What's the point. Rails and jumps are dangerous? Mom says to stay out of the trick park, but why don't we listen?What is the gain that makes us risk life and limb? Sliding steel rails, catching wicked air on jumps, or worse riding backwards down the trail? What sick and twisted bug has grabbed us and forever polluted our mortal souls? Skiing is dangerous enough without bringing all these crazy gymnastic antics into the mix. Why do we feel the need to further heighten the dangers? It's it enough that we careen down overcrowded icy slopes listening to satans music in our ear buds? Have we no decency? The thing is, park skiing is pretty damn fun. Dad might not understand it, mom probably hates it, but it's something we all love. A bond, and a path into a limitless progression with fellow skiers. Most of us will never even come close to learning all the tricks out there, and most of us don't even care. The parks are a bond we share between us. We don't all know each other but there's a mutual respect. We see each other in the rail line from the lift, or in passing at the drop of the jump line. We geek out on each others tricks, stoked for people who we don't know and may never even meet. There's something about the park discipline and the vibe. Sure we're down to heckle. ********We fresh, we're sometimes a little buzzed , but we're a family. We give each other shit the way siblings do. In the end we get stoked for each other landing a new trick, whether it's a new dub or somebody landing there first swap on a rail. We all know how fucked a bad crash can be and we cheer for each other when we get up from them. In the forums and social media we sometimes act like enemies. We have our favorites, and the people we route against, but that's not real. That's us just talking shit. The biggest and best thing about skiing is that underlying comradery with the people on the drop in, the rando on the chairlift, the dude hiking that down rail with you. Words don't need to be said, and sometimes they can't really describe it. People are complex, we're weird. But there's something simplistically relatable when somebody else clicks into some skis and rides through the park. We watch, them heckle them, gawk at them, but we respect them. Freestyle is still and absolutely was born from a smaller pack of animals. Though it's grown, and continues to grow, we respect and take care of our own. You don't have to be the sickest rider in the park that day, throwing the best tricks through the jump and rail lines. All that matters, is that you clicked in, you dropped into the park, and your giving it an honest shot. If anyone is scared of the park, intimidated. Just remember, we were all starting out at one point. Ride with some friends, read the signs, pay attention and absorb the etiquette. Beyond that, it's just skiing. Don't sweat it, anybody watching you will probably be as stoked as you are when you grease your first flat bar, get that pencil 3, or whatever else your trying out there. We're all learning, we're all anxious, but we're all a family. Get out there and friggin send it!