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Does halfpipe or slopestyle skiing belong in the Olympics?

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ianj
Posts: 536 - Karma: 167
so I was reading the new issue of powder mag and an interesting article stood out to me. It was about wondering if skiers belong in the halfpipe at the olympics. I would like to take this a step further and ask if slopestyle should be in the olympics? Give your opinion please?
Nov 30 2010 6:51PM
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ReeferMonga
Posts: 387 - Karma: 385
Snowboarding only survived because of Shaun White. We don't have a Shaun White so its hard to market it. Personally, I would love to see it there, but really why does it need to be there? Snowboarding already has a hard enough problem. Hopefully it gets approved and it turns out to big a huge plus for the ski industry and people who should be getting sponsored and living in there cars get money to help them to what they love.
Nov 30 2010 6:54PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
absolutely not. Slopestyle is way too inconsistent. Conditions need to be perfect for it to be a successful event, otherwise millions of dollars will be spent to show the entire world the best skiers slamming into knuckles and the winning run will be a kang flip to ugly switch 10.

It's no mystery that slopestyle is infinitely cooler than half pipe, but halfpipe is much more competition-friendly. Not just for the conditions element, it's also easier for a live audience to watch and for cameras to film and broadcast.
Nov 30 2010 6:57PM
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3-6-steeze
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 146
At first i thougt slope, but i never thought of it like that
Nov 30 2010 7:01PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
i really hate that. hate's a strong word but you get the idea. it'd be so much cooler for slope to be an olympic event
Nov 30 2010 7:01PM
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123ski
Posts: 7374 - Karma: 1,415
Why not? The Olympics have always represented a way for athletes from different countries to represent their countries on a world stage. Sure it is way more commercialized than it once was. And sure, there are many sports that we consider "lame" which are part of the Olympics. Just because Halfpipe and Slopestye seem different than most other events in the Olympics does not mean they should be excluded from the event. I am sure that Aerial and Mogul skiing seemed different when they were added as well. Those events showcased the best forms of freestyle that skiing had to offer when they were implemented. Now there are different events and different tricks but the same level of athleticism. Obviously you might think that moguls and aerials are "lame", but it was not the Olympics that made them that way, it was the attempts of FIS to both define style and impose safety on athletes that caused those sports to be limited in their progression. As long as FIS does not tamper with SP and Slopestyle...then I definitely think they should be part of the Olympics.
Nov 30 2010 7:03PM
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octopuseater
Posts: 41 - Karma: 10
we may not have shaun white but we have simon... he was on ellen
Nov 30 2010 7:06PM
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CassiusClay
Posts: 1757 - Karma: 2

No, it doesn't.  I'm honestly tired of watching competitions.  The olympics would boost the visibility of freeskiing, but thats not what I ski for.  I don't ski so people can recognize what I do as 'cool'.

In terms of support for professional skiers- ya its great.  But what was freeskiing originally founded on? Regnier, Hall, and many other either olympic level (or aspiring olympic level) mogul skiers made a transition to freeskiing not because they would be getting more money/exposure out of it.

Nov 30 2010 7:16PM
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ianj
Posts: 536 - Karma: 167
What about IFS ruining it like they have with moguls?
Nov 30 2010 8:31PM
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travispersaud
Posts: 501 - Karma: 42
I definitely feel that it deserves to be in the Olympic.  Our athletes have reached an unthinkable level of riding, and I feel that this deserves recognition.  Someone above mentioned inconsistency in slope and while i feel that is an issue that needs to be addressed, I also feel that many events in the games suffer from this as well, especially the other ski events.  Another person mentioned that they ski for the love and not because its "cool".  I don't think that is an argument as to why slope and pipe should not be in the Olympics.  I would say the majority of Olympic athletes participate for the love and not be seen as "cool".  Reaching the Olympic level would require too much work if your main goal was just to be classified as "cool". I love skiing and I would like to see it pushed to the world stage simply based on the idea that I think we should share our wonderful sport.
Nov 30 2010 8:49PM
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weley
Posts: 387 - Karma: 195
i disagree
its like that for every other contest and just about every time there are still highly technical runs thrown down. and slopestyle is much better to watch than a lot of the other olympic events like ski racing, bobsled, xc ski etc   and also filming really isnt a problem.  its not like the filmers for olympic events are less capable than those that bring us dew tour and x games     

