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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Natural selection.

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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
Now that the athlete list is filling up, what's everyone's thoughts?

The venue being in Alaska somewhat evens the playing field, but there's certainly some skiers there have the advantage.

Craig and Markus are the only two with FWT experience and therefor, id put the odds in their favour.

Kye, Parker, Sammy are there, they just lack the big mountain comp experience

Kie is still a grasshopper. Extremely talented grasshopper, but a grasshopper non the less.

Colby is at the top of the game. Somewhat out of his league, but he fully has the ability.

Who is judging, and what is the judging criteria?

My safe bet is Markus. My money bet is Colby. But I want Parker to win.
4 months ago
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Way*Mo
Posts: 769 - Karma: 3,178
Sam Kuch is definitely a strong dark horse
4 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
Way*MoSam Kuch is definitely a strong dark horse


Yea, he is slept on for sure.
4 months ago
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CT_CREW
Posts: 674 - Karma: 3,548
A while back I saw Benchets and Candide where invited athletes?
4 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
CT_CREWA while back I saw Benchets and Candide where invited athletes?


Pretty sure they're just the advisors for the event. Would be sick if they competed though.
4 months ago
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SuperiorKalmar
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 19,673
More women and switch half of the men to someone else
4 months ago
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brownetown
Posts: 496 - Karma: 4,912
Yeah I get that it’s a super expensive comp to run and it’s their first year but cmon you gotta have more than 4 women
4 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
KungKalmarMore women and switch half of the men to someone else


100% agree they needed more women.

Think the women they did get are all amazing though.

Would be interesting to hear which men you think should be switched out. Just don't say parker, colby, or craig and we are good lol.
4 months ago
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SuperiorKalmar
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 19,673
abjectwoe100% agree they needed more women.

Think the women they did get are all amazing though.

Would be interesting to hear which men you think should be switched out. Just don't say parker, colby, or craig and we are good lol.

I know I want to see Sam Kuch

All of the invited athletes are very capable skiers but most of them are skiers who I just don't care to watch. I hate Colbys skiing so I would obviously kick him. Overall I want to see more interesting athletes. It's subjective and you can't please everyone. Maybe in the future they will invite some of the skier I would prefer to see.

Invite Max Palm!!
4 months ago
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nfadial
Posts: 201 - Karma: 1,158
There are still spots open I guess? I want to see Jonah Williams
4 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
HometownerzThere are still spots open I guess? I want to see Jonah Williams


He's awesome. Jonah, Parker, and Logan are the holy trinity of rossignol freeskiing before the new kids showed up.

The black ops era was pretty sick.
4 months ago
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12698 - Karma: 119,901
Wheres eileen gu ⁉️⁉️
4 months ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13227 - Karma: 20,356
Sam is super consistant. He always stomps. My money is sitting on Kai Jones. This kid cant be real. Just watch a few tgr segments and was blown away
4 months ago
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skierman
Posts: 8599 - Karma: 9,473
KungKalmarMore women and switch half of the men to someone else


Yeah, I wanna see more ungrabbed 3s to tomahawks!
4 months ago
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BeefSupreme
Posts: 19 - Karma: 103
I’m bummed Karl isn’t in. Hoping they fix that next year.
4 months ago
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TOAST.
Posts: 7738 - Karma: 39,478
BeefSupremeI’m bummed Karl isn’t in. Hoping they fix that next year.

I am so out of touch with big mountain/back country skiing, thought he'd be a no brainer, but then remembered it's not 2018 anymore.
4 months ago
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BeefSupreme
Posts: 19 - Karma: 103
TOAST.I am so out of touch with big mountain/back country skiing, thought he'd be a no brainer, but then remembered it's not 2018 anymore.

Yeah ditto I guess
4 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
skiermanYeah, I wanna see more ungrabbed 3s to tomahawks!


4 months ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9721 - Karma: 65,602
skiermanYeah, I wanna see more ungrabbed 3s to tomahawks!


you've prob never even skied something steep enough to tomahawk on you nerdddd
4 months ago
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Breccanh
Posts: 106 - Karma: 548
not to involved in big mtn but would like to see more of an up and coming crowd, they just ran a natural selection for surfing and it was more less known or deeply freesurf no competing oriented guys
4 months ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
KungKalmarMore women and switch half of the men to someone else


Who of the current invited men would you want switched out? And who would you like to see take their spot?
4 months ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
KungKalmarI know I want to see Sam Kuch

All of the invited athletes are very capable skiers but most of them are skiers who I just don't care to watch. I hate Colbys skiing so I would obviously kick him. Overall I want to see more interesting athletes. It's subjective and you can't please everyone. Maybe in the future they will invite some of the skier I would prefer to see.

