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Thoughts on Eileen Gu getting a pro model before Kelly Sildaru?

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Leprechaunonskis
Posts: 9 - Karma: 76
First of all congrats to Eileen Gu for getting her own pro model.
But doesn’t Kelly deserve to have her own ski first as she’s been a member of the faction team for the past 4 years, is the youngest winter xgames gold medalist and only female skier to take home 3 gold’s at one xgames. While Eileen has only been a faction team member for the past year.

Shouldn’t team riders who have invested a lot of time in a company and produced greater results For said company be prioritised for pro model skis?
5 years ago
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xonskier78
Posts: 236 - Karma: 187
Yeah I completly agree with you. Don't know why Kelly or any other meber for example Mathilde or so didn't got a pro model... I mean Eileen is on the team just one year. Haha so maybe she had to pay an enormous mount of money to faction ;)

**This post was edited on Jul 11th 2020 at 8:55:37am
5 years ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7996 - Karma: 23,470
As far as wild speculation goes, it could have been part of Gu's contract when she signed with Faction.
5 years ago
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5402 - Karma: 56,102
She skis for China in international competitions and the Chinese ski market is expanding super quick, Faction will for sure sell a shitload of these. I also agree that Kelly is more deserving but this makes perfect sense from Faction's standpoint
5 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7102 - Karma: 26,916
yeah it was kinda weird this older lady that I talk to at hood last week basically knew of two free skiers Candide and Eileen Gu so she is getting some marketing pull with some kids moms out there somehow
5 years ago
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mattm7
Posts: 355 - Karma: 1,974
Yeah it sucks for Kelly but it seems to be a marketing thing, the strength of the Asian market is on of their sales growth drivers. Hopefully Kelly gets hers soon
5 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,293
100% for marketing in China.


Also isn't it a bit of a pisser when someone lives their whole life in a country, is given all their opportunities because of the country they're in, take advantage of all the facilities offered in that country, then decide to essentially say fuck you and compete for a different country? Likely she was offered mucho $$ from China. She's a good skier and definitely had a great chance of competing for team US. Not like she's pulling a Swaney and only competing for China because she couldn't make team USA (or Gus.. there's no way he would have made Team USA again).
5 years ago
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Leprechaunonskis
Posts: 9 - Karma: 76
Yea honestly forgot how freeskiing is a very young sport in most places outside Europe, Canada and the US.


pinkcamo1000She skis for China in international competitions and the Chinese ski market is expanding super quick, Faction will for sure sell a shitload of these. I also agree that Kelly is more deserving but this makes perfect sense from Faction's standpoint
5 years ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12724 - Karma: 120,414
pinkcamo1000She skis for China in international competitions and the Chinese ski market is expanding super quick, Faction will for sure sell a shitload of these. I also agree that Kelly is more deserving but this makes perfect sense from Faction's standpoint


Hit the nail right on the head. I have a chinese coworker who got into freestyle skiing. Eileen is the person her and rest of china looks up to as the gold standard (even though shes an american by all means lol). This is a great move for faction skis to get into the chinese market. Glad i invested in them

**This post was edited on Jul 11th 2020 at 3:47:10pm
5 years ago
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turntable
Posts: 2743 - Karma: 876
kelly's contract could be up soon or something.
5 years ago
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DesertStix
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 15,024
Totally makes sense from a business perspective but imagine having to sit down Kelly, Mathilde, and Sarah Hoefflin to break the news that faction is about to stop a women’s pro model that isn’t one of theirs

*drop not stop lol

**This post was edited on Jul 11th 2020 at 8:31:06pm
5 years ago
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Price_Police
Posts: 444 - Karma: 1,785
Idk but I should have slid in her DMs when I lived in SF
5 years ago
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,433
She got a pro model? Since when?
5 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,293
localsonvolklsIdk but I should have slid in her DMs when I lived in SF


she's 15...
5 years ago
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jps2.0
Posts: 480 - Karma: 2,479
DesertStixTotally makes sense from a business perspective but imagine having to sit down Kelly, Mathilde, and Sarah Hoefflin to break the news that faction is about to stop a women’s pro model that isn’t one of theirs

*drop not stop lol

**This post was edited on Jul 11th 2020 at 8:31:06pm


fully agree Mathilde, and Sarah Hoefflin deserve a pro model before any of the other girls on the team
5 years ago
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,433
Seems like it’s just a prodigy with a different top sheet. Who’s to say the other women on the team don’t have one too and just haven’t released it yet?
5 years ago
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jwilly
Posts: 487 - Karma: 2,681
(or Gus.. there's no way he would have made Team USA again).[/quote]

