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Young Skiers and their Egos

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JimmyRecard
Posts: 242 - Karma: 2,552
I just watched a new edit, a pretty sick one admittedly, called "The Seven Year Old Future of Freeskiing."

Skiing for me has always stood out as one of the few sports left in which, for the most part, egos are far from encouraged. People who ski together are friends, and they do what they love for that reason alone. This is mere skepticism, but you don't see many successful pros who truly hold themselves above their peers. I love this about skiing, and I want it to stay that way. The reason you see so many egotistical athletes in other sports is because for their whole lives, people have reiterating that that athlete is the best, that they deserve the best because of their talents. Skiing has never been about that, but I'm worried that it's heading in that direction.

How healthy can it be to label a 7 year old child "The Future of Freeskiing"? I have absolutely nothing against Charlie Beatty, in fact I'm impressed by him, but to label him "the future" does nothing but put a weight on his shoulders that no kid should have to bear. There are plenty of young skiers, all of whom I respect as they are already better then I will ever be, who are sponsored by major companies. In the eyes of someone without greater understand, a sponsorship is really just the validation of the idea that they are better than other kids. It is the birth of the ego.

I know lots of what I'm saying is kind of rant, but I think this is a legitimate issue that deserves to be brought up and discussed.
Mar 28 2015 1:30PM
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veng_m
Posts: 1267 - Karma: 2,720
this is why im not into regular sports, just skiing and biking and im also worried that our sport is heading in this direction. it scares me.
Mar 28 2015 1:45PM
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fresh_prince
Posts: 993 - Karma: 11,910
Tru, the last thing these pre puberty shredders need is to be labeled and pushed almost off the edge of what they can do.
Mar 28 2015 1:48PM
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snapped
Posts: 109 - Karma: 251
I see your point, but couldn't the title of that edit just be referring to the fact that kids are the future of freeskiing?
Mar 28 2015 1:51PM
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JimmyRecard
Posts: 242 - Karma: 2,552
snappedI see your point, but couldn't the title of that edit just be referring to the fact that kids are the future of freeskiing?


Yes but what I'm trying to say is much broader than the one video
Mar 28 2015 1:58PM
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snapped
Posts: 109 - Karma: 251
cakeshredshardYes but what I'm trying to say is much broader than the one video



Yea, that was just the example, I don't really think this will ever be a problem in freeskiing, I believe the risk of injury is too big to ever be able to put in enough time and money to raise someone to be "the future of freeskiing".
I really hope that I am right since if that is where it is heading it is really sad for the sport..
Mar 28 2015 2:04PM
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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,834
Labeling him the future of skiing is complete overkill. Anything can happen,man.

I was an amazing skier when I was 10-15 years old. Now I'm 17 with 3 concussions and the knees of a 60 year old. I'm afraid to try anything crazier than a 360. injuries can make a great skier become pretty normal in a heartbeat.
Mar 28 2015 3:28PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
I agree, theres a kid who sometimes comes to my mountain for usasa events and hes about 12-14 now and he has come to be the cockiest little prick ever, hes pretty good for his age but his dad is kind of his mentor and convinces him hes some little prodigy. I encountered him thankfully only once at another mountain for a comp and he was basically bragging about how much better he was than my younger friends to their faces...I hope not all of skiing heads this direction.

Heres a hint, he needs to cut his grossly long hair and no its not aspen spora.
Mar 28 2015 3:54PM
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
When you are better than a lot of people its easy to get an ego. Ask simon dumont about his ego.
Mar 28 2015 4:19PM
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Fuckitandhuckit
Posts: 39 - Karma: 123
There are a bunch of younger kids at my local mountain who think they are the best skiers in the world. They are the cockiest kids I have ever met and if you don't throw sevens or corks they pretty much laugh at your face. It sucks to see this in what used to be such a humble community.
Mar 28 2015 6:03PM
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404404
Posts: 11358 - Karma: 21,033
I could be that kids father.

