Everyone should read this before watching women's halfpipe tonight

Isabelle

Isabelle

Member
"People watching Olympic-level halfpipe skiing might struggle to grasp the complexity of trickery and it’s easy for even good skiers to be intimidated by the thought of spinning through several backflips high above the deck. Swaney’s runs, which involve no tricks, are not intimidating. She makes the sport look approachable."

"Through a shuffling in country quotas — where some countries didn’t use all their spots and other country’s bowed out due to athlete injuries — Hungary and Swaney made the cut."

Full story:
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/18/elizabeth-swaney-olympic-halfpipe-contest/

I think The Olympics should be a showcasing of the best in the world and not an average skier cruising through the pipe. This would be impossible in slopestyle, imagine an athlete skipping all the rails and cruising over the knuckles and qualifying for the Olympics?

This is not a personal attack on her, but this shouldn't be possible. It's crazy to think quite a few athletes didn't get send in, or all the American girls who didn't make the cut, but this girl gets to compete. In what world does that make sense?

**This thread was edited on Feb 18th 2018 at 3:09:43pm

**This thread was edited on Feb 18th 2018 at 3:22:17pm
 
What are your feeling on this article? Been talking to a few people about this article, but would love to hear it from a women's standpoint.
 
WHOA WHOA WHOA hold on... so this girl is going to do straight airs the whole way down the pipe?! Am I understanding this correctly?
 
13894169:FUUUCK said:
WHOA WHOA WHOA hold on... so this girl is going to do straight airs the whole way down the pipe?! Am I understanding this correctly?
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Yes, thats all she has done in every contest she has entered, likely not very high if not above the lip at all. She played the game and basically is showing us that the olympic selection process needs to be modified.
 
13894167:eheath said:
What are your feeling on this article? Been talking to a few people about this article, but would love to hear it from a women's standpoint.
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Some countries are just willing to send anyone, regardless of how their performance might negatively impact the sport on such a big stage, or maybe our qualifying system is at fault. But I think having someone compete who isn't nearly on the level they should be at will only do damage. There will be a lot of clueless people watching and it will drag the image of women's halfpipe skiing down.

If you look at all the people watching Women's snowboard slopestyle and complaining about the level, totally clueless about how the weather conditions were affecting the contest, this was hurting the sport.
 
13894169:FUUUCK said:
WHOA WHOA WHOA hold on... so this girl is going to do straight airs the whole way down the pipe?! Am I understanding this correctly?
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She won't even make it out of the pipe.
 
"Swaney’s runs, which involve no tricks, are not intimidating. She makes the sport look approachable."

I though the biggest draw to the sport were the cool looking tricks and stuff? I've yet to hear about someone who got stoked about skiing because he/she saw some jerry cruising down the bunny slope as it made the sport look approachable.

**This post was edited on Feb 18th 2018 at 2:27:34pm
 
13894172:Isabelle said:
Some countries are just willing to send anyone, regardless of how their performance might negatively impact the sport on such a big stage, or maybe our qualifying system is at fault. But I think having someone compete who isn't nearly on the level they should be at will only do damage. There will be a lot of clueless people watching and it will drag the image of women's halfpipe skiing down.

If you look at all the people watching Women's snowboard slopestyle and complaining about the level, totally clueless about how the weather conditions were affecting the contest, this was hurting the sport.
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It's 100% the fault of the qualification system, she just exploited it, tons of athletes do it in all olympic sports.
 
13894181:eheath said:
It's 100% the fault of the qualification system, she just exploited it, tons of athletes do it in all olympic sports.
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But you don't think the country has any fault at all? I understand some countries wanting to send in athletes really bad, but this is extremely embarrassing for the country as well as the sport. They should have someone in the National Olympic Committee to be like, Hey guys this is a bad idea?
 
13894183:Isabelle said:
But you don't think the country has any fault at all? I understand some countries wanting to send in athletes really bad, but this is extremely embarrassing for the country as well as the sport. They should have someone in the National Olympic Committee to be like, Hey guys this is a bad idea?
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Hungary is probably stoked, I think they have like 11-12 athletes, but the more the better. The olympics is a big thing for smaller counties trying to get people to travel there basically and if you're a country and dont have olympic athletes, I believe that is seen as a "bad" thing.
 
She wants to make it look approachable? This is laughable - clearly the girl is delusional. If an OLYMPIC ATHLETE is not even capable of a single trick, how does that make anything look approachable? If any message is being broadcast, it is that the sport is anything but approachable.

Honestly, women really need to step up their game in freeskiing/snowboarding. Saying that the women's field is soft is an understatement for sure. I'm not saying they should be throwing quads in comps, or even triples, but come on...what we are seeing is just not technically difficult or even interesting.
 
