WSSF Gripes

vantownloc

vantownloc

Active member
I have a bunch of issues that i think should be voiced over the ever expanding WSSF. I assume most will disagree with this but I think you shoulld all hear it anyways:

The WSSF makes it hard for me to get around an already over crowded and comercialized mountain. The huge crowdes of barnies there to see 'skiing's future' take up all the damn parking spaces (even my secret one's) and the lift lines fill up.

the 'mcdonalds' rail jam thing frankly is pathetic. hey mcdonalds stay out of my god damn face with your money grab death spiral advertising. I am truly disturbed at the huge amount of growing corporate sponsorship in ski events. $$ to make things happen can come from other sources than damn mcdonalds who dosen't give a hoot about what we are doing obviously at all then just want to sell us GM beef and GM tomatoes.

On that note I won't even go into the olympics and the future death of whistler which every year becomes more evident to me. hence the flight to fernie of the original folks who build it anyway.

 
I dunno, there are gonna be some hellasickgnartechsesh parties that you won't wanna miss... also the widening of the highway is gonna make it safer

*******************

'Chief Heavily Whipped? Yeah guy, THAT's a name to be proud of...'

'Amy, are your ears cold? Your ice is looking icier than usual...' -Turpin
 
yes the highway is for sure safer which as awe all know is a very very good thing. and yeah the parties.........:)

 
^highway's not that bad...It's all about have confidence in your driving, not falling asleep, and not shmokin' or drinking during your time spent on the sea-to-sky

The rail jam is cool cuz it's the first time a proper rail jam contest has been done in Whistler. McDonalds makes shitty food, but it's got buttloads of cash to give out as prize money...10 grand to the winner of the ski division, and another 10 to the winning snowboarder. That's a lot of cash.

There's always somewhere to park in Whistler, if you know where you're going. As for the Olympics, yes, they might not be very good. It will remain to be seen. If property prices sky rocket to outer-space levels and the mtns become over developped, it'll suck. But from what I've seen from Intrawest so far, they're too smart to let their corporate crown jewel get tarnished by the IOC and their 2 week advertising fair.

It was inevitable that freeskiing got commercialized. That commercialization, though annoying, shouldn't change your reasons for skiing, or your reasons for visiting Whistler-Blackcomb: Terrain, killer parks, good customer service (except when it comes to letting injured skiers download catskinner so they can watch the pipe contest...thanks guys), and the best overall skiing experience I've ever had.

I should really apply to work for Whistler :)

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

SKIER: How would you describe your style?

PJ Cliche: Total skate influence. Even doh dis is on concrete, an you are face sideways, an it has sweet fuck all to do with ski, skate 'as play a huge role wit my steeze.

 
you guys are calming me down when i want to be MAD!!! ;-)

all good points but i don't want their cash and since i'm not invited anyway i have no chance of getting it.

 
^It's easy to hate and get mad...Too easy. The bigger picture is hard to miss when you're examining something you're passionate about:)

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

SKIER: How would you describe your style?

PJ Cliche: Total skate influence. Even doh dis is on concrete, an you are face sideways, an it has sweet fuck all to do with ski, skate 'as play a huge role wit my steeze.

 
While it might suck that we have companies like McDonalds sponsor events, the fact of the matter is that the event wouldnt happen without their money. It'd be great to have ski companies sponsor events, but they don't have the money.

and yeah its going to be a fucking zoo in whistler as the olympics approach and shit is only going to get more expensive and probably more commerical. it blows, but as said before thats not going to change our reasons for going to whis.

wow good observation! You are officaily the new ns genious. You can pick up your award after I shove it up your ass. - Phrosty

 
Whistler is already overdeveloped, more houses wont affect much.

'I would be embarrassed to constantly complain about my life considering all the freedom and opportunities we have today. People that can't find anything they enjoy in life simply aren't giving it a real try.' ~Nick 311
 
i think the whole mcdonalds sponsorship is good.. free skiings come a ways for people to be winning 10 grand for a rail comp..

.brooke.

B girl ain't lost the beat

Jumped over drama and I landed on my feet

Gotta keep goin'

No stoppin' me

And if you don't like it, then

La la la la la la la
 
just look at what's happened to skating before you make any judgements.

these are just my feelings and being in troubled times i want to allign myself with organizations and companies that do good in the world, not ones that fuck it up.

