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hi_vis360
November, 2024

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Free skiers turning to free ride

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Willy_The_Kid
Posts: 68 - Karma: 599
What makes prominent free skiers turn towards free ride? Just saw the trailer fro Jacob Wester's Walk the Walk. It got me thinking about how it seems like a lot of big free style skiers trade their jesters for shift bindings. It's not only Wester though. Quinn Wolferman was one of the sickest out there but spends most his time in the backcountry. The Bunch also seems to be shifting towards big mountain free ride skiing. I could name a few more, but you get the point.

Not hating, just curious as to what drives the "leakage". There seems to be an asymmetric relationship where more skiers turn from park to the backcountry than vice-versa.
Oct 1 2023 2:10PM
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kalle.
Posts: 763 - Karma: 4,830
change of interest.
also hard landings and a hectic competition environment must take a toll on your body so i guess some want to focus more on doing things when they like and feel comfortable. also most of the time not so hard landings
Oct 1 2023 2:19PM
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Celery
Posts: 2016 - Karma: 24,778
If you had the budget and support of a professional skier would you rather

A. Hike rails and lap exclusively park all season

Or

B. Ski powder with the homies
Oct 1 2023 2:21PM
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Willy_The_Kid
Posts: 68 - Karma: 599
CeleryIf you had the budget and support of a professional skier would you rather

A. Hike rails and lap exclusively park all season

Or

B. Ski powder with the homies


A. At least for the time being.
Oct 1 2023 2:26PM
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3623 - Karma: -12,121
because skiing powder is way more fun
Oct 1 2023 3:06PM
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dognutz
Posts: 2298 - Karma: 29,870
what
free skiing and free ride are the exact same thing
Oct 1 2023 3:09PM
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Willy_The_Kid
Posts: 68 - Karma: 599
SteezyYeeterbecause skiing powder is way more fun

The comments are surprising me tbh. I would think that people who are park-nerd enough to be on NS would prefer park over pow. Apparently not.
Oct 1 2023 3:49PM
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dant02
Posts: 252 - Karma: 2,346
Less painful and more fun
Oct 1 2023 4:24PM
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1790 - Karma: 18,497
It becomes more accessible as you progress through the ski industry I feel. Make connections, learn stuff and commit your time to different areas
Oct 1 2023 4:34PM
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dwt802
Posts: 3241 - Karma: 32,013
Freeskiing encompasses freeride and park both and powder skiing is damn fun. Most of them do both and also the body can only handle slamming exclusively park and street for so long.
Oct 1 2023 6:35PM
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9371 - Karma: 68,484
dwt802Freeskiing encompasses freeride and park both and powder skiing is damn fun. Most of them do both and also the body can only handle slamming exclusively park and street for so long.


park and street slams are so gnarly, honestly how the fuck do skaters take all the street slams with no helmets on?
Oct 1 2023 6:38PM
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Farmville420
Posts: 4712 - Karma: 60,571
BigPurpleSkiSuitpark and street slams are so gnarly, honestly how the fuck do skaters take all the street slams with no helmets on?

You can't bail on skis nearly as well as on a skateboard

**This post was edited on Oct 1st 2023 at 7:21:00pm
Oct 1 2023 7:20PM
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migidimigi
Posts: 433 - Karma: 3,142
Dude have you never skiied pow?!? It's better than sex
Willy_The_KidThe comments are surprising me tbh. I would think that people who are park-nerd enough to be on NS would prefer park over pow. Apparently not.
Oct 2 2023 5:20AM
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SupremeChairlift
Posts: 302 - Karma: 3,811
Willy_The_KidA. At least for the time being.


You answered your own question right here. The pros that switch over have already skied park for the time being, so they move onto new experiences.
Oct 2 2023 5:23AM
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SamuelForsgren
Posts: 144 - Karma: 1,462
I always seen freeride and freestyle the same sport but in different places. Theyre still throwing tricks and freestyling but on bigger mountains. And its really fun to ski offpiste so i understand it
Oct 2 2023 7:11AM
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RyanG603
Posts: 94 - Karma: 535
if i had the financial support from sponsors to ski wherever, i'm picking pow over park everytime
Oct 2 2023 11:08AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6910 - Karma: 24,648
"Free is a very good price!" - Tom Peterson
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1077167/-Free-is-a-Very-Good-Price--------Tom-Peterson
Oct 2 2023 5:20PM
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ToddlerBodyBag
Posts: 283 - Karma: 2,091
When you grow up you get boring
Oct 2 2023 5:25PM
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dwt802
Posts: 3241 - Karma: 32,013
RyanG603if i had the financial support from sponsors to ski wherever, i'm picking pow over park everytime


All you need to do is move to a decent spot that gets/holds powder well to get all the pow you want but moving can definitely be hard financially so fair enough.