Invite Max Palm!!


You hate Colby's skiing? Now THAT is a hot take. You happen to watch his 23/24 edit on YouTube? Some seriously legit bangers there. Dude is at the top of the game right now.
4 months ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
Breccanhnot to involved in big mtn but would like to see more of an up and coming crowd, they just ran a natural selection for surfing and it was more less known or deeply freesurf no competing oriented guys


Visual inspection style big mountain competitions are super hard, especially at the level things have reached. Marcus Goguen's FWT run last year in Georgia was something I didn't think I'd ever see. Used to take yeaes of qualifier events to get on the tour (whatever rendition it was), then yeaes of being on the tour to win the overall. Candide changed that, but he is the literal GOAT. Markus Eder did it next, and was the first (besides Candide, who stands alone) film pro to win as a rookie - and he got on the tour with a wildcard spot.

Tanner got on the tour with a wildcard, and as skilled as he is, wasn't able to adapt to that style of skiing and didn't succeed.

The last few years has seen a new shift. The new talent has come up through the juniors and are absolutely killing it on the tour, evolving the sport and winning.
4 months ago
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brownetown
Posts: 496 - Karma: 4,912
DrailWho of the current invited men would you want switched out? And who would you like to see take their spot?

I know you didn’t ask me but I’m gonna chime in anyways lol. Curious to see what other people think about this


Add:
Astrid Cheylus (dub back in nendaz inv 2025, backy and win in fwt KH stop 2024, etc)
Addison Rafford (2023 con artist was lit, fwt skier, been putting out banger bc edits with k2)

remove:
Kye (difficult decision but I feel having the women present will push progression more than having him there)
P white (this pains me dearly because I wanna see my goat up there but I just feel new events need younger, hungrier riders like colby and kai)

which leaves us with a women’s field of:
addi rafford
astrid cheylus
hedvig wessel
maggie voisin
michelle parker
manon loschi

and a men’s field of:
Craig murray
colby stevenson
kai jones
markus eder
sam kuch
mystery last skier

**This post was edited on Feb 6th 2025 at 3:03:14am
4 months ago
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Way*Mo
Posts: 769 - Karma: 3,178
Watch Kye’s latest three or four part video series and you might re-consider. Especially since he is one of the best true AK style big mountain dudes to ever do it.

Coming straight from Travis, it sounds like the ski venue wherever it’s happening in AK (greater Tordrillos?) is big and heavy. Real AK is still another step above the FWT venues (save maybe the Bec) and Kye is one of the few dudes who has experience in that terrain in spades.

I just wish there were a few more slots period. Janelle Yip is another woman who should get a shot.
brownetownI know you didn’t ask me but I’m gonna chime in anyways lol. Curious to see what other people think about this


Add:
Astrid Cheylus (dub back in nendaz inv 2025, backy and win in fwt KH stop 2024, etc)
Addison Rafford (2023 con artist was lit, fwt skier, been putting out banger bc edits with k2)

remove:
Kye (difficult decision but I feel having the women present will push progression more than having him there)
P white (this pains me dearly because I wanna see my goat up there but I just feel new events need younger, hungrier riders like colby and kai)

which leaves us with a women’s field of:
addi rafford
astrid cheylus
hedvig wessel
maggie voisin
michelle parker
manon loschi

and a men’s field of:
Craig murray
colby stevenson
kai jones
markus eder
sam kuch
mystery last skier

**This post was edited on Feb 6th 2025 at 3:03:14am
3 months ago
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wkaloc
Posts: 4 - Karma: 40
I think sammy carlson too
3 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
brownetownP white (this pains me dearly because I wanna see my goat up there but I just feel new events need younger, hungrier riders like colby and kai)


This take it too hot for me good sir.
3 months ago
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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
Not really related to the event but I’ve been skiing last years course at Revelstoke and it’s been sick. It’s crazy hitting the features yourself and wondering how the fuck they were sending cork 7s deep off the same thing I can barely stick a straight air
3 months ago
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SuperiorKalmar
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 19,673
They invited Max Palm. Fuck yeah!
3 months ago
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jaxful
Posts: 122 - Karma: 961
BeefSupremeI’m bummed Karl isn’t in. Hoping they fix that next year.


His instagram post about not competing in corbetts this year seemed like a lowkey way to ask for an invitation
3 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
KungKalmarThey invited Max Palm. Fuck yeah!


