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What is a Newschooler?

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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
So I have been thinking to myself lately... just what the hell is a Newschooler? I mean we as a group are a bunch of Newschoolers... and this website (and the word newschoolers) has become a brand that represents a movement in skiing...

People always use the term Oldschooler... but where does the line get drawn?

Last night, I was twittering, and was in a feisty mood. I think I was sort of "intelligent trolling" where I wanted a reaction out of someone, but simply to cause a quality discussion on an issue that I feel needs talking about.

I posted this tweet:

"You know... every day a new #newschooler is born.... And another #oldschooler gets too old to ski."

I almost used the words "...another #oldschooler dies." but I thought that was over-disrespectful. I think I should have though, because I got this response from @bouldershades:

@Newschoolers FYI: #oldscholler 's have "been their done that". News flash you can't be newschooler for ever my friend so enjoy LOL

Which made me really angry. HOwever... I was the one that set the definition of Newschooler vs. oldschooler as age. Of course, not being a closed minded moron, I posed the response of:

@BoulderShades AH, but the key is in the definition of what a #newschooler really is. Is it a person's age, or a state of mind?

Which Is sort of where I want to start this discussion. I think that the definition of a Newschool skier vs. an Oldschool skier is within the state of mind of the way they approach the sport.

You have a rewind a bit though... because remember that skiing used to be super free spirited and crazy in the '60s and '70s. Hell those guys did way more drugs and partied a TON harder than our top pros do. It was more during the '80s and '90s that skiing got ultra lame. THat was in fact when I came through my youth in this sport... I was almost finished my teens when the newschool movement came around.

Before that though, skiing was all about racing. Boots were tight, skis stiff... and the entire world of skiing was about competing and winning. I mean there was always powder junkies and dudes like Glen Plake keeping it real, but there was an overwhelming amount of what we will now define as "oldschoolers" out there. Skiing wasn't about fun, it was about WINNING.

Come the newschool movement in the late '90s... and all of a sudden skiing was about having fun again. It even spread to the rest of the sport... all mountain skis became the big sellers, and people wore comfortable boots again... damn the performance.

Now... Anyone calling themselves a Newschooler would have a ton in common with Wayne Wong back in the 60s if they existed at the same time. Both of those people would probably hate some aggro race coach.

Racing vs. Park skiing... Easy. Racing oldschool park skiing newschool.

However... powder and big mountain then comes into the mix. This is where I think we have a really fucked up distinction of Newschool vs. oldschool. Too many times people are like "oh those stupid newschool park rats they don't know how to ski". Well hold on... why because I like park do I not know how to ski? Why in the bowels of christ would you think that my love of the terrain park keep me from shredding trees on a pow day?

Flipside is also true though... dudes shredding lines and hucking cliffs don't have the same attitude as ski racers. They're fun loving, free-spirited, adrenaline junkie who love massive airs just as much as the next guy.

Then start to get into stuff like BC booters... Newschool or oldschool? Old or young? Powder or park?

Take most "newschool" ski movies these days... powder jumps off cliffs and street rails. Sure street rails are newschool, but a jump off a cliff? Shit that might require skiing....

Once you start comparing, the rabbit hole gets deeper and deeper... Shit man I had a fucking WICKED conversation once with Klaus Obermeyer (founder of Obermeyer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_Obermeyer)... where I asked him what he thought about this Newschool stuff. He said "I LOVE IT! I love that you guys get that skiing is supposed to be fun. The sport lost that for a while. When we were younger we used to jump off of everything!"

Dude is 92 fucking years old, and still shreds aspen like 80 days per year.

Oldschool? Newschool?

There's the easy answer of just "we're all skiers" but sadly if that was true, the guys on TGR wouldn't call out park rats for not knowing how to ski. To call out Newschool is to logically make you Oldschool.

My conclusion:

Oldschool is a state of mind where you feel you're better than others, and that your style of skiing is the only thing that makes people a real skier.

Newschool is a state of mind where you want to do something new and have fun on skis wherever you possibly can.

My one final comment on this insane rant is this:

Don't be oldschool about your newschool activities. Don't think that just because someone does't slay the park they suck.


