• Forums
  • Ski Gabber
  • Were there skiers in the 70s and 80s who knew what style was about, long before twintips ever came about?

Member of the Month

theabortionator
April, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Were there skiers in the 70s and 80s who knew what style was about, long before twintips ever came about?

profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
it seems like tanner and friends partly used weed to differentiate themselves culturally and stylistically from the previous generations of ski ballet and hotdogging (which were indeed pretty fucking embarrassing) in a similar way that early snowboarders used weed to separate themselves from the snottiness of mainstream skiing culture in the 80s.

but i kind of wonder if in colorado in the 70s and 80s and 90s (before the twintip revolution) there were pockets of skiers who culturally smoked weed and were themselves based as fuck style wise and distant from the styleless embarrassment which was skiing culture at the time.

It would be interesting to know if there were skiers in the 70s and 80s who hit features and kickers, on or off video, with good style, not buying in to the gay as fuck mainstream style at the time which seemed to be about tight clothes and hotdogging.

i think theres probably alot of bitter old timers who would like to pretend that their wack style hotdogging shit was the same thing that kids are doing today on skis when it obviously isnt…

but it would be cool if there really were people from generations ago who either knowingly or unknowingly were based as fuck style wise and were always tuned in to the reality of what skiing could and should look like.
4 years ago
11 23
profile picture
BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
@DominatorJacques How long you been smokin' weed fella?
4 years ago
30 0
profile picture
Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,143
My dad talks about how he and his friends would work on doing shit back in the day, he said they didn’t focus as much on style as they did just making each trick bigger than the last. I’m also like 90% sure he smoked with all his friends back in the day, I mean they all listened to the Grateful Dead, they lived in the mountains, and a couple of them smoke to this day even when they’re in their late 50’s-early 60’s

**This post was edited on Sep 5th 2021 at 4:03:48am
4 years ago
26 0
profile picture
Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,143
Max.broMy dad talks about how he and his friends would work on doing shit back in the day, he said they didn’t focus as much on style as they did just making each trick bigger than the last. I’m also like 90% sure he smoked with all his friends back in the day, I mean they all listened to the Grateful Dead, they lived in the mountains, and a couple of them smoke to this day even when they’re in their late 50’s-early 60’s

**This post was edited on Sep 5th 2021 at 4:03:48am


This was in the early 80’s
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3159 - Karma: 18,828
Max.broMy dad talks about how he and his friends would work on doing shit back in the day, he said they didn’t focus as much on style as they did just making each trick bigger than the last. I’m also like 90% sure he smoked with all his friends back in the day, I mean they all listened to the Grateful Dead, they lived in the mountains, and a couple of them smoke to this day even when they’re in their late 50’s-early 60’s

**This post was edited on Sep 5th 2021 at 4:03:48am


Oh, so you're an acid baby? This explains a lot.
4 years ago
11 0
profile picture
Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,143
JAHBRADOROh, so you're an acid baby? This explains a lot.


Why do you think I say all the dumb shit I do 😂 both my parents were into that whole thing
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
weastcoat
Posts: 6503 - Karma: 75,382
Yeah
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
g_lectrolyte
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,505
CO is full of old heads who have done some insane shit.. next time you go up the chairlift as a single just start chatting up ppl next to u and you will hear some wild tales. I feel like it used to be about skiing really scary lines and peaks back then.. a lot of the first descents recreated in “the fifty” took place in the 70s and 80s. People for sure have been throwing stylie backies and 360s for ages.. I’m sure some of em got off axis on accident a couple times. But no ppl weren’t busting creamy cork 9s or back swaps back then or skiing switch at all. Still got rad.
4 years ago
14 0
profile picture
Christian_Bale
Posts: 2254 - Karma: 25,611
Come on man is your vocabulary really so terrible that you can't come up with a better way of expressing your dislike of something?
dolanslebensraumgay as fuck
4 years ago
19 1
profile picture
alexhallsdad
Posts: 28 - Karma: 344
There was tons of style back in the day, Glen Plake is a great example
4 years ago
9 0
profile picture
deadhead420
Posts: 2106 - Karma: 18,500
My parents always tell me stories about ski bummin it up at abasin in the late 80s to early 90s and that shit sounded core af. Seemed like the "style" was more about just huckin off shit high with the homies and skiing some bumps rather than trying to have a style like skiers do in the modern day.
4 years ago
8 0
profile picture
Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,143
mrk127My parents always tell me stories about ski bummin it up at abasin in the late 80s to early 90s and that shit sounded core af. Seemed like the "style" was more about just huckin off shit high with the homies and skiing some bumps rather than trying to have a style like skiers do in the modern day.