and halfpipe definitely belongs in the olympics if snowboarding is gonna have it
so i think that they both definitely belong in the olympics
Nov 30 2010 8:57PM
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jca
Posts: 4162 - Karma: 6,261
I could care less. Although it will be cool to see friends on tv.
Nov 30 2010 9:09PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9210 - Karma: 5,357
you're lucky, the thread I made about something in powder got turned into a thread about vajazzle.
Nov 30 2010 9:26PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Short answer:

Halfpipe - Yes
Slopestyle - No


Long Answer:

I don't really care to elaborate right now, 2.30am gotta sleep. But basically, my argument against slopestyle is right in the name.
Nov 30 2010 9:32PM
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Marg
Posts: 1385 - Karma: 748
none of you compete you have no say. Everyone who competes wants it in. so don't worry about it. If you dont want to watch it on tv in 3 years then change the channel to MTV and watch some more shitty reality TV.
Nov 30 2010 11:30PM
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j.bird
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 15
ha, too true.
Nov 30 2010 11:31PM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,589
does a bear crap in the woods?
Dec 1 2010 1:16AM
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Alp1ne
Posts: 717 - Karma: 203
lol the weathers never stopped people from throwing down in slope.
Dec 1 2010 1:20AM
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j.bird
Posts: 6680 - Karma: 15
aspen open last year.

xgames like 5 years ago, skiing slopestyle was completely scrapped because of speed issues.

You couldn't be more wrong.
Dec 1 2010 6:48AM
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Jpurd
Posts: 3196 - Karma: 3,554
it deffinatly belongs there!
Dec 1 2010 7:14AM
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Degnan
Posts: 213 - Karma: 843

Yeah but if you ever had the opportunity to represent your country in the Olympics, you can't say that you wouldn't do it.
And people who ski in the Olympics aren't doing it so that people can recognize it as 'cool'. To work that hard and make it to the Olympics, you really have to love what you are doing.

Dec 1 2010 8:44AM
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dubaiski
Posts: 961 - Karma: 37
i would love to see halfpipe but yould prefer not to see slpoe style as it will take out people such as casabon as style probably wont count as much in the olympics, hope im proved wrong though.
Dec 1 2010 9:09AM
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wesley.
Posts: 6483 - Karma: 1,049
well halfpipe skiing better be because halfpipe snowboarding is. but for the olympics, i would prefer not to mess with it and add new sports. keeping it with just halfpipe skiing and snowboarding is enough for me.
Dec 1 2010 9:44AM
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Jacob_W
Posts: 812 - Karma: 1,387
no thanks.

the single reason I quit racing for freeskiing was all the rules and the seriousness.

let's not become what we have strived to get away from, the reason our "sport" even exists...
Dec 1 2010 9:50AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
it will only turn into that if people make it so, if everyone still keeps the "free" in freeskiing alive there is nothing to worry about.
Dec 1 2010 9:55AM
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pikupfulofsnow
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 9,696
YES!
seems to me an athlete can still manage their life before, during, and after the olympics. bode miller parties like no other, i've seen shaun white at some bars, he doesn't seem to be slowing down, and scotty lago had more publicity because of his medal oral head stunt. sure their are more rules, but i think the amount of money, fame, and overall success (if this is what you are after) comes at the highest level from the olympics. also, the level of intensity when i watched the olympics last year was unmatched by any other televised contest. i hate rules more than anything, but sometimes following a few can lead to the ultimate achievement. otherwise, we are left with X GAMES (which i love) as skiings only televised contest sport. Dew Tour doesn't count in my opinion due to the horrendous coverage on television.
Dec 1 2010 10:05AM
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TH3D0P3B0Y
Posts: 65 - Karma: 10
Yes most definately it will bring the industry way more money so why not. Really who doesnt want to see slopestyle skiing in the olympics?
Dec 1 2010 10:08AM
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Jacob_W
Posts: 812 - Karma: 1,387
one of the contradictions i see is that the X Games kind of started as an alternative to the olympics. it's our version of the olympics, so why not keep it at that? I dont really see a need for stupid looking national team suits, political correctness and excessive bureaucracy in what we do.

