one mountain where the racers were pretty much told they could do anything they wanted, and they were assholes. Even the coaches. They would do things in the park and I would nicely explain park etiquette and they'd be douchers.Remember this one lady telling me she was going to report me because I asked her not to bring her kids through the jumpline to roll over the takeoffs and fall on each other/create a hazard. Another guy for side jumping where he argued that that's why it was there. I was like nah bro, I built that takeoff, so Im pretty sure I know why it's there.

Idk, racing is cool though. A lot of park skiers have garbage forum and can barely ski. Also one place I worked used to help run the races certain nights. It was chill.



Racers are cool, unless they aren't, but that's the same with people in general. Just don't try and set up gates in the middle of my park.
Nov 19 2015 5:20PM
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purplepants420
Posts: 343 - Karma: 884
AlsoKnownAskids through the jumpline to roll over the takeoffs and fall on each other/create a hazard.


I dont hate racers, unless they're in the park with race skis, barely making it up the towrope and just getting in the way
Nov 19 2015 5:38PM
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nutz.
Posts: 3150 - Karma: 6,717
addie.What you're talking about with the egos and stuff is exactly why I got into park skiing. I met some really nice, chill people who showed me a side of skiing I never knew growing up in the racing community. But yeah I understand.


I like racers.

I talked to the ski racing team at my school and they're letting me go on their busses to trainings with them (ofcourse I'd go off skiing on my own) but yeah it's super nice/chill of them to do that!
Nov 19 2015 5:44PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,832
Because they hate nsers and park kids
Nov 19 2015 5:44PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6962 - Karma: 25,265
Seanlynch11Because of their tight helmets


addie.FIS makes us do it. Trust me we dont like it either.


Pretty sure any good fitting helmet is just as tight. I'm a big fan of racing and I like watching it as much as freestyle. I don't like it when anyone is a jerk whether they are in a race suit or a g suit but I'm not going to let it fill me with hate.
Nov 19 2015 5:46PM
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Tasty_Bread
Posts: 597 - Karma: 601
I raced back in high school at a fairly high level. I used to be a ski racer first and foremost but got into park. I click more with the park kids and my approach to racing was much more laid back. I trained hard but didn't eat/sleep/breathe racing like most kids at the level. Speaking from experience I can see why people hate racers. Not all of them are shitty but a lot of people just associate them with with the "elitist" bunch the same way normal people associate park skiers with knocked over trash cans and kids screaming at their moms.
Lets just put it this way. If you associate with a group you are bound to fall prey to the stereotypes. I know I hated being grouped with the racers and even got trash talked at event for being a "park rat".

But let your skiing do the talking.
There's no better feeling than showing up all the haters at a ranked event.
Nov 19 2015 5:47PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7519 - Karma: 51,245
I come from a racer family. I like most racers. Growing up, I felt more comfortable skiing with them than I did in the park. Contrary to popular belief, racers know how to have a good time. You might get the spoiled one or the arrogant one from time to time, but imo they're not as bad as spoiled/arrogant park kids. But racer parents can be vile people. Racers are alot more chill than most people think.
Nov 19 2015 5:49PM
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Burgy
Posts: 414 - Karma: 630
I don't hate racers, a lot of them are decent people... I just hate assholes that are uptight/close-minded about skiing, think they are better then everyone else because they can ski "correctly", and think that everyone should ski "properly" like them.
Nov 19 2015 5:54PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
The hatred towards racers on NS for being obnoxious is one of NS's strangest trends, considering that park rats are just as obnoxious as racers are most of the time. One of those being blind to your own faults sort of things.
Nov 19 2015 8:23PM
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shortbusgangster
Posts: 1 - Karma: 5
I hate them because for one reason, the "suck tuck pop". Getting snaked by someone, fully decked out in spandex, who absorbs the lip of the jump to the full capability of their legs and proceeds to fly through the air taking on the position of defecating dog. All so that they can make it to the knuckle of the landing FASTER. Is definitely one of the worst things.
Nov 19 2015 8:39PM
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CQBMN
Posts: 80 - Karma: 185
I don't hate racers. I just hate that there can't be a terrain park over the whole mountain because of racing.
Nov 19 2015 8:48PM
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addie.
Posts: 350 - Karma: 1,432
CQBMNI don't hate racers. I just hate that there can't be a terrain park over the whole mountain because of racing.


