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Park Rats

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NorthEastSwerve
Posts: 8 - Karma: 46
What's you're favorite way to deal with "Park Rats" who think there the shit and make fun of kids for trying to learn in the park? Mine is that I always try to one up them to put them in there place. Give me some new ideas.

EDIT: Yes I know what a park rat is I am one myself, I was just referring to the few that are douche bags.

**This thread was edited on Feb 24th 2019 at 8:17:58pm
Feb 24 2019 1:52PM
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tsingtaofanatic
Posts: 3344 - Karma: 4,586
Park rats are usually just skiers that hang around the park a lot, the term is not used for a douchey park skier. Most of them respect the fact that there are other skiers learning shit in the park.
Feb 24 2019 3:13PM
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CalumSKI
Posts: 4216 - Karma: 24,314
lots of "park rats" are just people who ski park, they dont have to be mean or anything
think the term is used to generalize all park skiers into one catagory of what ppl think we are
Feb 24 2019 3:37PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,100
Most park rats are absurdly nice people.
If they have a bad attitude towards noobs they get a pass in my book as long as they are really good themselves. Kids are much meaner to eachother than adults are. Teenagers are generally insecure and putting down others is often a way they project this insecurity.
If you are an adult and you still shit on people who would like to be your friend youve got issues.
Kids are kids. Meanness is part of growing up
Feb 24 2019 3:53PM
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Narcopus
Posts: 148 - Karma: 556
DolanReloadedIf they have a bad attitude towards noobs they get a pass in my book as long as they are really good themselves.


This is BS. Everyone who was ever good at park started as a gaper. If people are working on progressing, they deserve as much respect as anybody else in the park. If you don’t know park etiquette and are being a gaper in that way though, prepare to get shit on.
Feb 24 2019 5:06PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51926 - Karma: 165,770
Throw a double pits to chesty of the biggest jump in the park. That'll show em!
Feb 24 2019 5:21PM
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romozi
Posts: 12 - Karma: 40
Every good park skiier has begun on an Xs jump/rail, so there shouldn't be any discrimination towards beginners. Btw, as said above, "park rats" doesn't necessarily means they're mean to noobs, they just ski park the whole day

**This post was edited on Feb 24th 2019 at 5:55:41pm
Feb 24 2019 5:28PM
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HaydenB
Posts: 1074 - Karma: 8,184
Why are you asking NS? You're basically asking park rats how to deal with park rats
Feb 24 2019 5:36PM
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Ben_Dover
Posts: 45 - Karma: 88
I was on the lift with an extremely insecure “park rat” and he started shouting at some child for stopping on the lip of a rail. They had no clear intention of causing any damage or getting in the way but the kid on the lift got all mad and said he was gonna take their pass (cuz he also works there). Another thing you have to understand is at my resort, +90% of the ppl who ski in the park can’t slide a rail (and it is a beginner resort) and usually just hit the lip of the rail as a jump. The kid on the lift said the child was ruining the lip and was in the way. I told him to calm down and said it doesn’t matter and they were probably learning. He just basically said he hates newbs. Other ppl apparently have also had simmilar experiences with him.

Another thing is the park rats are mostly pretty young kids and think they’re the shit when they do a back flip or something. I respond by not caring when I’m around them.

Most of the ppl who act like they’re a pro just want attention and are insecure. And yes I know not all “park rats” are like this most of them at the other resorts and at
mine are generally pretty nice people.
Feb 24 2019 5:40PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,666
Ben_DoverI was on the lift with an extremely insecure “park rat” and he started shouting at some child for stopping on the lip of a rail. They had no clear intention of causing any damage or getting in the way but the kid on the lift got all mad and said he was gonna take their pass (cuz he also works there). Another thing you have to understand is at my resort, +90% of the ppl who ski in the park can’t slide a rail (and it is a beginner resort) and usually just hit the lip of the rail as a jump. The kid on the lift said the child was ruining the lip and was in the way. I told him to calm down and said it doesn’t matter and they were probably learning. He just basically said he hates newbs. Other ppl apparently have also had simmilar experiences with him.

Another thing is the park rats are mostly pretty young kids and think they’re the shit when they do a back flip or something. I respond by not caring when I’m around them.

