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PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

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This is why our industry is so special

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corski
Posts: 505 - Karma: 319
Its been a while since I have last posted, but I have been meaning to post this for a while. I wanted to share a moment with you that will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life! Feel free to post any of your stories too!!

This is a perfect example of why our industry is so special and cool. Chris Benchetler was the skier who got me into freeskiing; I remember watching the Japan segment from "Reasons" for the first time and thought it was absolutely insane! I have been skiing since I was 4, but never got into it until the age of 14 after watching this video. Chris Benchetler has since then been my favorite skier and I hope that someday I will obtain a pair of bentchetlers. When it came to trying my first backflip I was pretty nervous so I sent him a message, as he was my idol, asking if he had any tips. I never thought he would respond but he ended up responding! I ended up trying it and ate shit but the next time I went out after hours of attempting them I finally stuck it. Here is what he responded with.



As I am now 20, in college, and only ski roughly 2-3 times a year cause of it I have come to realize how amazing it was of him to do what he did. I know its just a facebook message but the fact that he took time out of his day to answer a fan who wanted some help on facebook I think is pretty dam sweet! So thank you Chris you are one of the many skiers that make our ski industry truly special and amazing! Keep on killing it and being the idol for future younger skiers!
Nov 14 2014 9:42PM
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L0gic
Posts: 576 - Karma: 2,290
It's a small industry, so the pros and amateurs go hand in hand
Nov 14 2014 10:02PM
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Bum.Life
Posts: 507 - Karma: 2,608
Thats one of the reasons why I love NS so much. It gives us the opportunity to interact with pros and other people in the industry that we normally wouldn't be able to.
Nov 14 2014 10:06PM
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BlueVillain
Posts: 402 - Karma: 2,342
to me if3 is the best way to represent what you said. Not a lot of people can party with the people they look up to and being friends with them in general. its so sick
Nov 14 2014 10:13PM
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GetOnMyNeville
Posts: 63 - Karma: 184
It's pretty interesting that you bring this up. It seems in our sport and many other sports like ours, the highest level athletes are much more humble to say the least. I'm not real sure how to articulate this into words, but i'm going to try to anyway(I'm not too good with werdthingies)

Think of how many kids growing up look up to huge icons like Jordan, Ronaldo, or guys of the like. That's world wide.. But how many of us here on NS or our younger generation not yet on here, look up to be just like THall, Candide, Dumont and others? Now granted those sports are much more corporate for obvious reasons but in sports like freeskiing, skateboarding, surfing etc. They all primarily rely on the strength of their following. Not which company is going to give the biggest signing bonus. Do you really think Walnuts chose Line for financial reasons? Absolutely not.. he chose to ride for them to support a core focused brand which he felt fit him and his views of skiing the best. That's what I find so special about our sport 95% of the guys who are out there representing us aren't out there doing it for the money, they're doing it because it's what they love to do. Which translates to my main focus on this post, did Chris have to reach out to you? No? Why would he? there's no corporate focused brand breathing down his neck telling him "respond to this young turd because it will help our image" no.. He did it because he genuinely wanted to help you progress, he genuinely wanted to support you. That's why I love up and coming "grassroots" sports like ours. We are what makes it happen as a whole.

TL;DR Athletes we look up to as newschool skiers kick ass see OP's post.
Nov 14 2014 10:18PM
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Whydoineedthis
Posts: 282 - Karma: 249
If I knew how to post pictures on NS I could show you how I was trolling steve stepp and almost made him block me
Nov 14 2014 11:30PM
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danncphedran
Posts: 1622 - Karma: 1,002
This is why we are the best community out of any sport in the world! We are so tight!
Nov 14 2014 11:41PM
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suup
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 4,366
corskiAs I am now 20, in college, and only ski roughly 2-3 times a year c


rough dude
Nov 15 2014 3:06AM
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yeahmon
Posts: 481 - Karma: 276
Skiing is the best !
Nov 15 2014 11:47AM
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SpookyCat
Posts: 1232 - Karma: -2,617
I once sent a message to Shaun White....
Nov 15 2014 6:36PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
I remember sending a message to Chris Turpin when I first joined, because I was so stoked to see him on here after watching his seg in Focused in 2003. Couldn't believe I was just chatting with one of my idols. So awesome.


I think this extends beyond skiing though. You just need to reach out genuinely to people and you'd be surprised who gets back. For example, internet-famous musicians are often just regular folks and they'll chat with you if you show genuine appreciation.

Unless they're rockstar status and let their image get to their head, many "famous" people are just people who are incredibly appreciated for doing what they love to do.
Nov 16 2014 5:20PM
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