Denver Post says we're not progressing

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BooKitty911

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Lack of personality mars image of Freeskiing Open

Scott Willoughby

Special to The Denver Post

For seven years now, I've been waiting for the U.S. Freeskiing Open to go Big Time. It has all the fundamental ingredients: Big Air, Big Names and Big Money. Unfortunately, to date all that seems to add up to is Big Attitude.

Not that I'm entirely against attitude, so long as it has some personality to go along with it. But the glaring lack of genuine personality among the upper echelon of the freeskiing movement might very well become its undoing.

Several years ago, larger-than-life NBA personality Charles Barkley made headlines with the proclamation that he wasn't interested in being anyone's role model. It was summarily explained to him that the statement was made too late. The choice no longer was his to make. He since has come around.

Someone needs to similarly enlighten the young hotshots currently driving the freeskiing 'revolution.' The estimated 30,000 grommets annually buying into the twin-tipped jibber market are looking at folks like Tanner Hall - recently dubbed 'The Air Apparent' of the sport by Freeskiing Open producers Freeze magazine - for direction. But as far as I can tell, they're just spinning their wheels.

The U.S. Freeskiing Open claims to exist for two reasons. First, 'to allow any and all who come to put up or shut up.' Second, 'to provide a venue for the sport's boundaries to be blown to pieces ... to continue to set bench marks for the sport of jibbing.'

But now that the sport has achieved national recognition at events such as the Winter X Games, the U.S. Freeskiing Open and its participants seem less interested in advancing their cause on the slopes and more inclined toward hosting a private party promoting a punk image with some skiing on the side. That could explain the daily two-hour schedule delays in competition, the slide from last year's Fox Sports telecast to the Open's debut on Spike TV this year, and the drop in attendance at Saturday night's big air competition to maybe half the 7,000 fans who showed up at the base of Vail Mountain in 2003. Despite Hall's title as 'Air,' freeskiing doesn't have a Michael Jordan to carry it.

Instead, the Vail Daily newspaper ran a Saturday morning cover photo of Hall griping about judging in the slopestyle competition, in which he finished fourth. Then organizers griped about the photo. Meanwhile, Vail Police Sgt. Kurt Mulson attributed a doubling of his department's Friday night arrest average to the crowd of young spectators in town for the Freeskiing Open and a corresponding concert.

While some of those gripes may be justified, and not all of those 12 arrests can be traced directly to the competition, a little bearing check appears suddenly overdue. Is that really the image that will carry freeskiing into the future?

The slogan for Hall's title ski sponsor, Armada, is 'What Skiing Will Become.' I'm fairly certain it's a reference to the amazing stunts these athletes perform on the skis, but given freeskiing's prevailing image, Armada might consider branching out into snowboards. I missed the portion of the X Games where a snowboarder flipped double-barrel fingers at the camera after blowing his line in slopestyle or used profanity to describe a winning run on live television. The skiers who pulled those stunts, on the other hand, are enough to make Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson look cool.

Punk has been in style since Sid and Nancy and long before the inspiration of the K2 Seth Pistol. But, of course, Sid Vicious overdosed at Hall's age in '79 and, in my opinion, Seth Morrison has been setting the standard for new schoolers since before anyone in Tanner's 'C-Crew' uncorked his first 900. But nobody has seen Morrison hanging around the Freeskiing Open for a while.

Wonder why.

I've known the folks who pull this event together for years, and, honestly fellas, I'm not trying to bag on it. I understand the spirit in which the Freeskiing Open was created, the work that has gone into it, and the desire to build the 'scene' surrounding it. But if you're sincere in your desire 'to continue to set bench marks for the sport of jibbing,' it's time for someone to step up.

Seven years seems like a lot of time to take it to the next level. And while the Freeskiing Open has come a long way since the athletes had to build their own kickers back in the day, any strides in recent history have been negligible. It's time to inject some genuine personality into the attitude, along with a little industry-aided organization.