 
^true. I'm there for the sunshine and watching the big air. I'll skip out on alkyhol for the week if its gonna be so lame getting into bars. I'm a festival volunteer but that gets me free stuff, not into parties

*******************

'Chief Heavily Whipped? Yeah guy, THAT's a name to be proud of...'

'Amy, are your ears cold? Your ice is looking icier than usual...' -Turpin
 
anyone know any non industry parties to get into or bars that wont have horror stories like jody's?

.brooke.

B girl ain't lost the beat

Jumped over drama and I landed on my feet

Gotta keep goin'

No stoppin' me

And if you don't like it, then

La la la la la la la
 
^the only non industry or non frequented place i should say that i always chill in if this is any help at all is in the whis brew pub, in the bar part behind the dope dope fireplace they have.

i prob shouldn't say it but noone is ever there and i always seem to get a seat. it rocks there, i love it.

 
I don't go to WSI for parties and boozing. I can do that much cheaper in Vancouver, and with no attitude(funny, WSSF is the only time I encounter attitude in Whistler). Not to mention that only a select group of my friends bother going to WSSF/WSI at all, so it's really about chillin' in Whis, not doing much, and appreciating the mountains, my friends, random people, the scene, and the big air. And the occasional beer, naturally ;)

Besides, I need to go shopping before I move back to Onterrible, and every ski shop in Van is out of cool stuff.

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

SKIER: How would you describe your style?

PJ Cliche: Total skate influence. Even doh dis is on concrete, an you are face sideways, an it has sweet fuck all to do with ski, skate 'as play a huge role wit my steeze.

 
the commercialization of things like this sucks, but its generally good for the industry and thee riders, i mean if i was pro i would sure be a lot happier winning 10,000 rather than a t-shirt. Dont get me wrong, its not all about the money, but these events bring more recognition to skiing and the more recognition the better. Hopefully the money goes to a lesser known skier, winning 10 grand would definately make a lot of people want to enter. Also the WSI may suck for locals and whatnot, but for us non locals, its the only chance to see pro skiers competing, and thats why i go every year.

PS what time is the rail jam, anyone know? Is it anywhere near mcd's or are they just the sponsors?

 
I know alot of locals that look forward to WSI. I like it, its like a big reunion, most everyone is there, and you just get to hang out with friends and ski... If you are worried about getting into bars then maybe its not for you... I had to wait eveywhere last year. I just figure there is more to life than boozing and being all bro brah in an over priced, small sweat hole like maxx fish, so I don't get to worked up about it.

------------------------------------------------------------

Smokey, this is bowling, not Nam. There are Rules.

 
word

___________________

Silly Rabbits. Pink is for cheese! –stevexs2

i love watching people get nutted. i hate seeing naked fat people getting the box munched - BallinBU

numbers are for jewish investment bankers - sleezemcfly

im a straight up thugged out ghetto prep - ATLANTASKI

Looting, it's the new way to buy stuff! - Jib_This
 
the crystal lounge may be a hole, but I've never had trouble getting in there...

*******************

'Chief Heavily Whipped? Yeah guy, THAT's a name to be proud of...'

'Amy, are your ears cold? Your ice is looking icier than usual...' -Turpin
 
cinnamon bear wuuuuuuuuut?

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

SKIER: How would you describe your style?

PJ Cliche: Total skate influence. Even doh dis is on concrete, an you are face sideways, an it has sweet fuck all to do with ski, skate 'as play a huge role wit my steeze.

 
who needs paries to get wasted anyway he?

you can always roll one when your in the line right?

'I think I woud be laughing too hard if I had sex with a guy because gay people are so funny' - Marc Balaban (resnick)
 
The flask full of redbull and jaeger is always a good time.

TMC WUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

WE KILL YOU

SKIER: How would you describe your style?

