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May, 2025

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Banks Gilberti's "Locals Only" insta post

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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539


I saw this post from Banks Gilberti making the rounds on peoples stories a few days ago, and I'm honestly kinda conflicted about it. The picture, along with the caption, come off as somewhat demeaning and elitist, because who the fuck says that you own a spot? Sure geotagging posts is wack, but am I not allowed to take a friend to a new zone that I found? Someone had to show you the zone in the first place, so aren't you being hypocritical? Also, who the fuck out the is seeing a zone on a random persons insta page and putting enough time and effort into it to find the area? The only group this really applies to is ski influencers, like Banks, who is probably more guilty of this than anyone of us. A guy I follow summed it up pretty well with a clip of jeff grosso in LLTSB:

clip starts at 1:25

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/982048/Empty-Pools---Jeff-Grosso-s-Loveletters-To-Skateboarding---VANS
On the other hand, I'm from an area that is currently being invaded by Californians, which I dislike, as it drives up the price of living and increases the density of people who don't care about my hometown the same way that I do. I think what it comes down to is that being outdoorsy is somewhat inherently elitist, as if everyone in the US was able to go experience the outdoors the same way that we do, the outdoors would no longer exist in a state that we would enjoy. Every single dirt logging road that goes to a zone that only you and your buddies know about would be paved, with a shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes, and a lodge every 100 feet for when the city slickers get their feet cold.

bottom line who gives a fuck
5 years ago
43 1
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Claytonc
Posts: 46 - Karma: 316
This is just don't ask don't tell for the backcountry
5 years ago
25 0
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swagburg
Posts: 798 - Karma: 4,743
Photo is courtesy of crazy Karl's story- its all about being respectful, knowledgeable, and safe. Backcountry safety is not a joke and nobody who has spent enough time in the backcountry takes it lightly.

Respect and safety, that's really all this is trying to get across.
5 years ago
28 16
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swagburg
Posts: 798 - Karma: 4,743
Also, no one is going to hold your hand and show you the 'sacred zones'. They are sacred for a reason. If if they weren't, we would all find Sammy C's pillow zones by looking at a map as if we were at Breckenridge, but that's never going to happen. It's tough luck out there, but the plus side it you might find your own sacred zone for yourself, and that's pretty special.
5 years ago
27 2
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swagburg
Posts: 798 - Karma: 4,743
Also, there are a lot of consequences to be aware of going into the backcountry. It's not comparable to walking up to skate a pool.
5 years ago
33 1
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270on420out
Posts: 7524 - Karma: 51,324
There is nothing wrong with showing your friend a cool spot. Telling the whole world and blowing up the spot is wack.
5 years ago
27 0
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jwilly
Posts: 487 - Karma: 2,681
This post is in response to the increased number of people projected to be in the backcountry this year. It makes sense for people who have taken the time to learn about spots and have the proper avalanche training to be worried. Have you ever been surfing at a localized spot on a good day before? The post is reasonable imo
5 years ago
4 2
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Price_Police
Posts: 444 - Karma: 1,785
I’m all for this actually. It’s why a lot of surfers on Instagram will NEVER use geotags. If they did, all their spots would be blown out.


if you’ve put in the time to find a dank spot, keep it sacred
5 years ago
6 0
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cheener12
Posts: 2881 - Karma: 5,887
Banks is a clown. I really think the reason that post is getting backlash is because people are fed up about these fucking instagram "pros" gramming everyday and telling others they can't do the same. Yea they aren't geotagging, but still come onnnnnn. You are still notifying your many thousand followers where your general location is, planting the seed amongst followers that x location is sick, and subsequently bringing more people to the area wanting to post in the same way. Can't bitch about conditions that you yourself are bringing!!

I completely support the backcountry safety argument, overcrowding areas, and one's gradual accumulation of area knowledge, eventually earning one's greater access to an area. But I also see the other side. It's just as annoying to see fuckers gloating about sledding in "no tellem creek" or even the "tag responsibly, keep x wild" post is stupid. That is the gate keeper bullshit people are pissed about. I think it is a stretch to say that geotagging substantially helps BIPOC people gain greater access to the outdoors, but also white people don't have to be such pricks about their instagram presence. Aghhhhh, geotagging really does blow up spots, though. Definitely an issue. Hard sayin'.