I'm thinking Gus could probably grab a spot on the US pipe team, he took some W's this year after probably skiing a fraction of the other guys
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
I was gonna say, even Giulias been on faction a while, Sarah Hoefflin won Olympic gold for them so idk Kelly should have a pro model ski for sure by now. Some friends in the upcoming comp scene have made it clear that she’s making fucking dough already cause the whole China deal. Magazine shoots, pro model ski and even on Red Bull at 15 is pretty nuts.
5 years ago
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Price_Police
Posts: 444 - Karma: 1,785
Ohhh shit lol good thing I didn’t
coronashe's 15...
5 years ago
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LukeTheWaffle
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 8,895
animatorSeems like it’s just a prodigy with a different top sheet. Who’s to say the other women on the team don’t have one too and just haven’t released it yet?





Looks like it's 117-83-109, which isn't the size of any of the current prodigy skis tho
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
Tbh Kelly doesn’t deserve a pro model
5 years ago
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2744 - Karma: 35,164
I’m def getting flamed for this but I have no idea who either of those people are
5 years ago
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OCoffey
Posts: 648 - Karma: 3,701
armchair_skierI’m def getting flamed for this but I have no idea who either of those people are

Do ya live under a rock?
5 years ago
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2744 - Karma: 35,164
OCoffeyDo ya live under a rock?


I don’t watch women’s comp skiing.
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
OCoffeyDo ya live under a rock?


armchair_skierI don’t watch women’s comp skiing.


Huge vibe, it’s literally just the WNBA if snowsports. No dubs/dunks, barely viewed and pulls in hardly any money, if Kelly does ever get a pro mode I’d hope they call it “the 900’s” cause that’s really all she got
5 years ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9842 - Karma: 66,605
Young_pattyNo dubs/dunks


i'm not gonna try to tell you that you need to watch and be entertained by women's skiing but this is just really untrue. watch x games big air from this year, they threw some wild shit honestly
5 years ago
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LukeTheWaffle
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 8,895
Young_pattyHuge vibe, it’s literally just the WNBA if snowsports. No dubs/dunks, barely viewed and pulls in hardly any money, if Kelly does ever get a pro mode I’d hope they call it “the 900’s” cause that’s really all she got


Dude the women are progressing hard. Throwing carving dub 12s and shit. For me it's just as fun to watch cuz I have no clue what's getting thrown down, when I watch men I can call what trick they're gonna do before they drop and be right 75% of the time
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
SofaKingSicki'm not gonna try to tell you that you need to watch and be entertained by women's skiing but this is just really untrue. watch x games big air from this year, they threw some wild shit honestly


To be fair I’ve seen a number of woman’s events and I even made it through a 1/3 of Factions chick flick. Imma stop before I dig myself a misogyny hole but at the end of the day why would you want to watch sub par skiing?
5 years ago
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5402 - Karma: 56,102
Young_pattyTo be fair I’ve seen a number of woman’s events and I even made it through a 1/3 of Factions chick flick. Imma stop before I dig myself a misogyny hole but at the end of the day why would you want to watch sub par skiing?


idk man people will get mad hype on some up and comer dude skier putting out a park edit or a chill urban movie with smaller features, but for some reason every woman has to be doing the most insane shit possible to get any recognition.

For example, people will hate on a dude doing dubs in the street because it's "comp style" but then turn around and say that women's skiing is lame because they don't do enough dubs or huge spins. So it seems to me that a lot of the time women's skiing is just held to a different standard. Not necessarily a higher standard, just different. I think the best thing to do is instead of constantly comparing it to men's skiing, just take the skiing for what it is.
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
Young_pattyHuge vibe, it’s literally just the WNBA if snowsports. No dubs/dunks, barely viewed and pulls in hardly any money, if Kelly does ever get a pro mode I’d hope they call it “the 900’s” cause that’s really all she got

Really all she has is a 900? Can you even switch 10 one way? Cause she can flawlessly do them both ways. And to say there’s no dubs in women’s skiing is also fucking retarded, only thing to criticize kelly for is she isn’t doing doubles like a good amount of girls are, that are on the faction team too.
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
pinkcamo1000idk man people will get mad hype on some up and comer dude skier putting out a park edit or a chill urban movie with smaller features, but for some reason every woman has to be doing the most insane shit possible to get any recognition.