 
Makes some good points, makes some weak points. Yes, athletes need to focus more on being role models, and mabe watch their public images, but as far as progression goes, they are at about as high a level that can be reached without hurting people. Skiing progression is blowing up, and mabe not at the open because so much money is on the line, but all the author had to do was watch the pipe comp in the X-games to realize 'What skiing will become.'

------------------------------------------------------

What's on the other side of that wall?

-'Death.' (Johnny D. after Kristi fell off the back of the PBP wall in 1242)

'I'm in his nigger crew' (my little brother in response to my statement that he was in my 'digger crew')

'My knee hurts' (Jeff Merat after grinding a lunch table for an hour instead of sitting in the ski patrol shack for his torm mcl and acl which he got earlier that day.)

'I'm not asking for any help, just mabe for you to get off your ass.'(my dad)
 
I can't honestly say I disagree with most of what this guy wrote. I think having a 'punk' image or a 'counter culture' image is a good thing to a degree. It gives us an identity as a community of skiiers but with our image and our attitude we need to make positive contributions to the ski world.

I do disagree with him saying that our sport isn't progressing, it's progressing faster than most sports, extreme or other wise. Look 3 years back and think 3 years ahead. Things have changed and will continue to do so.

Eggs and bacon please, eggs over skeezy
 
that is pretty true except he made it sound like the sport was gonna die and i dont think that well happen

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IT'S AFGHANIMATION!!!
 
he's got a bit of a point, just a little too much hate though

www.offtrailproductions.com
 
stupid ass article. was that an actual article in the denver post? it seems wierd they would print something like that that most people have no idea about.

 
I agree with it, the punk image and tanner hall are not agood for skiing.. however, I think this was a little overboard. Seems like they tried to mask their dislike for our sport inside of a single event.

-Pat Melvin

WBP|films

'people just think they're accomplishing something in their lives by fighting 'the man'.. - mh

 
SCOTT WILLOUBHBY CAN SUCK MY DICK...what is the denver post's email address...anyone?

4*****~~~~~~~~~~

F*****~~~~~~~~~~

R*****~~~~~~~~~~

N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

T~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I believe that the big name freeskiers should not have to be role models in their personal lives, but rather less emphasis should be put on their lives off the slope. A little harsh, but i really don't want freeskiing to turn into the NBA or something, where everyone's got a gigantic ego.

'I can throw a twister that could make Tanner bust a nut!'

---------The Cult of the Neon One Piece Jumpsuit---------

*NORTHEAST CULT*
 
What an idiot. Here's only a couple stupid points that I pulled out of the article...

' I missed the portion of the X Games where a snowboarder flipped double-barrel fingers at the camera after blowing his line in slopestyle or used profanity to describe a winning run on live television. '

Have you ever watched pro sports? There's some profanity on live TV for you. More than enough...so quit complaining. Next point...

'But nobody has seen Morrison hanging around the Freeskiing Open for a while.'

Do you know anything buddy? Morrison clearly isn't a newschooler. Thants why he doesn't go to the US Open. And if you think differently, which apparently you do, then you obviously dont know enough about our sport to write about it.

'but given freeskiing's prevailing image, Armada might consider branching out into snowboards.'

What the hell is that supposed to mean? If the writer is trying to say that freeskiing's image is worse than snowboarding's image (who cares anyway??) then he is wrong. He is saying that snowboarders are chiller than skiers...why even bring something like this up?? And finally...

'Someone needs to similarly enlighten the young hotshots currently driving the freeskiing 'revolution.''

Hahaha ok guys, so apparently, we all are 'hotshots' who need to be 'enlightened' Thats food for thought...

Joel

'Go shut yourself in a freezer and see if you can evolve out of it.' -PhattTim

'i think its funny that they decriminilized both homosexual sex and animal sex at the same time... what kinda message does that send?' -Apple

 
^ yea im E-mailing him, and i actuly hope he is right i dont want MC-Donalds toys of skiers and shit like that did to skateboarding. Inline was saved and they got to keep there soul because the relly good skaters went undergound and didnt want to play in to the x-games shit. As for skiing not progessing it isnt in the way he siad but it is in the way of tricks and going big and isnt that what we want? I say keep skiing where it is not to big and not to small, its all about laying it down and skiing thats why Siver Sesions are so inavative its all about skiing.