In moving from Killington VT to Bozeman MT I flipped my ratio where I previously skied 75% park, 25% pow the other way. Snow around here is always good somewhere it blows my mind. In Vermont I like always wanted to ski park unless it snowed 6+ inches. Meanwhile out here the skiing is always good and I don’t want to hit park neither as often naturally.
Oct 2 2023 5:41PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
Cause they're old and can't handle it anymore.
Oct 2 2023 5:52PM
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RyanG603
Posts: 94 - Karma: 535
dwt802All you need to do is move to a decent spot that gets/holds powder well to get all the pow you want but moving can definitely be hard financially so fair enough.

In moving from Killington VT to Bozeman MT I flipped my ratio where I previously skied 75% park, 25% pow the other way. Snow around here is always good somewhere it blows my mind. In Vermont I like always wanted to ski park unless it snowed 6+ inches. Meanwhile out here the skiing is always good and I don’t want to hit park neither as often naturally.


I feel you, if there was 6+ inches of fresh snow everyday I would barely ski park. But also the places that I'm talking require sponsor's money is like spots only accessible by helicopter or snowmobile.
Oct 2 2023 8:31PM
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Switch270on
Posts: 50 - Karma: 296
My guess is that they probably feel like they have mastered freestyle, learned all the tricks, spent so many hours in the park, eventually the idea of cruising down the side of a mountain in 4 ft deep powder is so strong they just switch over. Don’t look at it as them giving up on park forever, it’s probably just they want a change of scenery and pace.
Oct 2 2023 10:14PM
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skierman
Posts: 8349 - Karma: 7,466
Willy_The_KidThe comments are surprising me tbh. I would think that people who are park-nerd enough to be on NS would prefer park over pow. Apparently not.


That's because you're an ignorant child.
Oct 3 2023 6:21AM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5432 - Karma: 11,823
easier on the knees
Oct 3 2023 1:23PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14494 - Karma: 10,640
Falling starts to hurt when you get older. And pow skiing is just so magical. Let’s get some rails in the backcountry and combine it all.
Oct 3 2023 1:35PM
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dwt802
Posts: 3241 - Karma: 32,013
LemuelFalling starts to hurt when you get older. And pow skiing is just so magical. Let’s get some rails in the backcountry and combine it all.


Someone gotta open a hill that is a freeride park. Natural features all over the mountain as well as rails and some man made shit would be so fun.
Oct 3 2023 2:45PM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3740 - Karma: 7,745
dwt802Someone gotta open a hill that is a freeride park. Natural features all over the mountain as well as rails and some man made shit would be so fun.

Jackson Hole in a nutshell, Alta is kinda this besides the rails too
Oct 3 2023 5:06PM
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jps2.0
Posts: 475 - Karma: 2,392
it seems less park skiers are going to big mountain than like 8 years ago. A lot of park skiers seem to just retire now.
I think the level of skiing is way to high in park and big mountain to just switch over now especially if your body is destroyed
Oct 3 2023 6:08PM
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SupremeChairlift
Posts: 302 - Karma: 3,811
LemuelFalling starts to hurt when you get older. And pow skiing is just so magical. Let’s get some rails in the backcountry and combine it all.


Supposedly Mitchell Brower is releasing an edit for Line where he drug a big tube into the backcountry with a snowmobile and hit some pow tubes lol
Oct 3 2023 7:44PM
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dwt802
Posts: 3241 - Karma: 32,013
K-Dot.Jackson Hole in a nutshell, Alta is kinda this besides the rails too


Yes but like imagine rails and stuff scattered all over an entire ski mountain, that is a new different level of sick.

I would argue that Bridger is like Alta with natural features everywhere that are sick but a combination of that and rails + manmade jibs would be a dream world for a NS skier.
Oct 3 2023 7:52PM
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keweenaw_skier
Posts: 52 - Karma: 438
because freestyle wrecks your body, gets old after you do a million triple cork 1080s or whatever. better views and physical exercise and more peaceful time backcountry/freeskiing. more fun to explore and test your limits in a new way. plus powder and stuff
Oct 3 2023 8:30PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1309 - Karma: 5,332
-I think it’s one thing being 30 and hitting rails still. But 40-50 and hanging out on ns and in the park, people will think you’re a pedo.

should you care what people think tho? Do what you like.

-other point is, there are two very different kind of risks involved.

The fun in park skiing is getting better, progressing your tricks, bigger jumps better style. At some point small jumps/rails don’t do anything for you. The bigger the feature the higher the speed, the bigger the drop, the greater the forces in a crash.
The greater the forces the bigger the injuries. When you have a job and support a family, any stupid injury has the potential to stop you from being able to provide.