For real. I might have met his mother at a bar and yada, yada, yada. I'm a dead beat dad.
Mar 28 2015 6:11PM
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Noddard
Posts: 2649 - Karma: 3,821
ParryWithAnAI could be that kids father.

For real. I might have met his mother at a bar and yada, yada, yada. I'm a dead beat dad.


scary
Mar 28 2015 6:37PM
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.bo.
Posts: 447 - Karma: 128
Titus69I agree, theres a kid who sometimes comes to my mountain for usasa events and hes about 12-14 now and he has come to be the cockiest little prick ever, hes pretty good for his age but his dad is kind of his mentor and convinces him hes some little prodigy. I encountered him thankfully only once at another mountain for a comp and he was basically bragging about how much better he was than my younger friends to their faces...I hope not all of skiing heads this direction.

Heres a hint, he needs to cut his grossly long hair and no its not aspen spora.


I'm pretty sure I know exactly who that is, does he wear thall crowbars? I've competed in open comps against that kid and he's done nothing but rub me in the wrong way every time I see him.
Mar 28 2015 6:41PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
.bo.I'm pretty sure I know exactly who that is, does he wear thall crowbars? I've competed in open comps against that kid and he's done nothing but rub me in the wrong way every time I see him.


Yeah I think their those tanner hall goggles from like '07...Long hair and is always accompanied by his dad.
Mar 28 2015 7:07PM
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max...
Posts: 1379 - Karma: 801
Titus69I agree, theres a kid who sometimes comes to my mountain for usasa events and hes about 12-14 now and he has come to be the cockiest little prick ever, hes pretty good for his age but his dad is kind of his mentor and convinces him hes some little prodigy. I encountered him thankfully only once at another mountain for a comp and he was basically bragging about how much better he was than my younger friends to their faces...I hope not all of skiing heads this direction.

Heres a hint, he needs to cut his grossly long hair and no its not aspen spora.


.bo.I'm pretty sure I know exactly who that is, does he wear thall crowbars? I've competed in open comps against that kid and he's done nothing but rub me in the wrong way every time I see him.


Hahaha I think I know who you guys are talking about too. Saw him at a rail jam in CT a few years back and again when I visited snowflex on a cross country trip a couple summers ago.

Kid was a diva and making his dad carry his skis around for him. Kinda seems like the father is a pushover and lets him act spoiled. Again nothing too personal against the kid, but it just seemed like his attitude was a little out of place.

However, I still think hyper-competitive young skiers are the rare exceptions. For every little kid that is being groomed into the next competition prodigy, there are a thousand others just bombing around the mountain, jumping off rollers, poking into sidetrails, and simply having a blast.

I don't really see the ski culture being influenced too much by the prodigy phenomenon. Just because some people take skiing too seriously in my opinion, doesn't lessen the joy I get from the sport by any degree. I've lapped the park with strangers I've just met, both better and worse than me. The egos never really get in the way in my personal experience.
Mar 28 2015 7:12PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
max...Kid was a diva


Yeah thats him...Hes not bad, actually quite good but the way he was raised has given him a cocky attitude and a bad rep..I remember a few years back my mountain had a slopestlye in their tiny ass park and the prizes were shirts, hats etc and he lost and well he cried like a bitch.
Mar 28 2015 7:18PM
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UilyJeff
Posts: 394 - Karma: 1,480
There's a couple douche bags like that at our local hill too. They like to tease kids and think they're better than everyone else and let them know it. I'm that 36-year-old guy that takes zero shit when they act like that in front of me or my 3 boys.
Mar 28 2015 8:31PM
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.bo.
Posts: 447 - Karma: 128
Titus69Yeah I think their those tanner hall goggles from like '07...Long hair and is always accompanied by his dad.


max...Hahaha I think I know who you guys are talking about too. Saw him at a rail jam in CT a few years back and again when I visited snowflex on a cross country trip a couple summers ago.