'My arm hurts, I think I had a Stroke'

-Some girl in my school

'At least my boy friend didnt finger my ass hole with strawberry shampoo'

- Words siad durring a Bitch fight

'Bagger my ass, its probley just Mill House'

- Homer Simpson

'Is it makeing love when 5 migets spank a man covered in Thosand Island dressing'

-Tolken
 
So.. basically what this guy was saying is that without corporate leadership and organization this will all just fade away. Have him strap on some twins and work his ass off until he can land a switch 9 on a 40 foot kicker and then have him tell me that this is just about a bunch of punks out to get arrested at Ski Comps. Are you kidding me. I understand that yes, if it was allowed to go corporate like every other aspect of skiing, then obviously it would become much more widely known and better managed, but the fact of the matter, in my opinion seems to be, that the big ski corporations don't want to support us the way we need them to. All they see is.. Freeskiing makes up 4% of the ski market, not that if they support the sport honestly and with the spirit that the lines, siver cartels, PbP, Armadas, 4frnts, and many others have, then it will be the revolution in skiing sooner much rather than later. However, I don't see that happening in the near future, the problem is it's a long shot for a big company and they don't quite have the balls to support it 110 % like those others. This is the revolution in skiing, and I think everyone on this site knows that, the rush you get when you throw down huge, and the exhiliration you get when you see someone else just go off is too great, it will bring people to the mountain and they aren't gonna run home and tell their friends they the went down a dub-black like back in the day... now they will be telling them about the 40 foot table they almost cleared. I'm not against the support of big corporation, because when they get in here and support us how we need to be supported so this doesn't become a sport without the soul and the passion we throw down with everyday, then I say bring them and their money in. Until then... I guess I will just stay punk, I would rather be a punk who loves this sport than be someone who is kicking it on groomers talking about what I used to throw, just because corporate skiing wouldn't quite take the risk.

J-Irv

 
so basically he said nothing about skiing progression, and bashed tanner for being himself on TV. he doesnt have to like tanner, but it has nothing to do with progression

Go bears presented by Bank One!!
 
Well I disagree with him on his main point saying skiing will die if we dont fix our image. Skiing does not need extensive coverage or anything to survive. BUT, i think he is dead on when he criticizes Hall's and everyone's attitude nowadays. I am probably the minority here but i have been jibbing for longer than most of you and i refuse to alter my image to fit with those guys. I think it is stupid. Snowboarders (my roomate) and other people watch ski movies and events and they arent impressed, they laugh. They say 'you have to be kidding me, what is wrong with those guys' They act like stupid assholes, their attitude is so goddamn bad. You guys say you dont want skiing to be altered like skateboarding was? Too late, there already is an image that you have to follow, go to any mt and every jibber looks the same. I cannot wait until this whole Crew and area code Posse shit passes us by and skiing finds its niche where it doesnt have to pose and pretend to be something its not.

`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`-=`

'haha he told his parents ahbout his ginormous cock.... what a fag' - linemaverick540
 
it sounds to me like he is just mad that the kids who are skiing are a rowdy bunch. seriously though, who cares if these kids party. he needs to do a little more research (other than watching the US open) to go making these asumptions of his.

Titanya: But Duff Man, you said if I slept with you I wouldn't have to touch the drink!

Duff Man: Duff Man... says a lot of things! Oh, yeah!
 
midwest-rep is totally right. certain skiers attitudes are just fake as shit. and as far as it goes with snowboarders watching skiers ur damn right too. i ride with a lot of snowboarders and when i throwdown somthing big they say ohh sick, but when they watch a movie with some skiers in it acting all bad ass, u can tell its entirely fake and of course they are gonna bash us.

kbus1224: i see how it is, ski movie more important than me?

npublicenemy900: no not the whole movie just Iannick B.

