I don’t really mind at this point if people dislike or hate, because someone’s gotta have an opinion now a days
Instagram is killing skiing.
When was Instigram created? 2010
When did most people start using it? 2012
The end of the golden era was around 2013, hmm weird coincidence. Yes skiing had to make a change and go in a new direction, but in the process it sadly lost lots of the fundamental components and values. As Freeskiing transitioned out of newschooler forums where the mecca of news, movies, and edits where displayed, it transitioned to a new platform called Instigram. Over the years the freeski community would transition more and more to this new platform it was exiting Freeskiing seemed to feel more connected, and people could follow their favorite pros to see more frequent updates on their life. Movies would still be put out on YouTube and newschoolers, but also start to be advertised on Instigram. Skiing was finding its new “Era” a new faze. It went through an awkward faze trying to figure out the next revelation. Come 2020 the CEO of instagram launches “REELS” a short form content that could be shoved right in your face, a new algorithm for your content to be shared to millions. People went crazy, posting their best ski clips and even shitty clips. It wasn’t about showcasing the sport, and collecting clips for a ender clip or movie segment, it was about chasing the high of views. Over the next couple years skiing would become over saturated, with more and more clips being shoved in your face, skiing started to lose originality. No more sideways filming, it was all about iPhone clips for Instigram, sponsors would now judge athletes by followers and not too much skill. As more and more skiers posted clips, people would now see something they liked and try to copy it. No more waiting till fall for a movie drop to see top of the line Freeskiing, instead you’d see it the next day on a reel, then forget the trick 2 days after. Movies started to disappear entirely, yes there are still people making edits, and crews, but it wasn’t the coolest thing to do now for everyone. As this started to happen pros started to transition out of new schoolers, seriously when’s the last time you saw a top tier pros name in a NS Thread?? Probably 2020
In conclusion skiing is finding its next transition, if we want the sport to continue down a good path then in my opinion Instagram is not the answer. Pull out the dusty ski movies plug them in and watch what skiing used to be like. I’m not saying we need to go back entirely ( it would be dope af ) but skiing needs to remember its values like, good landings, smaller rotations perfected, unique grabs, unique outfits, and unique styles. I would like to point out that yes I was alive during the golden era, but not into skiing, as an outsider coming into the sport I studied the eras and decided what was dope. And after hearing peoples opinions I created my own. I don’t really watch modern skiing too much, I watch 2004 - 2013 era because that’s what I’m most inspired by. Thanks for hearing my rant on skiing