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July, 2025

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How do some people get so good?

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SchizoSkier
Posts: 2924 - Karma: 31,765
It genuinely blows my mind how good people can get at such a young age. Specifically people like Luke Votaw is 18 and can quad and throws absolutely insane shit so causally. Another one is Dylan Deschamps hes 19 and is the same way. He recently threw a quad backflip I think and can cork 19. Jackson Karsteter, Matej Svencer, Konnor Ralph too. these ppl blow my mind. Do they just not go to school or something? How often do they have to ski to get so good so quickly

P. S. also not dickriding luke votaw ( y’all really seem to hate him on here) you just can’t deny the fact that he’s absolutely insane
3 years ago
25 0
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Jems
Posts: 7818 - Karma: 102,491
its called being rich lol

and a mix of natural talent
3 years ago
73 3
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WoFlowz
Posts: 8354 - Karma: 65,512
Jemsits called being rich lol

and a mix of natural talent


Jubai’s right. They all got a good bit of natural talent but being able to go to ski academy’s and ski from 9-1 every single day from September too June and then a week or two mid July or early august. Another thing is who they ski with and are coached by.
3 years ago
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270on420out
Posts: 7525 - Karma: 51,354
The younger you start the more potential you have. I’m sure money helped as well.

There are people who see skiing as nothing more than a fun recreational activity and there are people who see it as a sport to train for. Neither option is bad and most people are probably in the middle. Even the guys you see bouncing on picnic tables at some point in their lives took it seriously enough to learn to do that.
3 years ago
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Quaggy
Posts: 1152 - Karma: 19,198
I attribute it to rope tows. Those kids on the East coast can bang out 5 park laps by the time I finish one over here on the West coast because we have like 1 West of the Rockies.
Access to on/off hill facilities like trampoline parks, airbags, and those dry slope jumps into a pool really help with air maneuvers.
Overall I'd say location and a willingness to practice and learn is most important.
(Being a trust fund kid or having rich parents helps with access to these things but not all rich people are good)
3 years ago
32 3
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b_in_subtle
Posts: 153 - Karma: 869
Because at that age you’re generally able to just keep falling and getting back up for another go with less risk of serious injury. Once you have that horrible injury it just happens more and more often.
3 years ago
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Lippamani
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 16,642
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
3 years ago
21 0
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Michigan_Sucks
Posts: 533 - Karma: 7,529
It's because of $$$$$. Access to air bags and water ramps ain't cheap.
3 years ago
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,905
Progression is wack
3 years ago
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Rparr
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 49,729
QuaggyI attribute it to rope tows. Those kids on the East coast can bang out 5 park laps by the time I finish one over here on the West coast because we have like 1 West of the Rockies.

Honestly a lot of the time when I'm out west at bigger places I find myself longing for the short lap times of my small midwest hills
3 years ago
12 3
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,433
QuaggyI attribute it to rope tows. Those kids on the East coast can bang out 5 park laps by the time I finish one over here on the West coast because we have like 1 West of the Rockies.
Access to on/off hill facilities like trampoline parks, airbags, and those dry slope jumps into a pool really help with air maneuvers.
Overall I'd say location and a willingness to practice and learn is most important.
(Being a trust fund kid or having rich parents helps with access to these things but not all rich people are good)


Idk where on the east coast you’ve been but I have yet to see a rope tow at any park in New Hampshire or Maine…. Loon doesn’t have one, Sunday River doesn’t have one, Gunstock doesn’t have one, Killington doesn’t have one, Saddleback doesn’t have one, Sugarloaf doesn’t have one…. Yeah idk where you got that
3 years ago
10 0
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PhlebotomistOld
Posts: 195 - Karma: 1,519
animatorIdk where on the east coast you’ve been but I have yet to see a rope tow at any park in New Hampshire or Maine…. Loon doesn’t have one, Sunday River doesn’t have one, Gunstock doesn’t have one, Killington doesn’t have one, Saddleback doesn’t have one, Sugarloaf doesn’t have one…. Yeah idk where you got that

Waterville poma lift has probably produced a lot of talent
3 years ago
12 0
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Rparr
Posts: 5809 - Karma: 49,729
animatorIdk where on the east coast you’ve been but I have yet to see a rope tow at any park in New Hampshire or Maine…. Loon doesn’t have one, Sunday River doesn’t have one, Gunstock doesn’t have one, Killington doesn’t have one, Saddleback doesn’t have one, Sugarloaf doesn’t have one…. Yeah idk where you got that