Mar 30 2011 2:27PM
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dingusboy
Posts: 32 - Karma: 10
Exactly, but if you ever saw that episode of salomon freeski with the skibums those people where well in to their 60,70's but that never stopped them they have and always will be newschoolers
Mar 30 2011 5:58PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
Frankly its because we as a community are classified and judged by many who have been in this industry for a long time. I see it probably the most out of anyone, because I'm constantly meeting with companies, other media sources... shit you name it.

Constantly, time and time again I hear comments like "Oh those newschoolers kids... they just don't get anything eh?"

Or take the general level of hate towards our existance from a site like TGR. Pretty much putting on a first drop suit with a 2xl tall hoodie, and they'd think you're a fucking moron.

SO I say yes... we can all get along... however at some point, the Oldschoolers are going to have to accept us as a genuine part of the sport and stop telling park skiers to go learn how to actually ski.

Mar 30 2011 6:00PM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
Great reading.
Now this is how i think about been Newschooler or an Oldschooler:

In my last 3 years of skiing my skiing has changed a lot, from racing skiing, to park skiing, to big mountain skiing, I had the opportunity to share the mountains with all sorts of people, from ski bums, to new skiers, to Olympic skiers, etc. And they all had something in common, the sport they practice and the joy they get from it, whether they are going down a green run or they are hucking cliffs in the backcuntry.
From all the comps Ive been in , the freeski comps were the funnest ones. So then the questions comes, Why?; they are almost the same as any racing comp, you get one bib, you have to inspect your run and then you have one run to do your best. Then why I had a better time at a freeski comp?, it was basically the same. But then I realized something, I was new at freeski comps. Being new at something, from all these years of skiing, I was new at something again, I was learning something new. So since i realized this, Ive been trying to learn everyday, from talking to a completely stranger on the chairlift, to my close friends or my coach.
So what does this has to do with the "newschoolers/oldschooler" topic? simply:

I consider myself a newschoolers, because I´m new at skiing, Ive been skiing for 14 years and Im still learning about the sport, and learning from the people everyday. The difference between a newschooler with an oldschooler is basically that, to be to learn more. I consider an oldschooler the kid who is cocky and he thinks that he is the only one he can learn from, or that park skiing is the only branch of skiing that is cool.
The kid who was a park skier and can throw good tricks in the park and now he is trying big mountain skiing, and he is trying the same tricks off cliffs, or the racer kid who is now a park skier, and he is carving the jump, and using his technique to improve his is park skiing, he is a newschooler, indirectly is he bringing something new to our sport.

Bottom line: Never stop learning, try new things, freesking is all about doing whatever you like, but, How do you know park skiing is your thing if you haven't tried big mountain? and viceversa. There is always something new to learn and there is always someone who knows more than you who can teach you. Always keep trying new things, even pro skiers are learning.

Sorry if there is something you couldn't understand, english is not my first language. And please, keep this discussion alive.

Mar 30 2011 6:03PM
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That_One_Dude
Posts: 1050 - Karma: 760
Well done my friend, one of the few very long posts that was worth my while to read. I agree with you completely though. My dad when I first started to ski mostly park a few years back would get annoyed. He used to think because of the laid back style many skiers have that almost all park skiers sucked outside of the park (there is still some truth to that but definitely not the majority). Once he saw that we all liked park and powder/tree skiing he realized that we all just ski to have fun and don't blow outside the park. He gives us all respect now and passes it along to other people who don't know any better.
Mar 30 2011 6:15PM
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JBlend
Posts: 299 - Karma: 499
Haha my dad always said he was Oldschool because back when he skied, everyone did everything in their power to avoid hard things that might damage their skis, now half the sport is based around them.


Mar 30 2011 6:19PM
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skiRay
Posts: 7558 - Karma: 926
well said bishop!
Mar 30 2011 6:41PM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13042 - Karma: 18,256
ooooo you are talking about grumpy oldschoolers...the ones that boosts about riding moguls is important. Well, like it or not hater gonna hate you know? There are people like that everywhere. Look at level 4 instructors that dont recognize anything outside a gate course. It pisses me off because I am trying to tie the bridge at my ski center. Things take time, the haters are going to stop. Snowboarders accepted us in their park in the second year.

You know the oldschoolers get it too. We get our fair share of "fags". So its from both sides.

