John Nicoletta insulted by Op-Ed Writer

[JakeCast]

Umm...so by Craig's math 20+ people die at every Freeskiing event...clearly he's a rouge scholar

[smitchell333]

Here's my comment:

Craig,

A similar analogy might be writing OP/ED pieces with no actual understanding of the facts, no researching to support the #s your argument is based on, and in fact without any sound reasoning at all. Sooner or later, maybe 1 out of 10 times, you're finally going to be found out as a lazy, incompetent writer and you'll be canned. The odds just aren't worth it. Stop the madness!!!

Seriously though, you have a halfway decent point to be made but completely flub making that argument with such poor reasoning and complete lack of real statistics to back it up.

[ptavv]

Don't take life too seriously. No one gets out alive.

[flyby]

Some people just don't understand. It's not worth it to try and make them.

[The Dad]

Well said, Alto.

[stihletto]

the author isn't the only one who feels that way.
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/...off-cliff-for/
read the comments at the bottom.
Interesting. Disgusting. I guess we live in a different world than many.

[ODHGABFE]

the author isn't the only one who feels that way.
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/...off-cliff-for/
read the comments at the bottom.
Interesting. Disgusting. I guess we live in a different world than many.

Wow, that's intense.

[splat]

Wow, that's intense.

No shit (speaking of the comments made there).
Makes me damn proud of this community and the skiing community in general, because it seems, by and large, there are way more douchebags in this world than I could imagine. Somehow, it seems, skiing takes the douchenozzleness out of all but the most miscreant of beings. Thank Gawd.

[Karl Stall]

Splat - you're on a roll - well said. I do disagree with your last comment about your death. I hope you go out at the bunny ranch on your 100th birthday or something more appropriately you

I miss John and was psyched to see him again.

"When the rain fall,
It dont fall on one mans housetop" -B. Marley

[Chugachjed]

Don't forget that craig douchenozzleasshat medred is the same guy that wrote an article this winter about how avalanche transcievers kill people. Hey Craig... Go Fuck yourself and quit associating your ignorance with Alaska.

[smitchell333]

I just saw irul&ublo's comment over there:

You, sir, are an uninformed douchebag. Please go back to writing pet obituaries or asking patrons if they want to supersize their order.

[powderpond]

"I was looking right at John when he died and can only hope I'll be so lucky as to go out in the same or similar fashion."
Not me but I can point out some lines that will help you out.
Somewhere about 80, after another 40 years of skiing 100 days a year, I'd like to be able to put mine down and hang at the bar and toast those still getting after it.
However poorly made, Meldread, has a point. It is sad to see these kids jacked by corperate mini dollars into thinking they are the greatest becasue they risk more.

[Greydon Clark]

The author is clearly a nitwit that decided to opine without doing any research.

However, IMO, the athletes, organizers, and judges need to have a serious conversation about the comps and how to make them safer. Two deaths in two years is tragic and a trend that can not continue.

[Buzzworthy]

Drew certainly knows his way around some great words, well played.
Irul also comes up with a nice comment too!

I just can't read that guy's crap.

[GoNads]

The author is clearly a nitwit that decided to opine without doing any research.

However, IMO, the athletes, organizers, and judges need to have a serious conversation about the comps and how to make them safer. Two deaths in two years is tragic and a trend that can not continue.

You can't predict when and how people will die, or when they will crash... I didn't see Neil's crash but John wasn't skiing anything beyond his ability, that line got skied probably 20 - 30 times by the men and women's field. I could understand if he had hucked something ridiculous, but the way he fell, if he had been a few feet further ahead or behind in rotation he would probably still be here. Looking at that line I didn't think the risk would be ANYWHERE near that high. Just shows that it could happen anywhere... which was very sobering to everyone up there. My roomate fell in the same spot and did a full flip, but missed the rocks. Chance..

I just don't see how you can change this sport anymore to make it "safer". They've already changed the judging criteria to punish messy landings and sketchy skiing. Fluid, controlled, smooth skiing is what scores the highest.

How do you see them making this safer?

[GoNads]

Also, for the statement "he'd land that cliff 9/10 times" isn't supposed to mean 9/10 survival rate. It's supposed to mean 1/10 crash or fall rate. I'm pretty sure I've bailed off cliffs maybe 4 times this season, not counting all the times I fall just skiing or smoking underlying roots in early season. I've been lucky and stuck a lot of things that I didn't think I could. Hell I ate shit trying to straightline in AK when I hit the 3rd windlip.

Falling does not mean dying, or even injuring. You can't use statistics or odds when there are soooo many variables in this sport. I've escaped this season without any 'serious' injuries, and had quite a few high speed falls.

This guy is a straight up moron. The comments on the Billy Poole article are even more disgusting.