Perfect north
3 years ago
7 1
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Jems
Posts: 7818 - Karma: 102,491
QuaggyI attribute it to rope tows. Those kids on the East coast can bang out 5 park laps by the time I finish one over here on the West coast because we have like 1 West of the Rockies.
Access to on/off hill facilities like trampoline parks, airbags, and those dry slope jumps into a pool really help with air maneuvers.
Overall I'd say location and a willingness to practice and learn is most important.
(Being a trust fund kid or having rich parents helps with access to these things but not all rich people are good)

tow ropes only get you so far, you’ll only excel at rails if anything. you won’t see the best skiers at hyland ripping jumps often for a reason.
3 years ago
11 1
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Celery
Posts: 2123 - Karma: 26,704
Spruce is only rope tows and saddleback might have one next season
animatorIdk where on the east coast you’ve been but I have yet to see a rope tow at any park in New Hampshire or Maine…. Loon doesn’t have one, Sunday River doesn’t have one, Gunstock doesn’t have one, Killington doesn’t have one, Saddleback doesn’t have one, Sugarloaf doesn’t have one…. Yeah idk where you got that
3 years ago
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Lippamani
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 16,642
Anyone else struggling with a lack of motivation to take a shower rn?
3 years ago
42 0
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unijibs
Posts: 153 - Karma: 1,947
don’t forget the legend chris groovy
3 years ago
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,455
Basically every pro coming out of eastern canada is training at an airbag facility called maximize. Airbag and trampoline all summer, rope tow laps on a triple-able jump and rail set up all winter.
3 years ago
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,255
Most complete concise on point thread seen
3 years ago
8 0
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Schoess
Posts: 2135 - Karma: 25,648
It's a mix of natural ability, the drive to risk your body and get better, the drive to ski a lot, the mental sharpness to be able to make adjustments to your tricks quickly and then remember how to do them consistantly, skiing with people that are really good to normalize an extremely high level of skiing from the beginning (this makes a huge difference and is why camps can be so effective) and the free time and energy to focus on skiing..... So yeah it's a lot easier when you have a financially stable home but there's no getting around the mental and physical commitment.
3 years ago
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bootspace
Posts: 444 - Karma: 3,746
just got home from an 8 hour car ride back from the appalachian trail and i just wanna sleep
3 years ago
4 0
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mobadis
Posts: 406 - Karma: -3,486
dey got dem camps an shieet mane
3 years ago
5 1
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tutipups
Posts: 1694 - Karma: 10,601
QuaggyI attribute it to rope tows. Those kids on the East coast can bang out 5 park laps by the time I finish one over here on the West coast because we have like 1 West of the Rockies.
Access to on/off hill facilities like trampoline parks, airbags, and those dry slope jumps into a pool really help with air maneuvers.
Overall I'd say location and a willingness to practice and learn is most important.
(Being a trust fund kid or having rich parents helps with access to these things but not all rich people are good)

rope tows arent that common here, never seen one in person
3 years ago
2 1
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tutipups
Posts: 1694 - Karma: 10,601
asparagusBasically every pro coming out of eastern canada is training at an airbag facility called maximize. Airbag and trampoline all summer, rope tow laps on a triple-able jump and rail set up all winter.

its fucking expensive
3 years ago
4 0
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Tucko
Posts: 228 - Karma: 1,927
tutipupsrope tows arent that common here, never seen one in person

Theres a number of them a little south like in pa
3 years ago
2 0
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9866 - Karma: 66,752
animatorIdk where on the east coast you’ve been but I have yet to see a rope tow at any park in New Hampshire or Maine…. Loon doesn’t have one, Sunday River doesn’t have one, Gunstock doesn’t have one, Killington doesn’t have one, Saddleback doesn’t have one, Sugarloaf doesn’t have one…. Yeah idk where you got that


PhlebotomistWaterville poma lift has probably produced a lot of talent


yeah waterville's poma-serviced park was THE place to be back in the day. you'd see michael clarke, colby west, LJ, tons of others there all the time. it was dope
3 years ago
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,255
This help?