Of course we are judged, be are hyper commercialized. But the truth is, very few know about our history of the sport. So, we roll with: if it doesnt suit you: hate it.

But, I am a believe of you should know to turn before you jump. But its a safety thing, not a political view.
Mar 30 2011 7:04PM
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-GL-
Posts: 1696 - Karma: 35
i agree but what about a competitor who loves to compete and thats part of why they love about skiing?

Mar 30 2011 7:12PM
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n_b
Posts: 580 - Karma: 68
agreed
Mar 30 2011 8:07PM
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pinhead_larry
Posts: 891 - Karma: 20
But the way you said it is that the competitor loves to compete- most likely because it's fun. Well then aren't they enjoying skiing? That's basically what this thread is about IMO, fun
Mar 30 2011 8:27PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
I'm not sure you can really make a clear definition of what a 'newschooler' is, beyond someone who frequents this website. I think park skiing is at the heart of newschoolers, but skiing is so diverse now that it's hard to put anyone into a box.

Like you can see from this thread, you have guys on here who don't ski park, but still feel like a newschooler, and that feeling could be described as freedom, but that feeling is almost everywhere in skiing. Being an instructor I feel like I straddle the 'oldschool' and the newschool, a lot of guys at work would never go in the park, but skiing is still their passion, and they still approach it in a really positive way, and respect what we do. Obviously you are going to get haters, but then we have enough of them within this community as well.

Park skiing is definitely becoming more a part of instructing as well, this year in our level 3 (highest level exam), we had to ski switch and jump, not much, but there's no way you would have had to do that 10 years ago.

Anyway, I've sort of lost my point, but what I'm trying to say is that labelling people and creating divisions is pointless, everyone who's a skier has something in common, focus on the simlarities, not the differences.


Mar 30 2011 8:45PM
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annex_
Posts: 1659 - Karma: 1,499
THIS.





Is my favourite thread. Genius. Brilliant! This was never something I thought about till now. Thank you
Mar 30 2011 9:09PM
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SmoKinSkier
Posts: 5501 - Karma: 20
i have read through most of this and I have to say I think thr majority of the classification has to be mentality. I have a friend who absolutely loves racing and obviously enjoys winning but any day of the week will slap his chronics on and come lap the park hell he even boards when the mood strikes and on trips(live in midwest now:()cant keep him out of the bc or trees. that is just one example of why ski style classification cant work. And even guys like plake who would claim old school all day doesnt mean they arent in fact newschool and visa versa for guy who claims newschool but is uptight close minded and out for the wrong reasons. sorry about grammar on mobile ns
Mar 30 2011 9:19PM
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paige.
Posts: 1930 - Karma: 907
In my mind, a newschooler is simply anyone who chooses to define themselves as such. It is a label people apply to themselves so they can be a member of this community of skiers. There is no 'newschool' skiing and 'oldschool' skiing. There is no 'newschool' mindset and 'oldschool' mindset. You will find newschoolers skiing all over the mountains (and off) and for all different reasons. Similarily you will find people who consider themselves oldschool skiing these same lines for exactly the same reasons A newschooler is someone who chooses to identify with the community and seeks to be a part of the community. Really, this sense of a larger community, something unifying us, is the only thing that sets us apart from the oldschoolers, or skiers in general. Instead of just skiing as ourselves, or a group of friends, or maybe people in a physical community, being newschoolers gives us the connection across the globe.
Mar 30 2011 9:49PM
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Cantskiforshit
Posts: 42 - Karma: 12
Newschool skiing is vaguely tied to the big names pushing the sport. It doesn't have to do with park so much as progression across the board. McConkey, CR, Tanner, Candide, the list can go on forever but these guys are the definition of newschool if you ask me. Constantly pushing the sport. McConkey threw flips in Pro Mogul Tour, got in trouble for it, then skied the course naked to let the world know he didn't care what they thought, because he was loving skiing and pushing the boundaries. CR and Candide pushed the pipe game HUGE in Xgames back in '03. Clearly you don't have to be a pro to be newschool but it is just a style that pushes away from where skiing was a decade or two back: racing and moguls.

