Theory on Backcountry Skiing

EastCoast315

EastCoast315

Active member
I was just thinking about this. At one point in time, ski racing was considered the only respectable discipline of skiing. Later, a few pioneers began park skiing, and so the craze began. Now, park skiing is huge, and at the same time, ski racing has by no means vanished.

I feel as if big mountain/freeride/backcountry skiing is getting bigger lately, with riders like Eric Hjorleifson slaying it in every vid you see them in, many people really get into it. And while there are alot of riders, it does not seem that a real subculture has been created.

And I guess thats what Im getting at, does it seem to you that theres a possibility of a Bc skiing subcultrual revolution?
 
you missed the train mang,its already started idea? beleive? and the subculture definatly exist, this site for instance is perfect proof
 
i think that after beeing in europe for 3 winter seasons, that over there they have way much more BC culture, cause, it;s the alps, where ski was born. everyone in switzerland, austria, france knows how to ski, and they have beacons and ride lots, of bc, in the us, it's getting bigger and bigger though!
 
An important aspect you forgot to point out is that it's not accessible for many people. What % of skiers have the opportunity, terrain, skill and equipment to go out in the backcountry? Even though it's one of the most rewarding and satisfying aspects of skiing, it only attracts a certain type of person in my opinion.
 
uhhhh backcountry skiing was the only skiing u used to be able to do. you know before lifts n shit. and real backcountry skiing is when you throw your skins on and go somewhere with out a heli or a sled or a snowcat, not what the "movie stars" of today are doing.
 
For real dude. I'm guessing you are like 13 years old or something? People have been skiing the BC for thousands of years. Some of the most technical ski mountaineering first descents ever were first laid down in the 1970s. Many lines that still haven't been skied since the 70s or only a handful of times since then.
 
I used to HATE watching any part with backcountry or big mountain shit... till I moved to utah, then you really respect it
 
i agree that real backcountry is putting skins on and going for a hike, but know with snowmobiles and a lot of kids are hiking after taking a lift up to the top of a mountain it is getting a lot bigger. and a lot of it has to do with all the movies showing benchetler, fujas, pollard, and all those other guys takin backcountry to a diffrent level. Now a lot of kids are buying fat rockered skis and want to rip places that the pros are in the movies. Especially now that buildin bc jumps have grown so big.
 
yeah, i kinda started ahead of the curve with my dad, i've been touring since i was like 7 on race skis with trekkers and then moved on to nicer equipment, longer tours, higher peaks, bigger risks, and sicker pow. it's definitely the best kind of skiing i could ever wish for, skinning out into the middle of nowhere with peaks jutting up everywhere and getting the first faceshot of the day, nothing beats it. every time i watch a big mountain seggy in a movie i feel it
but as jason said it requires a lot of time, money, and effort. you need to know what the fuck to do if the snow above you starts to slide, you need to know how to find and dig out your friend in 15 ft of heavy chunks of snow, you need to buy the good equipment because a difference in shovel or tracker could save your or someone else's life, and not claiming at all but you need to be a good skier. i've had several harrowing experiences in the bc and there're certain times where if you dig in too much on a turn, you set off a slide, or if you fall, you tumble off a 500 ft cliff. i wouldn't call going out with no poles and doing hand drags bc skiing, but whatever floats your boat, just be safe, spend the money on avy gear, learn how to deal with bc risks, and always go with several other people and just be smart
 
for me, bc skiing also means hiking a few meters from the lift to access new terrain. would be sick if sleds would be allowed here in europe. I would no longer need a season pass ...
 
All the jibby BC booters are making a lot of kids do stupid shit. Way too many kids with no snow safety knowledge and no beacons/shovels/probes out there setting off slides and endangering others.

Take an Avy 1 course, go out with people who have been in the BC alot and know what they are doing, and do periodic beacon practice.
 
yea dude, I can totally feel you on that. Being from the East coast, we ony get 1,2, occaisionally 3 good weeks where you can actually make some sick lines.

And yeah everyone, I def understand that skiing originated in the bc, and bc has been popular for ages, but Im talking popularity in the sense that park is today.
 
Yeah, I know its been big, but I find it more evident that people are really into it now as opposed to like in the 90's. Maybe its just as big now as it was in '99, it just seems bigger to me as of right now as opposed to then.
 
living in CT, all we have to ski is park really. im not hating on park, but when i go up to vermont all i ski is the trees and pow. i still ski park at mount snow but i think i enjoy trees and pow more because i do it less. i still love park and will never stop doing it but i would love to go out and ski some real backcountry
 
Yea I don't think backcountry's popularity as a whole has changed a lot. But like you said it's a lot more evident. Hell i didn't even regularly ski a mountain with a park til last year
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top