PJ Cliche: Total skate influence. Even doh dis is on concrete, an you are face sideways, an it has sweet fuck all to do with ski, skate 'as play a huge role wit my steeze.

 
we are the shit!!! we have travelled and worked our asses off all winter broke bones and risk injury everyday, this is our party and way to celebrate our season and sport if you don't like it get the fuck out of town and go ski in Fernie or somthing. i am sure all of the other atheltes and companies would agree with me when i tell you to 'GET FUCKED BUDDY'

its in the water
 
^ This is so not your party – its not mine either. Jodi found that it wasn’t hers either, and that’s ass, cause things like this should be ours, cause we are the ones that are out there skiing and making this sport the way it is, right?. The thing is though; we are the guys that live in the apartment downstairs from the party that gets to come along cause we live nearby. Don't think that for even a second that you or folks like you were in mind when this event was created.

The WSSF is here for one reason and for one reason only - to make money and that money is going to make your life better, but not for the party.

The WSSF and all of the festivals like it that are popping up like spores here and there this season are designed to drive business – business to the resort during the festival, to retail shops during the festival and to restaurants and hotels and all of that short term stuff. They are also designed – and this is there they may your life better – to attract mainstream folks and non-skiers into the sport. They are designed to get folks whom have never skied before to give it a try, to get folks whom have not skied for a decade to get out and try one of “them new shaped skis�, or to get someone who is using cruising skis now to go back and get some twin tips, mid fats, back country skis, and new clothes to be a part of the scene. They are designed to get folks at home who are reading magazines (yes, you out there in Kansas or Manitoba or wherever) to go out to your resort and give it a go.

What does that do? It puts money in the bank of resorts, retail shops, and ultimately manufacturers. Bastard companies – what do they want with our money? Well – things like capital improvements to get a new zaugg groomer, budget changes to have staffing increased to make a bigger or better park, R and D money to make better skis, boots or bit of bling do NOT happen when companies don’t have a fat bank account. Better resorts and better gear come around when the companies have dollars. Companies have dollars when they are in a growth phase of more people buying their product, people buy new product when they are excited about what is going on, when they feel a need to be a part of something, when they are stoked about a sport, and they get into things like that only when they find out they are going on – large scale events are a major – and very typical – way of bringing new participants into the fold.

I am with you on the angst though – I feel no love at all for this week. If I get asked to sample hair product while I am wearing a helmet or a beanie one more time, I am going to start swinging my poles at folks. Its fucking ASS that I can’t go for a drink where I want to for a week (of course that is the same as Christmas, Martin Luther King weekend, President’s Week, March Break and Easter to some degree…) This time though, its not only because the bars are full, but because I am not cool enough to go. Fuck that.

'The money's in the medicine, not the cure!' Harvey
 
don't fret james, you are cool enough, you just have to believe in yourself! I do!

*******************

'Chief Heavily Whipped? Yeah guy, THAT's a name to be proud of...'

'Amy, are your ears cold? Your ice is looking icier than usual...' -Turpin
 
all intrawest cares about is the bottom line...thats it.

they couldnt give a flying fuck weather you had a good time or not. All they are doing is looking at the numbers.

When in doubt...FSI

...fuckin send it

work to live...not live to work.

work to ski...but only if you ski to work. The simple equation to skibumming 101
 
As you wind your way through this thing called life, you'll realize more and more that damn near EVERYTHING out there is about making money in one way or another, and if you have to big a problem with that, you should marry a hippie and live in a tee-pee in the middle of nowhere.

------------------------------------------------------------

Smokey, this is bowling, not Nam. There are Rules.

 
dub ess eye FISHO

****

//KAW RAW//

//DEFY SKEEZ//

Im a drinker with skiing problems
 
Yo 360 spins....

good to finally see the other perspective on this thread. As much as it might suck, much like the Olympics did if you were working at a resort in Park City.......it was good for the industry, and for all the local buisnesses that employ all us ski bums. Yah, it sucks when the place goes off like that, but if not for times like that, some buisnesses won't do so good.....and when that happens you might not have your easy as hell ski bum job for the season.

Like 360 said, it drives expansion on the mountain as well.....and all those cool features (and the snowmaking to make those features) in the parks, etc. Without getting more exposure to skiing and the resorts, the industry can't grow. Getting mainstream co's to put money in helps everything grow. Growth always isn't good, but the industry still needs a lot of it to continue to progress.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top