what about little kids? and old people? and your average joe who doesn't want to maybe only ski park? and (my favorite part of skiing) backcountry??
Nov 19 2015 8:53PM
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CQBMN
Posts: 80 - Karma: 185
addie.what about little kids? and old people? and your average joe who doesn't want to maybe only ski park? and (my favorite part of skiing) backcountry??


Maybe just a little bit more of the mountain should be park. There's so many possible park setups that you can never have enough.
Nov 19 2015 9:17PM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
From my experience with racing, all the kids are wicked serious and don't do any actual fun skiing things and their parents are bitchy as hell. Though if you race and are willing to ski something other than gates it does make you a good skier
Nov 19 2015 9:19PM
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SammyDubz
Posts: 2168 - Karma: 7,222
shortbusgangsterI hate them because for one reason, the "suck tuck pop". Getting snaked by someone, fully decked out in spandex, who absorbs the lip of the jump to the full capability of their legs and proceeds to fly through the air taking on the position of defecating dog. All so that they can make it to the knuckle of the landing FASTER. Is definitely one of the worst things.


please stop
Nov 19 2015 9:26PM
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TomDavies
Posts: 788 - Karma: 5,295
CQBMNI don't hate racers. I just hate that there can't be a terrain park over the whole mountain because of racing.


are you joking or not

i cannot tell
Nov 19 2015 9:49PM
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X_ANKILLA
Posts: 2397 - Karma: -7,074
The referenced post has been removed.


^^^^^^^ Exactly. Racers make skiing not seem fun. They always cut the lines because they have "practice."
Nov 19 2015 10:07PM
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tannercoors
Posts: 148 - Karma: 370
The referenced post has been removed.


Fuckin amen brother... That hit the nail on the head; its that rich-kid attitude that pisses me off the most.
Nov 19 2015 10:43PM
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skebumw
Posts: 190 - Karma: 444
The referenced post has been removed.


I would argue that 13-17 year old racers are way less douchey than the typical obnoxious no edge using back seat baggy pant stuck up goggle sagging park rat. I think that racers are more stuck up but are also waaaaayyyy less obnoxious and in general better skiers. They are more proper and better technical skiers. But the only real truth is that bumps skiers are the best skiers on the mountain.
Nov 19 2015 10:46PM
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Big_Mtn
Posts: 551 - Karma: 1,647
I don't mind racers unless they give me a reason to dislike them. I have a ton of good friends that race. There's racers that I don't like, but there's also park kids that I'm not particularly fond of. I wouldn't be the skier I am today if I hadn't raced.
Nov 19 2015 10:53PM
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skebumw
Posts: 190 - Karma: 444
uturnFrom my experience with racing, all the kids are wicked serious and don't do any actual fun skiing things and their parents are bitchy as hell. Though if you race and are willing to ski something other than gates it does make you a good skier


But you have to understand that to racer kids being super serious is fun. I can relate I am very competitive and love taking things seriously. Just like you enjoy goofing off they enjoy ripping as fast as they can.
Nov 19 2015 10:56PM
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,997
Race skiers are perfectly fine until they interfere with my park riding. At my local hill the racing isn't the problem, its the little kids in ski club who take over the park riding over the lips of rails and jumps. I remember I had to hop over a kid into a quarter pipe so I didn't hit him. My hill that I was at last season had no good park riders. If you could even slide a rail all the way through then everybody on the lift would go crazy. One time a friend of mine did a switch up on a flat bar and everybody started screaming lol. At most mountains the racers fill the role of ski club at my hill lol. I'm even turning down working at my hill so I don't have to deal with the little kids.
Nov 19 2015 11:09PM
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willysworld
Posts: 2116 - Karma: 5,485
Cause unless its downhill or super g . Racing is gay.. mad respect for the speed guys though..
Nov 19 2015 11:13PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
Nov 19 2015 11:32PM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,086
People hate because they want to be in a group, and it's easier to define yourself as "in" when you can collectively make fun of the people who are "out."

