Rogge
Active member
I don't think "normal" (I would use the phrase "non-freestyle skier") people hate us, I think that they don't understand us and they only judge us on the bad apples.
I was in the gondola at Whiteface yesterday and two "twin tip" kids were in there. They got to talking and were making complete fools of themselves acting all gangsta and being completely disrespectful. Calling other people "queers" while we passes some skiers skiing backwards. They tried to make fun of everyone in the gondola until I called them out on their bullshit for thinking they were hot shit. When we got out of the lift I heard someone mumble, "typical" as the two morons exited. I skied over and introduced myself and asked him to please not judge our sport based on two morons. I went on to explain to him what I do for NS, that most of us just love being on the mountain, and a few morons do not represent the masses.
This is will become a serious problem and it needs to stop now. Being quiet or standing aside will not work anymore. We're going to have to become pro active in making sure everyone is representing our sport correctly. Be polite on the lifts. Explain to people what our sport is about and that we're not a bunch of punks. Follow the mountain's rules no matter how ridiculous (obviously if you have a problem with terrain park rules, go to the appropriate people and express your concerns in a polite way). Of course there will always be the few that try to ruin it but if people are exposed to a polite group of articulate freeskiers, they'll be less likely to trash our sport and have more respect for what we're doing.
				
			I was in the gondola at Whiteface yesterday and two "twin tip" kids were in there. They got to talking and were making complete fools of themselves acting all gangsta and being completely disrespectful. Calling other people "queers" while we passes some skiers skiing backwards. They tried to make fun of everyone in the gondola until I called them out on their bullshit for thinking they were hot shit. When we got out of the lift I heard someone mumble, "typical" as the two morons exited. I skied over and introduced myself and asked him to please not judge our sport based on two morons. I went on to explain to him what I do for NS, that most of us just love being on the mountain, and a few morons do not represent the masses.
This is will become a serious problem and it needs to stop now. Being quiet or standing aside will not work anymore. We're going to have to become pro active in making sure everyone is representing our sport correctly. Be polite on the lifts. Explain to people what our sport is about and that we're not a bunch of punks. Follow the mountain's rules no matter how ridiculous (obviously if you have a problem with terrain park rules, go to the appropriate people and express your concerns in a polite way). Of course there will always be the few that try to ruin it but if people are exposed to a polite group of articulate freeskiers, they'll be less likely to trash our sport and have more respect for what we're doing.