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Powder or Park?

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SketchyBacon
Posts: 41 - Karma: 1,562
Which is harder, which takes more skill? which looks cooler??
Nov 14 2014 3:29PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
I'd say reposts are by far the hardest and most cool.
Nov 14 2014 3:38PM
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Slush
Posts: 1905 - Karma: 12,901
JustGoWithItI'd say reposts are by far the hardest and most cool.


He's a newb, and the last pow/park thread was a long time ago.


I'd say park is probably harder to do, throwing big dangerous inverts on hardpack, while floating things into fluffy pillow landings isn't as much of a risk, but you do go pretty fast and pretty steep.

Pow is way more fun than park though, everyone agrees on that.
Nov 14 2014 3:41PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,992
TwinipzHe's a newb, and the last pow/park thread was a long time ago.


I'd say park is probably harder to do, throwing big dangerous inverts on hardpack, while floating things into fluffy pillow landings isn't as much of a risk, but you do go pretty fast and pretty steep.

Pow is way more fun than park though, everyone agrees on that.


all in favor, say I....



I
Nov 14 2014 8:05PM
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phazan
Posts: 28 - Karma: 131
I

park is a broad thing. like I can "do park" and just do some jumps and that's pretty easy but there is no limit on the difficulty of park because there is no limit to the tricks you can try to pull off. Same with powder skiing

pow is best tho, like the other dude says everyone agrees on that
Nov 14 2014 8:11PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
Sorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.
Nov 14 2014 8:17PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
GokuSorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.


I



Wait I'm confused, are you saying that park skiers in general have less form and look worse elsewhere on the mountain (Aside from the exceptions) than those who spend most of their time outside the park?
Nov 14 2014 9:15PM
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Surfboard
Posts: 528 - Karma: 397
GokuSorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.


This is so true... There are so many people (especially in MI) who ski park that can't even put a ski on edge.
Nov 14 2014 9:44PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
JustGoWithItI



Wait I'm confused, are you saying that park skiers in general have less form and look worse elsewhere on the mountain (Aside from the exceptions) than those who spend most of their time outside the park?


Park "skiers" can't "ski" outside of the park
Nov 14 2014 10:16PM
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Bart.Man
Posts: 1742 - Karma: 1,951
GokuPark "skiers" can't "ski" outside of the park


sometimes the truth hurts.

I much prefer powder to park, but I suck at park, so I can't really say which is "harder". Kind of apples and oranges, really...
Nov 14 2014 10:38PM
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27sloan
Posts: 15 - Karma: 26
None of you will probably care cause Im new... But park definitely is more hard when you get to the highest level. There are a very few people in the world who can hit 90 foot booters and actually have all their arms remain where they left them. But as we have all seen almost all pro skiers these days start skiing park on the dew tour and they ski comp for a few years, to secure their sponsors and pay the bills. (Nick goepper, Torin Wallace.). After that the do a year or two filming urban or massive park features for movies like Less and DOMY. (Bobby Brown, LSM, Magnuss Granier). From there they move to back country mostly hitting jumps that the built and sledding in.(Ahmet Daldi is sort of a mix of the last two.). After that they start touring cause they're old and there body can't handle the stuff it used to. (THall is sort of a mix of the last two, But before JP died he was also doing the same sort of stuff, as well as Ian Provo.) So in a way Park skiing is harder physically but you don't hear of jib kids being killed on the daily by avalanches.

But no one read this so fuck it.
Nov 14 2014 10:52PM
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GrumpisPringle
Posts: 630 - Karma: 728
its just skiing
Nov 15 2014 2:05AM
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madeinamerica
Posts: 30 - Karma: 277
Powder is harder is easier to be good at but not necessarily easier to learn. Powder also is tough to be comfortable in at first. But park guys are bros.
Nov 15 2014 2:18AM
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TurquoiseGrizzly
Posts: 1819 - Karma: 13,149
Powder over everything.
Nov 15 2014 11:25AM
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Drail
Posts: 14011 - Karma: 10,001
GokuSorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.