tutipupsrope tows arent that common here, never seen one in person
3 years ago
6 1
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Farmville420
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 67,915
Reps
3 years ago
7 0
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rymeisterbaby
Posts: 122 - Karma: -580
SchizoSkierIt genuinely blows my mind how good people can get at such a young age. Specifically people like Luke Votaw is 18 and can quad and throws absolutely insane shit so causally. Another one is Dylan Deschamps hes 19 and is the same way. He recently threw a quad backflip I think and can cork 19. Jackson Karsteter, Matej Svencer, Konnor Ralph too. these ppl blow my mind. Do they just not go to school or something? How often do they have to ski to get so good so quickly

P. S. also not dickriding luke votaw ( y’all really seem to hate him on here) you just can’t deny the fact that he’s absolutely insane


they live near a ski resort or snow. your so fucking stupid.
3 years ago
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,455
tutipupsits fucking expensive


yep, still considering dropping $100 to learn all my flips in a single day tho
3 years ago
4 0
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b0ss
Posts: 822 - Karma: 6,377
Ye you have to be rich and lined up by a load of people with an interest. But its completely realistic for someone who has good fundementals to lace every 7 or every 9 by 27ish yo. Do all the boring stuff like conditioning and eating good, hike rails. Study footage. Get a whiteboard. If you cant turn good get private lessons with an old guy. Playing catch up is fun i do it a few months a year
3 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3356 - Karma: 39,494
Step 1) be very wealthy (or as y’all like to say “upper middle class”)

Step 2) have a coach that’s done way to many mushrooms.

Step 3) ????

Step 4) congrats, you’re a pro skier
3 years ago
19 0
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fredyferl
Posts: 2962 - Karma: 15,007
asparagusBasically every pro coming out of eastern canada is training at an airbag facility called maximize. Airbag and trampoline all summer, rope tow laps on a triple-able jump and rail set up all winter.

Yeah I ski at Avila which is not too far from Maximise, and every kid from Avila that does contest and wants to get good and has the money goes to Maximise, and people are way better at jumps now than even just 5 years ago, it doesn't make sense. There's a guy from Avila, Thomas Galarneau, who's been going to Maximise a lot, and he can throw any kind of dub in any direction, like dub 16s and switch dub14s, and like 4 years ago you would have never guessed that he would have gotten this good.
3 years ago
14 0
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animator
Posts: 4576 - Karma: 26,433
SofaKingSickyeah waterville's poma-serviced park was THE place to be back in the day. you'd see michael clarke, colby west, LJ, tons of others there all the time. it was dope


Too bad their park is all but gone now…. They don’t put any effort in to it anymore or sucks
3 years ago
4 0
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PhlebotomistOld
Posts: 195 - Karma: 1,519
animatorToo bad their park is all but gone now…. They don’t put any effort in to it anymore or sucks


Seriously?? I havent been in a few years but used to always have the $100 poma pass. That sucks
3 years ago
4 0
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2794 - Karma: 16,914
There is the rich pro level where you can do bag jumps all day which is unattainable for us mortals. But for us regular people the more time you put into training the more you will progress on snow. If you spend all summer watching TV and drinking you will only get so far each year. If you spend all summer at the local pool with a diving board and/or a buddy's trampoline you will progress much quicker than someone who just does park laps in the winter.
3 years ago
8 0
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3395 - Karma: 32,720
QuaggyI attribute it to rope tows. Those kids on the East coast can bang out 5 park laps by the time I finish one over here on the West coast because we have like 1 West of the Rockies.
Access to on/off hill facilities like trampoline parks, airbags, and those dry slope jumps into a pool really help with air maneuvers.
Overall I'd say location and a willingness to practice and learn is most important.
(Being a trust fund kid or having rich parents helps with access to these things but not all rich people are good)


I guess the grass is always greener haha most of the riders over would probably kill to have wicked long runs on the great Rocky Mountains. I know I would, goin out west is a whole big ordeal for us.


But yeah OP to answer your question, the majority of them are wildly rich/privileged and coached heavily. No hate toward them for that… just the truth.
3 years ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12728 - Karma: 120,455
they ski
3 years ago
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BrownSnow
Posts: 125 - Karma: 548
put in the fucking work, be hungry and ambitious.