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FLESH INTO GEAR
 
haha oh man he's totally right. you little fanboys need to chill a little.

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'yeti you're my new hero' - lineskier10

'the more it hurts, the better it feels' - Sarah

'i always make my bitches get abortions' - Dave Pauls

FROSTMONKEY

[/i]
 
sports@denverpost.com

'I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman,' -a certain California governor

www.wolfcreekski.com
 
^^ that's the e-mail addy

'I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman,' -a certain California governor

www.wolfcreekski.com
 
I guess this guy doesn't like colleges either, because he seems to be adamantly against partying. He definitely needs more information before he writes a crappy article like that. BS.

______________________

You Dropped Your Pocket!

Mont Tremblant '04
 
I live in Denver and read articles by this guy regularly, which is why it surprised me to read this article by him awhile ago. That's because he's a snowboarder ONLY, and used to be the dedicated snowboard writer. He was just assigned this story because newschool has a lot to do with snowboarding. He doesn't know anything about skiing, and he's looking at it from a biased snowboarder's perspective.

We have an old saying down on the bayou....Blehhhhh!!!
 
that's such a stupid fucking article, what a dumbass, i can't believe he gets paid to turn bullshit into words

i don't even know where to start... as for the role model thing, FUCK THAT, as someone else said has he ever watched the NBA? allen iverson is such a badass he doesn;t want to go to practice, but tanner wearing baggy clothes is such a problem. ESPN has showed that tanner can definitely sell our sport very well, so this guy needs to be kicked in the balls

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the skis look like joints cuz they smoke the competition -crystalneedsapark

east coast
 
I believe the article forgets to bring into account the age of the 'New Breed' Heck most of them aren't even 21 yet. Sking was never as corporate as regular sports (snowbaording is kinda there). Our sport really does not have people really who are mature enough to meet these guys needs. Douglas is now what hopefully manyof these guys, like tanner, Dumont Crichton all become. Snowboarding didn't evovle over seven years, neither will skiing

 
Writing articles without doing proper research and preparation should be illegal. In fact, an article like that sounds more like an op-ed than a news article. My guess is that apologies will be printed in response to reader comments. The worst part? It's not even well written.

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

SKIER: How would you describe your style?

PJ Cliche: Total skate influence. Even doh dis is on concrete, an you are face sideways, an it has sweet fuck all to do with ski, skate 'as play a huge role wit my steeze.
 
he's right that skiing will not become mainstream or recognized unless properly handled. And as much as some as you 'undergrounders' are against that, it is the only way for the sport to survive.

Micheal Earl Willard
 
who cares about his opinions, we should get his home addres cause i id give him a piece of my mind.. taped to a brick that i'd throw turough his front window.

this guy should really just never talk again.

====================

snowforblood: ... and when i get morning wood it always pokes me in the chin.

Strode420's response to lilgreen's post about cigarettes and the TRUTH organization: ...you probably light the filter and still smoke the whole thing because you are such a stupid fuck.....go lay in a bear trap

^priceless

GEORGE BUSH

Like a rock......

Only dumber.

Member of the Big Schlongs Cult haha

 
I agree with Logchucker...Age is a huge factor. You cant expect 20 year olds who over the course of a couple years gain insane amounts of popularity to be great role models. I think Tanner did OK in his interviews, but I can see how he could have been taken the wrong way, he was just so psyched to be there and on top. What this guy fails to realize is that progression in our sport 9 times out of 10 doesn't happen in comps...look at Pollard, and Boronowski spinning corks and rodeos and the like both ways, and taking off and landing switch where not many thought possible. This guy just needs to drop his beef with skiing and write a non-biased, well researched article, based interviews with these bad role models to give them a chance to prove themselves as decent people, and not on police records his thoughts and personal experiences with dick head skiers.

