These photos were taken from more or less the same place, on the same day, at almost the same time.
Much like when the My Alaska teaser dropped, the release of the full movie last week got me thinking about this whole ski vs snowboard thing, again. Last time I pondered if we should all just get along , but this time, a commenter brought up a very good point.
Yeah I know the general consensus is the snowboarding/skiing war is over and we should love each other and probably start mating. Hear me out, though: If we keep mixing these two sports people will inevitably compare the two. And guess who looks like they go bigger, faster, AND have extra gear to let go when bailing? I thought so, too.
Now I don’t know that we actually came to a consensus about the war being over, and even since the last time I beat this horse, plenty of other people have too, but I do think that the “bigger, faster, AND have extra gear to let go when bailing” has some merit. Add to that the fact that at a certain session, of a certain summer camp last summer, ski campers out numbered snowboarders nearly three to one, well, it’s got me a little worried. Is snowboarding going to be the one to suffer because of this freeski/shred unity movement? Will someday we all just start skiing again? Are we suffering from a sort of non-cold related shrinkage?
Well, since I asked, there are a few reasons I don’t think free skiing will overtake snowboarding in the winter sports ranks, and since we’re a damn snowboard site, here they are.
1. A wise man once said “if I wanted to see someone spinning around holding onto poles: I’d go to a strip club.” No matter how much of your awkward looking body position that tall-t is covering, bouncing around on skis in the park is always going to look a lot more like rollerblading than skateboarding. Remember, we’ve already established everyone wants to be a skateboarder.
2. Skiing still sucks to learn. You gotta figure out what do with with all that extra equipment and how to keep both those sticks pointing the same way. It can take years just to get semi okay at it. Snowboarding takes three days, tops, before you can make it down the hill without looking retarded. Then you can spend the rest of your life trying to learn tricks.
3. You’re in it for the love, man. So while yes, the bigger, faster thing might be more compelling footage for the average ESPN viewer, do you really give a shit when it comes to actually hitting the snow? Didn’t think so.
4. That said, skiers are in general way bigger jock-o-douchebags. Did you hear some of them are starting some sort of MMA training camp? Seriously. So maybe if you fancy yourself a jock, then you should ski. But if you’re actually cool (or at least think you are), then snowboarding is much more likely to keep you that way.
5. No matter how much you make ski boots look like boxing gloves, they will never be as comfortable or as easy to walk in as snowboard boots. The end.
For all these reasons and many more, I’m not really worried about the snowboard shrinkage crisis. And hey, as long as we keep talking about it, we’ll all get a ton of traffic from angry young Newschoolers, and isn’t that what it’s really all about?
When I need a good laugh I watch this a few times from http://familytreeland.com/
You should add to the list that skiing is way more expensive. Neither sport is cheap, but look at the average price for a pair of skis/bindings vs snowboards… it is almost double the price!
Snowboarding fucking saved the ski industry! Fuck two plankers. Most of ’em at least. I kinda disagree with #2. Whilst, I believe the snowboard learning curve can be rather quick, most kooks can figure out that pizzie pie snow plow thingy taught by some idiot with an Australian accent in ski school pretty damn quick (1-2 hours). Way less ass time in ski lessons. Did I say ass time? Yes, indeed I did.
i also disagree with #2. skiing is way easier, which is why they can go bigger/faster and do 450 oppo switchup 360 switch up switchup switchup cork pretzel out on dfdfdfdfdfdfd’s
I worked at that “certain” camp this summer and I have to say, it’s pretty crazy what skiers can do. I have respect for those coaches AND campers getting upside down twice while twirling. I didn’t see to many snowboard campers doing that. While the vast majority of the skiers are super nice dudes, there are a few arrogant f*%ks that really bring their image as a whole down. I know that it goes both ways though too; snowboarders have those same assholes. It’s cool to see certain aspects of both sports cross over into each other, and skiers and boarders sessioning a jump together.
I tried skiing one day and there is no way in hell I will ever do that to myself again. Torture. I choose one plank, and soft boots. Although, I did like wearing an XXXXXXXL tall tee for a day.
p.s. I hope the caption of the photos is a joke, Brooke. lol
NO JOKE. You were there, that shit was going on side by side…
Let’s face facts, dudes in Affliction t-shirts are gonna choose snowboarding 9 times out of 10. Snowboarding’s got some MMA bros in its future for suuuuure.