[Greydon Clark]

Gonads,

Everyone knows free skiing comps are a risky endeavor and always will be. But what has changed, if anything, in the last couple that has resulted in an increase of serious injuries and deaths? I’m not suggesting a public discussion, but I hope that those involved are talking about athlete safety.

[Alyeska_Skibum]

Craig Medred is a well documented douche-nozzle

[grapedrink]

I was looking right at John when he died and can only hope I'll be so lucky as to go out in the same or similar fashion.

ragdolling down rocks and dying at age 27? i'd rather die in my sleep at 87.. quantity and quality of life aren't mutually exclusive.

[Crinkle]

alto, great response, couldn't be said better, another unifomred asshat doing his worst at jumping to conclusions and doing a "fear" peace.

If 9/10 was in fact true, the mtns would be littered with bodies.

and to bring it all around to insults:
irul is hilarious

You, sir, are an uninformed douchebag. Please go back to writing pet obituaries or asking patrons if they want to supersize their order.

[splat]

"I was looking right at John when he died and can only hope I'll be so lucky as to go out in the same or similar fashion."
Not me but I can point out some lines that will help you out.
Somewhere about 80, after another 40 years of skiing 100 days a year, I'd like to be able to put mine down and hang at the bar and toast those still getting after it.
However poorly made, Meldread, has a point. It is sad to see these kids jacked by corperate mini dollars into thinking they are the greatest becasue they risk more.

Cool, I'll be burning lines elsewhere while you nurse your decrepit liver.
To each his own.....which is what neither you nor Medred seem to get.
If a kid is in it to be the Next Big Thang, he's there for the wrong reasons.
I have been totally fucked up from hitting rocks in the b/c and accepted that I was about to die there. It's how I got my name here.
I made it out, but there was neither fear nor regret in my thoughts, just peace in reveling at the beautiful place I'd get to see last.
I figure you might not get to choose when you go, but if there's a moment to think about what's happening, one should at least be at peace with it.
But feel free to judge, based on whatever experience you draw from.
I'm glad to see so many people planning to die of old age.

You can't predict when and how people will die, or when they will crash... I didn't see Neil's crash but John wasn't skiing anything beyond his ability, that line got skied probably 20 - 30 times by the men and women's field. I could understand if he had hucked something ridiculous, but the way he fell, if he had been a few feet further ahead or behind in rotation he would probably still be here. Looking at that line I didn't think the risk would be ANYWHERE near that high. Just shows that it could happen anywhere... which was very sobering to everyone up there. My roomate fell in the same spot and did a full flip, but missed the rocks. Chance..

I just don't see how you can change this sport anymore to make it "safer". They've already changed the judging criteria to punish messy landings and sketchy skiing. Fluid, controlled, smooth skiing is what scores the highest.

How do you see them making this safer?

Well said, Nadia. John's accident was freak, for sure, in that a few feet further down would have landed him on snow.

There were a ton of competitors that ragdolled and did some serious tomahawking who got up and skied away before John's accident. The lines in that comp were no more sketch than what a lot of people here ski when they go in and outside of resorts. I think ropes and safety harnesses would detract somewhat from what the comps are all about.

edit: I wasn't done....

[kush1]

It is sad to see these kids jacked by corperate mini dollars into thinking they are the greatest becasue they risk more.

I don't know anyone that does it for the money... All getting some gear and maybe a little cash does is make you not have to spend all the money you've made in the summer or working the evening shift to buy the gear you need to do what you love.

[slave2gravity]

Living life to its fullest doesn't necessarily mean taking death-defying risks. But it can and for some people it does. Most days I play it a little conservative considering the risk of season-ending injuries (rarely about death, but maybe I should?) and the inevitable depression that would follow. Then there are days when I want to take it right up to the edge of my ability because to shy away makes me fear that I'm missing out on something wonderful.

I agree with Splat, to each his own. Only wish Medred could take that view without judgment of others.

[Skijunkie]

the author isn't the only one who feels that way.
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/...off-cliff-for/
read the comments at the bottom.
Interesting. Disgusting. I guess we live in a different world than many.

That was very depressing to read I had to stop my self from continuing. Complete and utter lack of respect and compassion from the posters for Billy Poole and what he did with his life.

[bklyn]

...utter lack of respect and compassion from the posters for Billy Poole and what he did with his life.

Right or wrong, they think he wasted it. It's the majority opinion that snow sports are dangerous leisure activities and that those who take them seriously are wasting their time. Are you really surprised when the come to the conclusion that it's a series of stunts done for the money, or for glory and bragging rights?

We are (to quote a friend) out of sync with [mainstream] society. Most think that playing it safe is the sensible route in life. The risks I take, which are minor in comparison to these athletes, are considered extreme by many.

The question is, what could we do to change this commonly held viewpoint?