You're ignoring the other side of the spectrum though.
You know, that part of the skiing world that is rich, over weight folk that spend tens of thousands of dollars for their annual heli ski trip. They can't ski worth shit, yet they throw on some big fatties and make their way down the mountain in deep pow.


"powder" skiing doesn't refer to the terrain you are skiing, but the snow conditions at the time. Park skiing refers to the terrain you are skiing. Due to this fact, this comparison is like the old apples and oranges routine.

Any rich, fat, out of shape Texan can make his way down some mellow glacier in deep pow, just like someone with a gymnastics background can be on an aerials Olympic team. neither of them have any true skiing skills, yet both are managing to stay on the skis as much as is required of them.
Nov 15 2014 12:45PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
DrailYou're ignoring the other side of the spectrum though.
You know, that part of the skiing world that is rich, over weight folk that spend tens of thousands of dollars for their annual heli ski trip. They can't ski worth shit, yet they throw on some big fatties and make their way down the mountain in deep pow.


"powder" skiing doesn't refer to the terrain you are skiing, but the snow conditions at the time. Park skiing refers to the terrain you are skiing. Due to this fact, this comparison is like the old apples and oranges routine.

Any rich, fat, out of shape Texan can make his way down some mellow glacier in deep pow, just like someone with a gymnastics background can be on an aerials Olympic team. neither of them have any true skiing skills, yet both are managing to stay on the skis as much as is required of them.

I agree with you 100%
Nov 15 2014 1:42PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 36687 - Karma: 110,633
Well, it depends on what your vision of pow skiing is. If its just cruising open glades, then it really doesn't take much skill to do it. Like mentioned above, anyone can make their way down a powder field with fat boards on. Its just the difference of what you can do with them, I think.

Now, If your idea of pow skiing is anything thats not park skiing, then I would have to argue that big mountain skiing is a lot more difficult than lapping the park. You're essentially combining speed, skill, and balls, and multiplying that by 10. You can fuck up on a front swap in the park and be okay, but you cannot fuck up skiing big lines.
Nov 15 2014 1:59PM
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Holte
Posts: 10730 - Karma: 7,744
GokuSorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.


You could quite literally turn this the other way too.

Obviously everyday can't be a park day, but park skiers typically have better air awareness and know how to ski switch, have landing control, can actually lock onto a rail, and look so much better.

I'm a much better pow skier than a park skier, but who is to say that edge control and stable upper body are the defining staples of skiing?
Nov 15 2014 2:03PM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6648 - Karma: 1,636
I've seen Chinese aerialist who couldn't even ski down the bunny hill turning properly.

This argument is apples to oranges.

Blueskied days in a superpark are just as epic as a 1500ft couloir or first tracks under the chair on a double diamond. Too subjective.

When you take a skier who can do anything he wants off any feature that's what's up.
Nov 15 2014 2:22PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,221
HolteYou could quite literally turn this the other way too.

Obviously everyday can't be a park day, but park skiers typically have better air awareness and know how to ski switch, have landing control, can actually lock onto a rail, and look so much better.

I'm a much better pow skier than a park skier, but who is to say that edge control and stable upper body are the defining staples of skiing?


Anyone that knows anything about skiing outside of the park
Nov 15 2014 3:11PM
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elm.
Posts: 1474 - Karma: 13,338
It depends on the skier. Some skiers are super comftorable spinning while others are really good at charging.
really good park skiers look sooo good on groomers and natural stuff. Good all mtn/pow skiers are more solid, though.
Nov 15 2014 3:36PM
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freeballer
Posts: 722 - Karma: 935
I think that skiing powder properly, meaning you are in a forward stance and not leaning back to get the tips up is a difficult thing for a lot of people. Sure, fat skis and rocker have made it so much easier, but you put a former racer that knows how to bend a ski and has skied a lot of pow in his life next to someone that doesn't and watch them go down a mellow pow line, you will see a world of difference between the two. Also, powder is hard on your legs. The guy that knows how to ski will be able to ski way more powder runs throughout the day before fatigue sets in.
Nov 15 2014 4:04PM
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SteezyStokes
Posts: 154 - Karma: 246
GokuPark "skiers" can't "ski" outside of the park


