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Steel City Showdown Mass Appeal

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Aric
Posts: 190 - Karma: 851
I really hope competitions like Steel City Showdown catch on and are hosted multiple times a year.
I feel as it has an untapped market of dedicated skiers that aren’t into watching slopestyle were skiers are forced to do reliable rail hits instead of getting creative and tech. If this became a circuit it would bring more attention to the part of skiing I believe we all love, as well as give rail talent a place to thrive and possibly earn a living.
I think it would be a great addition to the main stream competitions, we have high skill big air and slope style why not rails jams?

**This thread was edited on Jan 14th 2020 at 11:49:35am
Jan 14 2020 10:59AM
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Earl_Globz
Posts: 1553 - Karma: 808
Shit was insane!!
Jan 14 2020 11:30AM
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BJ2112
Posts: 130 - Karma: 442
Tbh I liked the qualifying rounds more than the final cus the skiiers could throw down at their own pace. Really fun to watch all those guys seshin rails
Jan 14 2020 11:38AM
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2314 - Karma: 29,130
As long as am riders keep getting invited. S/o to Tucker for pulling 3rd against such heavy competition. These events could be like what super unknown used to be.

Also it would be nice if more smaller places got events like this.
Jan 14 2020 12:31PM
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Aric
Posts: 190 - Karma: 851
I too thought that was a cool aspect, if this ever does actually catch on I would hate to see it be made exclusive. I honestly think being able to qualify through external competitions was one of the coolest things about the whole event. Making it so that it’s only big names and having company’s be able to buy spots for riders would ruin it imo.
armchair_skierAs long as am riders keep getting invited. S/o to Tucker for pulling 3rd against such heavy competition. These events could be like what super unknown used to be.

Also it would be nice if more smaller places got events like this.
Jan 14 2020 12:45PM
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5034 - Karma: 51,145
These events are so much better for spectators too, and you can have them anywhere. Idk why FIS is so stoked on giant scaffolding big air comps rn
Jan 14 2020 1:00PM
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Aric
Posts: 190 - Karma: 851
pinkcamo1000These events are so much better for spectators too, and you can have them anywhere. Idk why FIS is so stoked on giant scaffolding big air comps rn

Aha so true FIS would probably put a Scaffolding big air comp in the heart of Africa before hosting a rail contest
Jan 14 2020 1:05PM
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,578
Would be cool for it to be a midwest tour event. Stops in Grand Rapids (Cannonsburg), Twin Cities (Hyland), and maybe Houghton (Riply) as well as Seven Springs would be cool. Do both an amatuer and pro event, allowing the top am to compete in pro final. It would the hosting hills signature event of the year, bring people together and maybe get somebody noticed on a larger platform.
Jan 14 2020 1:12PM
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Dilldoes
Posts: 761 - Karma: 5,853
AricAha so true FIS would probably put a Scaffolding big air comp in the heart of Africa before hosting a rail contest


Big air makes everyone excited. Rail's lack the adrenaline rush as a viewer. We all know that as skiers we can appreciate rail comps but honestly its not exciting for someone on the outside to watch. Its hard to get pumped on some kid sliding down some 2-3 foot high handrail vs someone hucking their meat off some super booter.
Jan 14 2020 1:49PM
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Aric
Posts: 190 - Karma: 851
skithemidwestttBig air makes everyone excited. Rail's lack the adrenaline rush as a viewer. We all know that as skiers we can appreciate rail comps but honestly its not exciting for someone on the outside to watch. Its hard to get pumped on some kid sliding down some 2-3 foot high handrail vs someone hucking their meat off some super booter.

I feel you, I wouldn’t really want FIS to be involved with this as they are more of a profit organization, Twalls SCS was more of a love driven community contest that would earn supporters respect and loyalty in the world/industry of park skiing. Think about how people view company’s like FIS and the holy trinity, I feel like this would produce the opposite effect.
Jan 14 2020 2:18PM
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crustyboot.420
Posts: 989 - Karma: 4,275
The rails were kinda boring.
Jan 14 2020 5:24PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7484 - Karma: 36,073
Not enough flips for mass appeal.
Jan 14 2020 6:30PM
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,535
I think like anything else making it a circuit would change and somewhat ruin what we saw a seven springs. I though it was super cool to see guys that were nobody's make a name. Most of the people in this weren't guys you always see competing like Kai, Tall T Dan, LJ, Quinn, Siver which was really fun to watch them get after it. R2R was the last thing to happen in the northeast. I would love to see Sugarbush, Killington, Loon, Snow have some with a pro bracket and an open bracket where the top whatever get into the pro division to spice things up. Most people at resorts wouldn't know who Quinn is but having these events and people in the area again creates a lot of hype and gets people super excited about this kinda stuff and can get others interested in the sport.
Jan 14 2020 10:25PM
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AdrenalineGarage
Posts: 261 - Karma: 244
I have so much respect for Tom for making this happen. Big rail jams disappeared years ago and he proved they are still very relevant today. Because Big Air, Slope and Halfpipe events leave out so much of the freeskiing community, I really hope to see more events like this in the future.

That said, I don't think "Mass Appeal" matters that much. I think it's far more important to create a compelling event that excites the desired demographic. "Mass Appeal" too often means watering down something that was cool in hopes of attracting an audience that generally doesn't have all that much invested. From my experience, it's better to create really good content that connects with a passionate audience. As long as it's accessible, good and fresh, that audience tends to grow organically on its own.
Jan 14 2020 10:30PM
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Aric
Posts: 190 - Karma: 851
AdrenalineGarageI have so much respect for Tom for making this happen. Big rail jams disappeared years ago and he proved they are still very relevant today. Because Big Air, Slope and Halfpipe events leave out so much of the freeskiing community, I really hope to see more events like this in the future.

That said, I don't think "Mass Appeal" matters that much. I think it's far more important to create a compelling event that excites the desired demographic. "Mass Appeal" too often means watering down something that was cool in hopes of attracting an audience that generally doesn't have all that much invested. From my experience, it's better to create really good content that connects with a passionate audience. As long as it's accessible, good and fresh, that audience tends to grow organically on its own.

Yea it was pretty early when I made this thread I should have named it like “SCS I hope to god this catches on” I think I was more aiming at the fact you can stream it and if scheduled and promoted right have a good amount of viewership
Jan 15 2020 10:13AM
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Jems
Posts: 7508 - Karma: 97,141
r00kieWould be cool for it to be a midwest tour event. Stops in Grand Rapids (Cannonsburg), Twin Cities (Hyland), and maybe Houghton (Riply) as well as Seven Springs would be cool. Do both an amatuer and pro event, allowing the top am to compete in pro final. It would the hosting hills signature event of the year, bring people together and maybe get somebody noticed on a larger platform.

If they pulled one of these events at Hyland literally every skier within a 50 mile radius would pull up just to see pro skier in person
Jan 15 2020 10:51AM
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