Not a simple solution to all of this, and I don't claim to have all the answers, just a partial perspective. But as others have said, maybe we just be respectful/kind to areas/people, and shut the fuck up when necessary?
5 years ago
33 6
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X_MEMESWERVE_XX
Posts: 3945 - Karma: 33,347
This feels like some gatekeeping BS, I get not wanting to blow up a spot, but if people legitimately want to get out there it kind of restricts them to do so, and then you've got people going out without the right gear and they get fucked over cuz nobody taught them how to be safe, instead its just, "dont go to my spot"
5 years ago
17 3
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2489 - Karma: -13,996
Banks is a total hypocrite for posting that but I actually agree with the message. There are a lot of jabronis out there who are only motivated by the likes and views they receive on social media. So many people are addicted to enhancing their online personas and getting their daily hit of attention like it's fucking heroin or something. They aren't really present and their main goal is to get a shot that makes them look good in their little 1 minute insta clip. Those types of people are dangerous for a few reasons.

1. They get so focused on skiing a particular line that they fail to consider other factors like the safety of others. They might cut across a north face with higher avy risk to get to some cliffs and go right above a group of people below.

2. They don't actually value their time in the mountains. If you're a filmmaker and creating videos is your art and creative outlet then that's one thing but if you're bringing a gopro to a wild place so you can make yourself look cool then you're valuing the attention of others above your personal experience in the mountains. That means you don't actually value your experiences in the mountains very much and if you don't value it then you don't deserve to be there.

3.They don't respect the sanctity of the spot. There have been studies conducted by wildlife departments around the world showing that increased trail use, whether it be by Jeeps, backpackers, or anything in between has an adverse effect on wildlife. Animals do not like to be near people, especially older more mature animals. Part of what makes the backcountry so cool is seeing those animals on their terms and sharing their homes with them. If everyone is blowing up a spot you take away that whole aspect of the experience.

Frankly, I think a lot of people need to take a step back from their phones and really think about what motivates them. If it's likes and retweets then you need to stay at the resorts. And if you do find your way back to a wild place then you should be willing to make compromises and you should hold the world around you and your personal experience in higher regard than an Instagram post.
5 years ago
20 2
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snowfinder
Posts: 2940 - Karma: 34,910
Every Jerry and skier dad own a touring set now, what could go wrong?
5 years ago
8 0
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SupremeChairlift
Posts: 312 - Karma: 4,016
swagburgPhoto is courtesy of crazy Karl's story- its all about being respectful, knowledgeable, and safe. Backcountry safety is not a joke and nobody who has spent enough time in the backcountry takes it lightly.

Respect and safety, that's really all this is trying to get across.


I think Karl twisted the situation with his post. He says, "Whats more important, Ethics or Internet Likes". Informing the internet masses about a sacred zone is uncool but certainly not unethical. Also he says, "Don't ruin the zone for everyone just so you can get some likes". A zone getting more popular doesn't ruin it for everyone. It ruins it for the few people who knew about it before it blew up. I would wager there is an overall net increase in happiness because its probably gonna be really fun for all the new people who saw the zone online and then go out and experience it responsibly.

If this post was about backcountry safety and respect it would say things like take your avy 1 course, make conservative terrain choices, don't travel above/below other parties, wait your turn, etc. The backcountry is dangerous whether your skiing a sacred zone or a popular zone you read about online. If someone is uninformed and uneducated, they are a hazard no matter where they go.

This post is about not wanting a spot you know about to become public knowledge, which is understandable but still comes from a self serving motivation. The post description Banks wrote said something about, "let's make a conscious effort to focus on our surroundings and building good memories, not just good instagram stories." It's not about some living in the moment bullshit, its just wanting your favorite spots to remain the same, which again I'm cool with, but trying to disguise it as anything else is disingenuous.
5 years ago
18 0
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SupremeChairlift
Posts: 312 - Karma: 4,016
Craw_DaddyBanks is a total hypocrite for posting that but I actually agree with the message. There are a lot of jabronis out there who are only motivated by the likes and views they receive on social media. So many people are addicted to enhancing their online personas and getting their daily hit of attention like it's fucking heroin or something. They aren't really present and their main goal is to get a shot that makes them look good in their little 1 minute insta clip. Those types of people are dangerous for a few reasons.

