denver post...READ THIS!

Article Published: Wednesday, February 25, 2004

scott willoughby

Freeskiers don't hold back emotions about sport
By Scott Willoughby

Special to The Denver Post


It's probably a good thing that all 34,681 registered members of Newschoolers.com aren't dedicated Denver Post readers. Otherwise, my life might be in grave danger.

As it stands, there are only a handful of disturbing threats among the 75 or so posts directed at me on 'Freeskiing's Online Community.' And, personally, I think I can take 'em.

I knew when I wrote the piece taking the U.S. Freeskiing Open and its image to task earlier this month that I risked alienation from the burgeoning new-school movement. Skiers as a rule are passionate about their sport, and the fervent young faction making up the freeskiing 'revolution' can border on obsessive.

But other than a phone call from event founder Michael Jaquet, the only opinions I heard before or after the column ran were from industry insiders offering appreciation over alienation, surmised in one e-mail reading simply: 'I couldn't agree more.'

But it wasn't until a guy called 'Misty7' zapped over a note saying 'the article hit a nerve with some people' that I felt the full fury of the storm surrounding it. I hit the link to Newschoolers.com

Before I turn this space over to the edited highlight reel from that freeskiing forum, I'd like to add a couple of things. First is that I stand behind most of that initial column, even if I wasn't entirely successful in conveying all of my thoughts. Beyond that, I want to apologize to both Jaquet and freeskier Tanner Hall. Jaquet because I owed him the courtesy of a heads- up before the column was published, and Hall because he bore the brunt of my grumble merely because he is the closest thing freeskiing has to a household name. I understand that doesn't make it his job to carry the sport.

But among the inflammatory debate that dominated the Web last weekend, a post from 'Jibhouse' at once asked and answered what I had hoped to accomplish by printing my opinion as a seven-year observer of the U.S. Freeskiing Open.

'I just wonder what good that guy is doing the skiing world,' Jibhouse wrote. 'Brings a quote to mind, 'You've got to be the change you want to see.''

As a genuine fan of freeskiing who would like nothing more than see it succeed, I'm acting only as an ombudsman. I consider the generation of dialogue and self-examination of the sport a contribution. But it isn't my job to carry the sport, either. I simply call it like I see it. Just like these guys:

Skimack: Yes, athletes need to focus more on being role models, and maybe watch their public images, but as far as progression goes, they are at about as high a level that can be reached without hurting people.

4skizzle: I think having a 'punk' image or a 'counter culture' image is a good thing to a degree. It gives us an identity as a community of skiers, but with our image and our attitude we need to make positive contributions to the ski world.

Melvs: The punk image and Tanner Hall are not good for skiing.

PocketRocketRipper: I believe that the big-name freeskiers should not have to be role models in their personal lives, but rather, less emphasis should be put on their lives off the slope.

SickIto: I understand that yes, if it was allowed to go corporate like every other aspect of skiing, then obviously it would become much more widely known and better managed, but the fact of the matter ... seems to be that the big ski corporations don't want to support us the way we need them to. ... I'm not against the support of big corporations, because when they get in here and support us how we need to be supported so this doesn't become a sport without the soul and the passion we throw down with every day, then I say bring them and their money in. Until then ... I guess I will just stay punk.

Midwest_rep: I disagree with his main point saying skiing will die if we don't fix our image. Skiing does not need extensive coverage or anything to survive. BUT, I think he is dead on when he criticizes Hall's and everyone's attitude nowadays. I am probably the minority here, but I have been jibbing for longer than most of you and I refuse to alter my image to fit with those guys. I think it is stupid.

Logchucker: I believe the article forgets to bring into account the age of the 'New Breed.' Heck, most of them aren't even 21 yet. ... Our sport really does not have people who are mature enough to meet these guys' needs. Snowboarding didn't evolve over seven years, and neither will skiing.

Telestar6: Freeskiers have made themselves into this isolated group. We really don't have a lot of influence outside our sport. I think this will change in the future as the sport gets bigger. But when guys like Rory Silva do stupid, immature things like flip off the camera on live TV, it just makes us look like a bunch of unorganized kids. ... I don't think there is any doubt in people's minds that this sport will grow. But I think we can do a lot better and, more important, get more money involved if we create a positive, fun image and not try to outcast the people outside our little group.

Freezy: I think this guy is just a middle-aged guy that thinks he can rip pretty hard on his skis, but got left behind by the new school movement and is now trying to climb back to the top in his mind by ripping down the movement that left him in the dust.

Tmorry326: Let people do what they want, ski how you want, make whoever you want your role model. It's your choice.


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