Make competitions core again

[Backwrdstoaster]

I know that this is a long discussed topic and nothing seems to change, but I think that now a days everyone in the competition scene is so invested in usasa or ussa. I think that the comp scene needs to go back to local contests at local resorts. In todays comp scene it is very pay to win where everyone has to be apart of an academy and have a lot of money. Competitions are supposed to be all about homie vibes instead of everything being so serious like how it is today. What is everyone's thoughts.

 

[BingPow]

wya homie? check your regionals once and a while for a update on a rail jam or something. If you're in Vermont, Bolton Valley has a little rail jam type contest once a month on a Thursday(unsure of the date of the next one). Also make friends with the park crew and make a contest happen. I think you'd find it takes a lot more planning than you think.

 

[Young_patty]

Competitions bring more money into the sport than any "core" independent project/film. Y'all hate to admit it but competitions are an essential part of skiing's core, without them we would not have the audience, sponsors, participation and money that there is today. Yeah its pay to win for sure, most other sports are the same way though tbh- skateboarding and snowboarding are exactly the same.

I think skiing has really gone through a culture shift in regards to how we view amateur content and local scenes- hopefully the next step is gonna be a revival of local competitions at a smaller scale. I remember growing up in MN and we would always pull up for things like Hyland-comp, Master shredder, afton jams in addition to our own USSA comp circuit because local comps are just plain fun af. I think a big issue is kids not wanting to pull up because they're worried about "not standing a chance of winning" rather than the mindset of "hell yeah special park set for the comp and everyone will be there." I think lowering the barrier/cost of entry and changing the discourse around competitive skiing would really do a lot for the local comp scenes and could be a good way to bring more people/money into the sport.

TLDR:// comps are good for the sport and skiers, we need to shift our attitude and focus on creating more fun local events aside from USSA/USASA junior/pro comp circuits.

 

[Backwrdstoaster]

Competitions bring more money into the sport than any "core" independent project/film. Y'all hate to admit it but competitions are an essential part of skiing's core, without them we would not have the audience, sponsors, participation and money that there is today. Yeah its pay to win for sure, most other sports are the same way though tbh- skateboarding and snowboarding are exactly the same.

I think skiing has really gone through a culture shift in regards to how we view amateur content and local scenes- hopefully the next step is gonna be a revival of local competitions at a smaller scale. I remember growing up in MN and we would always pull up for things like Hyland-comp, Master shredder, afton jams in addition to our own USSA comp circuit because local comps are just plain fun af. I think a big issue is kids not wanting to pull up because they're worried about "not standing a chance of winning" rather than the mindset of "hell yeah special park set for the comp and everyone will be there." I think lowering the barrier/cost of entry and changing the discourse around competitive skiing would really do a lot for the local comp scenes and could be a good way to bring more people/money into the sport.

TLDR:// comps are good for the sport and skiers, we need to shift our attitude and focus on creating more fun local events aside from USSA/USASA junior/pro comp circuits.

I completely agree with you what I’m saying is there is a need for a revival in small local comps.

 

[Backwrdstoaster]

wya homie? check your regionals once and a while for a update on a rail jam or something. If you're in Vermont, Bolton Valley has a little rail jam type contest once a month on a Thursday(unsure of the date of the next one). Also make friends with the park crew and make a contest happen. I think you'd find it takes a lot more planning than you think.

I’m from PA sadly there’s no small regional comps around me except maybe 1 or 2 the whole season anymore.

 

[Young_patty]

I completely agree with you what I’m saying is there is a need for a revival in small local comps.

Yes- many skiers cannot afford to compete at a professional level, I think the addition of small local comps would really further flesh out local scenes and could bring some good attention/money to the skiers and the sport (assuming you could find enough funding/sponsors to even get a comp off the ground). I think especially at the local level it's so essential for the community to be able to have small competitions like this, its just one more aspect to skiing that could get people stoked, and with the easier accessibility you would also see a lot more diverse skiers participating in them.

Competition doesn't need to be the USSA/FIS/USASA type shit we're used to, and even if you don't want to participate in one who wouldn't wanna see all the local legends throwing down at the same place? that's half the fun of a local comp. Plus local brands always have tents there flipping merch to hyped up skiers so its kind of a universal win for everyone.

 

[Pipe_Munky]

Competitions cost money... insurance costs A LOT of money. The comps that you say are for athletes that are "part of an academy" are comps that are part of the system that feed national teams and give world cup spots. Everyone involved in thrse comps (teams, coaches, athletes, etc...) are all insured to ride these courses and there is the assumption that no one is going to get seriously hurt due to the amount of training they have.

This is the same reason the Aspen Open became part of the FIS NorAM circuit. Too many idiots wanted to ski the X-Games track and too many people were getting hurt.

 

[WoFlowz]

Went to a rail jam at HV last Friday and these kinda events are where the culture is at. Had people from every single ski area in WNY there. Super hyped there’ll be another rail jam this year last year we only once cause of covid