1. They get so focused on skiing a particular line that they fail to consider other factors like the safety of others. They might cut across a north face with higher avy risk to get to some cliffs and go right above a group of people below.

2. They don't actually value their time in the mountains. If you're a filmmaker and creating videos is your art and creative outlet then that's one thing but if you're bringing a gopro to a wild place so you can make yourself look cool then you're valuing the attention of others above your personal experience in the mountains. That means you don't actually value your experiences in the mountains very much and if you don't value it then you don't deserve to be there.

3.They don't respect the sanctity of the spot. There have been studies conducted by wildlife departments around the world showing that increased trail use, whether it be by Jeeps, backpackers, or anything in between has an adverse effect on wildlife. Animals do not like to be near people, especially older more mature animals. Part of what makes the backcountry so cool is seeing those animals on their terms and sharing their homes with them. If everyone is blowing up a spot you take away that whole aspect of the experience.

Frankly, I think a lot of people need to take a step back from their phones and really think about what motivates them. If it's likes and retweets then you need to stay at the resorts. And if you do find your way back to a wild place then you should be willing to make compromises and you should hold the world around you and your personal experience in higher regard than an Instagram post.


I hate when people say there are "right" reasons for being in the mountains. If you are enjoying nature responsibly you could be going out just to jerk off for all I care. No one "deserves" to be in the mountains.
5 years ago
9 1
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chef.llc
Posts: 579 - Karma: 7,648
I think the bottom line is that you should have respect for wherever you ski. Especially don't leave trash behind. If you have tens of thousands of followers on instagram you should be careful with what you decide to post.
5 years ago
4 0
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mat_espo
Posts: 267 - Karma: 773
IdahoeI saw this post from Banks Gilberti making the rounds on peoples stories a few days ago, and I'm honestly kinda conflicted about it. The picture, along with the caption, come off as somewhat demeaning and elitist, because who the fuck says that you own a spot? Sure geotagging posts is wack, but am I not allowed to take a friend to a new zone that I found? Someone had to show you the zone in the first place, so aren't you being hypocritical? Also, who the fuck out the is seeing a zone on a random persons insta page and putting enough time and effort into it to find the area?


Spraying about a sick new zone on social media is different than showing a few homies the spot you're psyched on.
5 years ago
8 0
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2489 - Karma: -13,996
little_boy_primeI hate when people say there are "right" reasons for being in the mountains. If you are enjoying nature responsibly you could be going out just to jerk off for all I care. No one "deserves" to be in the mountains.


That's honestly a super naive way to look at things. There are definitely some people that deserve to know where good backcountry spots are more than others. There are people who spend a lot of time looking at topo maps, satellite photos, google earth, etc, and then go on scouting trips in the summer. The whole process takes a TON of time and energy. I also hunt so I combine purposes for my scouting trips and I would be just as pissed if someone posted a cool zone I scoped as I would be if they posted the great piece of elk sanctuary I found. If I came to these specific places through hard work and I'm there for the specific purpose of skiing a line or taking an animal then I don't want other people there who didn't spend the time and energy that I did. Especially if they don't have actual reverence for the places that they're in, but are there because they want to look cool online.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 6:04:53pm
5 years ago
5 6
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38102 - Karma: 129,791
the elitism and territorialism/tribalism in skiing and mountain communities is just absurd. no one gives a shit youve been skiing x or y zone for x or y years. time to let others enjoy it as well as long as they pack out what they brought in and respect it. when are we gonna learn that its time to let others play in the sandbox as well as long as they do their part and keep it safe? dont be a fucking dick and help educate others if we're so worried about crowding in the sport though. You should feel ashamed to be involved with the sport for so long and be okay with creating unwelcoming atmospheres.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 6:22:06pm

