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Does anyone else think the backdrop for big air was kind of cool?
The Olympics give the host country a chance to display their country's beauty and culture, and I feel like they really dropped the ball here. First thing I thought when watching was "why tf are they having big air at a nuclear power plant?". Idk, I am not a fan of it at all and think it's a really gross backdrop. A ski resort backdrop, while not unique, would've looked 100x better imo.
BagOTricksThe Olympics give the host country a chance to display their country's beauty and culture, and I feel like they really dropped the ball here. First thing I thought when watching was "why tf are they having big air at a nuclear power plant?". Idk, I am not a fan of it at all and think it's a really gross backdrop. A ski resort backdrop, while not unique, would've looked 100x better imo.
Exactly! you hit the nail on the head.
China really dropped the ball on showcasing its beauty and culture. I read they chose the abandoned steel mill due to its lake which provided the ability for fake snow. Still gross and an awful setting for the “Winter Olympics”
sexyjulianExactly! you hit the nail on the head.
China really dropped the ball on showcasing its beauty and culture. I read they chose the abandoned steel mill due to its lake which provided the ability for fake snow. Still gross and an awful setting for the “Winter Olympics”
i think what we associate as chinese culture (dragons, imperial symbolism) is what the chinese themselves pretty much erased during the cultural revolution in 1966-76. China as a state does not need to be interested in the aesthetics—they want to show that they are the industrial powerhouse of the world. Setting our very western notion of freestyle skiing in front of their industrial complex (even if it is abandoned) is most likely intentional.
Somebody else mentioned this and I agree: Aesthetically dope, symbolically fucked
shinbangclani think what we associate as chinese culture (dragons, imperial symbolism) is what the chinese themselves pretty much erased during the cultural revolution in 1966-76. China as a state does not need to be interested in the aesthetics—they want to show that they are the industrial powerhouse of the world. Setting our very western notion of freestyle skiing in front of their industrial complex (even if it is abandoned) is most likely intentional.
Somebody else mentioned this and I agree: Aesthetically dope, symbolically fucked
It was really just one big 1000 skis promo. “Don’t wanna buy sustainable skis? This is what skiing will look like in 5 years. Buy our sustainable skis.”
shinbangclani think what we associate as chinese culture (dragons, imperial symbolism) is what the chinese themselves pretty much erased during the cultural revolution in 1966-76. China as a state does not need to be interested in the aesthetics—they want to show that they are the industrial powerhouse of the world. Setting our very western notion of freestyle skiing in front of their industrial complex (even if it is abandoned) is most likely intentional.
Somebody else mentioned this and I agree: Aesthetically dope, symbolically fucked
This! I’m under the impression that China is very proud of what the industrial revolution has brought to them. After they decommissioned this steel mill for the ‘08 Olympics they didnt tear it down instead they kept it and turned it into an art district.
the event name is ‘Big Air’ with almost exclusively European/North American riders. So they showed the blue skies around what was once one of the smoggiest polluted areas on the entire planet for the rest of us to see.
honestly i think the views have brought extra attention to big air and skiing even if it is just people shitting on the view they still probably saw just a bit more ski big air than they would have otherwise.
IDGAF how it looks, As long as they convert those factories into Vishnu production plants I'm happy. (doesn't ride Vishnus) (doesn't ski street) but yeah it did look kinda sick and I don't know why everyone is complaining. I think that they just shouldn't hold the winter Olympics places that don't have real snow.
Considering how much infrastructure gets uprooted and waste the olympics generate (Montreal was still paying debt on its 1976 stadium in 2010s and most of Athens’ 2004 venues are abandoned) this is how Olympic venues should work going forward. Temporary structures with minimal disruption to the communities around them.
Goretex_VidalConsidering how much infrastructure gets uprooted and waste the olympics generate (Montreal was still paying debt on its 1976 stadium in 2010s and most of Athens’ 2004 venues are abandoned) this is how Olympic venues should work going forward. Temporary structures with minimal disruption to the communities around them.
Hard agree here. I know most of NS doesn't agree with me on most things regarding China, but minimal environmental and urban footprints are the only way to keep big world-level sporting events that have historically required lots of new infrastructure to be built, such as the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, viable.