Did they ever talk about that dude Scott rawls? He was a summit county local back in them days
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
3mania
Posts: 2647 - Karma: 10,797
Max.broDid they ever talk about that dude Scott rawls? He was a summit county local back in them days


Scott Rawles and his brothers, Mike and Kirk, dominated the Pro Mogul Tour for years, skiing out of Breck. Chris Carson and Justine Patenode were the best skiers at the Basin back in those days. Anyone who was around in those days know who those dudes are.
Scott went on to coach the US mogul team for years. Chris Carson still coaches moguls in Summit Co. and still dominates the bumps on Palavachini on a regular basis.
4 years ago
5 0
profile picture
KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
“don’t save her, she don’t wanna be saved”
—Project Pat
Christian_BaleCome on man is your vocabulary really so terrible that you can't come up with a better way of expressing your dislike of something?
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
Nuno812
Posts: 432 - Karma: 1,794
Wayne Wong
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,143
idk op u tell me
sports illustrated the og core skiing mag


"Free spirit Biebl, says that some buddies learned this stunt on mescaline: "You hear music and when you jump, man, you stay up a long long time".

^from sports illustrated 1.24.72
4 years ago
9 0
profile picture
Gmeister25
Posts: 152 - Karma: 1,110
Wayne wong was buttering back in the 70's
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
_brrett
Posts: 1740 - Karma: 28,980
Maybe a hot take but I think a lot of riding and landing style is very forced and for clothing people get sucked into trends way too easily. 50% of skiers have actually dope style and the other 50% either try too hard to be gangster or try too hard to be a contrarian, arm flailing, obscure jazz music listening, swervy boi. You could be either of those things and be crazy sick but it often (not always) just seems forced and very unlikely that if they didn’t ski they would wear 6xl and a durag (for example)

So ya skiing style obviously improved a ton but at the same time there is definitely some cringiness.

I think the biggest “issues” in skiing are also its best attribute, that being its versatility. Skiing is by far the most versatile sport which is amazing but it also creates a lot of weird shit. Honestly tho ski however you want and do whatever the fuck you want but if you’re gonna post it on social medias than people are going to judge you, and I think thats okay as long as the people judging arent too vocal about it. Hate on ppl in the privacy of your own mind instead of roasting them online thats just pussy shit. (I say this as I basically roast 50% of skiers lmaoo) I love skiing tho its the best. I have endless respect for guys that don’t have very nice style but still make fire edits. Not everybody is gonna have sick sty, but anybody can go out and make a dope video as long as they have good trick selection and a passion for the sport. I may not like it too much personally but its not about other people its about having fun and making something that you can hold on to forever and be proud of.
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
DeadB@DominatorJacques How long you been smokin' weed fella?


Not as much as I did when I was 'younger', but since I was 10.
4 years ago
9 0
profile picture
DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
DeadB@DominatorJacques How long you been smokin' weed fella?



4 years ago
12 0
profile picture
InspiredMedia
Posts: 527 - Karma: 41,595
https://www.inspiredstore.co/videos