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 6:26:22pm
5 years ago
15 2
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sqeellicbic
Posts: 421 - Karma: 3,357
Craw_DaddyThat's honestly a super naive way to look at things. There are definitely some people that deserve to know where good backcountry spots are more than others. There are people who spend a lot of time looking at topo maps, satellite photos, google earth, etc, and then go on scouting trips in the summer. The whole process takes a TON of time and energy. I also hunt so I combine purposes for my scouting trips and I would be just as pissed if someone posted a cool zone I scoped as I would be if they posted the great piece of elk sanctuary I found. If I came to these specific places through hard work and I'm there for the specific purpose of skiing a line or taking an animal then I don't want other people there who didn't spend the time and energy that I did. Especially if they don't have actual reverence for the places that they're in, but are there because they want to look cool online.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 6:04:53pm


This comes off as kinda selfish. Just because you "did the work" to find the spot doesn't mean it belongs to you more than it belongs to someone who saw the spot on ig and decided to go.

In my opinion, the only people who shouldn't be at a spot are people who leave trash and disrespect nature. Like that other guy said, I couldn't care less if you just go to the spot to jerk off as long as you're being respectful.
5 years ago
8 2
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12705 - Karma: 120,054
Too long didnt read. But sierra definitely took an L on this
5 years ago
16 0
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4884 - Karma: -719
Nothing more insufferable than mountain town hardos.
5 years ago
5 1
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strictly
Posts: 22 - Karma: 3,542
ok, saying "the safety" of it is the reason to promote this post is bullshit. that's a thin excuse to avoid the backlash of the main point of the sign. people are familiar with hearing about backcountry safety at this point and reposting this to "encourage user safety" is just an excuse to blast your philosophy about the other half of the sign.

zones aren't sacred. these places we ski backcountry are literally PUBLIC LANDS. nothing is proprietary and nobody owns a zone. nobody can pretend they own the zone. just because you are KNOWLEDGEABLE about a spot doesn't make it yours. and that's where the blurring of the line i feel is that makes this shit so controversial.

that said, i'm a proponent for silence about spots - backcountry skiing, but also hiking around wildernesses and other public lands. never geotagging, never publicizing location information, not name dropping, and i'm not going to be writing trip reports. if someone reaches out to me about a spot, i'll be okay with providing basic information, like a forest or mtn range, safety notes, etc., but i'm not giving GPS coordinates to the zone.

just because you don't talk about it, publicize it, or report about it, doesn't make you an elitist immediately. i don't think i own any of my special spots - i fully understand they're public lands and i hope other people enjoy the magic of discovering these wonderful places on their own. safety is the responsibility of each and every backcountry user, not the person who's choosing not to write a trip report for sake of avoiding promoting increased traffic.
5 years ago
33 0
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3790 - Karma: 8,348
idk what's funnier:
thinking that this is a legitimate issue worth raising a fuss about
or
thinking that an instagram post will do anything about it
5 years ago
19 0
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,899
"Also, who the fuck out the is seeing a zone on a random persons insta page and putting enough time and effort into it to find the area?"

Right here dude, I'm that guy. Almost every sick zone I've discovered over the past decade has been thanks to people posting GoPro shots of their favourite spot. Give me a clear view of the adjacent peaks and it's only a matter of motivation and time before I find it on Google Earth. I highly doubt I'm the only one who does this given the amount of content out there.

Personally I only show my spots to my close friends that I know will enjoy it. At the same time I'm not going to be a snobby dick about people riding these spots. It's an eventuality that they will be further discovered as time goes on, there's no sense getting sour about it.

Finally, the backcountry is enormous. There is way more untracked snow out there than there are people to ski it. If your sacred zone isn't a secret anymore use your skills and knowledge to find other great spots.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 9:14:41pm

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 9:15:41pm
5 years ago
16 0
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539
FUUUCK"Also, who the fuck out the is seeing a zone on a random persons insta page and putting enough time and effort into it to find the area?"