I didn't know who his mom was prior to the announcement. That's badass.
3 months ago
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snomaster
Posts: 3348 - Karma: 5,783
where's the hype for this event? It already happened. Lips seem sealed. But the footage from their warm up days is BALLER
https://www.instagram.com/p/DH2CzMuy71i/

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1108807/--YouTube

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1108808/--YouTube
2 months ago
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skierman
Posts: 8599 - Karma: 9,473
snomasterwhere's the hype for this event? It already happened. Lips seem sealed. But the footage from their warm up days is BALLER
https://www.instagram.com/p/DH2CzMuy71i/

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1108807/--YouTube

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1108808/--YouTube


Yeah no shit, it's a delayed broadcast you stupid idiot.
2 months ago
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je_t.aime_canard
Posts: 599 - Karma: 7,249
skiermanYeah no shit, it's a delayed broadcast you stupid idiot.


“stupid idiot” is redundant
2 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
je_t.aime_canard“stupid idiot” is redundant


he's a smart genius
2 months ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
Per some IG stuff, I thought the event was already over and everyone already left AK.

They'll air what they have on the 17th.
2 months ago
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SuperiorKalmar
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 19,673
I wonder how long it will take before we see some skiing. I want to see skiing, not this yapping.
a month ago
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realassboat
Posts: 50 - Karma: 613
Honestly I think they’re running them pretty quick. Been a bit since I’ve seen an event have em this close after each other. Corbets between each run was brutal
SuperiorKalmarI wonder how long it will take before we see some skiing. I want to see skiing, not this yapping.
a month ago
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SuperiorKalmar
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 19,673
Too tired to watch the whole thing today. If I don't see Max Palm as the winner in the morning, I will eat my hat
a month ago
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treebeard
Posts: 3758 - Karma: 3,209
Holy balls Craig Murray's first hit was so sick, whole run charging
a month ago
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dicktator
Posts: 211 - Karma: 1,026
So it’s like FWT (so far).
More expensive though.
But obv. also non-perfect conditions.
Crust and slides, some backflips.
Underwhelmed.
a month ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
I'm in the middle of Parker's run.

Trying not to hate but I was expecting immaculate conditions. That sun crust is terrible.
a month ago
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treebeard
Posts: 3758 - Karma: 3,209
abjectwoeI'm in the middle of Parker's run.

Trying not to hate but I was expecting immaculate conditions. That sun crust is terrible.


It does look rough. Watching the women really gives perspective, they're basically just skiing down trying to get to the bottom. The men are inhuman and make everything look easy
a month ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
Dude the conditions were worse than any FWT event in spots. What a bummer.

I'm halfway through the ladies and totally disappointed for all the athletes.
a month ago
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midwestcoast
Posts: 233 - Karma: 2,385
Wait til Semi's and you'll change yer mind.

I like this format.
a month ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
SuperiorKalmarToo tired to watch the whole thing today. If I don't see Max Palm as the winner in the morning, I will eat my hat


Who is going to tell him, guys?
a month ago
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abjectwoe
Posts: 447 - Karma: 4,084
midwestcoastWait til Semi's and you'll change yer mind.

I like this format.


Yea, it gets wild.

Love the format.
a month ago
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JonnyK
Posts: 308 - Karma: 1,981
Absolutely insane final. Wish we could’ve seen a few of the other riders get laps on the finals face.
a month ago
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SuperiorKalmar
Posts: 2337 - Karma: 19,673
abjectwoeWho is going to tell him, guys?


My boi was holding back
a month ago
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turntable
Posts: 2729 - Karma: 787
ban whoever said remove Kye & Parker
a month ago
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9611 - Karma: 71,508
Venue 1 was dogshit snow for the most part, Venue 2 was insane and full of bangers on bangers. Overall, rough start due to snow, but banger endings.

Biggest takeways:

Sam Kuch is insanely good, like maybe the best skier in the world good. I already knew he was ridiculously good but like even more so seeing him competing now. Markus might be more well rounded in terms of park background but Kuch is just next level on this big mountain terrain.

Kye Petersen is tough as fucking nails. Dude took some of the hardest hits of the day competing with an already cracked rib, just insane, and he also handled the crusty snow at the beginning the best, or at least he was the sendiest.

Craig Murray deserved to win, but he also did ski the same line over and over, I think in years to come, more points should be awarded for opening up new lines too.

I hope we get to see this stop and maybe more on the NST next year, different locations. Maybe do something with the FWT where the winner automatically gets a slot in this, like it would be so sick to see Marcus Goguen compete with these guys on these faces too.
a month ago
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