Really though, it comes down to this: skiers of any stripe have more in common with each other than people who don't ski at all. We can choose to let skis and the love of skiing be a common ground, or we can fall victim to the divisiveness that ultimately makes being out there a lot less fun.
Nov 19 2015 11:43PM
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FrenchFry
Posts: 969 - Karma: 3,432
Bode Miller is my all time Fav skier
Nov 19 2015 11:45PM
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akskier21
Posts: 64 - Karma: 1,081
Racers remind me of the hockey, football, basketball "ATTACK ATTACK WIN WIN WIN" Gladiator culture, basically the "jock" culture. It exists in freeskiing in slope and pipe, but even those guys are generally down to earth dudes who just love to ski. I don't "hate" racers but a fair amount of them fall into the "jock" category that I rejected growing up and still do. For them it's all competition and "who's the best by .2 seconds". We all ski for our own reasons though: alongside freeskiing I cross-country ski raced until I was 16 and it was the same culture, really just took the fun out of skiing. Don't hate, understand and realize how these people are conditioned to basically be Gladiators like hockey, football, and basketball players. It's just a different culture. Having a backround in racing though can have a dramatic and beneficial effect on your overall skiing technique weather you buy into the culture or not.
Nov 20 2015 12:38AM
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Hackster
Posts: 145 - Karma: -11
Because they often behave like dicks when they better check their ego.

That said I had the fortune to come across a few top athletes racing on the world cup and they were all chill and down to earth, no attitude at all.
Nov 20 2015 4:07AM
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Hackster
Posts: 145 - Karma: -11
Because they often behave like dicks when they better check their ego.

That said I had the fortune to come across a few top athletes racing on the world cup and they were all chill and down to earth, no attitude at all.
Nov 20 2015 4:10AM
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CQBMN
Posts: 80 - Karma: 185
xRAPHAELxare you joking or not

i cannot tell


I'm mostly kidding.
Nov 20 2015 8:12AM
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trevorschu
Posts: 708 - Karma: 2,357
cuz they suck
Nov 20 2015 8:47AM
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riley.iris
Posts: 108 - Karma: 369
A lot o racers cut me off in the park and make fun of people who are in the park. I tried the race team one year and all of them were assholes. Some racers can be nice, but overall they are dicks.
Nov 20 2015 8:52AM
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SammyDubz
Posts: 2168 - Karma: 7,222
loafer102110A lot o racers cut me off in the park and make fun of people who are in the park. I tried the race team one year and all of them were assholes. Some racers can be nice, but overall they are dicks.


Translation: I tried out for the race team one year and I wasn't good enough, so I hate all racers now
Nov 20 2015 9:01AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
I see just as many douche bag park skiers as racers. Perhaps even worse, when you see a douche bag park kid who thinks hes the shit in line in his xxxxxxl saggy gear cursing, talking loud, acting like a moron...see it all the time.

Also, I think freeskiers generally hate on racers as well is because they are purely jealous. Most racers would blow a freeskier out of the water any day of the week on the slopes. Probably in the park to.

Go look at an everyday park....9/10 kids just striaght up suck. I would bet most racers are better than most park kids at skiing park.

Granted there are a lot of dbag racers and it does have a bit of an elitist vibe.....but at the end of the day racing develops skiing foundation that the vast majority of freeskiers will never ever develop.

