bastard :DQuote:
Originally Posted by alto
I'm talking about the Mammoth Forum thread I linked too!!
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bastard :DQuote:
Originally Posted by alto
I'm talking about the Mammoth Forum thread I linked too!!
Shit, on second thought you were right. I didn't read the thread. I retract my previous statement about you being a dick.
You better be nice to Ty, alto. ;)
ps - I just found out PM Gear might have a branch office in Almaty/Polyana this year.
How many can actually say that they have nothing left to prove. Maybe 2 or 3.Quote:
the msi events still kick ass, but the fwt will be a more seasoned field of competitors who have nothing more to prove on the msi tour.
It seems the fwt is feeding off the msi tour already, and giving them the finger as well. if it's all about the $, then, well, nevermind...Quote:
if the $'s are in fwt, I think the msi tour is going to become a feeder to the fwt. if the fwt works out as intended, this is a solid progression to competitive freeskiing that will give big name competitors a venue to earn some real money from competitions rather than just ads/filming.
thats enough to feed into a tour packed with people who're already established competitors. picture a large funnel with only a select few coming out.Quote:
Originally Posted by powdork
how many threads here have droned on about how freeskiing needs a comp based on the surfing model where for real established pro skiers actually show up and compete for big money on TV? msi has dropped the ball in that dept and hopefully fwt will be all it says it will. why get all upset if something promises to fill a void in the sport?Quote:
Originally Posted by powdork
I completely disagree that MSI has dropped the ball. They have put in a ton of work, man hours, and money (not a winning venture either) into freeskiing here stateside. And they are doing it at a much more grassroots, sustainable level than the new FWT. The MSI comps get hundreds of kids out on the road, where they get exposed to the bigger world of skiing talent as well as getting to know how the ski industry works at the athlete level.Quote:
Originally Posted by powder11
The FWT on the other hand is a showcase. Invite only, heli time, big money, big sponsors. Not a complaint by any means, but I think both formats are really important for the sport to actually get established. I hope neither one overshadows the other and that there is enough general interest to sustain the sport in its various forms.
They need to work together. A shared world tour points system? A feeder system from US Freeskiing in to the FWT comps? Something so that they aren't battling each other, because if they cooperate they both would benefit.
^^^What he said.
I'm not all mad, I just like Subarus better than Nissans.
The thing that bums me out about the new FWT is the overwhelming level of commitment that it requires. Even the majority of the high end of the IFSA Freeski World still have jobs aside from skiing. The chance to win big dollars is sweet, but the going way into debt trying to do it by cruising all over Europe is not so rad. Maybe I'm just a complainer, but the contest in Russia seems pretty damn far away when I have to make it back to work on the following Tuesday.
alright I'll finally put in my two cents now that I got into the BMP and Verbier Extreme. Stoked!
Nicolas Hale-Woods puts on the best skiing competitions in the world and this thing is his baby, so I'm sure it'll be the shit.
mmmmmm...............verbier.
Oh, well, I hear you go to bed early anyways, alka. ;)
If you keep wearing that checkered little hat you had on in the airport in BA, I'm gonna start referring to you as the Kid Rock of Skiing.
Hi Guys
I was reading the whole post and I'd like to say what I think.
I've been competing on the IFSA comps for 3 seasons now, it has been a really good experience for me, especially last year, I spent all the winter in the US going from a comp to another.
I can understand how angry some guys could be concerning the only 14 male skiers qualified.
One of the reasons is that the venues of the new FWT are totally different than what it used to be on the IFSA's. To give an exemple, if the FWT was coming to Squaw, the Venue would be the Tram face. And the Tram face, compare to the "Bec des Rosses" (venue of Xtrem Verbier) is nothing...
Another BIG change :
It's way different approach when you don't get the chance to ski the venue before the comp, on the FWT, riders will have to check with binoculars only!!! So the comp will be nicer to show on TV, cause less riders, and the venue will not be trashed out before the first competitor starts.