Right here dude, I'm that guy. Almost every sick zone I've discovered over the past decade has been thanks to people posting GoPro shots of their favourite spot. Give me a clear view of the adjacent peaks and it's only a matter of motivation and time before I find it on Google Earth. I highly doubt I'm the only one who does this given the amount of content out there.

Personally I only show my spots to my close friends that I know will enjoy it. At the same time I'm not going to be a snobby dick about people riding these spots. It's an eventuality that they will be further discovered as time goes on, there's no since getting sour about it.

Finally, the backcountry is enormous. There is way more untracked snow out there than there are people to ski it. If you're sacred zone isn't a secret anymore use your skills and knowledge to find other great spots.

Damn props dude
5 years ago
4 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52626 - Karma: 174,620
cheener12Banks is a clown. I really think the reason that post is getting backlash is because people are fed up about these fucking instagram "pros" gramming everyday and telling others they can't do the same. Yea they aren't geotagging, but still come onnnnnn. You are still notifying your many thousand followers where your general location is, planting the seed amongst followers that x location is sick, and subsequently bringing more people to the area wanting to post in the same way. Can't bitch about conditions that you yourself are bringing!!

I completely support the backcountry safety argument, overcrowding areas, and one's gradual accumulation of area knowledge, eventually earning one's greater access to an area. But I also see the other side. It's just as annoying to see fuckers gloating about sledding in "no tellem creek" or even the "tag responsibly, keep x wild" post is stupid. That is the gate keeper bullshit people are pissed about. I think it is a stretch to say that geotagging substantially helps BIPOC people gain greater access to the outdoors, but also white people don't have to be such pricks about their instagram presence. Aghhhhh, geotagging really does blow up spots, though. Definitely an issue. Hard sayin'.

Not a simple solution to all of this, and I don't claim to have all the answers, just a partial perspective. But as others have said, maybe we just be respectful/kind to areas/people, and shut the fuck up when necessary?


How did this become about race? Did I miss something?
5 years ago
7 0
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539
theabortionatorHow did this become about race? Did I miss something?


I think some people in the comments of the original post were saying that gate keeping spots was bad for bipoc people that want to get into winter sports. Bit of a stretch IMO.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 9:41:07pm
5 years ago
8 0
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
But being a gate keeper is so cool. How am I to know if I am cooler than everyone else out there unless I inform them all that they are, infact, not actually out there for a worthy reason and therefore aren't deserving of MY mountains.
little_boy_primeI hate when people say there are "right" reasons for being in the mountains. If you are enjoying nature responsibly you could be going out just to jerk off for all I care. No one "deserves" to be in the mountains.
5 years ago
6 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52626 - Karma: 174,620
DeebieSkeebiesthe elitism and territorialism/tribalism in skiing and mountain communities is just absurd. no one gives a shit youve been skiing x or y zone for x or y years. time to let others enjoy it as well as long as they pack out what they brought in and respect it. when are we gonna learn that its time to let others play in the sandbox as well as long as they do their part and keep it safe? dont be a fucking dick and help educate others if we're so worried about crowding in the sport though. You should feel ashamed to be involved with the sport for so long and be okay with creating unwelcoming atmospheres.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 6:22:06pm

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 6:26:22pm


Meh. People don't take care if places though. That hike that everyone knows about and has graffiti and trash. Packed with people.

With skiings it's usually not as bad but still. There are plenty of dicks out there. Idk. I remember last year when covid shut down the resorts and every chad bought a setup, ignored forecasts. And went out in high avy conditions with zero regard. Even then just general traffic.

The localist vibe sucks. You don't own a spot. Going to a place before doesn't make you better but I do see some people's worry when a spot they like get's blown up.

When I go hiking I find areas far away from people whenever I can. Hikes that might not even be the best hike, but I value my time away from people. I feel the same with touring sometimes. Ill go out on a slice that might not be the best shit ever but it get's me away from those crowds.

I'm also not posting about it on social media trying to be an influencer or whatever.

I think it's good for education to be pushed but a lot of people don't get it. Putside of telling them to look at the avy forecasts or not to do somethint dumb what are you going to do? Tlel them to buy a beacon and teach them how to use it? There are classes for that.

