Why is everyone so mean to beginners?

J

JackSkisPow

Member
So I've seen a lot of threads about dumb gapers on NS, and I totally understand that, because I've had bad experiences with them too. But what about people who are just trying to learn to ski? A lot of people at my mountain are really mean to people who are just trying to learn to ski, who are staying out of everyone's way, and who are being completely polite and good tempered about it. Everyone has to start somewhere, and it seems like if we are so unsupportive of beginners, there's going to be absolutely no way for the skiing community to grow, and to survive.

The only beginners that I can say I truly dislike, and I understand the sentiment for, are the ones that are a danger to others on the mountain and who push themselves way too far, like the idiots who sit underneath jumps and drop 20 foot cliffs on their first week skiing.

What do you guys think about this? Have you seen this at all?

Also, I know that some people in the chat are just going to think that I'm a salty gaper, but I've been skiing since I was seven years old and am (hopefully) not a gaper at this point.
 
topic:JackSkisPow said:
I've been skiing since I was seven years old and am (hopefully) not a gaper at this point.
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holy shit you've been skiing since you were seven. Dude your a pro
 
13729670:Dekerz said:
holy shit you've been skiing since you were seven. Dude your a pro
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Oh yeah man sponsored by Saga super oh boy yep so cool. I didn't say I was a pro dude, just trying to avoid people saying that I'm a salty gaper who came out from Texas and got spat on in the terrain park. I ski as often as I can because I love the sport, I don't ski to boost my own ego bro. All I'm trying to say is that if we're total dicks to everyone who tries out the sport for the first time, not as many people are going to want to keep skiing.
 
13729677:JackSkisPow said:
Oh yeah man sponsored by Saga super oh boy yep so cool. I didn't say I was a pro dude, just trying to avoid people saying that I'm a salty gaper who came out from Texas and got spat on in the terrain park. I ski as often as I can because I love the sport, I don't ski to boost my own ego bro. All I'm trying to say is that if we're total dicks to everyone who tries out the sport for the first time, not as many people are going to want to keep skiing.
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you make a legit point but is this really a big deal? It doesn't happen just in skiing. This shit happens all the time wherever you are, School, other sports, ect. Your telling me you wouldn't get a little mad when you go to hit a dfd and some kid snakes you and decides to just go the lip?
 
13729684:Dekerz said:
you make a legit point but is this really a big deal? It doesn't happen just in skiing. This shit happens all the time wherever you are, School, other sports, ect. Your telling me you wouldn't get a little mad when you go to hit a dfd and some kid snakes you and decides to just go the lip?
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Of course I would get mad at that. And when someone's new, people don't go out of their way to hang out with them or teach them or anything, which makes total sense. But yelling "NOOB" off of the chairlift seems kind of uncalled for.. People are always going to keep skiing if they really enjoy the sport, but I think that some things are getting too ridiculous and are starting to discourage people.
 
It's because they're barely better than the beginners themselves and they want the beginners to feel as insecure as they do.
 
13729702:chicknfriedsteak said:
People are proving his point on this thread, just don't be dicks to the gapers, we were all gapers once.
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not me. I've always been the best skier on the mountain.
 
Toss in some tunes and zone out the haters. Or bring a gun with you and take care of the problem for good.. whatever works for you
 
13729702:chicknfriedsteak said:
People are proving his point on this thread, just don't be dicks to the gapers, we were all gapers once.
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Seems to me like it's okay to be a dick to someone who's in the landing of your jump or who cuts you off.. It happens to me several times each season and you just have to tell them off for it, otherwise they're going to go and hurt someone else or hurt themselves. Are we saying gapers are everyone who are beginning? Because it seems like there's a difference between the beginners and the idiots who sit in jump landings.

13730003:MIHoodlum said:
Just tell them you don't care about their problems. It's their problem they have with your skiing not yours.
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ouch, now people think I'm a gaper. Thanks MIHoodlum. lol XD
 
DIdn't even read. People are way nicer to beginners now. Also compared to other sports like surfing?

Fuck man. Beginners have it pretty easy. Also generally the mountains are zoned off quite well. Learn in an area that fits your ability.

In the park I see people helping each other learn tricks all the time. Even good riders teaching the real park noobs.
 
When I was starting out I had a hard time with stuff like that, so I ended up just building rails and jumps in my condo backyard and practicing a ton after the ski day was over to get good and not be laughed at. I try to be nice to beginners having had a pretty bad experience myself
 
the only problem i have with beginners is when they go down the park and weave around all the rails and snake the shit out of you. theres no reason they should be in the park, theres a whole huge mountain to go on. ANother problem i see at my local resort is parents taking there kids down the park. and im talking like 3-6 year olds that need the rope attached to there neck. other than that im ok with them anywhere else on the mountain cause were the "pros" we should be good enough to get out of there way, but seriously they just need to gtfo the park or at least learn to stay to the sides.
 
13729823:skiguy04 said:
sane as every sport.

if you think skiing is bad then I suggest you never go surfing
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Mountain bikers are the nicest people you will ever meet. Not all sports are hypercritcal in the way that skiing seems to be.
 
Like it or not, you represent the parts of skiing that you participate while you do them. Mouthing off to patrol or getting aggro with gapers in the park only furthers negative stereotypes that might exist, or worse, you might be one to start them.

On the flip side, if you take the time to be polite, explain why something is out of line or a skier is doing something that puts themselves or others at risk, people will often listen and change their behavior. Respect gets respect, as they say.