Oldschool can be associated with the style of skiing that I grew up around, right as the newschool movement was gaining steam. Long, stiff, fast skis. Ride fast, throw some turns, and avoid shit. Maybe race, maybe go rip the moguls. But I know plenty of people that still ski that way that love watching progression in the sport. My dad SKIS oldschool on some silly long and skinny planks but gets mad stoked watching people sending shit or sliding rails.

I think the key in the newschool vs. oldschool argument is to remember that oldschool isn't necessarily detrimental to newschool. What is detrimental is when people are closed off to progression. The people pissed at McConkey for throwing flips, the people that were against skiers being allowed in the park, etc. You don't have to ski newschool to appreciate it, you just have to realize that everyone is having fun doing what they like and go slide on some snow.
Mar 30 2011 10:32PM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
I dropped the "new" a couple years ago. Living in the Kootenays, everyone has pretty similar mentalities towareds what skiing is, and why we do it.

I understand why "we" created "newschool"... and in highschool when it all came about, I was a very proud "newschool skiier", introducing myself as such when asked what I do. I guess for me, it just feels like we've matured enough as a community that there really is no separation between this or that. skiercross did a half assed job at joining the two sides.

It's like the whole skiers vs snowboarders thing... do people still actually think that feud is still relavent?
Mar 30 2011 11:18PM
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sagesnow
Posts: 3116 - Karma: 1,593
Great stuff in here. I touched down on a ton of similar topics when writing my paper last week. Wish this had been made at that time though, it would have been real helpful haha.
Mar 30 2011 11:26PM
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Bonzalo
Posts: 2593 - Karma: 1,812
Sorry, what i tried to said is that you can be a really experienced skier, but there is always something new to learn, and thats what defines a newschoolers, he has to be opened to new styles, new ideas that nobody in the past would have think of. I think that is the future of our sport, to be able to improve your skiing in all directions, to be the best all around skier, not only a great park skier, but someone who can slay the backountry at the same time, and I´m pretty sure that pros and companies are aware of that. I will use level one riders as an example, when Wiley Miller is doing butter cork 7 of cliffs, or Ahmet is doing rodeo 5 in a urban spot, they are mixing their park skills with other skiing branches, and thats what I call innovation. At the same time innovation is not only between skiing branches, you could mix your skating skills, or your snowboard skills, to bring something new and fresh to the sport.



Mar 30 2011 11:28PM
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Daydreaming
Posts: 1686 - Karma: 48
I really wish you posted thought provoking threads like this more often!

I have had a personal experience with oldschool mentality clashing with newschool fun. I joined TGR before I was ever on NS. I was naive and didn't fully understand how forums worked. I created a thread asking about a pair of skis. I don't know if i posted it in the wrong place or i needed to searchbar or something but a handful of members came down on me like i was the worst thing to ever happen to the world. In my upset state I said things that just made me a bigger target. I never went back.

A while later I signed up here and have been happy. Even though new members get gruff here and there for making mistakes it's never as cruel as it was on TGR.

NS fo' life.
Mar 31 2011 1:48AM
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Edward.
Posts: 9366 - Karma: 445
i am so glad i just came across this thread. once my friends and i parted ways after graduating high school, we saw that a new generation of skiers at our home mountain quickly came together. these kids are the perfect example of what i would refer to as a "newschooler". at first, i didnt think of it as a good thing.. i felt that these "newschoolers" lacked a sense of individuality and creativity, and that they were solely influenced by anything newschoolers related.. always going skiing not with the objective of relaxing/enjoying thmeselves, but to get a sick new trick to put into a promotional video in order to get sponsored.. but i realized that the majority of the kids i used to ski with were like that at one point in their lives, including me.

as this new generation grows up, most of them will probably start to ponder same thing going through my head right now. some of my friends are still against the whole "newschoolers" movement, and i dont blame them. but i think most of us have learned to accept it and deal with it by now. theres really no way of stopping it. its time for us to start realizing that this sport isnt as new as it used to be back when us "oldschoolers" began.. im sure there are a lot more new trends to come in skiing. i mean i cant even really consider myself as an all out oldschooler just yet.. im just a freshman in college.. but watching a new generation of skiers form at my home mountain makes me feel so much older. i just hope that at some point, most of these "newschoolers" will start to realize the importance of individualism and creativity.