You are able to watch different years of skiing on this page. just click on 'View by Year', scroll down and pick a year. you can decide yourself if they have style or not. There is a lot of dope shit out there from the 60's and 70's. I highly suggest watching the movie 'Moebius Flip' from 1969!
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
c-fries
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 5,586
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/999613/The-Education-of-Style--2012-
Watch this for a lesson
4 years ago
0 0
profile picture
FruitBootPro
Posts: 3176 - Karma: 14,528
I'm not an expert on freeskiing history but I'd imagine that these skiers in the late 20th century differentiated themselves from the status quo mostly via the actual fucking tricks they did and not something they smoked in their free time
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
FruitBootPro
Posts: 3176 - Karma: 14,528
g_lectrolyteCO is full of old heads who have done some insane shit.. next time you go up the chairlift as a single just start chatting up ppl next to u and you will hear some wild tales. I feel like it used to be about skiing really scary lines and peaks back then.. a lot of the first descents recreated in “the fifty” took place in the 70s and 80s. People for sure have been throwing stylie backies and 360s for ages.. I’m sure some of em got off axis on accident a couple times. But no ppl weren’t busting creamy cork 9s or back swaps back then or skiing switch at all. Still got rad.


hearing stuff like this always confuses me cuz i keep seeing ppl talk about insane shit some skiers did back then just for kicks, and then i also hear about how corny non-race skiing "tricks" were back then, and i dont really have a good image in my head of what "freeskiing" was really like back then, whether or not it was truly rad or cringe or what
4 years ago
2 1
profile picture
g_lectrolyte
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,505
FruitBootProhearing stuff like this always confuses me cuz i keep seeing ppl talk about insane shit some skiers did back then just for kicks, and then i also hear about how corny non-race skiing "tricks" were back then, and i dont really have a good image in my head of what "freeskiing" was really like back then, whether or not it was truly rad or cringe or what

Everything you do is cringe if you’re perpetually worried about how cringe you are being. They were having a blast and you’re out here on the Internet worried about if it will enhance others opinion of u or not... so ya they probably are radder than you
4 years ago
8 0
profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
Christian_BaleCome on man is your vocabulary really so terrible that you can't come up with a better way of expressing your dislike of something?


Youre right. Sorry.
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
KCoCM“don’t save her, she don’t wanna be saved”
—Project Pat

What are you talking about? Jesus fucking loves me.



just kidding.

i think….
4 years ago
0 0
profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
a_burgeridk op u tell me

^from sports illustrated 1.24.72

Mmmm.. idk about those jeans.



i mean he makes jeans look about as good as you can make them look but didnt they have decent fabriks for waterproof (ish) snowpants back then?
4 years ago
0 0
profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
BLandzMaybe a hot take but I think a lot of riding and landing style is very forced and for clothing people get sucked into trends way too easily. 50% of skiers have actually dope style and the other 50% either try too hard to be gangster or try too hard to be a contrarian, arm flailing, obscure jazz music listening, swervy boi. You could be either of those things and be crazy sick but it often (not always) just seems forced and very unlikely that if they didn’t ski they would wear 6xl and a durag (for example)

So ya skiing style obviously improved a ton but at the same time there is definitely some cringiness.

I think the biggest “issues” in skiing are also its best attribute, that being its versatility. Skiing is by far the most versatile sport which is amazing but it also creates a lot of weird shit. Honestly tho ski however you want and do whatever the fuck you want but if you’re gonna post it on social medias than people are going to judge you, and I think thats okay as long as the people judging arent too vocal about it. Hate on ppl in the privacy of your own mind instead of roasting them online thats just pussy shit. (I say this as I basically roast 50% of skiers lmaoo) I love skiing tho its the best. I have endless respect for guys that don’t have very nice style but still make fire edits. Not everybody is gonna have sick sty, but anybody can go out and make a dope video as long as they have good trick selection and a passion for the sport. I may not like it too much personally but its not about other people its about having fun and making something that you can hold on to forever and be proud of.

Id say the number of skiers today who have full blown ignorant style is about the same as the number of people who truly know how to dance well. Like 1/100 imo.