BC is still super dangerous. Weather it’s avy, crevasse, cornice, exposure, remoteness or wildlife etc, you still get to tickle that itch and feel like you’re pushing your limits. while there are more variables, I think the risk is much more manageable.
Oct 4 2023 12:31AM
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Willy_The_Kid
Posts: 68 - Karma: 599
ajbski-I think it’s one thing being 30 and hitting rails still. But 40-50 and hanging out on ns and in the park, people will think you’re a pedo.

The pedo argument is the most compelling one I've read, thanks
Oct 4 2023 1:40AM
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5043 - Karma: 51,226
Willy_The_KidThe pedo argument is the most compelling one I've read, thanks


I’m sorry but I think this is such a wack take. There is absolutely nothing sexual about a man being in the same vicinity as children. If you’re like trying to befriend them and shit that’s weird but you will definitely catch me in my 40s straight sliding rails and not giving a fuck about what anyones thinks
Oct 4 2023 8:31AM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3137 - Karma: 31,639
ajbski-I think it’s one thing being 30 and hitting rails still. But 40-50 and hanging out on ns and in the park, people will think you’re a pedo.


Strong disagree, I think this is actually one of the coolest aspects of action sports. Its like skatepark vibes, not too many places you can have a 40 year old, a 21 year old, and a 7 year old, seshing the same feature or having fun together as equals. As I'm growing older I love how skiing and skating keep me young-at-heart and connected with the youthz

Also, @oldmanski is literally the coolest dude on this site.
Oct 4 2023 10:45AM
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oldmanski
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 23,841
I ski park because I enjoy it. I make the whole mountain my playground because I enjoy it. I also have a kid that shows interest in skiing and I enjoy it. I dont care what anyone else thinks and I enjoy it. I suggest to all to do what you enjoy. I enjoy skiing.

Thanks for the kind words @GrandThings
Oct 4 2023 11:51AM
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SlushSeason
Posts: 875 - Karma: 6,675
I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm (I sure hope)
hi_vis360I’m sorry but I think this is such a wack take. There is absolutely nothing sexual about a man being in the same vicinity as children. If you’re like trying to befriend them and shit that’s weird but you will definitely catch me in my 40s straight sliding rails and not giving a fuck about what anyones thinks
Oct 4 2023 12:23PM
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Willy_The_Kid
Posts: 68 - Karma: 599
hi_vis360I’m sorry but I think this is such a wack take. There is absolutely nothing sexual about a man being in the same vicinity as children. If you’re like trying to befriend them and shit that’s weird but you will definitely catch me in my 40s straight sliding rails and not giving a fuck about what anyones thinks


I was obviously joking. Of course I don't think most people turn to the backcountry due to fears of being perceived as a pedo.
Oct 4 2023 3:17PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1309 - Karma: 5,332
ajbskishould you care what people think tho? Do what you like.
Willy_The_KidThe pedo argument is the most compelling one I've read
hi_vis360you will definitely catch me in my 40s straight sliding rails and not giving a fuck about what anyones thinks
GrandThingsAs I'm growing older I love how skiing and skating keep me young-at-heart and connected with the youthz
oldmanskiI dont care what anyone else thinks and I enjoy it. I suggest to all to do what you enjoy. I enjoy skiing.


I said who cares what society thinks, if you enjoy it, keep at it. doesn't change the fact people like abomber exist. its a similar reason why people make priest jokes.

My point was: societal perception of the matter, could have an impact on an individuals choice to continue with something. not whether its right or wrong.
Oct 4 2023 4:00PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14494 - Karma: 10,640
dwt802Someone gotta open a hill that is a freeride park. Natural features all over the mountain as well as rails and some man made shit would be so fun.


For real. I’ll be straight sliding rails for sure until I’m too old to ski, having them posted up randomly all over a mountain would be so good.

Back on the original topic, finding natural hits and boosting can be just as fun as hitting a good jump in the park. Preferences change over time, but I’m sure if I lived close to Bush I’d still be a park rat at 32 rn
Oct 4 2023 9:37PM
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GrandThings
Posts: 3137 - Karma: 31,639
LemuelBack on the original topic, finding natural hits and boosting can be just as fun as hitting a good jump in the park. Preferences change over time, but I’m sure if I lived close to Bush I’d still be a park rat at 32 rn


My biggest slam last year was on a little side hit at the very bottom of Sugarbush. Looked like they might have been some MTB rollers. Had hit them like every run but caught an edge on takeoff and just went flying. Righhht under the lift too. Good times...
Oct 5 2023 9:50AM
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jompcock
Posts: 1534 - Karma: 11,405
cat/heli skiing is expensive as fuck so it's nice when you got sponsors footing the bill.
Oct 6 2023 12:52AM
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