Do we really need the actual superunknown?

quebecfreestyler

quebecfreestyler

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Staff member
I'm not hating on anyone but does skiing really need superunknown anymore. My opinion is that there are way too many good riders and good stykes out there to choose ONE rider that should be given the luck to film in a couple late season shoots

There are way too many good entries nowaday and most people who make it to the finals could do just as good as the other one given the right chance.

What if people would submit in the summer edits from their past season and get the chance to film all season with level .

What if everyone that get in the top 5 finalist get invited to a superunknown only shoots where they could show that they can get stuff done that are shot worthy?

I'm just tossing ideas but I do believe that it would be a great if the superunknown contest could evolve a little.

That being said, I still enjoyseing all thsoe superunkown edits, I just feel like the concept should change a little so people dont argue that much about who should or should have won.

 
but even the non winners get exposure.

kind of like the finalists in american idol. half of them get record deals, even if they dont win

on a side note, how come you dont film with level 1 any more ced?
 
the idea of how many good kids there are is really crazy to me. Does anyone know, is snowboarding like this? i'm ignorant when it comes to snowboarding.
There are really only a token few i even get excited to watch anymore haha. Just a few with styles i really enjoy.
 
im going to have to agree/disagree with you, because quite honestly i dont think an all superunknown segment would be that cool, but it all depends on who was in it. its a contest, and of course the result is debatable. and its not like losing ends your shot at a skiing career, look at dadali and martini. it still has revelance today because there are good kids out there killing it that dont get the spotlight they deserve without it.
 
Superunknown is the best thing that happened to the sport. Taking one sick skier that has a chance to finally show himself to the sport and bringing him to the big leagues is the shit kids live for dude!
 
a top 5 shoot is a great idea, imma be honest, maybe brogans vid was better, but i think martini could have gotten better shots at the shoots, brogans stuff with level 1 wasnt that impressive. maybe pick 5 finalists and then have a shoot with them, and then you see who can REALLY perform.
 
I can kinda see where ced is coming with this, like what happened to david beaulieu, he had two seperate entries that both killed it and yet he didn't get too much exposure for it. Not sure what hes up to now...
 
I love this. Sort of mirroring the KOS style contest. Level 1 could select five or so finalists based on the video submissions, invite those five riders to a few shoots (park, urban, possibly bc/low angle pow shoot), and have a throwdown. Then, we're leveling the playing field and ending the whole "He did the best he could in a shitty park" arguments. Who ever does the most laps, the biggest variety of tricks, and bottomline: who ever gets the shot, is the viiiiiiener!
 
Ced, I understand what you are saying but I respectfully disagree.

The Superunknown contest is a really nice gesture on the part of a film company. It is not a right of passage or a requirement for success for anyone. The fact that Level 1 puts it on is a way for someone to get a shot at filming with that company. It does not guarantee that someone will have a successful career, or develop into a film star. It is a benefit for the person who wins, but it is not a punishment for the ones who don't.

Remember that Mike Hornbeck and Ahmet Dadali lost when they entered. They are both major parts of Level 1's movies. Ian Cosco lost as well and he is a star in Rage's Movies. Guys like Nick Martini did not win last year and he is filming with Poor Boyz. Those are just a few examples.

All of the arguing that goes on regarding the winner is just good ol' fashioned publicity for these riders who may not have the facilities to convey their talents on this big of a stage without Superunknown. Sure, they can put out edits and hope that people watch them to gain exposure, but the most watched edits every year are going to come out of this contest. Not only do the kids here on the site watch them, but other film companies watch to try and snag some new talent. Not winning this contest does a heck of a lot more for these athletes than not having the contest at all does. Shouldn't we be happy that there is something like this available for anyone who is not getting paid to ski can enter? The alternative is to hope you just win a slopestyle event or hope that someone sees you skiing somewhere and decides to ask you to come film with their company. How does a kid from Pennsylvania get that exposure? I had never heard of Jon Brogan until his video last year (no offense Brogs, haha).

At the end of the day Level 1 is going to select the athlete that they want to film with. The decision is made from Josh, Freedle, Decker, some sponsors of the contest, and some of the athletes weigh in with their thoughts. It is not just 1 person or opinion. And for the person who wins...they get a pretty cool opportunity. But it is not like they are taking anything away from someone who does not win. In fact it is the complete opposite. Just look over the past entries and the exposure those athletes got.

So to answer your question, I think "yes" we absolutely need the superunknown contest to help give an opportunity to a up and coming athlete that they otherwise may not have. Take it for what it is and not for what it is not. At the moment, they are the only film company doing anything like this that gives someone a shot at being part of a film. Where else is there an "open" style of competition that does this for a skier?

-Pete

 
skiing is too easy, anyone can huck or grind, and thats all that matters right now.

skiing needs a new degree of difficulty, something to seperate pros from ams.
 
And yeah, I like the idea of inviting 5 guys to a shoot, but it is just not feasible. It would take up time from the filming of the movie. If you know how the schedules of the filmers works, then you will know how that is just impossible. They follow the snow until late season park shoots. Very few things are planned until May. If Josh, Freedle, and Decker can't even RSVP for my wedding in a month (haha...hint hint fellas) then there is no way they can organize and schedule a "jib-off" contest for a new rider who will have a hard time getting any shots in a late season park shoot that includes Wallisch, Delorme, Clarke, Harlaut, Hornbeck, Ahmet, Wesson, Rainville, Dorey, etc.

I like the concept but it just would not work imo.

 
a summer edit would limit the entries to those fortunate enough to be able to afford camps, which excludes the vast majority.
 
youre right, my bad.

in that case, i think thats a great idea. maybe a june deadline or something, then details could be arranged over the summer for filming the following season. it would help to get the winners more film time rather that getting two shots in the video, i.e. brogan.
 
Logistics are always an issue. Here's a thought:

The edit contest exists as is. 20 semi-finalists are chosen by the Level 1 crew. Fans and Level1 staffers/athletes whittle the semi-finalists down to the top 5. The top 5 are offered an expenses paid week long session to one of the handful of summer camps (Level 1 would form some sort of partnership with a camp if they don't already have one.). Level 1 could work this "throwdown" into an already planned summer park shoot. The coming film would feature a full "superunknown" segment featuring the best 4 or 5 shots of each athlete (chosen by the athlete and filmers/editors). Upon the release of the film, open voting (industry, public, etc.) ensues and the winner is given a full segment in the upcomingfilm, and maybe a partner sponsorship (Spy maybe?). This way, the winner is chosen based on a level playing field in terms of quality of features, filming, etc.

Maybe it's overboard, I don't know. Either way, I think it would definitely attract a ton of interest and would ultimately be a lot of fun to watch.
 
I agree with Ced but I also see what pdrago is saying and Casual also has a very good idea. An exclusive superunknown shoot would be way sick.
 
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