Kid was a diva and making his dad carry his skis around for him. Kinda seems like the father is a pushover and lets him act spoiled. Again nothing too personal against the kid, but it just seemed like his attitude was a little out of place.

However, I still think hyper-competitive young skiers are the rare exceptions. For every little kid that is being groomed into the next competition prodigy, there are a thousand others just bombing around the mountain, jumping off rollers, poking into sidetrails, and simply having a blast.

I don't really see the ski culture being influenced too much by the prodigy phenomenon. Just because some people take skiing too seriously in my opinion, doesn't lessen the joy I get from the sport by any degree. I've lapped the park with strangers I've just met, both better and worse than me. The egos never really get in the way in my personal experience.


Yeah thats the kid. I did a rail jam at ski ward like 2 years ago and the lift for the summer is a magic carpet. My friend dropped his pole on the side by accident and this kid was behind him and my friend yelled back and asked him to pick it up when he went by. The kid clearly heard him and just watched the pole sit there as he went by on the magic carpet. Im happy I beat him specifically for that because thats just such a dick move...
Mar 28 2015 8:37PM
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nford
Posts: 227 - Karma: 1,686
Titus69I agree, theres a kid who sometimes comes to my mountain for usasa events and hes about 12-14 now and he has come to be the cockiest little prick ever, hes pretty good for his age but his dad is kind of his mentor and convinces him hes some little prodigy. I encountered him thankfully only once at another mountain for a comp and he was basically bragging about how much better he was than my younger friends to their faces...I hope not all of skiing heads this direction.

Heres a hint, he needs to cut his grossly long hair and no its not aspen spora.


.bo.I'm pretty sure I know exactly who that is, does he wear thall crowbars? I've competed in open comps against that kid and he's done nothing but rub me in the wrong way every time I see him.


Does this kid ride on/ride for faction? He was acting like an intern with me, not sure if I'm thinking of the same kid though.
Mar 28 2015 9:21PM
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Mr.softcookie
Posts: 233 - Karma: 713
I know a lot of really good kids who are about 10-12 who absolutely shred and are really cool, but there are other kids who are around the same age who are also pretty good at skiing but they act like complete dicks. I have nothing against them but it just pisses me off, like ok i understand you can 450 off triple cork 1620 screaming' seamen to blunt on a 2 foot jump but you don't have to rub it in.
Mar 28 2015 9:25PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
nfordDoes this kid ride on/ride for faction? He was acting like an intern with me, not sure if I'm thinking of the same kid though.



Yes he does, I was at a usasa event and I usually wait at the top for my run and chat with the kids going before me and he came up to me and started questioning me about my ar7s with griffons and il moro T's getting all nerdy with it and then proceeded to talk about his look pivots, factions and boots like they were handed to him by the ski gods. Yep were definitely on the same page. I feel bad for him kinda since hes been brought up by his dad to be a big shot prodigy and all the kids immediately shat on him once he went down for his run...I may have also
Mar 28 2015 9:31PM
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Plankton
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 6,840
the kids name is leland broadhurst, he skis at my home mountain. It's hilarious when his dad puts his boots on for him
Mar 28 2015 11:45PM
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,177
i just see those kids and their parents and i just worry they are missing out on their childhood and not having fun, because thats what skiing js about. i just hope their parents arent living their dreams through their kids. let kids be kids, keep things mellow, and if they are truly great and want to push themselves to the forefront of skiing they can do it on their own accord after theyve gotten through high school, and if not thats ok too.
Mar 29 2015 12:22AM
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marrows
Posts: 399 - Karma: 656
the future is only what happens next, it holds no expectations.
Mar 29 2015 1:03AM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
Depends completely on the parents. If you have crazy, shitty parents who coddle you and don't teach you humility, you're gonna grow up to be a little prick. I'm a camp counselor, I've dealt with all this shit before.
Mar 29 2015 2:26AM
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katrina
Posts: 2395 - Karma: 15,177
nyjah huston
Mar 29 2015 2:43AM
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Big_Mtn
Posts: 551 - Karma: 1,647
Simon Dumont. People starting giving him stuff really early and he starting expecting people to give him stuff. When people didn't give him stuff.... You can figure out the rest. Similar thing with Shaun White.
Mar 29 2015 3:32AM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I don't think this is new to skiing. It's just that the Internet and YouTube have made all little kids strive to get 1000000 views and become Internet famous, so they think they're hot shit. Not a new thing, it's just easier to see now.

