Whether NS kids admit it or not, there's a great balance in skiing out there right now with loads of style and trick progression--and between park, street, and backcountry lines. Lolo's cork 7 screamin semen grab is a top style trick. aforementioned triples are at least well grabbed. The first Olympics including pipe, and maybe slope will be in the books in five years. Who won?
Candide came back to win the FWT tour in 2010 and is out making a two year movie project with quicksilver. So is Seth (the ordinary skier).
Can't believe no one mentioned Tom Wallisch yet. He just won his first freeskier of the year over Sammy Carlson. Sammy won X games slope and is killing the BC filming with TGR these days. Sean Petitt has been dominating movie segments the past two years with MSP, as well as cleaning up red bull events such as linecatcher and cold rush. those are two of my favorite comps, though they are invite only. Jon Olsen continues to build massive jumps for his annual event, but he skipped the JOSS part this year. He's also back to racing. JP Auclair still gets banger movie parts. Nimbus is hot. Level One went over the NS charts in 2010; 4bi9 is on their heels. I like watching guys like Dana Flahr, Sage, Petitt bros, Sammy, Dane Tudor, Charlie Ager, Dylan Hood, Dash Long, Pep, Abma, Windstedt, Wiley Miller... most cause they all successfully mix dope tricks into mountains filled with pow. Tanner Hall has been going to mexico to get water injections in his knees to aid his second comeback. Hopefully he's keeping to his promise of 'just a bit of ganga to keep the head clear'. We'll see how far he's come along in the films this fall.
Loads of new ski companies are making names for themselves including surface, moment, ON3P, Bluehouse, DPS.
I'll be surprised if anyone still knows what Boone skis are, and 333/222 were a one and done shitshow.
Armada is top dog, though came out with some sort of cease and desist letter because of supposed patent infringement of ARG (disputed). Anything come of that?
Ski shapes are going all over the place, with emphasis on fatness and different cambers. Midfat is 105-115mm underfoot. DPS has a boat bottom type base shape coming out soon...
More and more people are taking advantage of easier backcountry access because of better gear. I have marker dukes on three pairs of skis. within five years I will likely have my own sled. I'm thinking of upgrading from an avalung pack to ABS pack, with the hope I never need that shit...
skittles colors are the standard for outerwear. though it's starting to get toned down.
Alta still denies snowboards but Taos NM now lets them in.
The economy generally sucks but skiing is on the rise in mainstream popularity. Ski shops are in trouble because of online shopping. GoPro cameras are too hot, and kids better be creative in capturing and editing that shiz. Hopefully resorts don't kill themselves from poor real estate decisions. Though what do I care, I've found salvation beyond those overcrowded playpens.