AgitatedHiatus
Member
Money is definitely something that factors in. I just bought my first NEW pair of skis and I'm 17. Before this, I was using P60's that were around 10 years old.
Stop age claiming
- Thread starter BennyBagels
- Start date
freeskibum82
Active member
13582986:AgitatedHiatus said:
its a good feeling buying your own stuff. we have lots of kids come into the shop and want chronics or blends but the parents do not understand and want to buy the cheapest ski because they are "just going to grow out of it" and it makes it difficult.
People also need to realize there are benefits to working in shops that sell skis or working at the mountain...
freestyler540
Active member
Im 28 and skiing every day in the winter and I am never going to stop.
/claim
/claim
BonusNo413
Member
OP you have a point but I think that extends to any skier of any age. Growing up I was the best skier in primary and secondary school at both schools. I was always well known as the skier kid. But that was only because I was the only dedicated skier there. And that was because my parents always drove us up there every opportunity in winter and everyone else just went on the school trips or in the holidays. The only reason I got so good was because I was given the opportunity and others weren't. I only admit this to myself now at the age of 20. Kids usually don't want to admit this to themselves. The prodigies are only so because they have access to expensive training facilities, coaches, and the obviously snow itself which is a rare opportunity for most people.
BianKarrett
Member
I'm 7 and I did a double cork 180 yesterday.
MikeWeinerONE
Member
topic:Bmerrill said:
This has nothing to do with how good you are at skiing. Athleticism and skill, which are earned through repetition and actually skiing, are most important. Go figure.
13596109:MikeWeinerONE said:
Right - but I mean you're leaving out an important detail...
"actually skiing"
The ability to develop the baseline of actually going skiing from a young age requires your parents to possess an enormous amount of money - plain and simple.
Sure there are special cases where someone comes from a different background, but between equipment, season passes, transportation and simply having the time.... you need a decent economic stature to make it happen.
Like if both your parents worked at McDonalds, there's zero way you're going to become a skier.
If you are a lower-middle class family in Quebec... sure you can get skiing at a small hill with low-end equipment. You could even get decent. However, as soon as you hit the level where you need summer camps, trips to NZ, coaching fees and to attend major events all over North America?
No way mom and Dad can foot that bill, and no way even if you're pretty heavily sponsored is that travel getting covered.
So sure - there is probably a few cinderella stories out there of kids with the natural ability climbing over these hurdles and succeeding on their own.... but a lot of the time if Mom and Dad aren't footing a pretty serious bill for most of your youth, you're not going to have the training necessary to succeed.
Especially now with how hard the tricks have gotten. Summer camps, airbags, coach's salaries.... these things aren't cheap and in many countries the government doesn't even subsidize them.
03gade
Member
One thing noone has discussed is how younger kids just have an easier time spinning. They don't really have the mass to gain speed to hit mega booters but when it comes to rail tricks, it is easier for them to spin.
People have challenged me on this, but there's a reason the first 1080s in skateboarding were done by tweeners. So when I see a 13 year old's edit which is a bunch of spin to win on rails, i'm not very impressed.
The only young edit I saw that impressed me was that 7 year old (maybe 8 or 9) from last year. That was dope.
People have challenged me on this, but there's a reason the first 1080s in skateboarding were done by tweeners. So when I see a 13 year old's edit which is a bunch of spin to win on rails, i'm not very impressed.
The only young edit I saw that impressed me was that 7 year old (maybe 8 or 9) from last year. That was dope.
13596268:Mingg said:
I'm 100% not in support of the age claim. I mean if its rad, then its a bonus that the kid is super young but it shouldn't be the focus of things.
I was more simply speaking about how money plays an important role in skiing, and I think its slightly ignorant to downplay that aspect.
saskskier
Active member
13596278:Mr.Bishop said:
Absolutely. Money is huge in this sport.
I grew up in a family that hovered around the poverty line. We were also recreational skiers that lived on the prairies (maybe one trip out to the mountains/year), but it was our only family vacation each year and it was still a stretch. We had a little tiny local hill with two runs and a rope tow and lift tickets were $10-15 and I learned rails and 360's on some relatives old, 185cm Blizzard skis. Twin tipped skis were rare in Saskatchewan and so far outside my realm of possibility, but I still loved the sport. I basically ended up waiting until I had my drivers license and a job to ski on a somewhat regular basis.
I'm an okay skier, but will never be as good as the ski club kids who could afford to get a pass, go every night and make multiple trips out to the mountains. Kids who come from families where that is a possibility have a huge, huge leg up on everyone else.
lickmyballs
Member
Op is butt hurt because he got his ass kicked in SLVSH by a 12 year old (OP is 20)
MikeWeinerONE
Member
13596195:Mr.Bishop said:
I'm a glass half full dude.
I agree with your point though. I just feel that with effort a lot of young athletes can reach their goals, regardless of money. We've watched and are watching it happen.
skiguy04
Active member
none of these young bucks want to make a street section. they don't look beyond flips usually… wonder where that started??
dubs aren't all that impressive anyways especially after all the tramp, water ramp, bag jump, foam pit and whatever other form of flipping practice you can think of with sprinkles on top and an energy drink on the side
dubs aren't all that impressive anyways especially after all the tramp, water ramp, bag jump, foam pit and whatever other form of flipping practice you can think of with sprinkles on top and an energy drink on the side
13597831:MikeWeinerONE said:
Oh, ABSOLUTELY! I am not one to say its not possible in any way.
If you want it bad enough, you can do absolutely anything.
However, I think really my main point is actually getting to that point when you're young (which with this level of skiing likely requires you starting before 5 years old) 100% requires your parents to have the means to make it happen.
Those who live in ski towns or work at resorts are obvious exceptions to the rule, and for sure there are exceptions.
I just think that especially with the level you're supposed to get to, its very hard to not have been born into a family with at least middle-class means or higher and still succeed.
This is the #1 thing wrong with our sport if you ask me. So many more people could enjoy winter if it was more accessible.
supersquid
Active member
well would you be more impressed by a 12 year old double corking than an 18 year old. if kids are younger doing tricks older guys are doing in my opinion they are better because when they are 20 they will be at a whole higher level of skiing when than the dudes who are now 26
snowpocalypse
Active member
Fuck you all. My kids 4 years old. She has already been out for two seasons. She can drink hot coco better than most 6 year olds. She doesn't even spill or shit. She can also not piss herself. Boom! She can eat a shit load of show too. My kids better that all you small fucks! Spancer Her.
BennyBagels
Member
13582965:Dennis_ReynoIds said:
Damn who knew this comment would sting so much 2 years later... ouch
