Actually, no. If you wan't to have the nicest gear out their be my guest. It does not affect you at all. You shouldn't care at all whether or not your friend who has yet to learn some tricks wants to buy all the coolest gear. If anything you should help him find a good deal on it. Don't rag on him because he sucks, help him get better.
If he wants to wear all the latest, let him. It doesn't affect you. Nobody cares about whether or not he's posing. If I see a kid at my local hill throw a clean cork 5, and he is wearing all the latest gear, I think the same about another kid who can throw the same cork 5 but is wearing 3 year old gear that's been handed down or whatever. Likewise if they both fell trying a 180. The fact is, people need new gear eventually, and stores don't keep 3 year old products in-stock, forcing you to buy new gear. Its absurd that people automatically judge someone to be a poser because they had to buy a new pair of goggles this year.
Just because some cat can't throw down doesn't mean that it is against the rules for him to buy cool gear. He can buy whatever he wants. I hope you realize how incredibly ignorant and selfish your last post made you sound Concept.
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Formerly SwitchPollard