im not saying that im against this whole movement, but im not saying im for it either. i cant exactly make up my mind yet how i feel. its just something ive been thinking of a lot lately and its definitely an interesting topic.. and also because im actually a bit concerned about the reputation of skiers from my home mountain.. which makes me happy that i found this thread!
Mar 31 2011 3:14AM
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skiinpowNLT
Posts: 4 - Karma: 58
It's all about G.N.A.R., and having fun doing what you do to have a rad day and let everyone enjoy in the fun involved, if you blow up and lose it, laugh it off and get after it again. Going bigger and better pushes everyone around you, and I get stoked on seeing something new or just someone going for something new to them. Just huck and have fun, right?
Mar 31 2011 6:12AM
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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15077 - Karma: 9,130
This thread is simply amazing. I don't have anything to add that hasn't been said, but I'm sure going to add this to my threads so I can sit back and watch this excellent discussion continue.
Mar 31 2011 7:20AM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
bishop i live you. best thread ive ever read. ehh. besides how to get to chads from the bottom of alta that shit is just great.
Mar 31 2011 7:31AM
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theline
Posts: 1507 - Karma: 92
i couldn't have said it better myself
Mar 31 2011 8:39AM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,034
This thread is so full of knowledge beyond my years.


O and Im a snowboarder, what is this?
Mar 31 2011 10:51AM
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SmoKinSkier
Posts: 5501 - Karma: 20
This is a quote from Wayne Wong on the early days of the freestyle movement "Hot doggers". Thought it was fitting

"It was about what could be done on skis. That was my whole motivation when I got involved with it. For me I wasn't going out there to beat Scottie Brooksbank, or John Clendenin. It was never about that. My thing was to just go out there and have fun while doing what I could do on skis. Winning money and cars—free skiing, free skis, free glasses—all that was a bonus.
"

Here is the full interview if any of you are Wong fans out there. Pretty good read

http://www.greatoutdoors.com/blogs/gordys/20091106/blazing-skis-%E2%80%93-wayne-wong-the-face-of-freestyle-skiing
Mar 31 2011 11:51AM
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erazzleski
Posts: 117 - Karma: 14
Newschooler is definitely a state of mind. Gettin stoked about even the simplest new tricks and having fun is the name of the game. Newschoolers have more fun, hands down.
Mar 31 2011 12:02PM
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bakedpow
Posts: 8770 - Karma: 10,462
Not true. I know plenty of washed up ski bums who everyday of the year they're out there shredding for the pure joy of skiing. Yes they may have a more jaded outlook on life, but they're still out there getting after it. Newschoolers and Oldschoolers alike are all sharing in the wonderous sport of skiing, they just may show there joy in slightly differnet more mature manners compared to some of the younger crowd...
Mar 31 2011 12:10PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
I think it all depends on how you define oldschool. I don't think oldschool needs to have negative connotations. Some people might see oldschool as the old 60s and 70s skiing and attitude. Kind of like how oldschool hip hop was the "golden age" of hip hop, if we define oldschool skiing as the skiing in the 60s and 70s it would seem like oldschool skiing was the "golden age" of skiing.

However that is mostly just semantics. What I'm concerned about, is park skiing becoming too competitive. With all the groms throwing down, distinguishing one's self from the masses of great park skiers is going to become increasingly difficult. I hope that this doesn't cause people to forget why we first branched off from the strict rules of what "freestyle" skiing used to be.

I would love to see more Traveling Circus type stuff. They're always trying new and fun things. The whole show has a lighthearted attitude to it which we need more of in skiing. On the big mountain front we can look at the late and great Shane. He was all about making skiing fun and not so serious.


With all that said, skiing is fun and it should stay that way.
Mar 31 2011 12:13PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
WHOA - check this photo.

Click for larger image

Mar 31 2011 12:19PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21649 - Karma: 4,013
Doug is blowing up NS, really hope this isnt some aprils fools joke because I am fully enjoying this.