For example, people will hate on a dude doing dubs in the street because it's "comp style" but then turn around and say that women's skiing is lame because they don't do enough dubs or huge spins. So it seems to me that a lot of the time women's skiing is just held to a different standard. Not necessarily a higher standard, just different. I think the best thing to do is instead of constantly comparing it to men's skiing, just take the skiing for what it is.

If you say so dude, it’s all opinion so I’m not gonna heat over it but IMO watching women’s comp skiing just ain’t hype for me, I’d rather watch men’s events because the caliber of skiing is just at a much higher level. Sorry. I’m not saying I won’t tune in for a Taylor Lundquist or Tatum edit cause there are some girls puttin down clips but comp wise I could care less about Kelly Silderu doing the same 900’s she’s done at every X-games or watching small 540’s in a super pipe Event.
Titus69only thing to criticize kelly for is she isn’t doing doubles like a good amount of girls are, that are on the faction team too.

Couldn’t have said it better, that’s why she doesn’t need a faction pro model
5 years ago
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5402 - Karma: 56,102
Young_pattyIf you say so dude, it’s all opinion so I’m not gonna heat over it but IMO watching women’s comp skiing just ain’t hype for me, I’d rather watch men’s events because the caliber of skiing is just at a much higher level. Sorry. I’m not saying I won’t tune in for a Taylor Lundquist or Tatum edit cause there are some girls puttin down clips but comp wise I could care less about Kelly Silderu doing the same 900’s she’s done at every X-games or watching small 540’s in a super pipe Event.

I agree, I do not give a shit about Kelly doing the same 900s we've seen a bunch of times or small 540s in a super pipe. But that's cause I've seen that stuff done by them before, and men's comp skiing is just as repetitive, if not more. I don't watch men's or women's comp skiing because they're both super repetitive and boring, but that's just the way comp skiing has always been.

Basically you're proving my point that men's and women's skiing are held to different standards. It's ok for men to do the same canned triple every run, but if Kelly Sildaru does too many 900s it means all women's comp events are wack.
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
Young_pattyIf you say so dude, it’s all opinion so I’m not gonna heat over it but IMO watching women’s comp skiing just ain’t hype for me, I’d rather watch men’s events because the caliber of skiing is just at a much higher level. Sorry. I’m not saying I won’t tune in for a Taylor Lundquist or Tatum edit cause there are some girls puttin down clips but comp wise I could care less about Kelly Silderu doing the same 900’s she’s done at every X-games or watching small 540’s in a super pipe Event.

Couldn’t have said it better, that’s why she doesn’t need a faction pro model


Yeah but she’s also been pushing her skiing hard since she was 7, basically one of the faces of women’s free skiing IMO, so many girl pros older than her have been seen showing so much respect for her at comps instead of being mad a girl 6 years younger kicked their ass without a double in her run (cause she can actually ski rails). Not defending her saying she absolutely needs a pro model but it’s funny that she’s done so much for girls skiing and has been on faction for years then suddenly this young hotshot with maybe half of the accolades Kelly’s has who’s already cashing out from her China deal deserves one not long after signing to faction.
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
pinkcamo1000I agree, I do not give a shit about Kelly doing the same 900s we've seen a bunch of times or small 540s in a super pipe. But that's cause I've seen that stuff done by them before, and men's comp skiing is just as repetitive, if not more. I don't watch men's or women's comp skiing because they're both super repetitive and boring, but that's just the way comp skiing has always been.

Basically you're proving my point that men's and women's skiing are held to different standards. It's ok for men to do the same canned triple every run, but if Kelly Sildaru does too many 900s it means all women's comp events are wack.

Comp skiing has definitely been a drag to watch in the past but with all the new formats (few tour mixed format and X-games knuckle Huck to name a couple) have been making me tune back in, -games Norway men’s knuckle Huck was actually super fun to watch and the roster was a refreshing mix of skiers. Also you’re dancing around the ball, “different standards” just means “we hold women skiers to lower standards” because yes a canned triple is just as boring to watch as stock 900’s but objectively speaking that canned triple is on a muuuuch higher level of skiing.
Titus69Yeah but she’s also been pushing her skiing hard since she was 7, basically one of the faces of women’s free skiing IMO, so many girl pros older than her have been seen showing so much respect for her at comps instead of being mad a girl 6 years younger kicked their ass without a double in her run (cause she can actually ski rails). Not defending her saying she absolutely needs a pro model but it’s funny that she’s done so much for girls skiing and has been on faction for years then suddenly this young hotshot with maybe half of the accolades Kelly’s has who’s already cashing out from her China deal deserves one not long after signing to faction.