In my opinion skiing does have a bad image sometimes. The arrests, underage drinking and especially drug use. All of these contribute to a bad portrayal of what skiing is really about. I personally dont agree with many skiers lifestyles...however, I would never judge anyone for what they do, and really I don't care. Do whatever makes you happy.

Fuck the part where he said Armada should look into snowboards, he lost all crediblity by saying that.

 
fuck this guy. he may have had about 2 good points amidst the 26 bad ones. I'd say he really doesn't know enough about the sport to bag on it like this. One thing though: someone replied that skiers personal lives shouldn't be so publicised, and that is damn true. the only reason celebrities come off as bad role models is because the media exposes too much of their personal lives and other activities rather than just their skiing or whatever sport. They are famous for their sport, put that in the media, not what they do in their free time. Another point: i've participated in the US Open, and i would say that it is one of the most unorganized events i've ever competed in. 2 years in a row that i am aware of, they have fucked up the training schedule therefor giving the riders less training time (when i competed we had an hour and a half the morning of qualifiers to train the course, bullshit) They always fuck up the scheduling for all events and whatnot. I love the event and watching everyone throw down and being given the chance to partake, but fuck, get yer shit together. Ok, well ya, i hate this article, peace

*

*

so let the losers lose and let the players play/ the only difference is the dates of some dust on the clay, what
 
hmmm looks like a certain writer has a nack for shitting on trick skiing. I'll show him 'no progression' when I bend him over

Don't knock masturbation... it's sex with someone I love.
 
this guy needs to go get a copy of Session 1242 and then he needs to go look at the raw footage from x-games. heres some reasons why the 'snowboarders weren't flipping birds and droppin f-bombs'

1) Snowboarding is an Olymipic Sport and olympic games are broadcast live. i'm almost positive they are talked to before they compete.

2) snowboarding comps have been broadcasted for years.

3) this was the first live x-games and i think janet and justin ruined live tv for all of us

4) watch moto big air, the 'f' work was fucking used all the fucking time fuck fuck fuck

the guy does make some good points but some are, as others said, weak. It's true that kids look up to the athletes. After this years X-Games Superpipe, it was almost a bittersweet comp. Skiing is starting to get more recognition and I pray that Skiing doesnt become as commercial as snowboarding. Skiing to me has always been there, even when it wasn't 'cool'

Mike Rogge

Five-9 Productions
 
read the article again and i still think hes a douche

kbus1224: i see how it is, ski movie more important than me?

npublicenemy900: no not the whole movie just Iannick B.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLESH INTO GEAR
 
This post has gay written all over it. I didnt even read that damn article and i knew it was gay.

Snowboarding Rules!!!

The fatter u are, the less air u get.
 
i just wonder what good that guy is doing the skiing world

brings a quote to mind 'youve got to be the change you want to see'

rock out witcha cock out

-boyd
 
lol thats soo liek a propaganda thing. the company shoudl be fined for that thats really evil doings . Think about it, this guy has a totaly biased opinion and so he writes in a way where he bends the truth and he makes everyone who doesnt know about skiing have this false image of it. Hes bending the truth and not gettign facts straight for us its obviouse its total bullshit, we ski , people who just read the newspaper are reading it. shit is trying to kill skiing. THAT is what gives it a bad image. when youv got some fool just blabbing about shit he doesnt know shit about like seth morrisson not at the x games , no shit. o man so much bullshit in that article, its ridiculouse what kind of image that can make , its stupid

D.I.
 
if armada was just in it for money hell they would make snowboards but it is about soul and passion for the sport