Looking forward to when the park rats get older and attempt to actually ski.
Nov 20 2015 9:09AM
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robert.clarkeiii
Posts: 154 - Karma: 448
KravtZI see just as many douche bag park skiers as racers. Perhaps even worse, when you see a douche bag park kid who thinks hes the shit in line in his xxxxxxl saggy gear cursing, talking loud, acting like a moron...see it all the time.

Also, I think freeskiers generally hate on racers as well is because they are purely jealous. Most racers would blow a freeskier out of the water any day of the week on the slopes. Probably in the park to.

Go look at an everyday park....9/10 kids just striaght up suck. I would bet most racers are better than most park kids at skiing park.

Granted there are a lot of dbag racers and it does have a bit of an elitist vibe.....but at the end of the day racing develops skiing foundation that the vast majority of freeskiers will never ever develop.

Looking forward to when the park rats get older and attempt to actually ski.


Im like 99% sure that 9/10 kids don't suck haha. But entertain me what qualifies as sucking in your book? Maybe its you that sucks? I feel that you may be very hypocritical in this response, I mean what you are basically saying in your response is that park riders are hating on ski racers but what I'm sensing is that you are a racer and you're hating on park skiers... I don't know that you have the credentials to go ahead and say that a lot of park skiers suck and that most racers could beet them in the park, Thats just comical.
Nov 20 2015 9:50AM
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E.Sinka
Posts: 34 - Karma: 31
Ahaha i cant tell if this is serious
Nov 20 2015 10:10AM
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Campering
Posts: 16 - Karma: 34
Because the park at my hill got moved to a kiddie run because the racers needed another new hill to practice on :'(
Nov 20 2015 11:17AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
robert.clarkeiiiIm like 99% sure that 9/10 kids don't suck haha. But entertain me what qualifies as sucking in your book? Maybe its you that sucks? I feel that you may be very hypocritical in this response, I mean what you are basically saying in your response is that park riders are hating on ski racers but what I'm sensing is that you are a racer and you're hating on park skiers... I don't know that you have the credentials to go ahead and say that a lot of park skiers suck and that most racers could beet them in the park, Thats just comical.


I ski a pretty big resort in Southern VT often. The race kids kill it. All amazing skiers. Text book definitions...could out ski most "park" kids any day of the week on groomers, trees, powder, etc. I am a ex racer and am a very good skier myself something I pride myself in.

I see / know a bunch of these kids who bring up twin tips also for runs here and there between races, etc. Many of them are really solid park riders.

I would say the average park rider couldnt hit every rail in the park, cant 360, ride switch well, the list goes on. Its VERY obvious of this...go take a few laps through the park and watch other people. Most people are horrendous. Obviously NS is a different demographic since most people here ski a lot.
Nov 20 2015 12:02PM
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Elg
Posts: 2998 - Karma: 3,881
I like racers, the female coaches are hot. And when their work is done, they met us at the bar.
Nov 20 2015 12:15PM
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FettySwap
Posts: 192 - Karma: 581
Racers are cool until they loose it. Tons of racers are just plain dicks to park skiers such as shouting of the chair "you are so cool! I want to be just like you" sarcastically. I actually am starting to think that these types of racers are just jealous that they took the more boring side of skiing and would rather be skiing park. In the end, which one would you rather do. Be busting backflips or running into plastic poles at high speeds.
Nov 20 2015 1:11PM
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wyatttheshredder
Posts: 140 - Karma: 284
I dont hate racers.. except the ones that bomb through the park and hit the lips of rails.
Nov 20 2015 1:35PM
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BrothsTopaz
Posts: 225 - Karma: 1,204
I think it's the parents. Even the kids that are there to race, it seems like they just get complaints from their parents the whole time. I think the parents throw their kids into racing because the other option - for parents to understand, is snowboarding and with that comes with the whole rebellious aspect. I dont think a lot of parents understand the other side of skiing yet. Just my insightful opinion. Go easy.
Nov 20 2015 1:40PM
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