Localism is dumb but so are the hoards that go wherever with 0 fucks given for where they are and the people around them.

Also the people that go everywhere just to tag it. Not as much for blowing up spots but that shit is just a beat mentality.

Like the shitshow in summit last year during that snowstorm. Everyone and there mom had to be there so they could say they were there for the storm whether word of mouth or social media. On the plus we got to enjoy some awesome days in tahoe last year because all the kooks stayed in the bay because "we didn't have snow ". We didnt have pow but conditions were great, the sun was out and it was a great time away from the crowds. I'd take those days over a shitty overcrowded pow day at a tracked out resort any day.

Idk localism sucks but it's not like crowds of people don't have an impact, especially ones without the proper gear and knowledge. My .02
5 years ago
2 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52626 - Karma: 174,620
IdahoeI think some people in the comments of the original post were saying that gate keeping spots was bad for bipoc people that want to get into winter sports. But if a stretch IMO.


That seems like a huge fucking stretch at best. I think some people are just looking for any opportunity to bring aome topics up, argue, and virtue signal. The organizations out there that bring black people, gay people, women etc into the mountains more are dope though and I hate when they get trashed by douchebags on facebook and instragram for "pushing agendas" or whatever.
5 years ago
3 0
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dylansiggers
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 6,097
cheener12Banks is a clown.


dude mind your mouth. Banks is a good dude
5 years ago
11 7
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2489 - Karma: -13,996
sqeellicbicThis comes off as kinda selfish. Just because you "did the work" to find the spot doesn't mean it belongs to you more than it belongs to someone who saw the spot on ig and decided to go.

In my opinion, the only people who shouldn't be at a spot are people who leave trash and disrespect nature. Like that other guy said, I couldn't care less if you just go to the spot to jerk off as long as you're being respectful.


I'm not saying any spots on public land belong to me. I'm just saying that I don't want everyone and their mom to know where the goods are. If they found it through a social media post then that's fair and they are absolutely free to go shred it just as I'm free to go find another spot. But those social media posts shouldn't happen in the first place which is the point of that sign in Banks' Instagram post. The problem with posting stuff with identifiable information is that as soon as it happens once you'll inevitably have more people coming up and making their own posts about it and then pretty soon you will have a ton of people blowing up something cool. I think that if people find something cool, whether it be through a video on Instagram or through hours of looking at maps and scouting then they should just be content with going in and skiing it and not plastering it all over the internet just to say "look what I did" to their 20 followers.

**This post was edited on Nov 27th 2020 at 10:48:52pm
5 years ago
3 0
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gravel
Posts: 5524 - Karma: 42,380
strictlyok, saying "the safety" of it is the reason to promote this post is bullshit. that's a thin excuse to avoid the backlash of the main point of the sign. people are familiar with hearing about backcountry safety at this point and reposting this to "encourage user safety" is just an excuse to blast your philosophy about the other half of the sign.

zones aren't sacred. these places we ski backcountry are literally PUBLIC LANDS. nothing is proprietary and nobody owns a zone. nobody can pretend they own the zone. just because you are KNOWLEDGEABLE about a spot doesn't make it yours. and that's where the blurring of the line i feel is that makes this shit so controversial.

that said, i'm a proponent for silence about spots - backcountry skiing, but also hiking around wildernesses and other public lands. never geotagging, never publicizing location information, not name dropping, and i'm not going to be writing trip reports. if someone reaches out to me about a spot, i'll be okay with providing basic information, like a forest or mtn range, safety notes, etc., but i'm not giving GPS coordinates to the zone.

just because you don't talk about it, publicize it, or report about it, doesn't make you an elitist immediately. i don't think i own any of my special spots - i fully understand they're public lands and i hope other people enjoy the magic of discovering these wonderful places on their own. safety is the responsibility of each and every backcountry user, not the person who's choosing not to write a trip report for sake of avoiding promoting increased traffic.


