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June, 2025

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Smart Skiiers?

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rememberscott
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 5,199
Is there such a thing? Newschoolers seems to glorify partying, dick-sucking front flips, and the jerry of the day. Don't get me wrong a double ejection and that oh so fresh back 2 out can be entertaining for a quick minute but don't you ever want more? Currently some of the most idolized skiers in our sport are Gus Kenworthy making bank milking the gay claim for all it's worth and David Lesh who promoted his brand and became even more internet famous by pouring gallons of milk on teenage girls in bikinis. Is that really the best we can do?
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9 years ago
575 77
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Snowtorious_BIG
Posts: 659 - Karma: 1,467
I would argue that David Lesh is very smart. The Friday videos were a very successful marketing tactic for the brand that he created plus he got to party and ski the whole time he was making those
9 years ago
48 1
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chodo
Posts: 274 - Karma: 918
I am an Engineer . . .





Does that count?
9 years ago
49 1
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Vtsnowski
Posts: 3554 - Karma: 1,397
They are marketing quite successfully and it takes a lot of intelligence to do so.
9 years ago
13 1
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KneeDrop
Posts: 641 - Karma: 1,487
Skiers*

and just stop. Stop trying to find role models in people who would be ski bums if they weren't pro. Ski bums are not role models unless you want to be a ski bum...
9 years ago
6 38
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jake_tom_sully
Posts: 356 - Karma: 242
off the top of my head

aj burton has a degree in engineering
stefan thomas as well i believe
matt philippi is in medical school
jon symms is an MD
iannick B is a successful computer scientist/ software engineer
jon ware has an engineering degree
9 years ago
15 2
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PillowTreeSteeze
Posts: 80 - Karma: 48
Ive wanted to be a ski bum ever since i was 6
9 years ago
28 0
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murphyboiiii
Posts: 723 - Karma: 1,626
sometimes i can count to seven does that count?
9 years ago
7 4
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A^frame
Posts: 297 - Karma: 297
I have a keen understanding of multiples of 180 and 90... well... up to 1620.
9 years ago
61 0
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conchetler
Posts: 280 - Karma: 609
nicky keefer is studying for a degree in quantum physics...so i'd say he's a pretty smart guy.
9 years ago
44 0
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skierman
Posts: 8614 - Karma: 9,577
You spelled skiers wrong. Who does that!?
9 years ago
40 0
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
http://sbcskier.com/conversations-with-roz/
9 years ago
1 0
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Rennis_Deynolds
Posts: 2739 - Karma: 19,061
compared to other pro sports like football skiers are geniuses
9 years ago
50 2
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jsch6
Posts: 20 - Karma: 25
J Lev has done some smart stuff
9 years ago
6 1
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awhipple
Posts: 191 - Karma: 1,134
I remember reading a while back Wallisch had got on to the Deans list multiple times.
9 years ago
6 0
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AlexFogo85
Posts: 573 - Karma: 7,474
Twall and some other notable skiers have graduated on Dean's List. I am currently studying to be an ER doctor and I imagine there are plenty of skiers looking to do something similar. I would say there are a lot more smart skiers than you think. The whole stereotype of ski bum, pot smoking, thugs isn't so accurate in my opinion.
9 years ago
8 0
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22738 - Karma: 77,014
HP123Is there such a thing? Newschoolers seems to glorify partying, dick-sucking front flips, and the jerry of the day. Don't get me wrong a double ejection and that oh so fresh back 2 out can be entertaining for a quick minute but don't you ever want more? Currently some of the most idolized skiers in our sport are Gus Kenworthy making bank milking the gay claim for all it's worth and David Lesh who promoted his brand and became even more internet famous by pouring gallons of milk on teenage girls in bikinis. Is that really the best we can do?


There are loads of intelligent people in skiing.

The thing you have to realize is that skiing is entertainment. Its what people do to blow off steam for the most part. As such, you see a lot of the glorified lifestyle - which is super fun while you're doing it. My old ski crew are all engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. now. When we're together, we rage out like the old days and shred hard.

Many people have this experience, and as such when you're partaking in the media involved - we rarely bother going into the deep part of it. For instance, take my experiences you see in On The Road. You see the partying, doing stupid shit, having fun. What you don't see is the late night politics conversations with Walker, hanging out with the senior parent company people in the hot tub at Dew Tour and talking about the future of the media landscape, Lesh and I chatting about politics, marketing strategies and the intricacies of running a small business. This type of stuff happens all the time - but it isn't the central focus of the promotion around the "core" aspect of the sport because to your average person who views skiing as entertainment its simply boring.

