Whats with all the hating on the freestyle community?

[hammer]

I usually stop on the sides, but not all the way over towards the trees. I usually leave one or two skier (or rider ) lines between me and the trees. Then the tree-huggers like myself can ski by. If I also notice someone coming down the sides while I'm stopped, I'll move.

I tend to stop more often, especially on steeper slopes to collect my thoughts if I've slipped into survival mode...the main thing I try to do is make sure others coming down can see me and, if needed, move around me without too much trouble. Since I'm not sure where folks would want to go to get by me, I tend to stay in the same spot, though...

The problems I see are usually when a whole group of people stop and block off a large part of the trail, but I've seen that behavior with all types/ages so I can't say that it's a skier/boarder or freestyler thing. I'm not as good at hugging the sides as more experienced skiers/riders so this does bother me a bit...:-?

 

[dmc]

You my friend, just became my new favorite person on this board.

JimG is definately straight up somebody who "gets it"...

 

[dmc]

My first post here ... Snowboarding just isn't for the kids anymore. I learned to ride at age 51 and now that I am 54 I have developed a passion for it to the point I get depressed in the summer now. My young grandson loves skiing. The point being .. It doesn't matter what your riding style is or where you hang out on the mountain or even how you get down the slope. It just matters being there ... Oh I am a pass holder to Pats, Crotched and Gunstock. I have lurked on AZ far too long but I have always love the discussions.
Jerry

Dude... Great to have another "older" snowboarder on board!

 

[JimG.]

My first post here ... Snowboarding just isn't for the kids anymore. I learned to ride at age 51 and now that I am 54 I have developed a passion for it to the point I get depressed in the summer now. My young grandson loves skiing. The point being .. It doesn't matter what your riding style is or where you hang out on the mountain or even how you get down the slope. It just matters being there ... Oh I am a pass holder to Pats, Crotched and Gunstock. I have lurked on AZ far too long but I have always love the discussions.
Jerry

Thanks for jumping in here Jerry, not an easy thread for a new poster to make a first post in. Welcome aboard.

Jerry clearly gets it.

 

[ALLSKIING]

My first post here ... Snowboarding just isn't for the kids anymore. I learned to ride at age 51 and now that I am 54 I have developed a passion for it to the point I get depressed in the summer now. My young grandson loves skiing. The point being .. It doesn't matter what your riding style is or where you hang out on the mountain or even how you get down the slope. It just matters being there ... Oh I am a pass holder to Pats, Crotched and Gunstock. I have lurked on AZ far too long but I have always love the discussions.
Jerry

Welcome..Hope you post some more.

 

[AdironRider]

I usually stop at the end of a marked run, as its just easier and besides, when your ripping your ripping, so I let the terrain dictate when I stop.

And its awesome to see adults taking up the sport as well!

 

[Vortex]

Welcome. Jerry
Jim G does get it. Glad to see a positive thread on this subject. We just all love the mountains.

 

[trailertrash]

the freestyler's dish it out too. i ride an alpine snowboard and you should hear the crap we get. the constant questions:
"is that fun?" - no we spend our free time at the mtns doing things that aren't fun... duh!
"are those ski boots?" - for the millionth time... no
"is that a mono ski?" - duh..
"have you ever tried a real snowboard?" - duh
"can you put real bindings on that board" - duh

on the side trail sidding topic, if im sitting on the side i really dont want anybody going between me and the trees, it is just not safe. i will usually not leave room for it to happen for just that reason.

 

[pepperdawg]

the freestyler's dish it out too. i ride an alpine snowboard and you should hear the crap we get. the constant questions:
"is that fun?" - no we spend our free time at the mtns doing things that aren't fun... duh!
"are those ski boots?" - for the millionth time... no
"is that a mono ski?" - duh..
"have you ever tried a real snowboard?" - duh
"can you put real bindings on that board" - duh

on the side trail sidding topic, if im sitting on the side i really dont want anybody going between me and the trees, it is just not safe. i will usually not leave room for it to happen for just that reason.

damn hardbooters.... (KIDDING) just hatin....

 

[Vortex]

the freestyler's dish it out too. i ride an alpine snowboard and you should hear the crap we get. the constant questions:
"is that fun?" - no we spend our free time at the mtns doing things that aren't fun... duh!
"are those ski boots?" - for the millionth time... no
"is that a mono ski?" - duh..
"have you ever tried a real snowboard?" - duh
"can you put real bindings on that board" - duh

on the side trail sidding topic, if im sitting on the side i really dont want anybody going between me and the trees, it is just not safe. i will usually not leave room for it to happen for just that reason.

I had a good laugh at this.
Actually I think there are alot of people who would like more info on Alpine board riding.
I see your side and get your point.
I can just hear the jean skier on rear entry boots asking you.

 

[AdironRider]

I think alot of the questions hardbooters get is mainly because noone ever see's them. Honestly the first alpine board setup I saw this year was last week for the World Cup at Whiteface, then the carvers were out in full bore and more than a few people had no idea you could carve like that. Sure there are probably some assholes but I think alot of people just have no idea it existed.

 

[skibum1321]

There are alot of yound pass holders/ticket purchasers that are not property owners or condo renters or hotel guest, whom are not there with the parents.

That is pretty much my exact description. But for the record I'm a skier and don't go in the park. And I have no problem with people that do - I just don't ski with them for obvious reasons (different terrain choices). I would rather ski with anyone (snowboarder, tele-skier or alpine skier, old or young) who skis/rides the same stuff as me.

 

[dmc]

the freestyler's dish it out too. i ride an alpine snowboard and you should hear the crap we get.

Cool... I'm getting some AT boots sometime in the next couple weeks.. Going to use them for my splitboard... Great for climbing and stepin crampons...