There some like 14 year old kid who surfs where I do. He's not that good at all but he thinks he amazing. He sits on top of people and paddles for everything like all the waves are his.
Mar 29 2015 10:26AM
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.bo.
Posts: 447 - Karma: 128
CockSmooch69the kids name is leland broadhurst, he skis at my home mountain. It's hilarious when his dad puts his boots on for him


Yeah thats the kid! I forgot his name haha it really takes a lot for me to not like someone though and i really hate that kid. Seems like everyone else has the same experiences as me with him.
Mar 29 2015 11:03AM
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.bo.
Posts: 447 - Karma: 128
CockSmooch69the kids name is leland broadhurst, he skis at my home mountain. It's hilarious when his dad puts his boots on for him


Yeah thats the kid! I forgot his name haha it really takes a lot for me to not like someone though and i really hate that kid. Seems like everyone else has the same experiences as me with him.
Mar 29 2015 11:03AM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
CockSmooch69the kids name is leland broadhurst, he skis at my home mountain. It's hilarious when his dad puts his boots on for him


Lol really? My god thats hilarious. Whats your home mountain?
Mar 31 2015 6:55AM
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.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,540
Titus69I agree, theres a kid who sometimes comes to my mountain for usasa events and hes about 12-14 now and he has come to be the cockiest little prick ever, hes pretty good for his age but his dad is kind of his mentor and convinces him hes some little prodigy. I encountered him thankfully only once at another mountain for a comp and he was basically bragging about how much better he was than my younger friends to their faces...I hope not all of skiing heads this direction.

Heres a hint, he needs to cut his grossly long hair and no its not aspen spora.

Ahahahahah i know exactly who youre talking about
Mar 31 2015 7:46AM
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d00d
Posts: 2686 - Karma: 7,067
max...Hahaha I think I know who you guys are talking about too. Saw him at a rail jam in CT a few years back and again when I visited snowflex on a cross country trip a couple summers ago.

Kid was a diva and making his dad carry his skis around for him. Kinda seems like the father is a pushover and lets him act spoiled. Again nothing too personal against the kid, but it just seemed like his attitude was a little out of place.

However, I still think hyper-competitive young skiers are the rare exceptions. For every little kid that is being groomed into the next competition prodigy, there are a thousand others just bombing around the mountain, jumping off rollers, poking into sidetrails, and simply having a blast.

I don't really see the ski culture being influenced too much by the prodigy phenomenon. Just because some people take skiing too seriously in my opinion, doesn't lessen the joy I get from the sport by any degree. I've lapped the park with strangers I've just met, both better and worse than me. The egos never really get in the way in my personal experience.


Was that the CO ski shop rail? if it was .bo, squirrely, and I were all there. Everyone knows Leland haha. His dad has an account called lelandsdad or something and he posts sometimes in regionals it's pretty funny.
Mar 31 2015 12:55PM
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Plankton
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 6,840
Titus69Lol really? My god thats hilarious. Whats your home mountain?


attitash
Mar 31 2015 5:38PM
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Casey
Posts: 7785 - Karma: 23,466
The hyper competitive, overbearing parents with cocky kids yelling at each other is royally normal in youth soccer, football, baseball etc. If you aren't taking it that seriously you're probly getting left behind. It just looks out if place in skiing because the mountains are where people go to get away from that shit.
Mar 31 2015 6:03PM
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