I do think it would be great to highlight deeper and more intelligent themes when interviewing people, but making that stuff entertaining to read in a superficial social media world is next to impossible. I mean how many people would want to dig into the political leanings of a pro skier? Would you like to read about the business ethics of Virtka? If you would... are there many out there like you?

If you ever meet me in person, I'd absolutely love to engage in high-level intelligent discourse. We can even do a flabongo while we chat, or simply make the chairlift chat a worldly learning experience. there's tonnes of people out there like that, and the first step is to not assume everyone is a moron and just start talking like intelligent people.

Much like most of modern media though, it simply doesn't take on a mass scale. You end up having the lowest common denominator, who wants to just see the lifestyle as is. If you want intelligence, there is a load of places out there to get it.

I'm all for more intelligence in skiing though. Just need to figure out how to make it fit in the larger landscape of the sport.
9 years ago
21 1
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,874
Mr.BishopI do think it would be great to highlight deeper and more intelligent themes when interviewing people, but making that stuff entertaining to read in a superficial social media world is next to impossible. I mean how many people would want to dig into the political leanings of a pro skier? Would you like to read about the business ethics of Virtka? If you would... are there many out there like you?


I would actually love to see/talk/read about what actually goes on behind the scenes of all the partying and antics. Almost like a 30 for 30.
9 years ago
5 0
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zakattack66
Posts: 185 - Karma: 577
HP123Is there such a thing? Newschoolers seems to glorify partying, dick-sucking front flips, and the jerry of the day. Don't get me wrong a double ejection and that oh so fresh back 2 out can be entertaining for a quick minute but don't you ever want more? Currently some of the most idolized skiers in our sport are Gus Kenworthy making bank milking the gay claim for all it's worth and David Lesh who promoted his brand and became even more internet famous by pouring gallons of milk on teenage girls in bikinis. Is that really the best we can do?


Sort of. The guys that I hit park with and loved hanging out with just graduated high school to be engineers and math whizzes and shit. The guys I ski with now are as follows:

Gets good grades but is loud annoying, and is has no real world sense.
Failed half of tenth grade so he's retaking it now, but he's super chill.
Almost failed tenth grade at the lowest level and thinks he's black.
Smokes and is stupid.

Sometimes I don't even want to go with anyone because I find it kind of hard to have conversations with them.
9 years ago
1 1
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BaconSteezburger
Posts: 114 - Karma: 713
Is Scott Gaffney actually a doctor or was that all a joke in GNAR?
9 years ago
0 0
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GrapeHunter
Posts: 2406 - Karma: 8,779
Pro skiers ski to ski. The image they create (especially in edits and advertising) is just that. Its skiing. They don't really focus on showing their intellect, its just skiing as JLev would say.
9 years ago
1 0
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Mullet_man
Posts: 113 - Karma: 242
Giray dadali has an engineering major
9 years ago
2 1
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,195
chodoI am an Engineer . . .

Does that count?


dude me too (MECH), have my masters in biomechanics too. also line team is STACKED with nerds. ross is an engineer also!
9 years ago
18 0
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J-Wile
Posts: 481 - Karma: 804
I feel like there are a TON of NSers pursuing STEM degrees
9 years ago
3 0
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JohnLocke
Posts: 337 - Karma: 1,057
Keefer and J-Lev come immediately to mind. As mentioned before, Keefer is studying quantum physics and is additionally a rather accomplished philosopher. J-Lev is an extraordinarily savvy entrepreneur with a knack for noticing emerging markets. In addition, I've observed and participated in many a thoughtful and scintillating discussion in NSG. Being a skier and being intelligent are not mutually exclusive items.
9 years ago
2 0
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ascent_studios
Posts: 2157 - Karma: 4,581
.Rybak.I would actually love to see/talk/read about what actually goes on behind the scenes of all the partying and antics. Almost like a 30 for 30.


that would be pretty sick to see how Newschoolers really functions and how the everyday business works. It definitely wouldn't be for everyone but it would be interesting to many I bet
9 years ago
1 0
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lickmyballs
Posts: 489 - Karma: 1,158
chodoI am an Engineer . . .