god damn it wrong account i wrote this doesn't really belong on the strictly acct
5 years ago
7 0
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cheener12
Posts: 2881 - Karma: 5,887
dylansiggersdude mind your mouth. Banks is a good dude


hahaaaaa yea he is a good dude, run into him infrequently at the skatepark, mountain, bars, golf course... I hate to talk shit on the internet, but two summers ago this mans got in a fight at a summer league COED soccer game.. Also he is a ball hog and always plays forward. THERE I said it.
5 years ago
23 0
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Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539
cheener12hahaaaaa yea he is a good dude, run into him infrequently at the skatepark, mountain, bars, golf course... I hate to talk shit on the internet, but two summers ago this mans got in a fight at a summer league COED soccer game.. Also he is a ball hog and always plays forward. THERE I said it.


damnnnn shots fired
5 years ago
3 0
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,788
I've seen this conversation happening a lot lately - in fact saw a counter-photoshop version encouraging trip reports and gram posts (with the idea that exposure would bring more BIPOC people into the outdoors). While I love the idea of spreading stoke to demographics that might feel less welcome, I really really don't think gramming about it is the way to bring people in.
I honestly think gramming about spots is just gonna fill them up with more white people, making a more competitive scene of it and making it even less appealing to those who aren't already "in". The organizations doing reach-outs and planning trips for BIPOC folks, or all women trips, etc. seems like a way more productive avenue to focus efforts. Host events to get people stoked about getting after it, train the skills to navigate terrain and find spots, and ease into it so everyone's equipped and having fun and can find their own special spots whenever they want.

But anyways, in terms of "owning" a spot and actively keeping people away, I think that's whack. But there's a subtlety in there that I think more of us relate to - that we connect to these spots personally and feel some sort of stewardship for them. Reading the terrain and snow we get to know a spot really well, we are forced to respect it to stay alive, and then in exchange the spot gives us epic days and memories. I don't really feel that bad that I only share my personal favourite spots with people who I know will appreciate them too.

It's some tragedy of the commons stuff really. It's so vast and wild and free, until it isn't. And once it isn't, it isn't for anyone. Every spot has a carrying capacity. I'm down to enjoy them sustainably and limit my footprint/reach, and spread the word in a much more meaningful and intentional way to those who might be interested in getting into skiing.

**This post was edited on Nov 28th 2020 at 2:55:01am
5 years ago
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mountaindewgirl
Posts: 2317 - Karma: 21,132
This is a sign, and I like signs, so I like this sign.
5 years ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12705 - Karma: 120,054
we all know a person that is the human embodiment of that sign
5 years ago
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STwoops
Posts: 2941 - Karma: 5,126
This is TGR forum drama
most big spots are sled access 80% of ns don’t got the funds to braap
5 years ago
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1750 - Karma: 17,245
the first rule of ski club.. don't talk about ski club
5 years ago
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jakeordie
Posts: 665 - Karma: 3,281
Dudes got first tracks on the moral high ground.
5 years ago
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Andi_G
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 15,261
I feel like it isn’t that big of an issue to get worked up about realistically. Not many people are geotagging spots and if they are it’s the local old dude who has like 45 followers. It’s weird for banks to post considering how much space and zones there are around sun valley too. Just elitist gate keeping cause he wants his own perfect untouched zones for insta and filming. Kinda selfish ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
5 years ago
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Lokdog
Posts: 130 - Karma: 548
Yeah some good points but also some bad ones. The whole idea that "it's my zone" is pretty dumb, you don't know if someone's already been skiing it for a decade. Also ironic since if anyone is going to blow up a zone it's a pro, how is the guy with 20 insta followers gonna make any difference??? Just a little hypocritical haha
5 years ago
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JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 18,841
Don’t Instagram it, just make a movie segment about with all your zones in it that is then promoted to a majority of the people that would actually be interested in going to those zones.
5 years ago
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,341
Not a fan of the NIMBY mindset.

If you don't want natural areas (or even a place that is special to you) ruined you should either stay quiet about it or educate others as to why it is special and teach them how they can also care for it.

As others have said, thinking that you have a special claim over an area because you discovered it, bought it, whatever, is ridiculous. You've been on this earth for a few decades out of several billion years.