I don’t think any of us should dread the shift in popularity from snowboarding to freeskiing (inevitable as it may be). Snowboarding has always been an “outsider sport”. Its exclusivity is what brings passionate shredders together and keeps it feeling unique and personal. Why would any of us want it to get so blown out that we can no longer associate with other snowboarders because they’re all, well… just like some douche assed freeskiiers who want to someday be an XFL player? I for one think we should welcome freeskiing as the “in” thing so that snowboarding doesnt turn into motorcross and subsequently rally racing with 50 helicopters shooting it and a billion dollars in bull testosterone money. Down with oversaturation. And if you want to be just another Eric Corff (look it up) go for it. but don’t try and represent the soon to be fucked out culture that some of us truly and passionately believe in.
Freestyle skiing looks like a bunch of dudes with Cerebral Palsy flying through the ari. Two skis, two poles and big ugly, single-person game of twister that looks like shit. There is no trick in freestyle skiing that looks clean or has style.
It’s the 90’s equivalent of the rollerblading craze. No matter how high they go or what trick names the swipe from board sports, it still looks like shit and eventually it will go away.
That was the contest set-up for the snowboarders. Why would Austin be hitting the jump during the (very oddly set up) Pipe2Pipe? He hit that jump a bunch during that session.
We should all just start freestyle scootering anyway… it’s the way of the future!
i wonder if anyone hating on skiers has any friends that ski… some of my friends that ski are some of the coolest people i know. and i bet none of you guys knew some of these pro skiers watch snowboarding videos and visit the websites just like all you “cool” people. we obviously have influenced their styles and tricks recently but whats wrong with that? and aint nothin wrong with havin some two plankers around on a pow day, comes in handy i tell you what.
Hey where’s our 150 ski-loving comments at? Ill come back with popcorn…
these photos were, not we’re taken
free ski kids just look straight up confused, like they asked there parents to buy em two snowboards instead of one. then again kids quitting could just be a weeding out? snowboarding evolved tech and saved skiing and now, skiing can save us from the kooks? wait. not likely to ever happen until budlight starts making skis.
i once knew a kid who skied.
he said the worst part about it was, having to tell his parents he was gay
hahaha. The overall voice of the article is anything but “cool” you want to say that we skiers are jocks: okay, I do not deny that racers are uptight assholes, both in their attitudes and choice of clothes. So amen to that.
Second, who cares how easy to walk in ski boots are, you don’t need to walk when you’re on the mountain. (Unless of course you are hiking a feature)
The strip club point did get me laughing though. I will say that much.
happy skiing/riding.
new foolers-theres a comment for you
Just a few of my own thoughts on why skiing is shitty:
1. All the shit you gotta lug to the hill 2 poles, 2 skis, a pair of boots since they get all messed if you walk in them
2. Its way more expensive most skiers have more than one pair of skis, if you could just buy a single ski it would probably be the same price as a snowboard
3. rail pics every single rail picture looks the same
and 90 percent of freestyle skiers are the children of parents who didnt want ther kids having anything to do with snowboarding so the kids layed of skiing for a while because mommy and daddy always know whats best. then it started to get cool with the baggy pants and what not so they got into it again.
AND I have you ever seen a skier park edit? theyre all slow mo the whole time with some shitty mash up song or dubstep
the other 10 percent of skiers would probably agree with me
He said “feature” in his defense of skiing. ahaha. Corff.
sking will always look extremely gay. there is nothing you can do it to fix that, end of story.
rollerbladers go way bigger than skateboarders, and in alot of instances, BMX dudes. and that shit isn’t cool. so relax.
Guys, its not because skiing is easier that we can do 450 on. Its because of the way we’re facing the mountain/rail/jump.
It allows us to spin quicker.
And i completely disagree with the “But if you’re actually cool (or at least think you are), then snowboarding is much more likely to keep you that way.” part.
It was probbably written by some faggot snowboarder. Not all snowboarders are faggs, dont get me wrong. And not all skiers are faggs. The racers are (I think we can all agree on that).
And im sorry, but people complaining about the boots…Be a man! Toughen up!
who cares. the less people being better at snowboarding than me the better.