 

[JimG.]

Cool... I'm getting some AT boots sometime in the next couple weeks.. Going to use them for my splitboard... Great for climbing and stepin crampons...

I've got a pair of Scarpa Lasers used only a few times. Never use them anymore now that I've got the Adrenalins. Would love to find them a new home.

Wanna make me an offer?

 

[Vortex]

You will become part of that next marketing sector though Skibum1321.
Your a young college educated professional with a passion. That is the group they try to get to rent weekend units. I use to try to get guys in your age bracket to do big groups and make it as much an apres ski event as anything.

I could not agree more with you on you terrain and ski partner part ideas.

 

[dmc]

I've got a pair of Scarpa Lasers used only a few times. Never use them anymore now that I've got the Adrenalins. Would love to find them a new home.

Wanna make me an offer?

Exact boot I want...

Size?

 

[trailertrash]

true

I think alot of the questions hardbooters get is mainly because noone ever see's them. Honestly the first alpine board setup I saw this year was last week for the World Cup at Whiteface, then the carvers were out in full bore and more than a few people had no idea you could carve like that. Sure there are probably some assholes but I think alot of people just have no idea it existed.

what i cant convey accurately is the tone used when asking the questions. hardbooting is definatly not for everyone nor is it for every day. it takes a ton of time to get the gear dialed in and even longer for the technique. the pay off is big though i wish people who wanted to try it could ride with me to feel the g's that are generated on a steep pitch in a properly executed carve.

 

[ctenidae]

#5 is a poorly worded killer. Teach me to post before thoroughly reading.
The basis still holds, though, I think. The areas without parks and such see it as driving more business away than it brings in, for whatever reason.

Also, when you look at the "troublemakers", I think the majority of them are old enough to have driven up with a group, possibly as a day trip. No lodge spending there. Younger kids try to emulate what they think is "cool", and since their parents are on regular old boring skis, twintips and boards are cool.

 

[dmc]

what i cant convey accurately is the tone used when asking the questions. hardbooting is definatly not for everyone nor is it for every day. it takes a ton of time to get the gear dialed in and even longer for the technique. the pay off is big though i wish people who wanted to try it could ride with me to feel the g's that are generated on a steep pitch in a properly executed carve.

It's a shame that it's a dying part of our sport... I can remember 10 years ago - tons of people were carving it up... Now - not so many.. Burton doesn't even make race/carve boards anymore... Anyone i know that rides them gets them custom made..

A friend of mine repped for Burton and I tried a raceboard out of the box... Scared the livin' crap out of me..

that being said - there's still a nice sized contingent that ride plates... So I still have hope it will comeback..
Interestingly - a few guys I know that used hardboots not telemark.. Wonder if there's some kinda correlation...

 

[MESki]

Another first-time poster (and from Maine as well, oddly enough)--I've been thinking about this a lot for the past few days.

Last week, a kid on a snowboard took out one of my poles while I was stopped at the bottom of the hill (luckily--because if he hadn't hit the pole, he would've taken out my leg). He got up, asked if I was okay, got into an argument with my ski partner, and then took off down the hill when resort employees started yelling at him. First time that's happened to me...before then I'd heard people argue about skiers vs. boarders, but had no real reason to have an opinion one way or the other. In retrospect, this looks to me like a stupid, atypical, isolated event, but I think I understand a little better how this sort of thing gets sewn up in the larger narrative.

Aside from such stupidity/unluckiness, I think there are three or four major areas that cause most of the trouble:

a) Experienced skiers/riders are more likely to frighten beginner/intermediate types. My slow/safe skiing speed has increased a good deal since I started in the sport. If you're good enough to do freestyle tricks, you're definitely going to intimidate people and/or make them feel inferior as they work their wedge christies etc. Now you're going by them faster than makes them comfortable *and* they're jealous of your superior skill. Doing tricks in crowded beginner areas is bound to annoy.

b) People who get in over their heads are always dangerous. There seems to be some number of novice boarders who feel that mastering heeling in and going straight should be enough to do any trail on the mountain. I don't know if this has more to do with age, intelligence, or equipment really. My sense, though I haven't tried it, is that it's considerably less frightening to heel in down a steep slope than it is to snowplow it, and though I see a fair number of skiers on hills way beyond their skill set, I see more kids on boards going back for more. Since this is purely observational and a guess on my part, I'm happy to have somebody explain to me why this is totally wrong, if it is.

c) We all hate flat spots, but those with a board can't skate. This leads to conflict, particularly at flattish trail junctions where skiers tend to congregate thoughtlessly and boarders need/want a lot more speed to ensure they don't have to hop or unclip. Where an intermediate might feel it appropriate to scrub off some speed going into a narrow turn, a boarder often needs to build as much as possible to make it through. A warning ("On your right") is always better than the alternatives during a fast pass.

d) Skiers' blind spots face uphill, while boarders' blind spots face across. This simple fact explained at least 75% of the skier/boarder close calls I saw once I started looking at them more closely. You can't expect somebody to avoid you if they can't see you, but in many instances, skiers seem to expect boarders to turn the same way they do and vice versa.

I think it boils down to respecting the way other people want to enjoy themselves, and bearing in mind that you're not the only one on the hill, and that not everybody on the hill skis or rides at the same level of competence. I also think most people are more than willing to do that, as long as they feel like the other people out there are doing the same for them. That's what's most corrosive about the notion that skiers and boarders hate each other--the assumption that everybody on one team or another is unwelcome. Even a small courtesy (announce your presence, offer a boarder a push up a hill, give somebody space to pass, stop where you aren't blocking a trail, etc.) can go a long way toward making people feel better about one another. At the very least, it'd make it easier to discern the real punks from those of us who just occasionally do something stupid.

Matt