Does that count?


what kind of engineer? I'm a junior in HS and currently looking into engineering. Preferably an environmental engineer. I'm not sure though because I like probably everyone on here wants a job that you love so much you never work a day in your life. Can you become a Heli Ski guide for a good part of your life and retire from doing that. I know it takes a lot of work and time just to get to the position of a guide, but it sounds awesome. What about working a Gopro. Does anyone know anything about how to start working there because they would be really cool.
9 years ago
0 0
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,297
conchetlernicky keefer is studying for a degree in quantum physics...so i'd say he's a pretty smart guy.


Is he actually?

I have a chemistry degree, not that that's the only way to be smart. I get down with all things quantum though so if Keefer's going that path than that's sick.
9 years ago
1 0
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elm.
Posts: 1510 - Karma: 13,606
Rob Gaffney!!
9 years ago
0 0
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WVskiing
Posts: 3007 - Karma: 1,949
Almost complete my engineering degree at an ABET accredited university.
9 years ago
0 0
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ethanzatta
Posts: 146 - Karma: 309
skiermanYou spelled skiers wrong. Who does that!?


not skier man obviously
9 years ago
0 0
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,019
Mr.BishopWould you like to read about the business ethics of Virtka? If you would... are there many out there like you?


I would absolutely read that.

Tom's most recent article about Jake Carney was awesome. Actually, all of Tom's articles about like the best jobs in skiing were sick. It's the stuff a "normal" skier doesn't see or would otherwise have no clue about. It's interesting and not something every ski media outlet is going to be putting out.

I would so be down to read more interviews that aren't just asking skiers what they're doing with their ski career. More interviews like this: https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/My-Friend-Pro-2670. I read that on my flight home from Whistler and it was fucking hilarious. This kind of stuff is incredible. You get to see a more real side of these dudes. You see people's personalities and it feels like freeskiing.

I know you need a mix of like the clickbait, "look what Candide did this time" kind of articles but damn I would be so stoked on getting to see more of the behind the scenes stuff. I might just be a weirdo but that stuff interests me to no end.
9 years ago
2 2
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conchetler
Posts: 280 - Karma: 609
DrZoidbergIs he actually?

I have a chemistry degree, not that that's the only way to be smart. I get down with all things quantum though so if Keefer's going that path than that's sick.


yessir he is, says so on his insta. all that stuff to me is crazy interesting, but there's no way i'd be able to handle the math involved to study it haha. chem is tight too though
9 years ago
0 0
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hoodcrew
Posts: 1002 - Karma: 69,655
Alec Nelson is really smart getting some crazy double engineering degree from the U- think op might be suprised at how many intelligent kids there are in Utah shredding hard and going to school
9 years ago
1 0
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
Why does the degree you hold have so much sway in the impression people have of you? Matters more what you do with your learning if you were to ask me.

I've met some of the dumbest and smartest people in the ski industry, it really is an amazing catch all for people that just have sheer passion for enjoyment of a truly frivolous and selfish pursuit. Skiing doesn't discriminate smart or dumb, it selects those wanting to live life and not be a mindless work/life/kardashians zombie.
9 years ago
3 0
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
hodor
9 years ago
5 0
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jimmy_buckle
Posts: 174 - Karma: 507
Keefer.....
9 years ago
0 0
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6750 - Karma: 11,815
HP123Currently some of the most idolized skiers in our sport are Gus Kenworthy making bank milking the gay claim for all it's worth


And why not? Good on him. But if you think that is the only reason he is idolized, you are for sure mistaken. He's a silver medal Olympian, has 3 AFP World Championship overall titles, 3 X-Games medals, and puts out dope edits. Even if we only look at Gus as a skier, why shouldn't he be idolized within the skiing community?

conchetlernicky keefer is studying for a degree in quantum physics...so i'd say he's a pretty smart guy.


Keefer = science. He will figure out dark matter & dark energy in between events at Nine Knights.
9 years ago
7 0
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Brue
Posts: 392 - Karma: 1,948
I'm the smartest skier on the moutain
9 years ago
4 0
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MitchT
Posts: 560 - Karma: 4,095
Dennis_Reynoldscompared to other pro sports like football skiers are geniuses


I would disagree, pro football players almost all went to college (assuming that's what makes you smart).