I know way more douchbag snowboarders than skiers but I dont understand how a sport has an effect on that so i dont really know what your talking about. i dont know what you mean by awkward poses it all looks sick its just easier on snowboards. 2 and 5 dont really mean shit. as for #3 i mean comon its a personal choice, whichever you chose your gonna have fun so your right people shouldnt care. i dont really understand why people have to think one is better but i know that people will think one is better. i do both even though i technically own skis so i can say that each is better for its own reasons, snowboarders tend to fall a lot more but its also far easier to learn while skiiers might not fall a lot (hurts like a bitch when you do) but its hard as shit to get down perfect
Was just wondering why no one has made the point that snowboarding is now trying to be like backcountry/ pow and or big mountain skiing? That part of skiing has always been strong and going to Alaska to ride big mountains was started by and continues to be dominated by skiers. Big mountain skiers and pow skiers have welcomed snowboarders into their world and have done it with respect. (kinda)
Oh yeah, everyone wants to be a surfer not a skateboarder.
agree to disagree. Duly Noted though.
There is a forum dedicated to these little ski shits where they take cute little pictures of themselves all suited up and post them. Then they talk about how sick their kit is and how huuuge their 14 shirts are and how saggin’ their pants are. If that isn’t the epitome of gay butt-fucking I don’t what is. If you ski, fuck you. Jam those poles up your ass.
I ski… that said… hummm. I really like it, i’ve got twin-tips, i like to ride the park, it’s more a like, than a know how, to ride the park. Skiing is probably the best feeling i can get on the snow. Never the less i tried snowboard, and after the first afternoon of pain and misery, and a few tips from a friend, on the second time i tried (one year after the first one and only for 1 hour or so) i could go down blue runs, and with an amazing feeling of “carving” on my legs. I went down blue runs with the board on the blades and turning, it was incredible, a so easy and rewarding. I like them both a ski much better than i do snowboard, more apparel it’s true, comfortable boots… i like my ski boots, i ran with them on, i feel “comfortable” and happy with them on. I wouldn’t trade skiing for snowboard, but if i had more time on the slopes, i would do both.
I agree with a lot of what is being said here. I am also a skier. I started skiing when snowboarding was the cool thing to do, and am not happy with what skiing has become. Now freeskiing has become the cool thing to do, and it pisses me off. 90% of the kids that you see in the park can barely hit a rail, buy 3xl tall tees, and hang out at the drop-in all day. The music in the skiing industry sucks. We are not gangsters. Skiing should be about going out with your friends and having a good time, regardless of weather or not they are skiers or snowboarders. Some skiers are original and have style, like max hill. You won’t find much about him on the internet, because he hasn’t sold out yet, but he does butters and presses on skis, just like snowboarders do, because that is what all of his friends did when he was growing up. Snowboarders are also a lot more creative and original than skiers when it comes to seeing what is possible on rails or jibs. A lot of snowboarders are cool, and so are some skiers, but both sports have gapers that are an embaressment to our culture and way of life. It is sad to see our sport judged by what one person does, but it happens everywhere. I feel like this article is directed at these people, and not at the core skiers/boarders who can see past what we choose to ride on, and can just go out and have a good time. Ok. I’m done with my rant now.
As a skier and snowboarder it’s easy to see that some of these points are true. Skiers bodies looking awkward? i don’t see it. and for the idiots saying it’s easy to ski, you can do a snowplow. that is not skiing. The dispute can continue, but for all the people who aren’t biased ass holes the cool snowboarders will be friends with the cool skiers. There are cool crowds on either sides, and “jock-o-douche-bags” on either side too.
soo glad you mentioned newschoolers
honestly, who fucking cares?
without skiing most likely no snowboarding..but on the other hand who cares, just get along.
I freeski, and I snowboard… both pretty well.. I just love bein on the slopes, honestly I think if anyone even considers one being better than another I say F***um right away. Both are cool. And for the which one is easier/more style… wow really? I spent 1 day on a snowboard and got it down, it took me a few hours to learn how to ski, and this is because I have good balance, not because one is easier than the other. If a kid who skateboards gets on a snowboard it’ll take him like a few minutes to get it, whereas a completely non-athletic guy will suck at learning it. For the style, ONCE AGAIN its the person, I’ve seen some skiers who are just absolutely sick with their style, and I’ve also seen snowboarders who just kill it. Finally the douchefags, you will have haters everywhere you go, stop judging the sport because you met one guy who was a jerkoff (at the skier dad video). Done. Snow = win.