money, fame, success? come on. if that's what youre looking for youre in the wrong game. we're freeskiers, not some circus clowns jumping through hoops for medals.
Dec 1 2010 10:16AM
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Rogge
Posts: 5772 - Karma: 3,867
Word Jacob. And to the kid that said Shaun White saved snowboarding, there's hundreds of thousands of snowboarders that laugh at that statement then go read a Terje Haakonsen feature in Snowboarder mag. Shaun brought more visibly to snowboard halfpipe but the last time I checked, halfpipe is only one part of the bigger equation. And besides, skiing has been around for thousands of years. Comparing it to snowboarding is like comparing the iPod to the wheel. That being said, if it's what the pipe competitors want, then go for it. But Marge, halfpipe competitors don't own the pipe so saying. These kids don't have a say in it is completely wrong. They're the ones that'll be cheering the loudest when it gets in.
Dec 1 2010 10:38AM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
is a frogs ass water tight?
Dec 1 2010 11:39AM
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ONE-UP
Posts: 609 - Karma: 53
hahahahaha!

+k for making me laugh, ive never heard that one before.

as for the thread
I agree with jacob
Dec 1 2010 12:27PM
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Sallabillz
Posts: 1289 - Karma: 762
true
im also tired of random goobs saying that slopestyle and halfpipe shouldnt be in the Olympics - there are no negative effects iitss alll gooooodd
the day it gets in the olympics will be a good day
then our sport can be recognized at an international level of pronessss niggguhhs hahahaa
ya olympics ftw
Dec 1 2010 1:46PM
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Sallabillz
Posts: 1289 - Karma: 762
actually after i read other dudes post jacob
i kinda changed my mind
cause all the gay rules and non freeskier nesss
but if the it did get in the olympics , i dunno i guess siktorrr
Dec 1 2010 1:50PM
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thelizards
Posts: 4042 - Karma: 43
keep it out of the olympics
Dec 1 2010 1:58PM
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JahSpriggs
Posts: 542 - Karma: 3,956
i compete and i say no, unless we govern our selfs and not let FIS ruin our sport....
Dec 1 2010 2:07PM
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theWIZARD
Posts: 935 - Karma: 76
halfpipe would probably come first before slopestyle. I like watching pipe so much better. The x-gams always come down to dumont and T-hall and its always really exciting. Pros go real big in the pipe too.
Dec 1 2010 3:57PM
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CassiusClay
Posts: 1757 - Karma: 2

Good point Jacob.  Thats the way I see it anyways.  I quit skiing moguls after many years of competing in moguls for many reasons, but the overriding reason- it wasn't fun anymore and all I wanted to do was ski pow and park.  The only thing the olympics will do is make skiing 'cool', pay some athletes (not a bad thing), and everyone on this forum will be bitching for a month about who got screwed out of which place.  The ski industry was a lot 'cooler' a few years ago to me.

FREEskiing isn't about FIS.  Hell, theres already enough hatred in competitions due to judging, etc.  Everyone should realize skiing is fun because its for yourself- theres so many different opportunities from big mountain to urban rails and people really need to learn to ski for themselves.

Dec 1 2010 6:05PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 36692 - Karma: 110,651
I wouldn't mind it at all, really. Both good and potentially bad seeing as some of the biggest names in snowboarding (and skiing) are sponsored by non-snow sport related companies like totinos pizza rolls or other corporate monsters. I'd just like to know and see what those companies will do to give back to the sport instead of building private jump shoots and such. Like them building public terrain parks and sponsoring and putting on clinics for people to learn how to ski.
Dec 1 2010 6:47PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
I'm very torn on the issue.

Athletically, aesthetically, practically... yea, skiing should be in. The easiest rationalization is that snowboarding is in it, and has been one of the most prolific and popular events in the Winter Olympic Games (probably after ice skating and shit). Halfpipe skiing has had tremendous growth since basically '03, and could easily provide comparable competition (or more, actually) as snowboarding. Not to mention the venue is already there.

A big concern of mine (and it isn't only me) is that pipe skiing will become very niche and specialized. Hell, it is turning that way as it is: Many of the top tier riders are doing some crazy ass training that is difficult/impossible for others (good on them, I'm not envious, but it is indicative of the potential specialized nature). Many smaller areas are foregoing their pipes. With all sorts of insurance issues, costs, and what not, it wouldn't be surprising if pipe skiing becomes localized to the point where only a few resorts can maintain that big of an investment. For now, that isn't as much of an issue, but I could see it going that way.

The big factor with niche/specialized is that it will become the aforementioned specialized niche. It isn't that way now. It isn't that way for snowboarding, either. Give it a decade... or two... and you'll have just specialized pipe skiers, like you get with aerials. It is the long term implications that make me uneasy.

But since I probably won't give a flying fuck, yes... pipe skiing should be an olympic event.
Dec 1 2010 7:05PM
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hucksplat
Posts: 966 - Karma: 1,124
I am all for pipe and slopestyle skiing in the Olympics.

It's a shame that FIS will be running it and I think it is a travesty what FIS did to the ISF (international snowboard federation), but such is life. FIS has been making certain tangible progressions, but they remain a bureaucratic and despotic organization. Nevertheless, inclusion in the Olympics will be beneficial to our sport and is a far better option than exclusion.
Dec 1 2010 7:17PM
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gnarles.
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 130
not if FIS is running show
Dec 1 2010 7:33PM
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
I think that slopestyle and pipe should both be in the olympics. It is for snowboarding, so why not skiing??
Dec 1 2010 8:02PM
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snowbombz
Posts: 2456 - Karma: 96
there should be big air instead of slopestyle!
Dec 1 2010 8:07PM
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erejto64
Posts: 817 - Karma: 228
repeat thread. but i would say halfpipe mabye but slopestyle absoultley not. All the sports in the olympics are not based of of style and the majority of viewers wouldnt understand why he was stomping afterbang off rails and think they all looked like idiots
Dec 1 2010 8:10PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
I love skiing.
but in my opinion, pipe and slope, and any other judged sport shouldn't be in the olympics.
way too much controversy and bullshit
Dec 1 2010 8:11PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
I'm starting to think skiing needs to make it in for a year so that all the riders can get busted smoking weed. Our image is getting soft.
Dec 1 2010 8:14PM
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AB_Pow
Posts: 225 - Karma: 103
THIS
Dec 1 2010 9:13PM
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tride
Posts: 1038 - Karma: 26
As posted in another thread....

Terje is now supporting snowboard slopestyle for the Olympics and has even even invited Jaques Rogges to the Arctic Challenge to give him a "true look at snowboard slopestyle".

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/action/2010-11-17-bnqt-slopestyle-olympics_N.htm


Dec 1 2010 11:43PM
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tride
Posts: 1038 - Karma: 26
I probably should have indicated that Jaques Rogges is the president of the IOC

Dec 1 2010 11:47PM
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jakobk
Posts: 308 - Karma: 11
personally,i think they both should be in the olympics,and i dont see how there is not a big enough market. then again im 13.
Dec 2 2010 12:37AM
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tride
Posts: 1038 - Karma: 26
Really? Wow if that's true, then what a terrible reason to do something, just to get away from something else...

Most people I know started freeskiing because they found hitting jumps and rails and halfpipes to be tons of fun.


Dec 2 2010 12:57AM
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