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February, 2023

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AFP "Social Rankings"...... I'm speechless.

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ESB
Posts: 9273 - Karma: 10,647
https://www.newschoolers.com/readnews/43710/AFP-Social-Rankings-Introduction?c=latest&o=2

Hey guys, if you haven't already heard about how hard the Association of Freeskiing Professionals has been working to properly represent our beloved pros, here's even more proof of their dedication and influence: the brand-new AFP Social Rankings!

This shit is so gold that I can't even.... aghh...... glurp

Let the Newschoolers critique start....... now.



Nov 20 2013 1:09PM
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207
Posts: 8957 - Karma: 3,839
It's from Hookit of course it's fucking bullshit. Hookit is literally a website where any moron can get "sponsored" in any realm of extreme sport by fringe extreme sport companies like giro but these sponsorships are usually just 20% off that any dumbfuck can get.
Nov 20 2013 8:26PM
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McLeod
Posts: 1762 - Karma: 1,582
Goblin for AFP President
Nov 20 2013 8:31PM
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CoolChillGuy420
Posts: 34866 - Karma: 90,645
lol great governing bodies for our sport
Nov 20 2013 8:32PM
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popadonna
Posts: 212 - Karma: 1,770
i always found it a bit strange with this ranking system (not only the social media part)... the whole organisation is founded by several members that have been longtime associated with some of the longer lasting and larger brands. is it just me, or why do the athletes that are more important to those brands get invites, as many others (with more up and coming talent) cant get those spots. i just think there is way too much conflict of interest. when i was a tm, and a judge, i would tell my athletes that they were gonna get the worse score from me, as i didnt want it to come back to them that i favored them, because i was their tm. that only made them work harder, and all of us kept our respect. if this is truely "free"-skiing, there should be more voices heard from those that are not running the industry... just my two cents (or five actually)
Nov 21 2013 1:38AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22667 - Karma: 75,777
You do too much promotion on Newschoolers. Though that does make you very internet popular, we have the issue where these systems don't download someone's prowess on here. Same with TGR or the other skiing websites... unless you're blasting in other social media you'll lose out.

I actually think this is a very cool concept TBH, the problem (and the reason we've never done this) is that aggregating the right data is a real challenge. Its very interesting to see who is blowing up the mainstream social media, but it isn't the whole story.
Nov 21 2013 9:02AM
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Afterbang.no
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 4,296
the gayest thing skiing have seen since like snowblades in cross-country skiing suits
Nov 21 2013 9:43AM
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JahSpriggs
Posts: 542 - Karma: 3,956
Afp really sucks
Nov 21 2013 10:23AM
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Eastcoastjibber
Posts: 376 - Karma: 1,692
AFP is just trying to help, clearly this missed the mark. Why are we upset?
Nov 21 2013 11:19AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,466
Lets get skiierman on the list
Nov 21 2013 11:27AM
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k-lei
Posts: 32 - Karma: 1,716
That's a good point. After all AFP-ranking is only for those on AFP-list. A good ranking would include everyone from park to streets to backcountry.

Maybe a site called newschoolers.com could make it happen?
Nov 21 2013 12:10PM
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STwoops
Posts: 2941 - Karma: 5,122
I think Im gonna be sick. WTF is this shit they can just have some homie go crazy on twitter and facebook for them. How is this even at all acceptable? Its retarted
Nov 21 2013 12:30PM
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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
Maybe it should just not happen at all?
Nov 21 2013 1:38PM
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k-lei
Posts: 32 - Karma: 1,716
Why do you think so?

At the moment numerous pros are whining that regardless of their popularity the industry doesn't see them, so they have to keep on living ski-bum style. Why not help them to get some data to show?
Nov 21 2013 4:07PM
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coling
Posts: 1086 - Karma: -3
Who cares
Nov 21 2013 4:21PM
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RyCo19
Posts: 365 - Karma: 503
Demonstrably false. I like him more now than I ever have.
Nov 21 2013 4:27PM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

Social Networking is killing the world.  Except Instagram.  Instagram pwns.