Even more, any educated and mature adult knows that telling someone they can't have something/go somewhere is going to result in them wanting to do it more. Just look at what happened when the parks dept. told people not to try and find the desert monolith.
5 years ago
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,299
Ha surfers are like this too. It's hilarious because it seems even people in California are like this, as if there's any real secret spots left and there aren't millions of surfers there. Even here in NJ people are like don't blow the spot bro when they're talking about quite possibly the best known spot in the state due to the somewhat unique jetty, which is Manasquan.

Newly minted quarantine surfers suck also. The summer was a zoo. But who is anybody to stop anybody else from surfing? More people will do the things we like to do and some of them are clueless assholes. That's just how it is. At least with surfing the ocean can straight up reject you if you're too much of a noob, and that has no impact on me. Whereas if some noob causes a slide then that could sweep away others. I'd definitely appreciate less surfers, and for sure less clueless surfers, but it's not going to happen.

Trash does suck though.
5 years ago
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MitchPee
Posts: 8871 - Karma: 1,509
It’s refreshing to see these types of conversations come up and to bring more awareness to the collective actions that affect our sport.

The last 10 years I’ve spent guiding in Japan and to be honest I harbor a bit of guilt for contributing to the zealous fervor that has become social media powder skiing. For the purist side of me, it’s sad that Japan (and powder skiing in general) has become such a scene, to say the least. The image and identity that come along with being a freeride powder skier have exploded in popularity and with that, watered down what it once meant as a small community. Not to mention any average intermediate skier can now access the goods if they are relatively fit and even a halfway decent skier. But on the other hand, it’s just the nature of the beast in the world we live in. It’s a really fun activity and there’s more and more people with more and more resources and a desire to meet that psychological pyramid of needs. The best thing we can do is be good stewards of the sport by leading by example and educating when necessary. Most of the time, when I come across people who clearly have minimal experience in the backcountry and are fucking something up, 9/10 times a good tone and friendly approach yield a productive conversation which should be the reason we feel inclined to say things to new-to-BC-spot skiers. Otherwise we are just supplying our ego with fuel rather than trying to improve a situation that we can’t control.

Really, there’s no ground to stand on by taking to a platform like Instagram to tell people...not to instagram, while still contributing to making skiing look cool (which is one of the reasons spots are blowing up in the first place). Instagram and its concept has never sat well with me. For my own reasons and mental health I can’t subject myself to endless content and I don’t want to contribute to things like making skiing more popular via a filtered approach that is extremely unrealistic.

Lots of interesting opinions in here and refreshing to see a similar trend trend of consciousness in what we spread online.
5 years ago
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404404
Posts: 11358 - Karma: 21,035
Skiing has a certain culture built around this kinda stuff. People that do the work to find the goods, build the rails, and find an urban spots shouldn't have to deal with people who did no work blow up the spot.

Jah.

**This post was edited on Nov 28th 2020 at 7:00:33pm
5 years ago
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jps2.0
Posts: 480 - Karma: 2,479
has anyone here got to a zone and told by 'locals' to get out or had conflicts. I have heard stories around whistler
5 years ago
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TOAST.
Posts: 7756 - Karma: 39,756
Dont go to Chad's gap, mack dawg will fuck you up
5 years ago
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Way*Mo
Posts: 772 - Karma: 3,190
I think reasonable people would agree that geotagging exact backcountry spots or unknown urban features in highly visible public locations should be a no go. Similarly, helping spread a message of preparedness and responsibility should be common place. Finally, if its something like a mountain bike trail or dirt jumps whose continuing existence is directly dependent on them remaining secret, obviously only share with people you know personally and can trust. But all of that should be common sense to most skiers/riders/surfers/etc.

Beyond that, I feel any pro or high profile individual calling people out for sharing photos or clips from public lands that don't disclose the exact location are being highly hypocritical. Your entire profession is built on sharing what you do in these places. Do you know how many urban spots you can identify from videos by simply watching for the school or business name on the building in the shot? That is kinda the definition of blowing up a spot. I realize that example isn't explicitly the backcountry, but the sentiment remains the same.
5 years ago
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