If you’ve got a good attitude and just want to ride/have fun w/your friends then I’m down with you; regardless of plank count. What I’m not down with are the jocks that don’t have a passion for either. Unfortunately, as someone already mentioned, the snowboard jocks outnumber the skiier jocks by far because snowboarding is still the mainstream cool thing to do. We can deal with it though.
Hating on either is the wrong approach IMHO. …Shit is sounding oddly like what happened when snowboarding first came around. That said, snowboarding is funner to me (learned to ski as a kid) and allows for more style with tricks, but that is personal opinion. I’ve seen some skiers do amazing things in the local park.
I never wanted or want to be a surfer.
I hope that, in the medias eye, snowboarding always takes a backseat to skiing. As much good thats come from skating getting huge in the last 10 years, i wish it was small like when I started in the early/mid nineties. Keep snowboarding as small as possible as an industry. Keeps companies honest, products more legit and makes for an overall better community imo.
It dosent matter where you go or what you do your going to get some douches. With that out of the way I think that snowboarders and skiers should just atleast try to get along. The real douche bags on the hill are the people who don’t respect what someone else is doing, do what ever looks fun to you. Most people will probably snowboard because it’s similar to skateboarding and face it skateboarding is the most respected and watched extreme sport. If you don’t want to be hated on don’t hate on others and if you go out looking for that you are the real tool.
i disagree with #2. skiing has never been easier.
honestly, you can have all the little 14 year old way too tall tee wearing newschooler mother fuckers if you want em, they are kinda making us look bad anyways. As for the question of style and flow, well i guess you’re just crazy if you think skiers dont got it.
great, now we got ski kids coming on here, gayin this site up even more with their nightgowns and spinney tricks.
and #24…no one wants to be a surfer. i would literally rather chop off my own dick and eat it then want to look/talk/act or even think about being a surfer. they’re actually higher than skiers on the gay scale.
So let me get this straight….you’re bagging on skiing because it’s more difficult to learn? Good.
You don’t like ski boots? Do they hurt your poor little feet? Those Moon boots you wear went out of style in the 80’s. (just like snowboarding)
You wanna talk about awkward? Look at you tool bags dragging your board by your leg in the lift line. You look like a wounded coyote caught in a steel jawed bear trap.
You guys really look cool without poles too…..I mean, how are you gonna wave your hands around like a flaming homosexual with poles in your hand?
BTW, why do you guys grab your board all the time? Do you think it’s gonna fall off?
If you wannabes want to try a sport that actually takes more than a day to learn, yet doesn’t show that you know skiing is cooler, get a snow skate.
I’m a rollerblader pissed about skiers thinking they are cool as snowboarders. Just like skateboarders thinking they are as cool bladers. Those f-in skiers are stealing all our tricks and re-naming them! We were the first to wear nightgowns! WE invented that steez! One thing I do share in common with the club toting cavemen, yeah we do our sports because it is easier to look cool at the park and show off for all the babes that love to check us out!
I ski and snowboard, and love both…but as far as the bigger and faster thing goes, two words: Shaun White.
who gives a fuck. we’re all kooks. we all love snow. we just do differnt things on it.
@Blurred, I checked out your epic site. Why don’t you fucks just turn that into a gay porn site, since that basically what it is with you and all your cock-gobbling boyfriends on there.
The fact that you have to call it FREESTYLE skiing says a lot. Back when there was roller blading, there was aggressive roller blading. Nah I’m not a skier bro, I’m a freestyle skier, its way sicker.
i dont think there is really a need for a debate. The bottom line is that there is alot of style in snowboarding and no matter how hard skiiers try to flip and spin as quick as possible the potential to make it look good does not exsist. especially on rails. skiiers should stay off rails period, its extremely gay looking. sorry but that is the truth. THERE IS NO STYLE IN SKIING!!!
some really dumb comments and responses here.
I would really appreciate it if Nick’s diagram was made into a yobeat shirt. And I would show my appreciation by buying it.
In the future we’ll all be airboarding.
But really, jibbing on a snowboard will blow skiing away every time. It’s too damn funny watching skiers on rails.
all i know is in johnny Tsunami those skiers were completely d-bags…im just saying
Skiing is fun to watch, although I’ve never been good at doing it myself. The point is that my internet fun would be greatly reduced without skiers. I mean who else is going to chuck themselves off of a 100 foot cliff, land flat on their back, struggle out of their bomb hole, and then ski away claiming it like Shaun White after a pipe run?
Just messin, there’s room for everyone, let’s see some more of those snowbike dudes on hill already!