Don't follow me @Dan_The_Viking

Nov 21 2013 4:53PM
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cyberginger
Posts: 574 - Karma: 7,082
Update: I now have 12 sponsors off hookit #roadtosochi #goforgold
Nov 21 2013 8:34PM
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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
I think so because i see skiing as a form of artistic expression not a competition.
It's all very well saying that sponsors should be able to compare athletes like that, but sponsors should focus on sponsoring the skiers that are going progress the sport in the right direction, not skiers who are the biggest jocks with the most pro hos. Now that might not sound like good business sense to you, it's not good business sense, in the short term at least. It's not about business though - its about skiing! The way our sport is portrayed and how I believe it should be for the good of the future of skiing.
Supporting this sort of shit is only going to make us into some sort of UFC like competition where popularity is as important as winning and creativity isn't even a factor.
Nov 22 2013 4:11AM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

I see what you are saying, but skiing is both a form of self expression AND competition.  It has been that way since I have been born.

I think this is socially networking is dumb as all hell, and I don't think it is going to help companies in any way shape or form. This is where FREEskiing comes into play.  Fuck the popularity contest.  It has always been there and it always will be there. Just go out and do your own thing and forget the bullshit.

Easy on the ProHoes dude.  Leave them be and leave them to me.

Nov 22 2013 10:42AM
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treesmann
Posts: 2675 - Karma: 49
quite the punny thread title sir
Nov 22 2013 11:00AM
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EMK
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 669
Sure man, you have the pro hoes, enjoy em and hopefully no matter what happens, they'll still be there for you! :D
Yeah skiing has always been about competition and always will be, that's true. But what we do is not all of skiing, we are just a part of it and a part that began because of a distaste for such formal organisation. I suppose with that in mind it's up to us what we support, we can choose to agree with the competition lifestyle taking over more and more of our sport or we can say no. We can try to drive skiing, or our part of it at least, back to its roots where creativity and fun are what matters most.
It's my opinion that we should say no, we should encourage companies not to look at statistics but look at the qualities of a brand ambassador. Some one does not need 50000 followers on instagram to be someone you can use to market your ski company. They have to be able to get themselves seen doing cool stuff on skis. Adam Delorme is a good example. Pretty sure he doesn't have a Facebook fan page and I doubt he uses twitter yet he is in one of the biggest ski films of the year every year doing a lot of awesome things no one else does on skis. That is what skiing needs. Not statistics and followers, it needs substance, it needs creativity and individuality. That's what should be promoted, not quantified and appreciated.
Nov 22 2013 11:15AM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12808 - Karma: 1,944
porn...
Nov 22 2013 11:18AM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100
"Dropping in to the slopestyle course, our number 6 qualifier, but NUMBER ONE IN THE AFP SOCIAL RANKINGS,"
Nov 22 2013 3:21PM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

I was going to say Walnuts, whats up wtih the mid typing post?  Luke Van Valin is going to love this shit.

Nov 22 2013 3:22PM
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dizzydizzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 999
Mmmm, not exactly. As someone who makes wicked heady algorithms like this for a living, let me share a little insight...

Aggregating metrics like this in the social space is EXTREMELY nontrivial. Yes, they probably just scraped the hell out of every pros FB, twitter, insta-whatever have you and out popped a number. But getting people to actually build the shit that spits out that number is extraordinarily expensive.

American engineers will not work for free (thats for India), and it will take them a long ass time to get those numbers for you. Also, chances are the tech dudes that made this algorithm dont really know about the industry, so you cant really fault them for not having a good ranking system

I do however support what AFP is doing here. They are trying to capture the fuzzy aspect of freeskiing, the thing we all flock to newschoolers for--the freshness and relevancy of a skier outside of strictly sticking that dub cork in the dew tour. For this i commend them.

now to tweak that algorithm to scrape the NS ski gabber...thats what we all really want

Mousseau, I'm looking at you...