I agree with you her rail game is better than many of her competitors (but I’m a bit out of the women’s comp scene so I could be wrong) but honestly I think faction did it just because she’s a better skier, she might be newer to the scene and have only half the accolades as Kelly but you said it yourself she just shreds harder and will probably make it easier for faction to sell her pro models and make money, which is the goal of every ski company. Kelly definitely has a huge image and reputation in the women’s comp scene but faction might be looking at just skill sets to deciding who will sell more skis for them over time.
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
Young_pattyComp skiing has definitely been a drag to watch in the past but with all the new formats (few tour mixed format and X-games knuckle Huck to name a couple) have been making me tune back in, -games Norway men’s knuckle Huck was actually super fun to watch and the roster was a refreshing mix of skiers. Also you’re dancing around the ball, “different standards” just means “we hold women skiers to lower standards” because yes a canned triple is just as boring to watch as stock 900’s but objectively speaking that canned triple is on a muuuuch higher level of skiing.


I agree with you her rail game is better than many of her competitors (but I’m a bit out of the women’s comp scene so I could be wrong) but honestly I think faction did it just because she’s a better skier, she might be newer to the scene and have only half the accolades as Kelly but you said it yourself she just shreds harder and will probably make it easier for faction to sell her pro models and make money, which is the goal of every ski company. Kelly definitely has a huge image and reputation in the women’s comp scene but faction might be looking at just skill sets to deciding who will sell more skis for them over time.


Yeah I think we’re both right or onto something with it, obviously I feel kelly maybe should have a pro model since she’s a very decorated athlete who’s been going on about 10 years of big exposure, Eileen is younger and brand new to faction but yeah I do think she will be something big in women’s skiing which might be their idea. She just doesn’t have the legacy that girls like kelly have, people in skiing have no clue who Eileen is and I don’t think she’s done anything out of the ordinary except be 15 and pretty good. Funny thought, when the olympics come around and she’s repping China with her pro model factions, sales over there are gonna boom cause she’s already a celebrity.
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
Titus69I don’t think she’s done anything out of the ordinary except be 15 and pretty good. Funny thought, when the olympics come around and she’s repping China with her pro model factions, sales over there are gonna boom cause she’s already a celebrity.


Oh shit, dude they put her on cause she was young and good but that’s more or less the same reason they put Silderu on. You’re definitely right too about her posting up at the olympics with her faction pro models too, the exposure would be huge for faction and it would probably let em dip into the Chinese ski market even more. I think they’re definitely tryna crank out a Silderu 2.0 for sure
5 years ago
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2744 - Karma: 35,164
Young_pattyOh shit, dude they put her on cause she was young and good but that’s more or less the same reason they put Silderu on. You’re definitely right too about her posting up at the olympics with her faction pro models too, the exposure would be huge for faction and it would probably let em dip into the Chinese ski market even more. I think they’re definitely tryna crank out a Silderu 2.0 for sure

Finally someone gets it. The reason ski brands pay people to use their skis is because it’s advertising. “Pro models” are just an extension of this idea.
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
armchair_skierFinally someone gets it. The reason ski brands pay people to use their skis is because it’s advertising. “Pro models” are just an extension of this idea.


And sometimes the athlete of said pro model could and usually should get a profit off the sales of the ski, that’s gotta be part of it though cause I’m pretty sure to that country she’s a big shot or a prodigy or whatever. If there’s one thing I can see happening its she does well in future comps/olympics in China and boom all the girl skiers especially in Asia will wanna be what she’s on. Lol marketing.
5 years ago
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Jhaek
Posts: 301 - Karma: 728
Faction def not keepin' it real.
5 years ago
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5402 - Karma: 56,102
Young_pattyComp skiing has definitely been a drag to watch in the past but with all the new formats (few tour mixed format and X-games knuckle Huck to name a couple) have been making me tune back in, -games Norway men’s knuckle Huck was actually super fun to watch and the roster was a refreshing mix of skiers. Also you’re dancing around the ball, “different standards” just means “we hold women skiers to lower standards” because yes a canned triple is just as boring to watch as stock 900’s but objectively speaking that canned triple is on a muuuuch higher level of skiing.