Sports like football and basketball pretty much require athletes to go to post-secondary in order to become pro. Meanwhile sports like hockey and baseball have more of a junior league prior to the pro's where college isn't needed.

I don't know, why am I even debating something with dennis_reynolds anyways.
9 years ago
0 3
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22738 - Karma: 77,014
ck0belskiKeefer and J-Lev come immediately to mind. As mentioned before, Keefer is studying quantum physics and is additionally a rather accomplished philosopher. J-Lev is an extraordinarily savvy entrepreneur with a knack for noticing emerging markets. In addition, I've observed and participated in many a thoughtful and scintillating discussion in NSG. Being a skier and being intelligent are not mutually exclusive items.


Keefer, myself, LJ, Will, Sandy, Jamie Walter and a few others had some pretty awesome conversations about space / time and shit like that. We also talked about rad rail hits and ski movies. They also jumped the Yukon we rented because we had insurance.

Keefer is another smart one for sure. J-Lev is a whole other ballgame of business smarts. Conversation with him is like one year of a business degree.

ben_collinsthat would be pretty sick to see how Newschoolers really functions and how the everyday business works. It definitely wouldn't be for everyone but it would be interesting to many I bet


Hah... I get the idea of what you're going for. I'm super fascinated with business as well, and love learning about how other things work. There's loads behind the scenes that people don't know about - but it really isn't that exciting. I mean 90% of my time working on NS is sitting at a desk typing emails and in sales calls or budget meetings. Most of what we showcase is that 10% of my time out in the field doing the exciting shit.

It would have to be some sort of news series where we give you a look under the hood of how media works. The problem basically comes down to the fact that it would take a lot of time to write for myself, and it would have very low readership. Though it would be cool, in general my time is better spent keeping the business running than taking the effort do do that.

Don't get me wrong - its a great idea - and one which I'd love to share more information. Its a time issue really, mixed with the fact that the imagined readership would be so tiny.

Right now your best bet is to come to an event where I'm at and ask me questions. :)

hoodcrewAlec Nelson is really smart getting some crazy double engineering degree from the U- think op might be suprised at how many intelligent kids there are in Utah shredding hard and going to school


We had some awesome converastions at Superunknown last year. He was telling us about some kind of wild device he was working on, which totally blew my mind.

Smart folk everywhere - you really just have to talk smart to them so they realize you're interested in it vs. just talking about what the last dopest trick was they saw.
9 years ago
5 0
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zakattack66
Posts: 185 - Karma: 577
T-Walls going to University of Utah.
9 years ago
1 5
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Lucas
Posts: 4882 - Karma: 1,597
Skiing is a sport for rich white people. A lot of rich white people are smart. The end.
9 years ago
4 0
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freestyler540
Posts: 13238 - Karma: 20,486
Moreloff the top of my head

aj burton has a degree in engineering
stefan thomas as well i believe
matt philippi is in medical school
jon symms is an MD
iannick B is a successful computer scientist/ software engineer
jon ware has an engineering degree

For all the partying and gloryshots in ski movies and edits; A lot of purely dedicated skiers turned highly educated successes is a trend in our sport. A few from the mogul teams become Orthopedic surgeons, engineers and MBAs to keep skiing while the free money dwindles away.

I just remember that documented freeride is a youth thing, with all the partying and shitty attitude that comes with it. Some of us never grow up, a lot of us never grow old.
9 years ago
0 0
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oxiclean
Posts: 615 - Karma: 693
eyem rill ksmart
9 years ago
0 0
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S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,172
When I spoke to Henrik in Australia few years ago, he had so much wisdom. I could listen to him talk for hours on end about life, philosophy, etc,etc.
9 years ago
0 0
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Earl_Globz
Posts: 1556 - Karma: 823
I wear a helmet, even in low risk scenarios. I am a smart skier.
9 years ago
0 4
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
Abu-BaghdadiWhen I spoke to Henrik in Australia few years ago, he had so much wisdom. I could listen to him talk for hours on end about life, philosophy, etc,etc.


He was high as fuck bro
9 years ago
6 0
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Deepskier
Posts: 3270 - Karma: 4,865
Moreloff the top of my head
jon ware has an engineering degree


That one is a little surprising. Ive heard tom is pretty smart. And i think it is a requirement to be on the tc crew to have at least a bachelors in grunge, and there is zero tolerance policy for deodorant
9 years ago
1 0
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