Nov 22 2013 3:47PM
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gpitcher
Posts: 2626 - Karma: 1,690
^
Amen!


Lotta truth in there, just ski and have fun with your friends!!
Nov 28 2013 5:01PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3808 - Karma: 5,355
Steve Stepp AFP takeover 2014!
Nov 28 2013 5:05PM
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GlackAttack
Posts: 83 - Karma: 234
I hope whoever made that list gets to see the hate in this thread
Nov 28 2013 9:46PM
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BBurt
Posts: 1588 - Karma: 3,779
You are the list
Nov 28 2013 10:40PM
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whodunit
Posts: 40 - Karma: 27
No. Hookit doesn't have a reputation yet. And it doesn't include some key social media, eg. youtube. If someone is a star on youtube, who cares about their twitter/instagram account. (They can hire someone to write their tweets and post photos.) Ski brands don't need this--they have their own ways of deciding which skiers they want riding for them. Non-endemic brands have other ways to identify athletes they want to sponsor. Sure they'll look at potential athletes' social media for indicators but they'll rely more heavily on people they contact for references about things that matter to them. This is more about Hookit wanting to establish ITS brand. I don't understand why AFP is doing this at all. It is dumb.
Nov 29 2013 1:26AM
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sammyC
Posts: 128 - Karma: 253
IS AFP Hurting the sport more than the olympics?????????
Nov 30 2013 1:45PM
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sammyC
Posts: 128 - Karma: 253
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-hpE6uwvoM
Nov 30 2013 1:54PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22667 - Karma: 75,777
Whats your take on it?
Nov 30 2013 2:02PM
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DwreckRoy
Posts: 434 - Karma: 2,156
I think it's important to give credit to both ends of the spectrum, the competition side AND the freeskiing side. Can't have one without the other.

The competition side of the sport really does promote it to the masses through things like the Olympics, Dew Tour, and X Games. Those events will get kids who had no idea about skiing to drop their jaw and ask mommy and daddy to go skiing. It also still pushes the limits of what is actually possible on skis, although it's influence is not exclusive.

Our media and just being out on the hill shredding promotes the sport as well, just on a more grassroots level, and it's just as important. It shows off the creative outlet that skiing can be. It inspires the kids that are new to skiing to keep pushing themselves and come up with their own way of doing things.
Nov 30 2013 2:21PM
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Phil-X-
Posts: 7204 - Karma: 14,371
KELLY SILDARU NOT NUMBER 1???




Im a hardcore Sildaieber.
Nov 30 2013 2:41PM
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snowdon
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 390
The list is life
Nov 30 2013 3:16PM
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DrewLederer
Posts: 128 - Karma: 5,548
I agree T it's all bull shit. I encourage any riders who think this is stupid to disconnect your Social media accounts from AFP. Let them know their job is to rank skiers based on their competition results, not how many "Likes" they have!
Nov 30 2013 3:43PM
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Ski_Punx
Posts: 783 - Karma: 49
Well it seems like everything has turned into a "marketing stat" for brand strategy and advertisers. Clever through social media, they are able to put a number to their efforts..every time, everyday. Before all this they just did broad survey's to see who watched what tv show, or commercial during the superbowl. Shit's getting weird.
Nov 30 2013 4:05PM
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stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
Now that you've seen him in his undies?
Nov 30 2013 4:38PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1691 - Karma: 5,107
This is a bad way to do this because not all pro skiers have hookit
Nov 30 2013 6:03PM
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skiierman
Posts: 28699 - Karma: -5,572
YES EVERYONE DO THIS!

The only social media I use is facebook and rarely twitter because it was for a class but I can't get instagram and haven't signed up for anything else.

So go ahead and create your accounts! Be sure to use skiierman and presto, you have an alias in which everyone will think it's me so you can say whatever the fuck you want. This could be really fun.
Nov 30 2013 6:26PM
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