I've got nothing against IFSA, they did good job all these years but the sport needed changes to get recognition. It could'n't keep on going like this. Last year I did 3 podiums on the US tour, won the tour, and I didn't win as much money as I spent to get on the whole tour....
But IFSA will for sure be a nice feeder for the FWT, lots of guys I know deserve to be on that tour (Tats, Kevin O Meara, Griffin, Josh Daiek......)
I might be judge on one of the US series next season!
See you soon guys!
Mr. Coirier, is that you?
So then I have to ask...why Mammoth?Quote:
Originally Posted by adride.fr
There's a rumor that the Mammoth FWT event will be held in the BC just outside of Mammoth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Arty50
I'm not sure about the Open or the FWQT event, but there's been talk of the main FWT event being BC.....McGee Mountain maybe? (can't remember)
can anyone confirm?
Lots of ski areas in the western states and Canada contain or have access to Euro-style venues. Its just a matter of if the organizers want to go there, and if they do, will the host mountain will allow it.
I'm pretty sure there are a few special 'ins' down in Mammoth that don't exist in Squaw or Kirkwood for that matter. Sometimes the path of least resistance works out better than you think. I just can't really think of a venue big enough for Mammoth inbounds. Except maybe Lincoln Mt.??
From what I've heard, the Mammoth event will be on McGee Mountain. That's mountain that runs parallel to 395, south of Mammoth by Lake Crowley. The mountain is road side and easy to scope lines. Real easy.
It's mainly east face with a lot of vertical. Probably 2000 ft + for the competition lines and closer to 4000 ft total.
Any pictures Tarkman?
I'm not in the neighborhood of McGee since I'm working Santa Barbara during the off-season. This is the best I can do since I don't have any pictures myself of McGee. It's a long ridge with lotsa gullies and a lot of vertical. The pictures are courtesy of Snow Nymph and the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center.
http://www.esavalanche.org/Gallery/a..._200604044.jpg
http://www.esavalanche.org/Gallery/a...2_20060405.jpg
http://www.esavalanche.org/Gallery/a...e_20060405.jpg
http://image53.webshots.com/53/5/52/...0OxJLct_fs.jpg
http://image44.webshots.com/44/5/2/7...0IMHDhL_fs.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by adride.fr
I really like this set up alot better, I'm not a be fan of the whole course inspection unless it's a speed event like freeride cross. We had the whole look and pick you line then ride it on your run up in Norway. Really liked it.
training runs for freeride cross, yes. for big mountian, no. you should be able about to pick a line and ride it fine competiting at this level if you can't then you aren't ready for this level. just my 2 cents
As for the cost of travelling around to events in europe, I didn't find it too bad. you can get a train card that gets you discount tickets, cheap airline to get to Norway and Sweden from Munich (2 bags of 20kilos hand luggage of 15). I'm travelling from Australia back up to europe to compete again this season and I'm really looking forward to it. I can't work whilst I'm there so my income is limited to what I find on the ground and prize purse. I know more people this year around that I can travel with to events. Still got room in the motor home for norway.......
I think the visual inspection only thing is the best form too. Definitely weighs more on overall mountain experience. Sickness.
Is the really McGoo? Looks sick.
Definitely, I've never understood the whole skiing-inspection thing. "Hey, I've got an idea! Let's go ruin the snow right before the comp!" Schweet!Quote:
Originally Posted by alto
I've heard people bitch about not being able to ski the line before their run. I'm pleased I'm not the only one that likes the "look it, pick it, just fucking ride it" format. I was starting to think I was the really fucking weird one at events.
At the Kirkwood qualifier last year, due to winds shutting down the lift to the top of the venue in the morning, we were only allowed a visual inspection from the bottom.Quote:
Originally Posted by taz
It was pretty cool. Although it did lead to 80 - 90% of the competitors taking a nearly identical line with a variation here or there on which rock they hit. I'm sure at a higher level and with more experienced competitors (i.e. prequalified world tour skiers and the top FWT guys) you wouldn't have that as an issue so much.
Go Tato and Oski!