Goretex_VidalConsidering how much infrastructure gets uprooted and waste the olympics generate (Montreal was still paying debt on its 1976 stadium in 2010s and most of Athens’ 2004 venues are abandoned) this is how Olympic venues should work going forward. Temporary structures with minimal disruption to the communities around them.
asparagusIt’s cool, but a giant dragon with skiers launching out of its mouth would’ve been cooler. Or a real jump. That would’ve been nice.
This jump was nothing less than amazing. Ask any athlete at the event what their thoughts were on the jump and if they would have preferred to freeze their ass off up at Chongli instead.
Cole.DerrickThis jump was nothing less than amazing. Ask any athlete at the event what their thoughts were on the jump and if they would have preferred to freeze their ass off up at Chongli instead.
Didn’t think of that, it would be nice for it to be warm during big airs
Goretex_VidalConsidering how much infrastructure gets uprooted and waste the olympics generate (Montreal was still paying debt on its 1976 stadium in 2010s and most of Athens’ 2004 venues are abandoned) this is how Olympic venues should work going forward. Temporary structures with minimal disruption to the communities around them.
I think this was built as a permanent structure, not scaffolding like usual with plans to host more events in the future.
Really this makes more sense than the other snow sports venues where it's cold and windy, but doesn't actually snow.
asparagusDidn’t think of that, it would be nice for it to be warm during big airs
So nice man. The landing was soft, no one got injured. Speed was great. And there was a full glass elevator bringing you comfortably to the top where your could chill and watch crazy shit go down in comfy footwear with dope coaches from around the world. BJ Big Air review gets a 5/5 in my eyes.
Cole.DerrickSo nice man. The landing was soft, no one got injured. Speed was great. And there was a full glass elevator bringing you comfortably to the top where your could chill and watch crazy shit go down in comfy footwear with dope coaches from around the world. BJ Big Air review gets a 5/5 in my eyes.
other than elena gaskell blowing her knee and leg in practice 😢
TOAST.I think this was built as a permanent structure, not scaffolding like usual with plans to host more events in the future.
Really this makes more sense than the other snow sports venues where it's cold and windy, but doesn't actually snow.
I was thinking no way is this permanent imma fact check it. Google has confirmed that its a permanent structure. Lol wut?
partyandBSI was thinking no way is this permanent imma fact check it. Google has confirmed that its a permanent structure. Lol wut?
it’s been there for 3 years already, they had a test event in 2019. with big air being a staple comp now i bet we probably will see it once a year would be my completely uninformed guess.
I think it looks cool but do agree that nearly seems like a waste of infrastructure. I get hosting events there, but how often will that actually happen? Maybe more frequently within China's ski community I suppose. Ultimately, I think they could have executed this in a much better way. China's been all about pumping their winter sports industry up, this was the perfect opportunity for this to become an urban ski hill. China literally missed the bus to be the first to make a full blown urban ski setup with real snow. I'm thinking something along the lines of Copenhill but with snow and bigger (it still has to host big air events). China certainly has the resources and doesn't mind throwing money at cool things. It would allow for countless people from the city to get into skiing/snowboarding. They would get far more use out of an olympic structure as that is something the general public could actually use.
I mean the combination of disparate elements into a single photo makes for a poignant and symbolic composition, but like it’s not a happy photo its super dystopian and a horrific foreshadowing of the future we’ve all helped built together.
A skier on artificial snow performing an entertainment act on behalf of the brutal authoritarian regime, against the backdrop of the coal plant cooling towers, surrounded by abject poverty and utter blight- the very engine that resulted in this moment in the first place.
CaseyI mean the combination of disparate elements into a single photo makes for a poignant and symbolic composition, but like it’s not a happy photo its super dystopian and a horrific foreshadowing of the future we’ve all helped built together.
A skier on artificial snow performing an entertainment act on behalf of the brutal authoritarian regime, against the backdrop of the coal plant cooling towers, surrounded by abject poverty and utter blight- the very engine that resulted in this moment in the first place.
CaseyI mean the combination of disparate elements into a single photo makes for a poignant and symbolic composition, but like it’s not a happy photo its super dystopian and a horrific foreshadowing of the future we’ve all helped built together.
A skier on artificial snow performing an entertainment act on behalf of the brutal authoritarian regime, against the backdrop of the coal plant cooling towers, surrounded by abject poverty and utter blight- the very engine that resulted in this moment in the first place.