DOUG FTW! right now
Mar 31 2011 12:50PM
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SmoKinSkier
Posts: 5501 - Karma: 20
OO yea forgot to mention it had some awesome throwback photos
Mar 31 2011 12:52PM
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Scolson
Posts: 2904 - Karma: 92
I'd say a newschooler is pretty much anyone who does tricks on skis and skis backwards.
Mar 31 2011 12:59PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21649 - Karma: 4,013
and you fail
Mar 31 2011 1:02PM
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Scolson
Posts: 2904 - Karma: 92
Yeah, well that's just like your opinion man.
Mar 31 2011 1:06PM
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Daph
Posts: 5978 - Karma: 5,005
We need more threads like this one! Very thought provoking and an interesting read.
Mar 31 2011 1:26PM
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NEskia
Posts: 168 - Karma: 62
I've always regarded newschool skiing as the umbrella covering the freestyle aspect of skiing such as terrain parks, back country, big mountain, and street features. I wouldn't say that newschool skiing is more based on fun than the so callled oldschool skiing because it's all based on the person's own discretion. There are plenty of newschool skiiers that aren't the nicest or are focused on winning or being extremely competive such as Simon Dumont. I'd say the main difference is that the different groups seek to ski in different ways, the oldschool way being the more traditional way while newschool is the more unorthodox style of skiing and is always being pushed to a new level. Just my 2 cents.
Mar 31 2011 1:33PM
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Scolson
Posts: 2904 - Karma: 92
Skiing switch and doing tricks, these two things are what have long separated what a newschool skier does from every other 'niche' of skiing. People have been shredding lines and doing tricks and dropping cliffs for... I don't know.. 60 years? You really can't call something that's been around that long newschool.

Would all of you consider a someone who is a freeskier the same thing as a newschooler?
Mar 31 2011 1:48PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,034
Not hardly. If you ride switch at my home mountain you are 1. considered a pro and you MUST be a rider from Park City and 2. reckless and will get your pass pulled.

So yeah that backwards stuff is pretty new or at least new enough for my tiny ass mtn to not know about it.
Mar 31 2011 2:19PM
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Yossarian
Posts: 1078 - Karma: 56
I got to agree with this thread - I can't stand it when people judge others for the differences between them and others. I see newschool skiing as accepting everything to do with our sport.
I ski park, big mountain and even though I have never formally raced I have done races with my friends who do because it was for fun.
The ski instructor or the weekend warrior who argues that hitting gates or riding the park is better is missing out on what skiing really can be.
Right now I am rooming with a racer buddy and while he trains in the morning I ski park, but every afternoon both the freestylers and racers meet up and go shred together for a few hours.

In other words, different styles, disciplines or whatever enjoying skiing separately and together is what I feel newschool skiing is.
Mar 31 2011 2:23PM
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vRoy
Posts: 767 - Karma: 341
I havent posted on here in a long time, however this is an interesting debate.
Here is my humble take on things: "The New of Newschool and the Old of Oldschool"

For me, the term Newschooler is a relative thing; as in, someone is a newschooler when they are doing, or taking part in, something relatively new to the sport, whether style, tricks or discipline.

If you think of, the first tricks that were at the time defined as "newschool" back in the 90s eg. the traditional mute grab 360 (grabbed right by the binding and tweaked to the side, think JP on the first salomon 1080), this move can almost be considered an oldschool move when compared to all the new tricks and grabs performed today. And in 25 years from now, some kids might look back and say: "man those tricks sammy carlson pulled were so oldschool." No doubt, the New Canadian Air force helped define the term Newschool, however, their style and tricks when compared to the style and tricks today is definitively old school.

There is no doubt that at the time, JPs mute grab 360 was Newschool. But by todays standars, it no longer is. If you apply this idea retrospectively, then all the "oldschoolers" that back in the day that were being innovative, could have been defined as oldschool; they were bringing something NEW to the sport. However the term newschool had not been invented yet (at least not in relation to skiing)

Although the idea of Newschool being all about having fun, is a pleasant one. I dont think it is a valid one. As many people have pointed out, there are a lot of competitive skiers out there that are definitively Newschoolers, but are probably not having as much fun as a lot of other people out there being oldschool.

AND: doing oldschool tricks is FUN as FUCK. There is nothing like doing a big double daffy. NOTHING.

