Doing something that no one else does

flatspinner

flatspinner

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Hey everyone, I don't make a ton of posts here but I was watching some footage today and it got me thinking about what it looks like to be doing something that no one else does (or can do).

I watched the Real Ski-Fi segment of Partly Cloudy the other night and I absolutely loved it! So much fun and creativity, it was like a happier less pretentious version of a ThinkTank film. All those guys do stuff that no one is doing and it's great to see how much creativity there is in skiing, especially if you watch any amount of slopestyle at the X-Games. Release the Pep and Andy footage ESPN!

So it got me thinking about the pros in our sport who do stuff that no one else can do and the reactions that our sport has to them.

A shortlist of people would include Charley Ager, Candide Thovex, Henrik Haulaut, and anyone with the last name Gagnier.

Now Candide is extremely well liked and Henrik is likeable too except for when he talks. Their contributions are mostly met with praise too.

The Gagniers are an interesting bunch. Wacky grabs and slides. Charles doing the octograb was ahead of his time, but seemed like everyone was mixed at the time about it. Charles won X-Games Slopestyle one year and took 5th another. Switch 1260s with an Octograb is insane to me to this day. Vinnie Gagnier is on another level with air creativity and everyone seems to love it, but judges hate it. I dunno maybe the french canadians just get the shaft, but he never places well against other pros it seems. I love his "style" though.

Charley Ager is a mystery to me. The guy rides switch in the backcountry more than anyone I've ever seen and it's super impressive. Especially considering how easy we all know that is! But he gets hated on for his lack of "style" with arms flailing everywhere. Meanwhile doing massive swtich 7s and 9s off booters goes unnoticed it seems. I don't get it. I'm not saying he should be a top athlete but a little more recognition would be great for him, especially since outside of Durtshi, I haven't seen anyone who can match his tricks in the BC.

That's my list, I know I'm missing a bunch of people too. Just this 30 year olds observation.
 
2669 > 1 ton (2000)

but really the gagnier bros are absolutely insane. I was thinking about making a thread about this last night but choose sleep instead. i remember seeing this edit of vincent and the double corks were the coolest ones i've ever seen, rather than being set back, they were set straight to the side.

Vincent Gagnier Season Edit 2013 from GSL Productions on Vimeo.

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I would definitely include jesper as well. Kid does crazy flips off rails I wouldn't even think of
 
I think it would be fair to add the whole nimbus crew and their beautiful surfy, buttery powder skills.
 
as far as well known pros LSM needs to be on the list, but the rest of the bunch crew are great examples of individuality in skiing, just wait for their movie to drop on monday.

 
I would agree and disagree. He has had some great segments with Poor Boyz, and his segment in EDIAS is still one of my favorites. But he doesn't get the love from K2 that some of the more marketable skiers get...definitely not a skills reason. Might be a myriad of other reasons. Who knows, but he's one of my favs
 
McSlay's right. The Bunch's movie is seriously going to be insane, those guys are easily some of the most creative skiers out there today
 
In any aspect of life if you are pushing the envelope of whats possible there is a good chance the community you are attempting to work within will not understand what you are doing and probably shun it. Only to later come to embrace it and realize you were just so far ahead of everyone else that you never got the credit you deserved.
 
somebody needs to make a well done follow cam edit with vincent like the tj schiller segment in seven sunny days. For some reason I think some close up follow cams of his grabs would look so dope
 
and THEN give you the credit....sometimes. The first person that popped into my head for this example was Charles Darwin haha
 
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