Okay, so the title basically says it all but Ill elaborate a little bit. I know we all started basically eating shit and getting laughed at while trying to gain the balls( or ovaries) to hit the park. I wanna hear your guys opinions on skiing with people in the park( not the mountain) that are way below the skill level of where you are. Are you guys up to helping out the new park skiers and give tips and pointers and share a good laugh when they eat shit? I know some people just cannot stand skiing with beginners because they hold them back, or because they're never going to get serious into the sport. But what about someone who loves to ski and wants to improve and have a great time. I ask because being a beginner park skier, I'd love to learn from people on the mountain but sometimes out of fear of humiliation, don't ask.
I'm a beginner park skier too, but its all about having fun honestly. I may be a beginner at park but I'm a pretty good backcountry and tree skier. Some guys that laugh at me in the park for eating shit would probably end up being left in my dust if we both went skiing in the trees or off piste, haha. In the end we all love the sport and thats what matters
I remember getting told about how my first 360s were ugly by random guys
I remember eating shit and people laughing at me
I remember being mocked
I also remember skiing with a pretty cool dude one day, who didn't give a shit that I sucked
I remember he pushed me to learn and try new tricks
I remember progressing a lot because of that guy
Now whenever I see a kid trying to stick something new, or learn a new trick, I see myself a couple years ago
Moon_ShoesI remember getting told about how my first 360s were ugly by random guysI remember eating shit and people laughing at me
I remember being mocked
I also remember skiing with a pretty cool dude one day, who didn't give a shit that I sucked
I remember he pushed me to learn and try new tricks
I remember progressing a lot because of that guy
Now whenever I see a kid trying to stick something new, or learn a new trick, I see myself a couple years ago
Im crying
I was skiing with a kid yesterday who was trying to hit his first rail and he was going lip on but not going full 90. The kid was probably about 9 or something and he sent it every time, even though he'd slip out or nut. Eventually he got it and I got him to take it to switch. I think I just taught the next Cam Riley how to ski rails.
I love when I'm hiking a feature and theres a lot of other people hiking too since the vibe is so much better. When there are some beginners hiking too, just trying to get a blind 2 out or just slide the rail, I love talking to them and trying to help, because I know that they are intimidated to ask for help when the see people throwing 2's on and such. The stoke for when they land that trick they were trying all day is just as high for me as it is for them, but since I wanna help them get better, I always try to push them a littl more, like saying to make it cleaner or now time for front 2 or something.
I have a lot of younger kids who like to talk to me in the park now and its a pretty cool feeling to be someone the new kids look up to for advice.
parkplaygroundI love when I'm hiking a feature and theres a lot of other people hiking too since the vibe is so much better. When there are some beginners hiking too, just trying to get a blind 2 out or just slide the rail, I love talking to them and trying to help, because I know that they are intimidated to ask for help when the see people throwing 2's on and such. The stoke for when they land that trick they were trying all day is just as high for me as it is for them, but since I wanna help them get better, I always try to push them a littl more, like saying to make it cleaner or now time for front 2 or something.I have a lot of younger kids who like to talk to me in the park now and its a pretty cool feeling to be someone the new kids look up to for advice.
as a begginer i wish/hope everyone is like this
Same night skiing as mentioned previously. I was telling this other kid how to do a front 2 by scissoring and to demonstrate I was hucking my meat attempting to land a front 6 off a rail that was maybe 2 feet off the ground, never got it, the kid got the front 2 though.
It's kind of fun to try and learn a similar but more advanced trick with a kid who is just learning. You get on the same level as them and you both get excited when one eventually sticks it.
Back in the day at ski round top when I was a 12 year old gaper, I was super intimidated by 'park' skiers but one day I went in to the park and tried sliding a box and ate shit. The round top riders crew were there including steve step and they kindly offered to teach me and my brother how to slide a box. It was a small act of kindness but its really what got me into skiing and changed the trajectory of my life for which I am very thankful.
My local hill is a really small one lift one run hill run by only volunteer work. Since its a so small hill you get to know everyone and I often end up skiing with 10 year old beginners so of course I will do my best to help them out and push them to try new tricks or rails. That often includes digging out beginner boxes that have been snowed down or rebuilding lips or landing for beginner futures. Its always fun to see how much some of the kids progress over a season when you know a big reason for their progression was you giving them some pointers or helping theme out with building some beginner friendly futures for theme to practice on.
I see a lot of newbs getting yelled at, (and I am guilty of doing it myself) because they are going to get themselves or someone else hurt. For example gaping kings crown and cutting back and forth down the landings or broseph mcballz trying to backie rollers in the mini park when he can hardly turn or whatever you get the point.
Its just important to let them know why they need to approach it differently without being demeaning. Its also beneficial to everyone when the new guys understand park edicut; it makes it way less dangerous.
Bishops right, it is out duty (haha duty) couldn't resist!
Mr.BishopI think its our duty to help out.
Completely agree. And to the guys who don't want to ski with beginning park skiers, don't bitch when gapers are doing spread eagles off the sides of the rail lips. If you take the time show them how it works, we will hopefully have fewer people doing ignant shit in the park and making it dangerous for everyone else.
Honestly, I love doing it because surrounding yourself around worse park skiers makes you look a whole lot better like a decent chick around uglies.
