Racing

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POHTAYDO

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So the race coach at my school knows I'm a big park skier. She has asked me a few times to join the race team and today got her husband (the dean) to ask me to race.The deal is that I would go up with the race team Three days a week and race and park ski the other four rather than park all week. Is it worth trying and will it help my skiing? Need your thoughts on this thanks.+k for solid answers
 
Well it seems to be a good deal to me. I mean how many days would you ski otherwise each week, because seven days a week is real good. Plus if you get to ski for free. Also racing does help your overall skiing, and for me it actually improved my balence after I started racing in the park. Over all it sounds good to me.
 
Do it, it'll only help you're park skiing. You'll gain a lot of control of your body and skis. Plus you could probably sneak in a few park laps here and there on race days.
 
Racing does wonders for your stance and overall skiing ability.I started racing when I was 7 years old because at the time it was the best thing ever, and I did a total of 7 years in the program. The thrill of going as fast as possible in between gates is awesome, and with the proper instruction your skiing becomes quite good!

They basically teach you to have a proper aggressive stance, while teaching you how to properly carve through turns to generate speed and momentum.

My overall skiing is now much better than it would have been with ought racing, and I can now rip all mountain with no confidence issues when I head up to bigger resorts on trips. My park skiing is also much better because the racing helped me be in a centred stance, therefore improving the way I pop (not backseat) and makes going big much easier.

Definitely do the racing, not only does it help your skiing, but it is also pretty fun once you get into it!

 
racing is kinda fun and makes you a way better skier. Much harder than you think it is. Get yourself a decent pair of race skis will help ten folds. Sounds like a win win for your. Get to ski more and get to try something new and who knows you may actually enjoy it
 
im definitely glad that i raced when i was younger. i can actually have a really enjoyable day with out pow or going into the park once, especially with super icy groomers. haha I still love taking out some sharp skis and rippin super g turns around everywehere. And like others have said it will only help your park skiing, and other forms of skiing. Id say out of all disciplines in skiing though, it helps pipe the most. pipe is a very technical thing to ski and requires tons of edge control. you can always tell the difference between the kids who raced and didnt in the pipe, even though theyre freestyle skills may be the same. Now i must admit, i didnt really enjoy racing all that much, i was never into the whole super regulated competition kind of vibe, but if you can get past that it will only help your skiing.
 
I would recommend it, especially if you're not a strong skier out of the park. I started racing when I was 13 and I improved probably 10 times more that winter than any winter prior. I still race now, as a senior is high school, and still enjoy it.

Pros:

1. You get to ski.

2. You improve as a skier a shit ton. Like more than you could ever think.

3. You get to chill with your friends.

4. You may get a varsity letter.

5. There's more socializing and unseriousness than any team sport I've ever done.

6. You get a good work out through training and drylands that get you in shape and stronger.

Cons:

1. It takes up a lot of time during your week, so planning homework can be tough.

2. It's very expensive. Racing gear is not cheap at all.

3. It gets cold as fuck a lot of nights.
 
it dosen't have to be expensive, just get to know some sponsorized racers, this season I payed 500 bucks for 5100 dollars worth of skis/ boots from last year
 
All the really good big mountain skiers/local pro's at our hill come from a race background, and it really shows in not only technique, but confidence too!
 
You should definately do it. I was a good skier and the I went on my schools racing trip, and now I have improved drastically. It will help your control on skis a lot and should really improve your park skiing as well, because you will probably get really fit racing.

Finally you will have much better technique from it.

Good luck and have fun :)
 
so suprised by the responses this thread has gotten...all I'm gonna say is that racing is expensive as fuck!
 
But if your school is sponsoring then its free so why worry.

When I went racing with my school i just had to pay for skis and boots.
 
so your saying they payed for all your bindings outerwear speed suits helmet googles poles wax tuning equipment, and all the other random gear associated with racing? i can see them paying your race fees and what not, but i have a hard time believing you only payed for your boots and skis.
 
there are like 4 schools around my local mountain, and mine is the only one without a ski race team.. but most of the 10 or fewer dedicated park skiers at my mountain race and on race days i am like the only skier in the park, except they will have like 2 or 3 hours to sit around but they come and ski park during that time
 
if you need to ask whether racing will make you any better at skiing, then just do it. you will benefit.
 
To people raising cost as a reason not to do it; Do you need to buy all the race gear? My team you could race in whatever you wanted, half the team raced in twin tips and tall tees.
 
i used to race and I really loved it. then it kinda got old beacuse of all the sitting around and shit
 
and im sure you guys didnt do so well. Could picture this...a bunch of clowns sliding down the course acting like douchers. Race/carving skis are nothing like twin tips not even remotely close. They ride so different makes racing sooo mcuh easier and makes you way faster
 
School racing in Aus is a lot different we only have GS, moguls, ski cross and cross country. But in Gs these kids are good skiers and still come top 50. I get racing, I race World Cup ski cross. Haha. But we value participation more than results so we like having freestyles.
 
I raced my senior year in high school and it made me such a better skier, halfway through the year i was the third skier on our states winning team. one of my biggest regrets in life is not racing at a younger age. Even with racing i still had time to do my homework, keep a part time job, and ski park on my off days

Racing is tons of fun and if you have connections on the team and to a local shop you can get almost everything you need for little to no cost at all, i think i spent about $50 in all, mostly on a few pairs of poles and hand guards. i ended up getting a used pair of slalom, used gs, new helmet, shin guards, and a gs suit all for free. People are usually willing to help out, especially if you only have a year or two left

notes: RACE, it can be cheap, you will be a better skier, lots of fun

 
I raced for my high school team and for 4 years before that. I hate that shit. If you like waiting 2 hours in a skin right suit to take a 20 second run, do it. And take it from someone who raced and now does park, it will not help you really at alleging racing. If it did you would see all the big names working with race coaches
 
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