did they even have knuckle huck for the ladies? And yes, in competition skiing women are generally held to a lower standard. But I think that in some ways in other areas of skiing women are actually held to a higher standard. Like in my example before, a dude can put out a chill edit with low consequence features/tricks and people will be like "so chill, very relatable" etc. Whereas when girls put out content it's always "I COULD DO THESE TRICKS SHE'S NOT EVEN GOOD, I WILL GET A SEX CHANGE SO I CAN BE SPONSORED TOO LMAO XD" In one instance the lower consequence skiing is just appreciated for what it is, whereas in the other it's just compared to men's skiing. See what I'm saying?
5 years ago
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LukeTheWaffle
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 8,895
oh also
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3qscCUgh1n/?igshid=3dbzw94mxip6
5 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52783 - Karma: 175,273
Women are starting to go upside down more some throwing dubs. Idk I feel like you have to be able to dip that axis a bit these days.
5 years ago
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LukeTheWaffle
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 8,895
oh even tho Eileen kills it, let's be real here, she's basically the most marketable athlete to rhe Chinese people ever, so it would make sense for her to have a ski, now that china is expanding their ski industry much more. I don't really think this very much to do with skill.
5 years ago
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tdollo
Posts: 3885 - Karma: 19,911
coronashe's 15...


she actually 18... ;)
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
tdolloshe actually 18... ;)


Kelly is, Eileens not.
5 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2838 - Karma: 5,598
tdolloshe actually 18... ;)

https://www.redbull.com/us-en/athlete/eileen-gu.

**This post was edited on Jul 14th 2020 at 2:49:06pm
5 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 39,453
pinkcamo1000did they even have knuckle huck for the ladies? And yes, in competition skiing women are generally held to a lower standard. But I think that in some ways in other areas of skiing women are actually held to a higher standard. Like in my example before, a dude can put out a chill edit with low consequence features/tricks and people will be like "so chill, very relatable" etc. Whereas when girls put out content it's always "I COULD DO THESE TRICKS SHE'S NOT EVEN GOOD, I WILL GET A SEX CHANGE SO I CAN BE SPONSORED TOO LMAO XD" In one instance the lower consequence skiing is just appreciated for what it is, whereas in the other it's just compared to men's skiing. See what I'm saying?


Honestly, I doubt most people would tune in for women’s Kunckle huck and I doubt many even tuned in for men’s so no shocker that there isn’t one. Kinda grasping for straws saying dudes who put out shit edits still get applauded, most men that suck aren’t putting out pro parts (except Vishnu obviously) so comparing them to pro women segments is once again simply holding them to lower standards. The standard are clearly just lower comp scene or not no matter what way you want to spin it and that’s why there Isn’t as much interest in it I’d imagine.
5 years ago
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Leprechaunonskis
Posts: 9 - Karma: 76
Young_pattyHonestly, I doubt most people would tune in for women’s Kunckle huck and I doubt many even tuned in for men’s so no shocker that there isn’t one. Kinda grasping for straws saying dudes who put out shit edits still get applauded, most men that suck aren’t putting out pro parts (except Vishnu obviously) so comparing them to pro women segments is once again simply holding them to lower standards. The standard are clearly just lower comp scene or not no matter what way you want to spin it and that’s why there Isn’t as much interest in it I’d imagine.

You clearly did not watch the knuckle huck highlights if you’re saying people wouldn’t tune in for it.

Watch jyosei and you’ll realise that despite being at a lower overall standard than men’s skiing, women’s skiing is still great to watch. https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/946242/JYOSEI
5 years ago
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GrandThings
Posts: 3361 - Karma: 34,863
This is kinda off topic, but the other day I realized...

Taylor Lundquist - skates better than me, skis (much) better than me, has cooler tattoos than I do, parties harder, and gets hotter chicks than I do...

She is basically my own ideal version of myself...
5 years ago
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SoggyOatmeal420
Posts: 296 - Karma: 1,530
Okay but since we are on the topic of faction pro models, why doesn't Alex Hall have one yet?

Edit for spelling

**This post was edited on Jul 16th 2020 at 12:16:34pm
5 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
SoggyOatmeal420Okay but since we are on the topic of faction pro models, why does Alex Hall have one yet


Arent the candides the only one for faction besides eileens? I think overall it’s just kinda funny, I mean she’s nasty and good enough to deserve one but I’d be pretty salty if I won the olympic slope for faction and the new girl on the team gets a pro model instantly. But obviously there’s more than skills and results to it.
5 years ago
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