13894192:iFlip said:
She wants to make it look approachable? This is laughable - clearly the girl is delusional. If an OLYMPIC ATHLETE is not even capable of a single trick, how does that make anything look approachable? If any message is being broadcast, it is that the sport is anything but approachable.

Honestly, women really need to step up their game in freeskiing/snowboarding. Saying that the women's field is soft is an understatement for sure. I'm not saying they should be throwing quads in comps, or even triples, but come on...what we are seeing is just not technically difficult or even interesting.
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Don't forget that it's also a big issue that a lot of capable athletes are not being send in. If this would have been the case she wouldn't have made it. Halfpipe is extremely difficult to train, with very limited amount of training time in a good halfpipe, especially without funding. It's not surprising that the field who is competing in World Cups and can afford to do so is this small.
 
This just the name of the game in the Olympics. Your average world cup event is way more competitive than Olympic ski racing, oh well.

I thought about this earlier in the week watching women's snowboarding. I think its good for progression to have high profile events and exposure. It's the lack of incentive that has kept the talent level where it is in the first place.
 
How is she damaging the sport? I thought the point of olympics was to unite the world through sports. So if she managed to qualify then its fine by me for her to straight air the pipe comp (also fucking funny).
 
who cares. But there should be a change to a 4 per roster rule. Like an exception if you have X amount of guys in top Y of world cup stadium. USA could've had Gus/Smaine in halfpipe... Bobby, Joss in slopestyle.

if this doesnt change X games will always be a more deserving medal.
 
if olympics is supposed to be the biggest event...... there should be a 3 run qualifier on a SEPARATE DAY ..... I don't like the same day qual/finals.
 
13894204:scratchskier321 said:
who cares. But there should be a change to a 4 per roster rule. Like an exception if you have X amount of guys in top Y of world cup stadium. USA could've had Gus/Smaine in halfpipe... Bobby, Joss in slopestyle.

if this doesnt change X games will always be a more deserving medal.
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Yes I agree. If you earned your spot you should be able to compete no matter what country you are from. If 24 girls get to compete, top 24 should be there, not someone who is ranked 40th because of the 4 per country rule. I wrote something similar to this on an instagram post a couple of weeks ago.
 
13894208:scratchskier321 said:
if olympics is supposed to be the biggest event...... there should be a 3 run qualifier on a SEPARATE DAY ..... I don't like the same day qual/finals.
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Halfpipe is seperated, finals are not on the same day.
 
We all know the Olympics are a joke in many ways anyways-- but I think this quote says it all:

"Some said an amateur in the mix might provide perspective. She’s hardly a new skier on the scene. Every halfpipe skier knows Swaney from the world cup circuit. Swaney says she’s not comparing herself to her high-flying comrades, but she’s inspired by them. She wants to be a motivator too, just like her fellow Olympians."

She'll just provide a good base of comparison. Who cares. The ones who know the sport already know what quality women's halfpipe skiing looks like. Most the average people watching will watch and forget about it tomorrow (at least her run).
 
She's like a way less cool version of Eddie the eagle.

You aren't throwing tricks, you aren't trying, you'r getting in on a bs technicality, but pretending you're really a pro skier.

Stop doing fundraisers for your dream. You aren't a pro skier, you aren't good, pursue something you're better at.

Even the Korean who tried in Aerials at least hit a jump and through a flip. They'd never competed but want to get something going.

If you aren't willing to try, give up your fake dream and get the fuck out. You aren't making skiing more approachable, you're just wasting peoples time.
 
well for all the hate that womens pipe usually gets this will do nothing but increase the hate. I feel bad for the girls who are progressing the sport, and are already receiving hate. I mean at some point this Swaney girl has to realize maybe I should do something else besides ride up and down the walls of a half pipe like an 8yo?? Im all about getting out there and having fun whether you suck or not. its just skiing go enjoy yourself. but theres a distinct difference between every grom hitting all the "ramps" for the rails at their local hills terrain park... and some one on the worlds stage "competing" for her country and herself... and not doing shit. like god damn at least be able to do IDK A360?!?!?!?!?! thanks swaney.
 
13894221:frekalicious said:
well for all the hate that womens pipe usually gets this will do nothing but increase the hate. I feel bad for the girls who are progressing the sport, and are already receiving hate. I mean at some point this Swaney girl has to realize maybe I should do something else besides ride up and down the walls of a half pipe like an 8yo?? Im all about getting out there and having fun whether you suck or not. its just skiing go enjoy yourself. but theres a distinct difference between every grom hitting all the "ramps" for the rails at their local hills terrain park... and some one on the worlds stage "competing" for her country and herself... and not doing shit. like god damn at least be able to do IDK A360?!?!?!?!?! thanks swaney.
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Yeah if she was trying and just bad, that still kind of sucks but whatever. Some 3s and 5s and maybe trying a 6 then falls. Way lower than everybody but shes going for it. If she's been on the world cup circuit for years and wont throw a trick, she's completely delusional.