And if you really don't want to deal with other people, take the responsibility to yourself and your crew and start touring. Easiest way to ditch all the folks that make you mad is to start walking uphill.
 
That shit bums me out. Often times the people who are just starting out have the most genuine intentions and are so stoked just to be skiing. It's a bummer when people are openly douchebags to them.
 
I dont hate park skiers that arent "good" I get how hard learning it is but laughing at jerrys is fun sometimes.

It makes the haters feel like theyre better/makes them come off to the newbies as good so they dont have to prove it
 
I get shit from park skiers sometimes because I dress like them, but I'm much more of a mogul/glades skier. It's all about insecurity.

Lots of kids want to be noticed, popular skiers, so they try to trash everybody else to make themselves look better.
 
Skiing is hugely egotistical and many park skiers think they are the shit. I've never understood why there is such an condescending attitude in park skiing, it's so stupid to me. I honestly made a thread just like this when I first came onto this site under a different account, jeez close to 8 years ago...and kids where total assholes to me.

There's always going to be douchebags in skiing. But thankfully theres lots of skiers out there who want to spread good vibes and have an awesome time. Keep improving, have fun with friends and learn some tricks. Then.... show those kids up.
 
13729692:JackSkisPow said:
Of course I would get mad at that. And when someone's new, people don't go out of their way to hang out with them or teach them or anything, which makes total sense. But yelling "NOOB" off of the chairlift seems kind of uncalled for.. People are always going to keep skiing if they really enjoy the sport, but I think that some things are getting too ridiculous and are starting to discourage people.
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gaper

13729702:chicknfriedsteak said:
People are proving his point on this thread, just don't be dicks to the gapers, we were all gapers once.
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gaper

13729823:skiguy04 said:
sane as every sport.

if you think skiing is bad then I suggest you never go surfing
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gaper
 
If I am riding up the chair and someone yardsales right in front of me, or does something ridiculous, I'll laugh at them, it's funny. Not sure I've ever seen anyone be outrightly mean to someone just for not being good at park. But, then again, highschool kids are dicks for no reason, some just happen to ski.
 
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13730224:Casey said:
If I am riding up the chair and someone yardsales right in front of me, or does something ridiculous, I'll laugh at them, it's funny. Not sure I've ever seen anyone be outrightly mean to someone just for not being good at park. But, then again, highschool kids are dicks for no reason, some just happen to ski.
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lol yep me too. People are absolute d's to people who are starting to ski. Idk about bad at park. I don't spend much time in the park.
 
13730150:JackSkisPow said:
Seems to me like it's okay to be a dick to someone who's in the landing of your jump or who cuts you off.. It happens to me several times each season and you just have to tell them off for it, otherwise they're going to go and hurt someone else or hurt themselves. Are we saying gapers are everyone who are beginning? Because it seems like there's a difference between the beginners and the idiots who sit in jump landings.

ouch, now people think I'm a gaper. Thanks MIHoodlum. lol XD
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You know what would would be a novel idea? Politely explaining park etiquette instead of being a douche about it,
 
13729709:VinnieF said:
not me. I've always been the best skier on the mountain.
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We've been over this. You are not the best on the mountain, i'm the best. Just accept it.
 
13729706:Oxcilic said:
It's because they're barely better than the beginners themselves and they want the beginners to feel as insecure as they do.
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Nice. I have this innate reaction when I try something new, or I want to move into some new area of activity and someone is making fun of me, or tries to discourage or hijack/sabotage me *especially when the other person is doing the same thing* it only psyches me up more.
 
13730156:theabortionator said:
DIdn't even read. People are way nicer to beginners now. Also compared to other sports like surfing?

Fuck man. Beginners have it pretty easy. Also generally the mountains are zoned off quite well. Learn in an area that fits your ability.

In the park I see people helping each other learn tricks all the time. Even good riders teaching the real park noobs.
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I want to go to your mountain.
 
13730156:theabortionator said:
DIdn't even read. People are way nicer to beginners now. Also compared to other sports like surfing?

Fuck man. Beginners have it pretty easy. Also generally the mountains are zoned off quite well. Learn in an area that fits your ability.

In the park I see people helping each other learn tricks all the time. Even good riders teaching the real park noobs.
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13732251:1210020121 said:
I want to go to your mountain.
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I also want to go to your mountain. People never help people learn new tricks, when someone tries a new trick and fails, people tend to laugh. Even sick tricks that they can't do they laugh at.
 
13730388:chicknfriedsteak said:
You know what would would be a novel idea? Politely explaining park etiquette instead of being a douche about it,
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My friend barely missed landing on a guy who cut out of the trees below the knuckle of a real sizeable step down a few years ago, so I skied up to him and talked with him for a minute. He had no idea that it was a jump landing - he just wanted to ski up the huge pile of snow. Sure, I get it. But I told him that it scared the shit out of my friend and they could have both been majorly injured, and it's best to stay away from the terrain park if he wasn't hitting the features. I skied away feeling good about educating this dude on park etiquette.

Four or five runs later, the guy does the same thing on a different jump. Except this time, I clipped him in the shoulder with my skis, mid 7, and I went down with two broken ribs. Season ender. It was hard to not dislike beginners for a while after that.

TL;DR: I'm not convinced politely explaining park etiquette always works. Park passes FTW.
 
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