Most of the ppl who act like they’re a pro just want attention and are insecure. And yes I know not all “park rats” are like this most of them at the other resorts and at
mine are generally pretty nice people.


The dude was probably on park crew. When all the ohio fucks make their way to peek n peak every weekend, little timmy and his gang of friends get out of his moms 2019 escalade, and they penguin walk up the lip to a rail or jump it does in fact ruin the lip, whether they intended to or not, if you have to side step or hop up a lip because your pizza'ing through the park, you shouldn't be in the terrain park. And its extremely frustrating when you just spent 2 hours rebuilding everything just for it to be destroyed by 12 year olds the next run through, so i see exactly where that dude is coming from.

But ignorance is bliss and screaming at people isn't the way to go about things, explaining to them what park etiquette is and how they should act when their in the park is a better way of handling things.

Theres really not a worse feeling while working than completely rebuilding a butchered take off and have a train of kids wearing backpacks with speakers in them side jump the lip as soon as you open the feature back up. Fuck rich cleveland kids who ski in NY every weekend. Your parents suck at driving and we don't need anymore jerry's clogging up our terrain parks.
Feb 24 2019 5:56PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12534 - Karma: 116,685
Imagine caring about what park rats think about you
Feb 24 2019 5:58PM
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Jems
Posts: 7551 - Karma: 97,894
No one in this thread has experienced the absolute horror we endure with gapers and noobs on the tow ropes.
Feb 24 2019 6:09PM
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romozi
Posts: 12 - Karma: 40
TRVP_ANGELImagine caring about what park rats think about you

Which is often the case when you're a beginner (and even when you're not, it still happens to me from times to times)
Feb 24 2019 6:10PM
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SkierPT
Posts: 2205 - Karma: 4,858
Chubz.The dude was probably on park crew. When all the ohio fucks make their way to peek n peak every weekend, little timmy and his gang of friends get out of his moms 2019 escalade, and they penguin walk up the lip to a rail or jump it does in fact ruin the lip, whether they intended to or not, if you have to side step or hop up a lip because your pizza'ing through the park, you shouldn't be in the terrain park. And its extremely frustrating when you just spent 2 hours rebuilding everything just for it to be destroyed by 12 year olds the next run through, so i see exactly where that dude is coming from.

But ignorance is bliss and screaming at people isn't the way to go about things, explaining to them what park etiquette is and how they should act when their in the park is a better way of handling things.

Theres really not a worse feeling while working than completely rebuilding a butchered take off and have a train of kids wearing backpacks with speakers in them side jump the lip as soon as you open the feature back up. Fuck rich cleveland kids who ski in NY every weekend. Your parents suck at driving and we don't need anymore jerry's clogging up our terrain parks.


Almost landed on little Timmy at Peek's 540 jump rebuild line yesterday. Dad and kids just weaving in and out of the landings. I went down and explained how dangerous it is for everyone and he took it fine.
Feb 24 2019 6:30PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,100
I think the overarching message here is that some people honestly shouldnt be in the park. If you kids can barely ski dont take their asses in the terrain park.
When everybody in the park knows park ettiquette theres only love getting thrown around.
Teenagers are dealing with all sorts of issues though.
So you gotta cut em some slack.
Feb 25 2019 6:18AM
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FruitBootPro
Posts: 3142 - Karma: 14,248
Ben_DoverI was on the lift with an extremely insecure “park rat” and he started shouting at some child for stopping on the lip of a rail. They had no clear intention of causing any damage or getting in the way but the kid on the lift got all mad and said he was gonna take their pass (cuz he also works there). Another thing you have to understand is at my resort, +90% of the ppl who ski in the park can’t slide a rail (and it is a beginner resort) and usually just hit the lip of the rail as a jump. The kid on the lift said the child was ruining the lip and was in the way. I told him to calm down and said it doesn’t matter and they were probably learning. He just basically said he hates newbs. Other ppl apparently have also had simmilar experiences with him.

Another thing is the park rats are mostly pretty young kids and think they’re the shit when they do a back flip or something. I respond by not caring when I’m around them.

Most of the ppl who act like they’re a pro just want attention and are insecure. And yes I know not all “park rats” are like this most of them at the other resorts and at
mine are generally pretty nice people.


