When did Ski Reality become Irrelevant?

[bobbutts]

The risk taking that star skiers do these days is a bit much. So many have been seriously injured or died in the last decade.

It's a contrast to a guy like Scot Schmidt who was on top of the free ski world in the late 80's and at least when he interviewed on Today (in Blizzard of Ahh's), said he never sustained an injury. Precision and control now needs to be augmented by an over-sized portion of guts to get any notoriety.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Because I didn't pay a thing for most of them. My Dad was sure that he needed new skis every 2 years and I would get the 2 year old rejects. Unfortunately, he hated the woods so all the skis are on the thin side.

STEP 1: Sell a few of these duplicate/overlap pairs of skis on EBAY for $225 to $350 each, depending on age & condition.

STEP 2: Buy a pair of $250 to $400 90mm underfoot, or 98mm underfoot, or 110mm underfoot, or WTH-underfoot skis you take a liking to on EBAY.

STEP 3: Enjoy skiing in the woods this winter, at $0.00 (or close to it) net cost.

The risk taking that star skiers do these days is a bit much. So many have been seriously injured or died in the last decade.

Whenever the subject of these movies comes up, I always comment on this.

We now commonly have these young bucks who want to make a name for themselves taking Monster-moronic hucks or intentionally skiing through steep, narrow, rock faces all for the "ZOMG factor" of the picture/movie. They're taking risks that they normally would not do. And that's not even considering disregarding avalanche risks. It's perverse.

And dont even get me started on X-Games snowmobile tricks. You may as well hand someone a revolver with a chambered round and sanction Russian roulette. Sickening.

 

[deadheadskier]

In ski movies, I don't really enjoy watching the monster hucks and the 50 degree spines accessible by Helicopter only. I mainly watch Meathead films because the terrain is attainable for me and while some of those guys have world class skills, others are just normal level advanced skiers.

I bet amateur porn is popular for the same reasons ......the talent level is attainable for an average Joe. :lol:

 

[Scruffy]

In ski movies, I don't really enjoy watching the monster hucks and the 50 degree spines accessible by Helicopter only. I mainly watch Meathead films because the terrain is attainable for me and while some of those guys have world class skills, others are just normal level advanced skiers.

I bet amateur porn is popular for the same reasons ......the talent level is attainable for an average Joe. :lol:

+1

 

[jack97]

imo, to attract and get viewership up in the general public you need a "wow" factor. All major sports have tweak their rules to gain popularity. Skiing/riding is no different, however in order to get that novelty they have to lose that reality.

btw, not saying I agree but just noting the trend.

 

[SkiFanE]

I'd love to give a modern race stock SL ski a whirl. I've never skied anything with under a 16m radius

You may just like them. If you like NE bumps, you'll love them...especially the VW bug crusty variety lol - being able to turn tighter than everyone else is a good way to stay on the little piles of snow.

 

[SkiFanE]

You sound like you're stuck in 1999. People don't freeski on Slalom race skis anymore, because they suck for that.

Guilty. I don't freeski, I don't think..not quite sure what that means actually. I'm afraid of heights.

 

[Highway Star]

You may just like them. If you like NE bumps, you'll love them...especially the VW bug crusty variety lol - being able to turn tighter than everyone else is a good way to stay on the little piles of snow.

Guilty. I don't freeski, I don't think..not quite sure what that means actually. I'm afraid of heights.

 

[jack97]

You may just like them. If you like NE bumps, you'll love them...especially the VW bug crusty variety lol - being able to turn tighter than everyone else is a good way to stay on the little piles of snow.

haha.... with the responses I'm reading and the skiing I've seen, skiing a direct line in bumps will no longer fall in the reality category. Go to 7.53 to see what I mean. And btw, the vid has as section where he uses skinny skis to ski powda....wtf I didn't know that can be done.

 

[Highway Star]

haha.... with the responses I'm reading and the skiing I've seen, skiing a direct line in bumps will no longer fall in the reality category. Go to 7.53 to see what I mean. And btw, the vid has as section where he uses skinny skis to ski powda....wtf I didn't know that can be done.

Dude is smooooooooooth, flows like water. Great old school technique!

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

I bet amateur porn is popular for the same reasons ......the talent level is attainable for an average Joe. :lol:

That is penetratingly insightful.

 

[Quietman]

That is penetratingly insightful.

1st good laugh I've had in a while!

 

[Old Duderino]

haha.... with the responses I'm reading and the skiing I've seen, skiing a direct line in bumps will no longer fall in the reality category. Go to 7.53 to see what I mean. And btw, the vid has as section where he uses skinny skis to ski powda....wtf I didn't know that can be done.

My kind of skier! Love the puffy jacket no helmet look. My preferred skinny-ski for powder back in the day was a pair of 205 cm sl skis that I hammered bumps on for weeks on end to the point where they were limp noodles so it was easy to keep the tips up in pow. I remember the only bump skiing advice I got from a guy who could absolutely rip bumps was "just keep turning em dude." The concept is similar to what this guy does in the video but when your line breaks down instead of taking a wide turn to find a new line you take a quick, non-hard edge turn on top of the bump and pick up your line on the bottom of it. Obviously easier to execute out west than on icy NE bumps.

 

[jack97]

.....The concept is similar to what this guy does in the video but when your line breaks down instead of taking a wide turn to find a new line you take a quick, non-hard edge turn on top of the bump and pick up your line on the bottom of it. Obviously easier to execute out west than on icy NE bumps.

Brassard has the sickest turns, the way he throws that extra turn to setup his line is f'ng incredible.

 

[Savemeasammy]

Brassard has the sickest turns, the way he throws that extra turn to setup his line is f'ng incredible.

Not to mention the HUGE airs he throws, and sticks the landings right in the middle of the bumps. That's old school right there...


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[deadheadskier]

I'd like to see WC bump skiing have some races be old school. No seeded bumps and no real defined airs and landings, but you still get scored on air time. I've said it before, but WC competition has become almost too robotic for my liking. Lets just watch the best rip a bump run, not a bump course.

 

[Savemeasammy]

I'd like to see WC bump skiing have some races be old school. No seeded bumps and no real defined airs and landings, but you still get scored on air time. I've said it before, but WC competition has become almost too robotic for my liking. Lets just watch the best rip a bump run, not a bump course.

I agree with this. I do enjoy seeded bumps, but I would love to see some competitions on a natural course. Going for huge air without being able set-up beforehand, and then sticking a landing wherever you need to, and then continuing to rip...? That is impressive.


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[jack97]

^^^

here you go.

 

[Domeskier]

^^

With poles like that, I wonder if he was planning to jump straight into his ballet routine...

 

[deadheadskier]

^^^

here you go.

What I meant is modern mogul skiers competing in an old school competition like that.

I met Steve Desovich as a kid at Killington and had him autograph an Outer Limits poster. Sadly, it got lost in a move during middle school. Either that or my mom threw it out. :lol: