I'm out. Thank you. It's been amazing.

I joined this site on October 10, 2001.

I was 12 years old and had just gotten a new computer. I didn't know how to use the internet so I would just write 'www' and type in words and hoped it would be a site. Ironically, the first thing I tried after 'freeskier' was 'newschoolers'. From that day on I would come here to discuss a mutual love; skiing, with other kids from all across the continent and beyond...

At first I didn't know about the forum so I spent a month clicking on peoples names in the column on the left of the screen and viewing their profiles. I would leave them messages and hope I had replies to come back to when I signed in next.

After finding the forum it opened up a whole new world. Not only did I read about peoples ski experiences (that's what ski gabber used to be for; not who's sponsored by who and all the rest of the junk posted these days). I also learned lots about music, tv, girls, and modern pop culture, other teenagers personal experiences and all the other fun stuff that 'Non Ski Gabber' and the 'Media' forums have to offer.

There was a time when the people of NS were a select group here for the same reason, skiing. Now I find that it's more like a place to trash on other people for their differences (whether it be their 'style', equipment, likes/dislikes and even politics now). We used to shun the sort of people that made up Freeze's forum for their 'shit talking', now I'm afraid to admit that this site has become worse.

Not everything is bad though... Since becoming a member on this site I have had the opportunity to meet plenty of fellow members in person as I've travelled the last couple of years.

I still remember the first time I met Mike Hunt10. Kye and were both stumbling through the dark with our ski gear after watching a Certain Big Air event in Whistler venting about how our local hero, Chris Turpin had just got robbed of first place. From under a bridge we hear a the mumble of someone agreeing. That was Mike. Turns out we were all heading in the same direction. Jeff Thomas's place for an after party. There I met a who's who of NS goers:

Dave Pauls aka Ductapeboy
Kevin Erwin aka Weiner (who showed me horrific internet pictures that still haunt my dreams).
Jeff Schmuck (who's ideas and thoughts about the industry itself inspired me then and still does now)
Aaron Alibone (RIP)
Nolan Blackie
and others:

Tyler Forman
Doug Bishop
'the other' Chris O Connel aka CKO
Chris Muldoon (the rodeo 7 king)
Jon Reedy (who's thought filled posts ispired me to think about what I'm typing)
Ryan McKeeman
Jason White (and all around nice guy)
Chris Jones aka CJ (Who's 'Post a pic of a hot chick thread' will always make him a hero.)
James Hillier (a man that does it for the love)
Matt Jesson (the man from 'Something Else'

Last, but definately not least, I met the man himself... MATT HARVEY. He was sitting at a computer, beer at his side, peering through his curly locks at a blue screen. Admiring his handywork, I shook his hand with awe in mind. This was the man that created my fantasy world! The place I go to during a boring class, the place I go to before I go to bed, the place I go to with friends to laugh....

So here I am, 4 years later. The forum has changed too much for me. I no longer see the thought that was put into threads anymore. Only immature people making fun of eachother for kicks. I don't want to hear about how you can ski better than certain prodigy's, or how you want to know 'how to be spanceured' or why Pep is better that Jon etc etc etc.

I Just want to ski.

So please feel free to delete my signup name to make room for another person to come on and join the hurrah.

It's been great! Cheers to all the people I've spoken with, argued with, agreed with, laughed with and debated with. I hope the snow god is good to you all!

Have a great year!

Austin Ross aka Fro-deo



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President of the LBK