What are you talking about?
Nov 15 2014 7:02PM
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zwilly
Posts: 635 - Karma: 1,908
Urban is the hardest and looks the coolest. For me powder and park edits get boring after a while. Not saying I am against them but there is nothing better than a solid urban edit. It is really hard to. Every thing is twice as sketchy and is always different.
Nov 15 2014 7:06PM
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*DELETED*
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 938
Apples and oranges


there is nor will there ever be a consensus.
Nov 15 2014 7:11PM
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masterhatin
Posts: 630 - Karma: 53
27sloanNone of you will probably care cause Im new... But park definitely is more hard when you get to the highest level. There are a very few people in the world who can hit 90 foot booters and actually have all their arms remain where they left them. But as we have all seen almost all pro skiers these days start skiing park on the dew tour and they ski comp for a few years, to secure their sponsors and pay the bills. (Nick goepper, Torin Wallace.). After that the do a year or two filming urban or massive park features for movies like Less and DOMY. (Bobby Brown, LSM, Magnuss Granier). From there they move to back country mostly hitting jumps that the built and sledding in.(Ahmet Daldi is sort of a mix of the last two.). After that they start touring cause they're old and there body can't handle the stuff it used to. (THall is sort of a mix of the last two, But before JP died he was also doing the same sort of stuff, as well as Ian Provo.) So in a way Park skiing is harder physically but you don't hear of jib kids being killed on the daily by avalanches.

But no one read this so fuck it.



You made touring sound like its for the elderly, you just earned a big fuck you, stay in park dumb ass
Nov 15 2014 7:37PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,787
masterhatinYou made touring sound like its for the elderly, you just earned a big fuck you, stay in park dumb ass

I agree
Nov 15 2014 7:48PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,787
GokuSorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.


HENRYHIBBELNThis is so true... There are so many people (especially in MI) who ski park that can't even put a ski on edge.

I agree, especially in Michigan. Kids now ski all park and that's it. They can't ski outside the park at all.
Nov 15 2014 7:50PM
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Substitute
Posts: 1375 - Karma: 2,270
Any one want to agree?

I say all types of skiing is fun... because hey it's skiing. I have just as much fun ripping around the mountain and doing dumb stuff as I do sitting in the park if not more. However when push comes to shove and it dumps, the park can eat one cause pow pow is the bomb!
Nov 15 2014 8:12PM
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saskskier
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 9,984
I think the park vs pow conversation is changing. Back in the early days of park skiing (let's say almost everything before 2010), just about every skier began as a racer/mogul skier. They were brought up in ski clubs and actually learned how to ski WELL. As a result, they were able to translate those skills almost anywhere on the mountain whether it was gates, bumps, park, pow, etc.

As park skiing has increased in popularity, we are seeing more and more kids go straight to the park before learning fundamentals. You can mess around in the park without really learning to ski well. You can hit some jumps and dance around on rails (not saying that doesn't take skill) without being well rounded. The same can't be said for pow/trees/pillows/cliffs/big mountain/etc. You need to know how to ski well as there are some pretty serious consequences if you find you are in over your head in the middle of a run/line.
Nov 15 2014 8:12PM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
27sloanNone of you will probably care cause Im new... But park definitely is more hard when you get to the highest level.


I would definitely disagree that hitting a 90 foot kicker is more difficult than skiing a 50 or 60 degree spine somewhere nobody has ever been before.
Nov 15 2014 8:39PM
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Substitute
Posts: 1375 - Karma: 2,270
27sloanNone of you will probably care cause Im new... But park definitely is more hard when you get to the highest level. There are a very few people in the world who can hit 90 foot booters and actually have all their arms remain where they left them. But as we have all seen almost all pro skiers these days start skiing park on the dew tour and they ski comp for a few years, to secure their sponsors and pay the bills. (Nick goepper, Torin Wallace.). After that the do a year or two filming urban or massive park features for movies like Less and DOMY. (Bobby Brown, LSM, Magnuss Granier). From there they move to back country mostly hitting jumps that the built and sledding in.(Ahmet Daldi is sort of a mix of the last two.). After that they start touring cause they're old and there body can't handle the stuff it used to. (THall is sort of a mix of the last two, But before JP died he was also doing the same sort of stuff, as well as Ian Provo.) So in a way Park skiing is harder physically but you don't hear of jib kids being killed on the daily by avalanches.