People like her are cancer to the sport.

It was similar when girls would skip the rails and straight air jumps in a professional slope comp. They needed to gtfo. Now that people are throwing down some big tricks, the comoetitions is finally growing constantly.

You arent just seeing 3s and 5s like we were for years. People sre doing 9s, 10s, dubs, corks, 4s out, and pushing the sport. The girls who arent serious are going to get left behind and new girls who are keen to try new tricks and go for it will have a place to blow up.

This swaney chick saying she hopes to inspire people... Like wtf is that? Inspire people not to try, not to try new things in life, be complaicent, and ride the techicalities of life?

Fuck that shit. I'm surprised people wasted their time writing articles about her.
 
13894219:theabortionator said:
She's like a way less cool version of Eddie the eagle.

You aren't throwing tricks, you aren't trying, you'r getting in on a bs technicality, but pretending you're really a pro skier.

Stop doing fundraisers for your dream. You aren't a pro skier, you aren't good, pursue something you're better at.

Even the Korean who tried in Aerials at least hit a jump and through a flip. They'd never competed but want to get something going.

If you aren't willing to try, give up your fake dream and get the fuck out. You aren't making skiing more approachable, you're just wasting peoples time.
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Pretty sure she isn't even trying to get good, she is just an olympic troll. If I understood correctly she tried to do the same thing in skeleton sledding for sochi but failed. If you ride pipe for 5 years and train with a group you shouldn't be stuck on carving the walls of the pipe without getting any air. And to think she has spent a lot of money on this shit just to look like a clown on the olympics lol.
 
How is this any different than the Mexican dude that finished something like 26 minutes behind the gold medal finisher in the XC skiing. Or that African swimmer that took twice as long in the 100m freestyle. These guys performances should be embarrassing, but they are stoked that they get to represent their country doing something they love.

While the Olympics generally brings the best in the world together, there have always been stories of someone who shouldn't be there competing against the best. It's just harder to stomach now that it's in our sport instead of swimming or xc skiing or bobsledding or whatever.
 
13894224:ButteredToast26 said:
Anyone have any actual footage of her skiing? Couldnt find anything except a few 3s into water
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There isn't any because there isn't anything to show. Watch the contest.
 
Can she at least try?

Even just a little bit of air

Or a trick would be cool too

I mean... I wasn't born in the US and could easily compete for a country that has literally no winter Olympic athletes, but I feel like it would necessary to at least try to progress my own abilities for the freggin Olympics?

Like the cross country (?) skier from Tonga gave it his ALL when he competed, even though his first time on snow was during the Olympics. That's an awesome story. Her story makes me bummed out.
 
This is a slap in the face to everyone who earned a spot, and dagger through the heart to everyone who gave it their all and didn't qualify.
 
13894172:Isabelle said:
Some countries are just willing to send anyone, regardless of how their performance might negatively impact the sport on such a big stage, or maybe our qualifying system is at fault. But I think having someone compete who isn't nearly on the level they should be at will only do damage. There will be a lot of clueless people watching and it will drag the image of women's halfpipe skiing down.

If you look at all the people watching Women's snowboard slopestyle and complaining about the level, totally clueless about how the weather conditions were affecting the contest, this was hurting the sport.
Click to expand...

For all the ladies (and men) who have torn multiple ACL's, broken bones, separated shoulders, ect... trying to progress themselves and the sport - it must feel a bit shitty to see someone make it to the biggest stage on snow that has not risked their health at all. She certainly hasn't earned or deserve any respect from her competitors. I hope she doesn't get any high 5's or cheers from her competitors during her run.
 
seems like a shitty person plus she's beat...tough draw haha

hope her competitors that she "looks up to" give her the cold shoulder.
 
13894227:saskskier said:
How is this any different than the Mexican dude that finished something like 26 minutes behind the gold medal finisher in the XC skiing. Or that African swimmer that took twice as long in the 100m freestyle. These guys performances should be embarrassing, but they are stoked that they get to represent their country doing something they love.