**This post was edited on Jun 8th 2022 at 4:54:06pm
3 years ago
3 2
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tutipups
Posts: 1694 - Karma: 10,601
fredyferlYeah I ski at Avila which is not too far from Maximise, and every kid from Avila that does contest and wants to get good and has the money goes to Maximise, and people are way better at jumps now than even just 5 years ago, it doesn't make sense. There's a guy from Avila, Thomas Galarneau, who's been going to Maximise a lot, and he can throw any kind of dub in any direction, like dub 16s and switch dub14s, and like 4 years ago you would have never guessed that he would have gotten this good.


yeah that dude is so fucking good, havent seen him in a while at avila tho he seems to often be skiing with olivia asselin at le relais
3 years ago
4 0
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tutipups
Posts: 1694 - Karma: 10,601
fredyferlYeah I ski at Avila which is not too far from Maximise, and every kid from Avila that does contest and wants to get good and has the money goes to Maximise, and people are way better at jumps now than even just 5 years ago, it doesn't make sense. There's a guy from Avila, Thomas Galarneau, who's been going to Maximise a lot, and he can throw any kind of dub in any direction, like dub 16s and switch dub14s, and like 4 years ago you would have never guessed that he would have gotten this good.


yeah that dude is so fucking good, havent seen him in a while at avila tho he seems to often be skiing with olivia asselin at le relais
3 years ago
1 0
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mikemac
Posts: 1298 - Karma: 3,713
Academies, coaching, dry land training (fitness as well as tramps and airbags/ramps).

yes definitely it’s an elitist sport and kids with funding from parents go far BUT there are ways without a blank check from mom & dad.

work out, bike, get super strong, get access to an old school gymnastic facility (they all have flatbed tramps and foam pits), get a job at a ski resort, get aggressive Inline skates so you can ski park in the summer etc. etc. etc. it goes on and on and on….

a lot of the historic GOATs got scholarships to ski academies because they had already done all of the above and had stellar competition records and good academics…

if you’re young the world is your oyster and anything is possible just gotta put your mind to it and attack strategically
3 years ago
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Lippamani
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 16,642
Let's all say the same thing again.
3 years ago
13 0
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,255
Venmo me the hunnert....training on November 1, 2022
asparagusyep, still considering dropping $100 to learn all my flips in a single day tho
3 years ago
2 3
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Azier123
Posts: 133 - Karma: 546
SchizoSkierIt genuinely blows my mind how good people can get at such a young age. Specifically people like Luke Votaw is 18 and can quad and throws absolutely insane shit so causally. Another one is Dylan Deschamps hes 19 and is the same way. He recently threw a quad backflip I think and can cork 19. Jackson Karsteter, Matej Svencer, Konnor Ralph too. these ppl blow my mind. Do they just not go to school or something? How often do they have to ski to get so good so quickly

P. S. also not dickriding luke votaw ( y’all really seem to hate him on here) you just can’t deny the fact that he’s absolutely insane


you seen kai Jones with tgr?
3 years ago
2 2
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Pakanaka
Posts: 320 - Karma: 1,997
SchizoSkierIt genuinely blows my mind how good people can get at such a young age. Specifically people like Luke Votaw is 18 and can quad and throws absolutely insane shit so causally. Another one is Dylan Deschamps hes 19 and is the same way. He recently threw a quad backflip I think and can cork 19. Jackson Karsteter, Matej Svencer, Konnor Ralph too. these ppl blow my mind. Do they just not go to school or something? How often do they have to ski to get so good so quickly

P. S. also not dickriding luke votaw ( y’all really seem to hate him on here) you just can’t deny the fact that he’s absolutely insane


sometimes they aren't even good tho they just look good. big difference.
3 years ago
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TroyBallsack
Posts: 701 - Karma: 13,360


elon bought twitter for 4 billion or he could have gone to wyeast for like 4 semesters
3 years ago
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Whackson
Posts: 466 - Karma: 4,029
TuckoTheres a number of them a little south like in pa

only one i know of here is at 7springs
3 years ago
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CharlzHub
Posts: 1168 - Karma: 8,578
They got some big ballsacks and just actually try new shit every day
3 years ago
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Lippamani
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 16,642
Ok I knew it's pretty common for gappers to do the same thing for 20±yrs expesily where I live. 20 hills that all feel the same. but when you're in park why wouldn't you try something new everyday? Even if it's not really progressing like do a tail grab over a rail or a log. Than it gets your creative juice flowin.
CharlzHubThey got some big ballsacks and just actually try new shit every day
3 years ago
7 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,455
CharlzHubThey got some big ballsacks and just actually try new shit every day

takes a lot less balls when you’ve already done the trick 20 times on the airbag
3 years ago
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