The European front

Turkelton

Turkelton

Active member
It's happening. The US bred the first great generation of skiers, inspiring those round the globe. But I believe we're experiencing a shift in where we're seeing progression. Europeans have been upping the ante on all aspects of skiing in the past few years, urban, POW, park, big mountain, you name it, the Europeans are getting better and becoming much more on par with the Americans. We've seen a full American sweep at Sochi, but is that not more likely with freeskiing having more roots firmly cemented in the U.S. and a population the size of Europe? It is clear America will have a larger pool of Talent. Besides that, we've seen this year what Europe is gunning for in terms of being overall the best, and the standard in Europe right now is so high, just look at Jesper Tjaser's season this year. There are kids like Luca Schuler and Andri Raggetli busting out triples, Jeremy Pancras spinning to win, Noah Abaladejo doing everything. There's Scandinavians better than the Canadian and American ski level put together and every day it's getting crazier over here. Fabian Lentch's FWQ run is one for the ages, and can't be topped just yet, and Europe is the place breeding skiers that can shred anything and everything. America has more a culture, within modern freeskiing, of staying in the park, whereas here you have guys like David Ortlieb throwing sw 10s in the BC and French guys doing triples for fun, like Gypsy Feeling. The am level is certainly much more rounded than that of the USA, and I think in the next few years European skiers will completely dominate both European and American skiing. It's the same in snowboarding, they're seeing a shift of talent to South America with the likes of Manuel Diaz. This is freeskiing first big shift from the days of Tanner Hall and later guys like Schlopy to the big start up of the European generation dominating, starting with Henrik Harlaut. Look at the X Big air. Harlaut and Kai Mahler have been placing on the podium for two years, Kai inspired Nick Goeppers sw dub nine screaming.

It's a clear trend (from me being an armchair spectator) and I think America has gotta get ready to be surpassed in skill and popularity by the Europeans, perhaps bringing the trend of underrated Euros back to North America instead of here.

tldr- watch out America m8 we'll reck U soon
 
13019725:Mr.Bishop said:
Ummmmm..... Canada?
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I put North America at the end cos I was lazy, much like the culture of driving everywhere in North America.

Schwiiing. But seriously, do you see this change or is it just me?
 
Its true that in the past America has dominated, especially in the culture aspect, and that not there are tons of Europeans that are killing it, and more so every year. One point to consider though is that a lot of the European superstars will come to the US to ski once they are doing it for a living. I think in coming years we will see equalization and maybe even a dropping of the distinction between 'Euro' and 'American' skiers. Both bunches of guys will be pushing the envelope as hard as ever, and at the end of the day, European or American, we're all skiers.
 
Its true that in the past America has dominated, especially in the culture aspect, and that not there are tons of Europeans that are killing it, and more so every year. One point to consider though is that a lot of the European superstars will come to the US to ski once they are doing it for a living. I think in coming years we will see equalization and maybe even a dropping of the distinction between 'Euro' and 'American' skiers. Both bunches of guys will be pushing the envelope as hard as ever, and at the end of the day, European or American, we're all skiers.
 
Facilities for freestyle skiing are still years ahead in North America. Sure there is loads of terrain in Europe, bur for parks, NA is still a good 5 years ahead. With that in mind I think people will keep flocking to NA, just because of the facilities and the general culture surrounding freeskiing. In Austria you still have reactionary and conservative powers working actively against freeskiing, and until that ends, we will not catch up with NA, at least in Austria.

Can't speak much on the other big alpine countries, but in a place like Spain you also have a struggling scene on account of the economy. Which makes it even more impressive that Noah Albaladejo and Luka Melloni are doing what their doing.
 
13019848:Jibberino said:
Facilities for freestyle skiing are still years ahead in North America. Sure there is loads of terrain in Europe, bur for parks, NA is still a good 5 years ahead. With that in mind I think people will keep flocking to NA, just because of the facilities and the general culture surrounding freeskiing. In Austria you still have reactionary and conservative powers working actively against freeskiing, and until that ends, we will not catch up with NA, at least in Austria.

Can't speak much on the other big alpine countries, but in a place like Spain you also have a struggling scene on account of the economy. Which makes it even more impressive that Noah Albaladejo and Luka Melloni are doing what their doing.
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If you got any ins there get at me and I'll come help update a spot.
 
13019868:theabortionator said:
If you got any ins there get at me and I'll come help update a spot.
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I work for a company called qparks, check our www.qparks.com

Where have you worked before?
 
13019729:Turkelton said:
I put North America at the end cos I was lazy, much like the culture of driving everywhere in North America.

Schwiiing. But seriously, do you see this change or is it just me?
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Oh I mean absolutely there's major euro domination coming out right now. Same as happened in Snowboarding. I wouldn't count out the 'muricans or the Canadians though.

I want NS to do way more european shit. It'd be sweet.
 
I'm not counting out the North American side. I just think in the very near future there may be a shift in domination and with freeski popularity building here, a shift in market planning for the industry.
 
13020891:Turkelton said:
I'm not counting out the North American side. I just think in the very near future there may be a shift in domination and with freeski popularity building here, a shift in market planning for the industry.
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Funny enough, there's actually been a super rapid adoption to all the changes on Newschoolers by the Euros. For some reason, they have been all over participating in the content movement in a big way.

Still tonnes out of the USA - but there's a really solid representation of the other side of the pond if you ask me.
 
I think its more to do with the social media making it easier than ever for europeans to get spotted, before awesome euro riders would just get lost in a sea of other riders. Now more open comps and websites like this being more popular
 
13021504:Moon_Park said:
can you expand on this?
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In the ÖSV you have powerful members who have blatantly admitted to hating freestyle and vowed to actively work against it. Compared to the talent pool in Austria, you have little to no support for freestyle skiing and no focused talent development. Austria is a very traditional country, and a lot of people still don't want to accept the direction skiing is going in, even though it is inevitable.
 
13022344:Jibberino said:
In the ÖSV you have powerful members who have blatantly admitted to hating freestyle and vowed to actively work against it. Compared to the talent pool in Austria, you have little to no support for freestyle skiing and no focused talent development. Austria is a very traditional country, and a lot of people still don't want to accept the direction skiing is going in, even though it is inevitable.
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That happened in a lot of places in North America. It was a huge growing pain for a long time, but it eventually eroded almost everywhere. Its silly to think that it won't follow the direction of snowboarding.
 
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