Alaska pride
 
Unfortunately I have to agree with the guy. Sure he made some dumb points like the Armada thing. But freeskiers have made themselves into this isolated group. We really don't have a lot of influence outside our sport. I think this will change in the future as the sport gets bigger. I was reading some figures that the sale of twin tips is suppose to triple in eight years. But anyway with guys like Rory Silva do stupid immature things like flip off the camera on live TV it just makes us look like a bunch of unorganized kids. That lack of respect for the media just emphasizes the idea that we don't have our shit together. I really think the author's idea about our role models is a very valid point. What percentage of the big name skiers smoke weed for example. Let's see Tanner, Pollard, Pep, and Michael to name a few. Tanner Hall is probably the skier in the media the most and he is a representative. He's always being cocky win he wins and acting all gangster or if he loses he complains. We don't have a Tony Hawk or a Todd Richards in our sport. Seth is a great guy and he's easy to like but he isn't in front of the camera much( and yes he's a 'newschooler' who ever said he wasn't doesn't know what they are talking about). I'd say our closest example would be Mike Douglas however I don't think that everyone stands behind Mike. Also he isn't in the competition side of things anymore, besides judging and comentating, so he doesn't really work as a representative since he's not in the media spot light. Guys like Tanner Hall and Simon Dumont show up on camera and have no personality and no enthusiasm for what they are doing. They aren't those nice cool guys that everyone can realate to like Tony or even Shawn White. I just think that the only way that our sport will branch out and reach kids not already involved in skiing is if we have some people who make a concious effort to be good ambasseders of the sport. As a group I think we should frown apon what rory did and other stuff like that and not have posts where we condone it, because it hurts us as a whole. Inevitably I see freeskiing as having a very bright future. I don't think there is any doubt in people's minds that this sport while grow. But I think we can do a lot better and more imporatntly get more money involved if we create a positive fun image and not try to outcast the people outside our little group. I think it is on the shoulders of all the big name park skiers to carry a good image and attitude of the sport.

This year I hope to see more kids incorporating newschool with big mountain riding and getting out of the park.-Matt Levintal
 
AAAARRRRGHHH!!!!! MOTHERFUCKING DUMASSES THAT HAVE NO CONCEPT OF JOURNALISM!!! ITS DOUCHEBAGS LIKE WILLOUGHBY AND UNEDUCATED KIDS LIKE YOURSELVES THAT GIVES THE 'MEDIA' A BAD NAME.

he is a friggin columnist!!! he gives his opinions like its journalism. its not reporting the facts. shit, if you we're there this year you would see blatant mistakes that he made. i wrote a letter to the editor and i dont think they ran it. shitty, but chill the fuck out

 
Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Scott Willoughby's US Freeskiing Open Article. I found this to be very negative and written from a very ignorant point of view. The mood of the article suggested that Scott Willoughby has a very negative outlook on the progression of modern skiing, and is stereotyping the athletes because of their lifestyle, dress, and overall outward appearance. Scott Willoughby makes a number of discriminatory remarks towards the athletes of the sport such as “…its participants seem less interested in advancing their cause on the slopes and more inclined toward hosting a private party promoting a punk image with some skiing on the side” Punk, as it is referred to here is a term used by some to stereotype delinquent youth. Apparently Scott Willoughby felt that he was surrounded by delinquent party kids, and not some of the most progressive skiers in the world. Scott Willoughby mentions “Seth Morrison has been setting the standard for new schoolers since before anyone in Tanner's 'C-Crew' uncorked his first 900. But nobody has seen Morrison hanging around the Freeskiing Open for a while.” Seth Morrison is known for being one of the most progressive skiers on the planet, but Seth hasn’t competed in terrain park contests for several years because of his success on the big mountain powder scene. Seth’s uncanny ability to spin and flip off of cliffs in Alaska has earned him Skier of the Year from Powder Magazine 2 years in a row. How this is any progression of the terrain park driven newschool scene, I have yet to make that connection. Scott Willoughby is also obviously unaware that Seth is recovering from an ankle injury he suffered early in the season, and was not fully recovered for the US Freeskiing Open competition. Seth, a Vail local, was in fact in town for the event attempting to rehabilitate his injury. The article doesn’t stop at attacking the athletes, but goes in to attack the most popular, athlete driven company in skiing by saying quote; “Armada might consider branching out into snowboards.” Again, Scott Willoughby's ignorance about this industry is realized. Scott Willoughby is apparently unaware that Armada produced a limited number of skis this year and sold out of every model before New Years 2004. Armada’s popularity continues to grow as the company and the athletes that drive the product continue to lead in the progression of modern skiing. To further prove Scott Willoughby’s ignorance to the industry, he states “while the Freeskiing Open has come a long way since the athletes had to build their own kickers back in the day, any strides in recent history have been negligible.” To simplify why this statement is entirely false, I would like to point out the number of never before seen tricks that have been landed in the US Open competition each year. In 2000, Andy Woods lands the first 1260 (3 ½ rotations, landing backwards) in competition. In 2001, Tanner Hall wins the US Open Big Air with a switch rodeo 720 (backwards takeoff-spinning 2 full rotations while crossing and grabbing the skis and landing backwards off a 70 foot long jump). In 2002, CR Johnson did the first inverted 1260 ever seen on competition to take the win. 2003, Mikeal Descheneaux from Switzerland lands the first switch 1080 over a 70 foot transfer jump. That’s 3 full rotations, crossing and grabbing the very end of the tail of his ski taking off and landing backwards. This past year, unknowns TJ Schiller and Tanner Rainville took first and third respectively with some of the most progressive tricks on both the rails and jumps. The sport of skiing is progressing every day. The difference in the level of riding from year to year is night and day. “It's time to inject some genuine personality into the attitude, along with a little industry-aided organization.” No Scott Willoughby, it’s time for you to know what you’re talking about before you write an article degrading a sport and it’s athletes.

