Do you consider a skier/rider an athlete

[ctenidae]

Skiing is an athletic activity, no doubt. People who ski, no matter how poorly or ineptly, are engaged in an athletic event. Of course, there are some people who are more of an athlete than others. I'm 100% non-athletic, but I ski. My wife is 100% athletic (former competitive figure skater), and is a natural at athletic activities. She skis (and skates) like a dream, but can't walk on level ground to save her life.

My pint: Of course skiiers are athletes. So are curlers, for that matter.

Main Entry: ath·lete
Pronunciation: 'ath-"lEt, ÷'a-th&-"lEt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlEtEs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest
: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

 

[deadheadskier]

In my opinion, 95% of recreational skiers aren't athletes just like 95% of recreational golfers or bicycle riders aren't athletes. Anybody who competes at J2 or higher is an athlete but that's a fraction of a percent of people who ski. You don't have to be physicically fit to ski. Even being physically fit doesn't make you an athlete.

So what makes an athlete?

Why does a J2 racer qualify? I can guarantee you that there are many J2 caliber racers who can't keep up with me in the woods. I used to race against some of the finest NCAA racers in the nation in the Stowe Ski Bum series and they blew me away through the gates. I'd take them out in the woods when we weren't racing and many of them couldn't keep up with me. Why should they be considered an athlete and myself not? They were superior at one discipline of skiing and myself superior at another.

Not that I really give a care whether or not someone thinks that I'm an athlete or not. I could honestly care less. I just find your views on what constitutes an athlete as very narrow minded.

 

[Marc]

*digs dead horse out of the ground for another solid beating*


IMHO, in any activity, your level of involvment defines the level of athleticism. I consider myself somewhat of an athlete on the bike, even though I'm not that physically gifted and I don't compete. I at least 4 times a week, upwards of 18 mph alone, low 20's with a riding partner and attempt to eat healthy, I ride a racing oriented road and mountain bike. I'm physically fit. I push myself and am constantly looking for more torturous routes to take. I can completely disassemble and reassamble either of my bikes in a couple hours and can fine tune them exactly to my liking.

On the other hand I see families on liesurely rides on land cruisers and hybrids on rail trails that don't break a sweat or breath hard. They consider spraying the chain once every few rides with WD-40 maintenance. These are not athletes yet they participate in the same activity as I do.


My point is, in my eyes, there is a blurry line with every physical activity that separates the athletes from the rest. A 300 pound man running across the street to the pizza shop does not make him a runner.

A guy that skis three times a year on blues and and greens that otherwise does nothing else is not an athlete.


I could continue on with my electronic verbal diarrhea, but I think I've gone far enough.

 

[noski]

And name me another sport besides downhill skiing where there is a bigger consequnce if you make a mistake.

Auto Racing
Motorcross
Horse Racing
Boxing
Skydiving
Football (shortest professional life expectancy of all sports)
High Altitude Mountaineering
Rock Climbing
Wrestling (Yeah, laugh, but its true)
Open Sea Yachting

I think you got this list about right. And no doubt Auto Racing is #1. Many don't consider these drivers athletes, but these guys (gals) train continuosly to stay in peak shape, (well, maybe not Jimmy Spencer...but he's fun to have around- calling 'em how he sees 'em) Maybe Rustyfan will jump in.

 

[Brettski]

I don't get it? What? Just because you're not the best in the world, nation, state, region, or district, that doesn't make you an athlete?

And the comments about competition, hey the competition is you against some feat that you try to accomplish, whether it trying to learn to run the zipper, or beginners trying to round out their turns, or whatever. Ever try nastar when you're moving so fast you feel like you want to pee in your pants...

It ain't like being a couch potato.

Let me ask this?

How many of you know the couch potato types?

I may still need to lose the handles, but you want to jam? Let's go! Come on, just follow the rooster tail baby....

 

[dmc]

I'm definately an athlete...

Especially when it comes to back country...

Skin up to Tuckermans on the splitboard.. Climb snow faces and ride back down... Get home before dark... Takes a lot of energy and skill...


Inbounds - gravity rules... Makes it easy... Still atheletic...

 

[RossiSkier]

No doubt that skiing is athletics and should be considered a sport. Not that every skiier is a top athlete, but a superbly conditioned person will be a much better skier. Golf is not a sport in the classic sense. Anything that you can get beat by an 80 year old in is not a sport.

 

[Marc]

No doubt that skiing is athletics and should be considered a sport. Not that every skiier is a top athlete, but a superbly conditioned person will be a much better skier. Golf is not a sport in the classic sense. Anything that you can get beat by an 80 year old in is not a sport.

Are you trying to say something about shuffleboard?