While the Olympics generally brings the best in the world together, there have always been stories of someone who shouldn't be there competing against the best. It's just harder to stomach now that it's in our sport instead of swimming or xc skiing or bobsledding or whatever.
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This. Kinda

When I read Isabelle's post, I remembered that African guy from the Olympics in Sydney who only learned to swim 8 months before, he had no coach and only a 10 meter pool to practice in. His country was one of the smallest in the world and only had 4 athletes competing. The two other guys in his heat got disqualified so it was only him swimming 100m in front of 15,000 people. I swear to God it's one of my favourite memories ever from any Olympics. He was crap but he was going to do his best and finish that swim and hearing everyone in the crowd getting behind him was brill.

My view on it. If she's a freeloader only doing it to get attention then she shouldn't be there....but..... If she's there to show the world that anyone can do this sport, then, why not. She might just inspire a lot of people to get up off their asses and give freeskiing halfpipe a go.

**This post was edited on Feb 18th 2018 at 4:47:31pm
 
If you want to be even more bothered by this listen to this. She tried to go to Sochi for halfpipe skiing for Venezuela then when she didn’t make it for them she swapped countries to get another chance. I have personal experience with this girl because one of my close friends has coached her in the past and she has said this word for word to me “I don’t like skiing. Unless there is a halfpipe there I don’t want to ski. I only like halfpipe skiing.” She has also claimed on her Instagram posts that she has taught 100’s of people how to ski but she doesn’t even know how to ski herself so that is not true and I know that for a fact. If you’re bad and you try good for you I support that 1000% because we’ve all been there but if you’re bad and you don’t give a fuck about learning a single skill concept in the past 6 years then get the fuck out and stop TAKING ADVANTAGE our sport as a free ticket to the Olympics. People are going to think skiing is an absolute joke when they see that someone of her skill level can make the Olympics.
 
HOLY HELL did any one bother to read the entire article?!?!?! this chick thinks entirely too highly of herself. As an undergrad student at UC berkley she decided to run for Governor... OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.... this is for real. chick ran against and then lost to arnold schwarzenegger... clearly chick just thinks that she is gods gift to the world. Well the only positive I will take away from this... is that I am undoubtedly better than 1 olympian. its ashame I dont have any ties to any other countries strong enough to do what this chick did.
 
She's not the only one. I'm pretty sure there are a few girls that made it this way. Maybe more of you ladies should drop the $$.$$$ to compete around the world and qualify.
 
13894253:bernierosow said:
She's not the only one. I'm pretty sure there are a few girls that made it this way. Maybe more of you ladies should drop the $$.$$$ to compete around the world and qualify.
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I could be wrong but your parents have to be of different nationally or you personally need to be born in another country

Or marry into the citizenship idk
 
The money she has spent to make a joke of what is already a competition that does not have lots of viewers could be put to much better use. Not to mention how girls who actually trained and can do tricks but did not qualify must feel.
 
13894257:ArseneFox said:
lol she actually tries, she has so much infrastructure, olympic tramps with a foam pit, a fucking waterramp. she got absolutely nothing out of it?
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not gona lie that kills me the most... like good god you have paid for all of this stuff and thats seriously your best attempt at a 360...on a water ramp.
 
13894253:bernierosow said:
She's not the only one. I'm pretty sure there are a few girls that made it this way. Maybe more of you ladies should drop the $$.$$$ to compete around the world and qualify.
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Nah I checked the athlete list and she's the only kook there.
 
Not only does this reflect poorly on women’s skiing, which already carries a typically negative image, but it reflects poorly on the sport as a whole. That makes me sick to my stomach. It’s genuinely saddening to see this.
 
I hope whoever wins is asked about her and drops the motherfucking hammer with a savage call out.

Tell it like it is! Somebody please! Would be the highlight of the Olympics for me.
 
13894273:theabortionator said:
I hope whoever wins is asked about her and drops the motherfucking hammer with a savage call out.

Tell it like it is! Somebody please! Would be the highlight of the Olympics for me.
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Was hoping the same on men slopestyle yesterday about the judges. But apparantely no one said anything
 
13894274:SuckMySkis said:
Was hoping the same on men slopestyle yesterday about the judges. But apparantely no one said anything
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I fell ya

"Well yeah you know, sometimes the cracked out judges give you a high score, sometimes a low one. I trained quite a bit and landed my best run, but I guess today they were too busy huffing gas to notice. Maybe next time?"
 
Lol Im willing to bet every clueless viewer just thinks shes terrible and everyone else is nasty, wont be surprised if the announcers mention her consistent dead last results.
 
Isn't this the problem with the Olympics as a whole? It's not the best of the best. X Games has a better lineup. Dew Tour has a better linup. Every world tour stop has a better lineup. But the Olympics are about nationality...the world stage... As core fans, this is eye rolling, but for the random viewer, this is our sport.

I'd imagine this is also the case for bobsledding, ice skating, even curling. And somewhere there is a bobsledding forum that is equally pissed off.
 
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