But no one read this so fuck it.


K lets go touring together sometime.
Nov 15 2014 8:40PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Notice how in armadas oil and water henrick was ripping the bc? That's cause he figured out what's best. Good job henrick, good job.
Nov 15 2014 9:10PM
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elkoning
Posts: 30 - Karma: 139
It depends i think cause if you look at sage,sean pettit, richard permin all big name powder skiers they hit lines that look amazingly hard and that most park skiers couldnt do. But you look at tom wallisch and other park skiers and they throw triples and all different huge tricks that most powder skiers couldnt do. So i think they are hard to compare but for fun wise they are both amazingly fun and its nice to be able to do both. Im from michigan so i mostly park ski because there is no mountains but when i go up to colorado i have an amazing time just shredding the pow.
Nov 15 2014 9:21PM
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Queen_Selassie
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 1,363
GokuPark "skiers" can't "ski" outside of the park


This is the most annoying shit. Generally people who are to big of pussies to go in the park are the ones saying it. Park kids don't hate on big mountain skiers, so why do they feel the need to hate on us? People take skiing to serious.
Nov 15 2014 9:29PM
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gnar_whal
Posts: 1286 - Karma: 3,787
Queen_SelassiePeople take skiing to serious.


So you're saying skiing isn't a serious matter?
Nov 15 2014 9:37PM
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*DELETED*
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 938
gnar_whalSo you're saying skiing isn't a serious matter?


too=an excessive amount

retard.
Nov 15 2014 11:10PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
You have to look at it like biking. There is bmx and downhill and road. They are all on bikes but the different genres if you will require much different skills. They are all difficult if you want to reach the top, and same with skiing.
Nov 15 2014 11:38PM
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D-oh-Double-G
Posts: 108 - Karma: 134
LemuelYou have to look at it like biking. There is bmx and downhill and road. They are all on bikes but the different genres if you will require much different skills. They are all difficult if you want to reach the top, and same with skiing.


Too bad everyone hates Road bikers..... But I will say, I'm not a park guy, but I have the utmost respect for park skiers. That being said I know a few that couldn't ski their way down a groomer without looking like a cartoon of someone slipping on a banana. Regardless this doesn't go for everyone obviously. My roommate can shred in both for instance. But whats harder? Neither, they're both different skill sets, some can do one, some can't do the other, and for those who can do both, lucky you.
Nov 16 2014 12:35AM
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EvanSamson.
Posts: 110 - Karma: 1,245
park if no powder if there is powder you will not see me in the park
Nov 16 2014 1:29AM
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Martgiblin
Posts: 101 - Karma: 153
By "Powder" I'm assuming you mean Big Mountain / Backcountry. Then "Powder" I think is way harder. I feel it analogous to a rail in the park to an urban rail... Why do people watch Urban? Because the variables and skill required are WAY more complex than doing the same trick on a similar rail in the park. Same as chucking a cork 7 on a park booter, and taking the same trick to a cliff? You don't see many people chucking doubles in the backcountry and that's for a reason, the variables are WAY more complex.

Not only that but the lines and speed involved with more advanced backcountry (as opposed to olympic or due tour slopestyle) have much more higher consequences and much less calculated risk.
Nov 16 2014 4:13AM
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J_Steez
Posts: 1145 - Karma: 4,070
Pow looks way sicker if you slay it... Park you can just have a solid style and it'll look decent
Nov 16 2014 6:40AM
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junyawatanabe
Posts: 591 - Karma: 667
I much prefer powder to park, but I suck at park, so I can't really say which is "harder". Kind of apples and oranges, really...[/QUOTE]

I see what you did there, apples are harder then oranges. You trying to be sneaky?
Nov 16 2014 9:14AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
STPI much prefer powder to park, but I suck at park, so I can't really say which is "harder". Kind of apples and oranges, really...

