I know I'm in the minority here, but I really want to explain why I don't do freeride comps or comps in general, even though I've been approached by a few people telling me I should. Sean Petit and Pep Fujas said it best, even though they would certainly be in another league compared to the small local comps I would enter, their rational is the same as mine:
I don't do it for a few reasons. To me that style of contest is a huckfest. Who can throw they're body on to the most rocks possible. It's just not as well formatted for the style of contest I want to be doing. And I actually don't really like doing contest in general. That's why I started filming for movies in the first place. Was to get away from the competition scene and format and to me that's what "freeskiing" was."
-Sean Pettit
There are many reasons for myself not to do the world championships. I don't feel the need to prove myself through a contest format. My goal in skiing is not to be the best, it's to travel the world skiing and pushing my own abilities as I see fit while showing the world how much fun it is to ski. Doing the world championships would only make me push myself in what is typically a very risky venue. The conditions for these events are usually pretty mediocre and there are always guys willing to risk more. The prize purse for what is at risk does not entice me the slightest, but honestly, even if the top prize was 50,000 I probably wouldn't do it."
-Pep Fujas
I know some people enter their local comps "for fun" and not seriously because they really want to win, or think they are on the track to being pro, but it seems to me why enter if that's the case? It's a risky venue as Sean and Pep say, it involves a lot of standing around waiting for your turn to drop into non ideal, choppy, icy conditions. For me skiing is not about that. It's about having fun, and chill riding with your friends. If you want to push yourself you can and your friends will be there to support you, or if you aren't feeling it that day you can dial it back no big deal. That's pure freedom right there. Contests put you in the position of having to perform, even if conditions suck, or you are having an off day. I don't need that kind of pressure, and I'm not planning on going pro, so it's not worth it to me.
There are other ways to be involved in the industry, creating content through filming, photography, writing, video editing and making self edits, getting involved with the tech and equipment side of things, even posting here at newschoolers. Contests aren't the only way to help push park skiing. If you want to make a name for yourself through the contest circuit then go for it girl, just be sure that's what you really want to do, because it's a real commitment to climb that ladder. On the other hand if you are thinking about doing it "just for fun" I'd say go ski with your friends instead, or better yet, get out there and try to make some new ones and get some other ladies stoked about sliding on snow.
The more experience you get, the better you will be anyway. And if you try it this season you will know what you're in for next season.