50% percent you say? Idk man.



style in skiing is about having a trick so dialed that you not only make it look effortless, but it IS effortless.

thats why cork 9s look so good. With a laid out body a cork usually completes one cycle per the skiers 900 of spinning rotation. So you can throw a cork nine and just fall asleep in the air, which is what alot of really good skiers do and it makes the cork 9 blunt look like artwork.

but yeah some skiers make style look forced but ppl who are truly good at park almost always know how to make the thots watching cream their pants.
4 years ago
0 0
profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
InspiredMediahttps://www.inspiredstore.co/videos

You are able to watch different years of skiing on this page. just click on 'View by Year', scroll down and pick a year. you can decide yourself if they have style or not. There is a lot of dope shit out there from the 60's and 70's. I highly suggest watching the movie 'Moebius Flip' from 1969!

thanks man ill check it out


FruitBootProhearing stuff like this always confuses me cuz i keep seeing ppl talk about insane shit some skiers did back then just for kicks, and then i also hear about how corny non-race skiing "tricks" were back then, and i dont really have a good image in my head of what "freeskiing" was really like back then, whether or not it was truly rad or cringe or what

I think the ppl in the 80s who really knew what the lowest common denominator of style was are probably mostly unknown.



Its like a having your cake and eating it type thing.

the skiers in the 80s who had killer style probably didnt try to, and thats the whole point. Style is more of an ubermensche thing than an effort thing.

**This post was edited on Sep 12th 2021 at 10:11:45pm
4 years ago
0 0
profile picture
dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,095
InspiredMediahttps://www.inspiredstore.co/videos

You are able to watch different years of skiing on this page. just click on 'View by Year', scroll down and pick a year. you can decide yourself if they have style or not. There is a lot of dope shit out there from the 60's and 70's. I highly suggest watching the movie 'Moebius Flip' from 1969!


Looked thru alot of these vids.

the first signs of style becoming a thing seem to have come from brad holmes and jp auclair in 97 and 98.

before that almost everything is cringe. At least from the pre 90s footage i checked out.

brad holmes haha.

i used to think he was kind of a tool for his retarded rap seg on ski movie 1 but he seems like he was one of the pioneers of the whole ski revolution along with jp. Jp is obviously was a more impressive skier overall but…

fucking brad holmes… kinda funny.
4 years ago
0 2
profile picture
FruitBootPro
Posts: 3176 - Karma: 14,528
g_lectrolyteEverything you do is cringe if you’re perpetually worried about how cringe you are being. They were having a blast and you’re out here on the Internet worried about if it will enhance others opinion of u or not... so ya they probably are radder than you


no question anyone who was doing freeskiing shit back before freeskiing was "established" is radder than i'll ever be
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
I tried to find a way to masturbate to this thread but came up unsuccessful. Back to the real ski video where even health gets called an industry professional I guess
4 years ago
5 0
profile picture
Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,143
skierman_jackI tried to find a way to masturbate to this thread but came up unsuccessful. Back to the real ski video where even health gets called an industry professional I guess


There’s a lot going on within the statement you’ve just provided, care to elaborate any further?
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,201
I'm sure there were some people who kept their hands in their pockets and dipped their heads on landing with decent afterbang
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
hoodratz47
Posts: 12028 - Karma: 9,579
Brad homes cologne though

Attitude. By Holmes
dolanslebensraumLooked thru alot of these vids.

the first signs of style becoming a thing seem to have come from brad holmes and jp auclair in 97 and 98.

before that almost everything is cringe. At least from the pre 90s footage i checked out.

brad holmes haha.

i used to think he was kind of a tool for his retarded rap seg on ski movie 1 but he seems like he was one of the pioneers of the whole ski revolution along with jp. Jp is obviously was a more impressive skier overall but…

fucking brad holmes… kinda funny.
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
Max.broThere’s a lot going on within the statement you’ve just provided, care to elaborate any further?

yes
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Mackaroni_space
Posts: 1765 - Karma: 24,143
skierman_jackyes


Word thank you
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
3mania
Posts: 2647 - Karma: 10,797

Motherfucker is in leather boots and 210's... just know you'll never have this much style. ever. SIP Stein Erikson

**This post was edited on Sep 13th 2021 at 2:50:57pm
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
FruitBootProI'm not an expert on freeskiing history but I'd imagine that these skiers in the late 20th century differentiated themselves from the status quo mostly via the actual fucking tricks they did and not something they smoked in their free time


They smoked it, and snorted white stuff.
4 years ago
3 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 3:43PM