Kind of a harsh post. The problem with skiing today is that "park rats" are slowly turning aside all other aspects of skiing. I've simply heard too many times how much sicker park skiing is compared to backcountry, powder lines, moguls, glades and racing, to name a few. Consequently, these comments are secluding park skiing and park skiers from the rest of the skiing world and this rift is really stupid. For me, the biggest upside of being in touch with the freeskiing community is to be aware of all the different aspects of skiing. I consider it way more important to be a strong all round skier than to solely ski park AND hate on other aspects. There is obviously a flipside, being from the east coast, and having been out west, the east just does not compare. I can't really ski much besides the park at my local hill. I love doing a couple groomers with my dad because he's a good skier but besides that, I like being in the park. The difference is, I do not snub all other aspects of skiing. Consequently, many newschoolers have not had the oppurtonity to ski the mountains out west thus consider park skiing the ultimate level of skiing today.
btw that was my 1000th post. yay