Insert shameless plug here...
 
the guy that wrote that article is a fool. the attitude thing sucks, yeah we all know that. anytime your dealing with people that are really good at what they do, and have worked hard to get that good, your going to get attitude. it doesnt make it right, but its true. its not just skiing, its everything. of course there are always exceptions, and these are the people you want being leaders but thats just not always the case, sorry. this guy is angry at life, not skiing, even though he sucks at both.

 
Listen to you guys! There's the attitude right there! He is right, and I think most of you missinterpreted what he meant by 'progression'. If we want sponsor dollars and investors and everything that makes our sport survive and PROGRESS, we'll eventually have to smarten up and treat things professionally. What large companies outside of the industry are going to want to be affiliated with us if we are representing a lifestyle/habits that no parent of our fans will condone? Furthermore, what companies are going to consider us valuable assets to their company if we publicly humiliate ourselves and act unprofessional? I do believe that the sport will always live on and progress like it has, but we're swimming upstream by having unprofessional attitudes. Skiing isn't about money, but it takes money to progress the sport. Without money in the sport, Tanner would be working a full time job and only able to ski a couple days a week. Do you think he would have gotten this good on a schedule like that? No.

So, you're entitled to your own opinion and attitude, but leaders who really care about progressing the sport will take a more professional approach than some have in the recent past. Tony Hawk is the perfect example of this.

www.JIBCULTURE.com
 
^ i know he is right about some of it read what i wrote, as long as we dont let it get to big we can keep the soul of the sport.

'My arm hurts, I think I had a Stroke'

-Some girl in my school

'At least my boy friend didnt finger my ass hole with strawberry shampoo'

- Words siad durring a Bitch fight

'Bagger my ass, its probley just Mill House'

- Homer Simpson

'Is it makeing love when 5 migets spank a man covered in Thosand Island dressing'

-Tolken
 
im not writting huge paragraphs on insight into that article, the guys isnt a huge fan of freeskiing, but whatever, let people do what they want, ski how you want, make whoever you want your role model its your choice

i love to ski, so should you, its fun, try it sometime
 
i'd never pick someone like tanner as my role model anywho

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

Yeah, thanks Jodi's mom, for the blowjob... I always give in when she busts out the Werther's Originals! - Lanemeyers

 
yeah man so many pro skiers think they are the shit. to most of the people i know outsaide the immeadeate industry of jib culture they dont even know who simon dumont is, while he is a god in our own little world. all i am saying is that skiers need to play it cool and not be role models doing drugs.

Two Plank Productions - www.twoplank.com- bensomrak@twoplank.com
 
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