I don't understand why there is so much hate (not in this thread necessarily) for racers. I enjoyed reading this thread simply because of how many people were actually like "no, don't hate on racers". It's nice to see that people are finally getting along, after all, skiing is skiing. Some people just like to go fast down a hill, and some people like to go high off a jump. In the end though, we all both have sticks strapped to our feet, and poles in our hands (most of us).
There is one thing I'd like to comment on though. After reading this thread, along with all the other racer-oriented threads in the past, i find one thing kind of funny. Every time somebody hates on racers, they all refer to them as "rich little bitches" and "kids skiing on daddy's $$" or something along those lines. I find this particularly funny for a couple reasons. First off, it's just part of the image of freestyle that so many people are trying to fill. So much of freestyle is gangster nowadays, including the music we listen to, the way we dress, and the attitude we give. So, what is more gangster than being 'hood', and chirping all the 'privileged' people out there. I understand it, all the gangsters do it. It's like saying you're better than them, because you did all they did, without all the money and opportunity.
The funny thing is, is that I bet you a lot of people on this site, and a lot of freestylers in general are in exactly the same situation as those racers are. Admittedly, I can understand that the racer vibe given off is much more 'snobby', but that's part of their sport. They're always in competition, always trying to be faster than one another. We're all about chilling, and that's why it seems so different. Also, I bet you there are also (in fact I guarantee you) people who race, who have a lot less money than many freestylers on the hill. Both disciplines are in the exact same boat. I know a racer who had next to no money, and was always riding hand-me-down skis, or old race skis bought at the ski-swap, and was able to ski only cuz his family worked there, and he was able to work his way up, until now he's an unbelievable racer who is ranked provincially, if not, nationally. And please, nobody who can afford to buy skis, a lift ticket, a form of transportation to the hill, and a computer (to read this), can start saying that they're scrounging for money and that the racers have it all in their daddy's cayennes, because you aren't in a bad situation yourself (even though you might not have a porche).
Lastly, if you haven't looked at it already, many of the professional skiers that you see today riding park and pipe were all racers. That's right, almost all of your idols all used to race. That includes Jon, Sammy, TJ, and Tanner - that's right... big chil, rasta, weed-smoking, Tanner Hall used to race. So for all you haters out there, maybe you should take a page out of their books, and realize that it clearly makes you a better skier, and that all those racers are just the same as you.