 

[ctenidae]

Golf is a sport- it requires physical training, physical practice, and physical skill. So is range shooting, so is bocci, so is horseshoes. Maybe not contact sports, but they are all sports, just the same. Competition, and a winner and a loser. It's a sport.

sport (P) Pronunciation Key (spôrt, sprt):n.

1) Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
2) A particular form of this activity.
3) An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
4) An active pastime; recreation.

 

[Brettski]

No doubt that skiing is athletics and should be considered a sport. Not that every skiier is a top athlete, but a superbly conditioned person will be a much better skier. Golf is not a sport in the classic sense. Anything that you can get beat by an 80 year old in is not a sport.

Yeah? Play Mountain Golf and Carry.....

 

[RossiSkier]

Are you trying to say something about shuffleboard?

Exactly! Or bocci which is big in this town.

 

[awf170]

Golf is a sport- it requires physical training, physical practice, and physical skill. So is range shooting, so is bocci, so is horseshoes. Maybe not contact sports, but they are all sports, just the same. Competition, and a winner and a loser. It's a sport.

Is competitive eating a sport, those guys are atheletes :wink: Personally I think golf is a game not a sport, same with bowling, curling, and shuffleboards

 

[ctenidae]

By definition, it's a sport. Parcheesi is a game (no physical part). Anyone who engages in a sport is an athlete. Maybe not much of one, but an athlete nonetheless. Golf isn't that far removed from baseball in non-athleticism (how many fat golfers are there compared to tubby baseball players?), but no one will say baseball isn't an athletic sport.

 

[JimG.]

Although it seems obvious to me that skiing is a sport that requires grace and athleticism to master, there are apparently differences of opinion. I consider myself an athlete when I'm skiing, but not a world class olympic athlete.

Now a bonus question: Is chess a sport?

 

[ctenidae]

Chess is a game- no physical compnent, per the definition. Unless it's Harry Potter-style Wizard Chess, or if you start throwing pieces at each other. Then it's a sport.

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

no-one ever thinks golf is a sport until they play it.
just think about golf for second.
how many people can break 100? not that many on a rec. level. thats 100 stokes min. plus everyone takes at least one practice swing before each real swing. thats 200 stokes min. try taking 150 - 200 swings with a club and tell me your body does not hurt. bet you have trouble lifting your arms the next day.
add walking... what would be average per hole??? figure 250 yards average per hole for 18 holes with 20 pounds of clubs. not to mention pressure to perform well. add the summer heat.
plus it takes years to play well.
sounds like a sport to me.

 

[Brettski]

Well those were my points...I'm an Athlete...Am I gonna win any gold medals...most likely not....

I compete to try and get gold pins on nastar

And Golf...usually betwen 5,000 and 7,000 yards per course....that don't count zigging back and forth (oooo, you're suppose to play down the middle) and my home course in Jersey is all hills....

imagine walking the sugarbush country club....

~ Toby Keith


She said 'I've seen you in here before'
I said 'I've been here a time or two'
She said 'Hello, my name is Bobby Jo
Meet my twin sister Betty Lou
And we're both feeling kinda wild tonight
And you're the only cowboy in this place
And if you're up for a rodeo
We'll put a big Texas smile on your face'
I said 'Girls,'

[CHORUS:]
I ain't as good as I once was
I got a few years on me now
But there was a time back in my prime
When I could really lay it down
And if you need some love tonight
Then I might have just enough
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was

I still hang out with my best friend Dave
I've known him since we were kids at school
Last night he had a few shots
Got in a tight spot hustlin' a game of pool
With a couple of readneck boys
One great big bad biker man
I heard David yell across the room
'Hey buddy, how 'bout a helping hand.'
I said 'Dave,'

[CHORUS:]
I ain't as good as I once was
My how the years have flown
But there was a time back in my prime
When I could really hold my own
But if you wanna fight tonight
Guess thouse boys dont look all that tough
I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was

I used to be Hell on wheels
Back when I was younger man
Now my body says 'You can't do this boy'
But my pride says 'Oh, yes you can.'

I ain't as good as I once was
Thats just the cold hard truth
I still throw a few back, talk a little smack
When I'm feelin' bullet proof
So don't double dog dare me now
'Cause I'd have to call your bluff

I ain't as good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was
Maybe not be good as I once was
But I'm as good once as I ever was

 

[noski]

drivers as athletes

interesting story on cnn.com today about this very topic. Are Drivers Really Athletes?

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I compete to try and get gold pins on nastar

I like NASTAR too. It was alot harder to win gold last year with the handicap changes.

 

[dmc]

I compete to try and get gold pins on nastar

I like NASTAR too. It was alot harder to win gold last year with the handicap changes.

I like open wheel stuff..
Indy, CART, Formula One...