Come on Stuff55…do you honestly think that “we are all in for a rough road ahead of us� because Freeskier used one of their staff members in an ad to promote their product? It a funny ad, and if it were of anyone else getting thrown into a hot tub with all their clothes on at a Freeskier party at the WSI, then I’m sure you wouldn’t be bitching. So, why should Freeskier pass up using a fun picture in an ad because it was their own web editor that was dumped in the hot tub by his wonderful friends?
I’ve designed the magazine ads for Progression Ski Camps, and I’ve included myself in them along with the other coaches. Does that make me guilty of shameless self-promotion? Does that mean that Progression Ski Camps is not doing anything for women in this sport because the ad designer included herself in the ad?
Just because Harvey (and the Jerk for that matter) aren’t a pro skiers, it doesn’t mean that they need to hide themselves from any sort of publicity within the ski industry. There are hundreds of guys out there, who most people never even hear of, that are out there busting their asses to make this sports happen. Team managers, writers, photographers, film makers, event organizers, ski designers and countless others are making the things that we love about this sport happen and they deserve to be promoted. Personally, I would love to read a bit about team managers, Josh Novotony, Greg Strokes and Ted Wardlaw on the Dynaster, Oakley and Salomon websites, respectively. The athletes we all love like Dave Crichton, Tanner Hall and Simon Dumont all rely, to some extent, on the industry personnel that are backing them. SBC Skier does something pretty cool by giving props to behind the scenes people in their zero worship component of their magazine.
Harvey has been in this sport since the beginning. He knows where it started and he sees where it’s going. He takes the time to hang out with kids at local mountains and is at every major event gathering content for the magazine and website while also supporting the athletes. His work at Freeskier has only made the magazine better in so many ways. He cares about the sport and has been working his ass off to make it better. So, instead of passing judgement so quickly, why don’t you take the time to appreciate all the industry people that are driving this sport forward and give them props when you see pictures of them in magazines and on websites, even if it is their own.