Stopping on a lip is a legitimate offense. Nothing wrong with using the lips of rails as jumps but blocking a feature can be frustrating to people actually trying to hit the feature.
It’s valid to be mad at people blocking features by stopping in front of them.

**This post was edited on Feb 25th 2019 at 8:58:42am
Feb 25 2019 8:55AM
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Rparr
Posts: 5631 - Karma: 46,914
Chubz.The dude was probably on park crew. When all the ohio fucks make their way to peek n peak every weekend, little timmy and his gang of friends get out of his moms 2019 escalade, and they penguin walk up the lip to a rail or jump it does in fact ruin the lip, whether they intended to or not, if you have to side step or hop up a lip because your pizza'ing through the park, you shouldn't be in the terrain park. And its extremely frustrating when you just spent 2 hours rebuilding everything just for it to be destroyed by 12 year olds the next run through, so i see exactly where that dude is coming from.

But ignorance is bliss and screaming at people isn't the way to go about things, explaining to them what park etiquette is and how they should act when their in the park is a better way of handling things.

Theres really not a worse feeling while working than completely rebuilding a butchered take off and have a train of kids wearing backpacks with speakers in them side jump the lip as soon as you open the feature back up. Fuck rich cleveland kids who ski in NY every weekend. Your parents suck at driving and we don't need anymore jerry's clogging up our terrain parks.


You should see our local hill here in cleveland, it is an absolute jerry massacre almost every night. Park crew has started building features with no lips because they get destroyed anyways. There is no hope
Feb 25 2019 8:59AM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6437 - Karma: 74,337
To anyone new to park out there: never be afraid to try something because “everyone will see you fall” or something. If anything it gets you more respect if you fall and get up, and 99.9% of people won’t care if you fall: because everyone does it.

I’ve never actually seen anyone get mad at someone who’s just new to park and trying new things, it’s just kind of a wack thing.

If some gaper cuts me off or something I’ll get frustrated over it but then I forget about it by it’s time to hit the next feature.

One thing that annoys me though is when the Jerry’s get on the rope tow: don’t get on if you don’t know how to ski in the first place. And also, it’s not that damn hard to hold on to the rope.
Feb 25 2019 9:16AM
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Govygen_gourmet
Posts: 380 - Karma: -477
I used to a be a little park gaper who was worried more about looking cool than actually riding good.

Eventually I just accepted the fact that Nobody... and I mean No fucking body really gives a fuck about you if you are the best shredder in the park/ the mountain. OK.. maybe one or two of your little groupies will if you shred even slightly better than they do.

Once you accept that fact of life, your gear clout will increase 110% as well as your riding ability.
Feb 25 2019 10:07AM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,539
Park rats are not a term for park skiers that are assholes. More like everyone who enjoy skiing park and spends a decent amount of time there. That being said there are always a few people that are dicks to everyone. I get lots of satisfaction out teaching the younger kids tricks when they ask. Most people want to see others in the park community grow and succeed.
Feb 25 2019 11:03AM
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Ben_Dover
Posts: 45 - Karma: 88
TheVictatorStopping on a lip is a legitimate offense. Nothing wrong with using the lips of rails as jumps but blocking a feature can be frustrating to people actually trying to hit the feature.
It’s valid to be mad at people blocking features by stopping in front of them.

**This post was edited on Feb 25th 2019 at 8:58:42am

I know and agree with that. My point is the the kid on the lift over reacted.
Feb 25 2019 11:23AM
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HaydenB
Posts: 1074 - Karma: 8,184
If he was park crew I would definitely understand where he is coming from. At my park there are probably 2 people on park crew at any given time, sometimes none at all which makes the work that gets done on the features super valuable, so when little kids just stand on the lips of rails or worse pizza up them and fall off the side everyone who is trying to progress gets a little mad. Just another reason we need to start making park passes
Feb 25 2019 12:02PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7544 - Karma: 37,057
Chubz.The dude was probably on park crew. When all the ohio fucks make their way to peek n peak every weekend, little timmy and his gang of friends get out of his moms 2019 escalade, and they penguin walk up the lip to a rail or jump it does in fact ruin the lip, whether they intended to or not, if you have to side step or hop up a lip because your pizza'ing through the park, you shouldn't be in the terrain park. And its extremely frustrating when you just spent 2 hours rebuilding everything just for it to be destroyed by 12 year olds the next run through, so i see exactly where that dude is coming from.