So in conclusion: in essence Newschoolers are those that aspire to do something new in the sport or at least do some of the newer tricks of the sport. OIdschoolers are those that do the same tricks that have been done for a very long time. Skiing style, and clothing style is the same story.
Mar 31 2011 2:38PM
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crab_pretzel
Posts: 3919 - Karma: 622
quality post.

heres my two cents: i think the distinction of new/oldschool is a little bit of both age and mindset. i think there is a certain point where if your old enough its just really too far of a stretch to call someone newschool, but i am not one to make that distinction. backcountry kickers and all that have really taken off in the "backcountry jib" scene and i think that is easily newchool. i feel like most big mountain chargers are also in the newschool movement, just cause they are so legit and normally have a pretty decent bag of tricks, but its not always this way. as for just plain powder, it tons of fun but i feel it may be leaning towards a little oldschool. but as long as your not doing a jump turns with crazy oldschool pole plants, you can make it whatever you want
Mar 31 2011 5:29PM
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Will.T
Posts: 3453 - Karma: 1,279
Ahah, nice picture! We need more interesent thread like his!
Mar 31 2011 5:31PM
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Troy.
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 12,545
After reading this complete thread, i have honestly come to the conclusion that there are no "newschoolers" or "old schoolers". My reasoning for it is this:

Everyone is pushing the boundaries in some aspect - which is what the general consensus of a newschooler is. Old guys only ride moguls are pushing how hard/long they can ski before their knees are gone.

TGR / Backcountry guys / powder hounds are constantly pushing themself to find the best runs, to find the best powder, to huck the biggest cliff.

Park kids are constantly pushing themself to go bigger, spin harder, flip faster, look better, etc.

Racers are constantly pushign themselves to go faster, turn sharper, etc


To be pushing yourself still and to try to be at the top of your game is what it means to be a newschooler, and from some angle, every variety of skiing is still pushing themselves to be a "newschooler". Now wether they want to identify with the group that the word "newschooler" implies is a different discussion.

But to say that any group is an oldschooler, and thusly not pushing themself, I think makes the speaker closed-minded towards that group, and thusly an oldschooler themselves.


To be a newschooler, stay fresh and at the top of your game, but mostly, stay open.
Mar 31 2011 5:59PM
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,088
Nailed it in my opinion.
Mar 31 2011 6:24PM
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dingusboy
Posts: 32 - Karma: 10
im sorry but i simply have to disagree
i believe its all style
when you hear someone say thats old school they arent saying its bad there saying thats something from way back in the day.
i believe its all style
from skiing switch and off a jump doing whatever
to
Carving pow in the BC
new
old
Mar 31 2011 8:44PM
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SmoKinSkier
Posts: 5501 - Karma: 20
Im sorry but carving pow in the BC will never get or be oldschool to me
Mar 31 2011 8:53PM
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SNOWPARKCHlLE
Posts: 2047 - Karma: 6,727
i just check ns everyday like 3 times...best website
Mar 31 2011 8:58PM
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sammy_
Posts: 1597 - Karma: 467
this is so true. i dont compete and i am just learning for fun and to have a good time and to do it while im young, but the crews at my mountain are determined to win, get sponsored ..etc. but why not enjoy it? i mean i get people doing competitions every once and a while to see what you got and to also see how you can progress. but people push/work too hard just to maybe win a medal? i do understand that people want to become pro and be the "new" next big thing in skiing but when you have thousands of kids going for that goal, most of them will fail. So why not enjoy skiing and see where it takes you.
Mar 31 2011 9:01PM
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svenskis
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
You are still of the "Oldschool" mentality. You still have beef with some section of skiing, that being racing. You are correct skiing should be about fun and that is what has gotten us to our perspective levels. The most fun I have on skis is hurtling my body down an icy bullet proof World Cup downhill course and scaring the shit out of myself. But I do it because I love it and I have fun doing it. Yes I want to win but mainly I want to push myself to another level and see how fast and far i can personally go. Isn't that essentially what you do? See how big, how far and how deep you will go to experience that "fun" you are talking about? The moment I stop having fun is when I will leave the sport. Yes we may wear lycra, ball hugging, cold ass racing suits but it is in pursuit of going faster and in effort to try and see how far we can take ourselves.
Of course I want to win and so do you. You want to win over the eyes and minds of others, you want people to listen to what you have to say. You can't say trying to win is lame. Winning creates progression, people are always trying to find the bigger, better, faster materials which is allowing for more fun in the sport.
My hippie ass says love all respect all and have fun.
Apr 4 2011 12:58PM
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