In addition, explaining techniques to them helps your understanding of the tricks and it helped me learn how to 6 out when I was stuck with only 4s.
I think people need to ski with me in the park because I'm terrible, and as most of my 'ski friends' are either worse than me, or have no interest in park, I struggle to progress because I have no encouragement or advice. The few times I have been in the park with people, I've progressed much much faster, and it's been loads more fun.
I love helping people out in the park and have probably learned more while teaching others than I would have just by hitting rails. This probably stems from the fact that I have coached the sport of Lacrosse for 5 years, but I think that everyone should really shred with everyone and show beginners how fun the sport is. I had never skied before last season and probably the only reason I gained the confidence and skill in the park was from all of my friends pushing me and teaching me to hit features. Because of the awesome experience I had when starting out skiing all I do is eat, sleep and ski (besides work during the day). Although everyone does have those days were hot lapping is needed and music is cranked up loud, but it still doesn't mean that you should be a douche to beginners (except for racers gaping lips, you are allowed to stab'em on hot lap days).
I love it because its a good morale booster (although I guess I can still be considered a beginner lol)
Beginner or not, having someone observe you can make the difference between falling into the routine of doing the wrong thing every time and eating shit and discovering what you are doing wrong so that you can improve.
This is relevant for me in biking and skiing. Whenever I couldn't get why I was fucking up every time even though I thought I was doing everything right, the person watching me saw my mistakes right away, called me out on it, and I could change it. It is just like watching yourself on camera; a third person perspective sees everything.
So, ya, I feel that riding with beginners can speed up their progress a lot and is a a great idea if they aren't little brats.
I never comment in threads but I found this to be worthy of my input.
There's nothing I hate more than seeing kids get discouraged by assholes that think they are "better" than other kids. Throughout my life I spent a lot of time skiing with kids, helping them to hit their first rail or do their first 360. I taught my mom how to hit jumps and stuff and my little siblings how to hit boxes, they love it. It's the best part about skiing. There's nothing better than seeing a kid get stoked over clearing a rail for the first time or stomping their first backy.
On the other hand, I also enjoy skiing with people that are better than me. Everyone is better than you in atleast one aspect if you think about it, so there is always something that you can learn from anyone, even that kid you just taught how to hit a rail.
My experiences skiing with kids that are better than me have always awesome because you can learn by watching and asking questions about tricks you have trouble with and they often do things that you have never seen before or even thought of. I have been fortunate enough to have some incredible friends/role models to help me out in different aspects of life and skiing and it is always a great experience to be that mentor for someone else.
We all remember how stoked we were to hit our first rail and helping someone achieve that feeling is the most based way to revisit that feeling and get stoked on skiing in a less selfish way. Skiing with other people (since everyone is better and worse than you at the same time) is the best way to continually refresh your perspective on skiing and to positively contribute to the experiences of others.
KravtZAll good love watching noobs throw down..another story when you are skiing with someone who is new to skiing all mountain and your just waitng waiting for ever. Cant deal with that
yeah thats kinda why i put it as just on park. while im all down for helping someone learn how to ski, if that person is just going to do it that one day and dosent show much interest, it makes it kinda hard to be stoked about teaching them. All mountain is almost in a different category altogether though. Because lets be honest, if you cannot decently ski the mountain, should you even go into the park? i dont think so. I think everyone should start out learning the basics of skiing and have a good bail going mach 10 down a steep. Then once you get into park, its easier to have some respect for that person.
jesus i gotta stop getting on ns's after work.... all i wanna do is keep typing
I love beginners!
It is always good to have a skier with some knowledge to help them out and get them stoked so they don't eventually switch to snowboarding. We were all there at one point so don't ruin it for anyone.
"I wish skiers were like snowboarders... you guys are always willing to help and teach others new tricks. While snowboarders are always trying to compete with each other." -A random snowboarder on the hill
Well first of all its about fun, and i think its more fun when you ride with someone no matter what level he is, doesn´t matter if you do 270 in and out and he just slide that rail, i just get stoked that there is still more people to try this stuff. And second its about inspiration, if you ski better than them, you´re a huge inspiration to them and if you think about it you can help them to improve and they can help you well... if nothing else you at least have someone to share awesome feeling from skiing with, isn´t it about that? to share the happiness? remember One Love !
SofoWell first of all its about fun, and i think its more fun when you ride with someone no matter what level he is, doesn´t matter if you do 270 in and out and he just slide that rail, i just get stoked that there is still more people to try this stuff. And second its about inspiration, if you ski better than them, you´re a huge inspiration to them and if you think about it you can help them to improve and they can help you well... if nothing else you at least have someone to share awesome feeling from skiing with, isn´t it about that? to share the happiness? remember One Love !
He speaks the truth!
MiomoOne time I taught a kid how to slide boxes. It was really awesome seeing him get it for the first time and being super stoked, even if he wasn't completely sideways. Probably something I'll never forget.
Props. That's one of the coolest things about coaching. When you help someone learn to do something, that they never thought was possible for them, the look on their face is priceless. IMO - it's one of the best feelings ever.
onenerdykidthat's like one of my all-time favorite tricks
Hahahaha. Mine too. SHHHHH.