But ignorance is bliss and screaming at people isn't the way to go about things, explaining to them what park etiquette is and how they should act when their in the park is a better way of handling things.

Theres really not a worse feeling while working than completely rebuilding a butchered take off and have a train of kids wearing backpacks with speakers in them side jump the lip as soon as you open the feature back up. Fuck rich cleveland kids who ski in NY every weekend. Your parents suck at driving and we don't need anymore jerry's clogging up our terrain parks.


In 8 years of raking lips I've never had a lip ruined to the point where it isn't hittable because of side jumpers or even people walking up the lip. The only time i can see this being a thing is if you just built the lip and it hasn't had any time to firm up in which case hitting it correctly will ruin it anyway.

I get really irritated when i hear kids yelling and making fun of other people for side hitting or falling on a jump because they are just learning jumps. If the person has zero awareness and is cutting people off that is a different story, in which case you do what you mention and tell them how to safely ride park, not by doing what most kids do which is to just yell at them.

I know i started riding park by side hitting rail lips and Im sure 75% of people on this site did as well. I was yelled at plenty of times but never really understood what the actual problem was because nobody ever takes the time to explain why what you just did was bad.

Bottom line is too many people get pissed just to be pissed and its dumb.
Feb 25 2019 12:21PM
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NickelbackFan420
Posts: 204 - Karma: 744
Theres always one guy in a group thats going to be a douche. Its inevitable honestly. Easiest way to do it is just ignore them and try to get a gap between their lift timing and yours!
Feb 25 2019 1:01PM
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,666
TOAST.In 8 years of raking lips I've never had a lip ruined to the point where it isn't hittable because of side jumpers or even people walking up the lip. The only time i can see this being a thing is if you just built the lip and it hasn't had any time to firm up in which case hitting it correctly will ruin it anyway.

I get really irritated when i hear kids yelling and making fun of other people for side hitting or falling on a jump because they are just learning jumps. If the person has zero awareness and is cutting people off that is a different story, in which case you do what you mention and tell them how to safely ride park, not by doing what most kids do which is to just yell at them.

I know i started riding park by side hitting rail lips and Im sure 75% of people on this site did as well. I was yelled at plenty of times but never really understood what the actual problem was because nobody ever takes the time to explain why what you just did was bad.

Bottom line is too many people get pissed just to be pissed and its dumb.

I never said that side jumping ruined the lip to the point where it wasn’t hittable, when I say “destroyed” I mean that the lip is back to the condition it was before I raked it, which when you’re 3 hours from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Toronto, a lot of Jerry’s make their way down to the point of the jerry to park rider ratio is easily 8/2 and all these side jumpers really take a toll on the lips.
When I worked at the resort I was talking about I would always tell them that they’re not jumps and what they’re doing shouldn’t be done in the park. I used to side jump when I was like 10 years old and i didn’t know I was doing something wrong until I got more into park skiing. I never screamed & scolded them, most of the time when I yelled was when I was on the lift because speaking in a normal tone wouldn’t travel far so the kid could hear me.

Really the only time I would really get pissed at people is when we close the park for the last rake of the night and people break through/climb over the fence we put up so they can side jump through the park one last time. That is absolutely infuriating.
Feb 25 2019 1:13PM
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jamessmoak_photo
Posts: 51 - Karma: 230
Honestly, if you can't handle some heckling from 20 year old low-lifes that smell like weed, dip, and Monster, you probably shouldn't be in the park.
Feb 25 2019 1:15PM
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Rparr
Posts: 5631 - Karma: 46,914
jamessmoak_photo20 year old low-lifes that smell like weed, dip, and Monster,.


I feel personally attacked
Feb 25 2019 2:58PM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,889
If he says he is 15 you can legally punch them
Feb 25 2019 4:08PM
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Woos
Posts: 832 - Karma: 1,567
RparrI feel personally attacked


Jeez, drink a bettter energy drink son.
Feb 25 2019 5:51PM
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