I see what you did there, apples are harder then oranges. You trying to be sneaky?


But it's harder to bite an orange...
Nov 16 2014 9:41AM
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JOONI
Posts: 60 - Karma: 1,025
Look at Candide, thats my answer.
Nov 16 2014 9:59AM
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McLS
Posts: 1980 - Karma: 6,446
GokuSorry to be "that guy", but park skiing is absolutely no reflection on skiing skill.
It's more of how good are you at gymnastics and how not afraid of getting hurt are you?
I see more park skiers ski around the hill like wet noodles moving their entire upper bodies, but somehow insist on keeping their hands at their sides...cause poles are stupid and shit, ya know?
Obviously everyday can't be a powder day, but those skiers typically have better form and know how to ski, have edge control, can actually carve a turn, and look so much better.

pretty much what he said. Park takes park skills, i.e. air awareness, balance, gymnastics. But somebody who can dub and slay rails in the park might be complete shite if you put him on a steep run and ask him to do nice turns. On the other hand, someone who slays pow will slay piste, crud, anything. If you are good at pow (as in you know how to to quick turns, you feel comfortable at a high speed in knee-deep pow) you'll be very good everywhere on the mountain, you might just not be able to do tricks in the park.

But overall, id say you can learn to be pretty good at tricks in park much faster than pretty good at pow if you start at a no too good level on piste. If you're good on piste (typically freeskiers with big racing background) tho, it'll just be a matter of transition and you might feel you progress very fast to be able to slay steep couloirs fast. So it really depends on what skiing (not freeskiing) skills you have when you start. Both are risky depending on how much risk you take, but park skiing will almost never kill you if you didn't try something quite big or didn't wear a helmet, powder might, and unfortunately often does. Which one is cooler? well as in "cool" for other people to see you and be like huh he mad cool probably park (even tho everyone should just fucking ski for themselves, nobody gives a dam if you look cool or not as long as you're having fun the way you want to have fun).

But yeah, 5inches of pow and fuuuuuuck the park.
Nov 16 2014 1:33PM
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Charlie*
Posts: 198 - Karma: 579
GokuPark "skiers" can't "ski" outside of the park


Talk about a ridiculous generalization.

By that logic most "pow skiers" can't even slide a box in the beginner park.

Any weekend warrior of any age can turn up to the mountain, slash some turns and claim they have good edge control and form. I'd like to see them demonstrate the edge control necessary for maneuverers on rails, or carving off axis spins/butters off massive booters. You wanna talk form? Those who say park skiers don't know how to ski are delirious. Passing it off as gymnastics...what a joke. I can't say I know any park skiers who came from a background in gymnastics, so any impressive aerials you see are most likely coming from someone with a lot of time dedicated to skiing. Also, ever peek your head into the park on a pow day? It's a ghost town. Meaning the park skiers are all out shredding up the mountain - and its not because they don't know how. In fact, for most good park skiers the natural progression is to take those tricks to the backcountry; so the people that bypass park skiing all together probably shouldn't write it off so easily.

This thread needs a little more mutual respect for those that throw down...
Nov 16 2014 2:10PM
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kamron_708
Posts: 944 - Karma: 1,129
Its apples to oranges.

An ametuer drifter would argue that drifting is more difficult than launching a 1k whp corvette. Its all based on point of view and everyone wants to vouch that what they do is the hardest
Nov 16 2014 2:12PM
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casey_cope
Posts: 675 - Karma: 3,398
GokuPark "skiers" can't "ski" outside of the park


Bart.Mansometimes the truth hurts.

I much prefer powder to park, but I suck at park, so I can't really say which is "harder". Kind of apples and oranges, really...


Do mean every park skier or just a big group of them. because there are plenty of park skiers who kill it at regular skiing but just prefer to hit park
Nov 16 2014 2:14PM
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RiccardoMasutti
Posts: 248 - Karma: 662
I prefer Powder to parks
Nov 16 2014 2:26PM
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