![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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@bezthespaniard, if it's just about 'making memories', why bother going skiing at all? Just get the ski-holiday-plus-getting-pissed memory implant, à la Total Recall.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Contrarian wrote: |
@bezthespaniard, if it's just about 'making memories', why bother going skiing at all? Just get the ski-holiday-plus-getting-pissed memory implant, à la Total Recall. |
Fully booked
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm all for Live and let Ski - as long as people are not recklessly put in danger.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll need to Register first of course.
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@phil_w, presumably, from the first word of your post, you don't intend to denigrate the holidaymakers, but the tone of your post (and the photograph of someone who is plainly a remarkable athlete and yet prepared to ski with you) makes you sound as though you consider yourself far superior to the average holidaymaker.
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Hurtle wrote: |
@phil_w, presumably, from the first word of your post, you don't intend to denigrate the holidaymakers, but the tone of your post (and the photograph of someone who is plainly a remarkable athlete and yet prepared to ski with you) makes you sound as though you consider yourself far superior to the average holidaymaker. |
There is a clear difference between the average 1-2 week per year holiday skier (which is the majority) and people that are doing seasons and pushing their limits a bit. Stop trying to make out this is some kind of elitism, it's just facts. I play tennis 7-10 times per year for fun, I wouldn't compare myself to someone doing it as a serious hobby. Skiing is the only sport people do 2 weeks per year and claim they are advanced/expert at.
The funny thing is he was actually agreeing that people enjoy different things and the sentiment was there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@boarder2020, I'm not doing the comparing. And in my opinion, for the reason I stated, @phil_w's view is at best ambiguous.
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@Hurtle, it's not ambiguous. He's not claiming one is better than the other. The fact you choose to make that assumption may say more about your own feelings/insecurities
Someone doing park run once per week =/= someone recreationally training for a half marathon =/= elite marathon runner. Doesn't mean they don't all run, doesn't mean they don't all equally enjoy running. But you can't compare what they are doing.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@boarder2020, for the second time, I am not comparing.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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There is often an impression given by some in their posts that the 1-2 week holiday skier/boarder is a lesser mortal than the "all out balls out" first to last lift, lunch on the go, multi-week (more than 2), piste optional, skier/boarder. Most of it is unintentional, some of it is pure willy waving. The thing to remember is whether you are the former or the latter, you are a skier/boarder. Snowheads caters for all and no group is better than the other. So, all need to be mindful of what you post and the language you use in your post. The mountains are there for all to enjoy while we can. Happy sliding everyone
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Skiing, like cycling, are probably two of the biggest “activities” where the holiday makers, hobbyist and the “athletes” have a lot in common. (Maybe golf too?)
Both REQUIRES a minimum level of physical ability. Both are more enjoyable the better you’re at it. That breeds the subconscious contempt many “hobbyist” looking down at the holiday makers for not pursuing the “activity” with more passion to get more enjoyment out of it. All the while the holiday makers are enjoying themselves as best as they can.
We don’t see serious swimmers or triathletes looking down at people sunbathing on the beach for “wasting their time by the sea without getting IN it”!
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much on Sun 16-07-23 23:32; edited 2 times in total
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You know it makes sense.
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@halfhand, @abc, agreed. Except, @abc, I suspect you meant minimum, not minimal.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Hurtle, you’re correct. Thanks.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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If you like a long lunch don't ever come to NZ. If you can find a ski area that has catering, it will only usually be a dodgy pie.
I ride all day and have a quick sandwich or radix stop because there's nothing else to do
Because I'm not used to it, when I'm overseas I can't get into stopping for a long lunch - it just turns into stopping for the rest of the day, which I'm fine with.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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People who see recreational skiing as a sport.....
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Klamm Franzer wrote: |
People who see recreational skiing as a sport..... ![Puzzled](images/smiles/icon_puzzled.gif) |
Sport is a recreation!
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Quote: |
Both are more enjoyable the better you’re at it.
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I'm not sure that's completely true. Sure the very beginner stage is not much fun. However my favourite season was my first, where I started firmly as a beginner and reached what I'd consider to be decent intermediate by the end. At that stage every day is new and exciting and progression is fast.
I'm actually sometimes jealous of the one week per year skiers. What for me now would be considered "dust on crust" is an "epic pow day" for them. I know realistically I'm not going to improve much more. An epic day out really needs a good line in good conditions, and even then I'm somewhat disappointed if I don't feel I really got down in good style.
I'm sure the guys training hard for the Olympics would love to give up a few hours in the gym and doing drills to potter about with some friends and enjoy a long lunch!
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That breeds the subconscious contempt many “hobbyist” looking down at the holiday makers for not pursuing the “activity” with more passion to get more enjoyment out of it. All the while the holiday makers are enjoying themselves as best as they can.
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Nothing @phil_w said was at all looking down on "holiday skiers". You are reading into something that wasn't there. He's right, for many the ski holiday is as much about nice accommodation, good food, apres, spending time with friends etc. than the actual skiing. There's nothing wrong with that, and I don't think they are enjoying their time any less. But, let's not pretend their interests/goals/what they derive enjoyment from is comparable to other groups of skiers.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I think it's a mindset.
Using that old vernacular, it maybe depends on how "sporty" you are/were?
If you actively participated in sports and maybe competed since childhood you're naturally going to have a different mindset to those that didn't.
The majority of Geezoniares think that what a few of us get up to including the OH is bonkers, as they prefer a more relaxed approach to their skiing, which doesn't involve first lifts and or not using lifts, not having lunch or coffee stops etc
So it is each to their own, but I would say on the whole "they" would admit to not having a "sporty" background.
I do a number of sports away from the mountains, and in all of those I strive to be competent and push myself to achieve a relatively high standard alongside my contemporaries who also partake in them.
I'm shortly to start a journey on a new sport where I will be that total beginner muppet and a few mates are really looking forward to that, I'm just hoping that my "sporty" background will shorten the learning curve, but I'm going to be giving up the equivalent of ripping down the hill for the next couple of months to being that beginner learning to ski.
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boarder2020 wrote: |
Quote: |
That breeds the subconscious contempt many “hobbyist” looking down at the holiday makers for not pursuing the “activity” with more passion to get more enjoyment out of it. All the while the holiday makers are enjoying themselves as best as they can.
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Nothing @phil_w said was at all looking down on "holiday skiers". You are reading into something that wasn't there. |
I wasn’t specifically commented on a particular post. But the common theme expressed by quite many posters who are “better skiers”.
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Better/more dedicated/approach as a sport doesn't actually mean "better" as a qualitative experience. As @boarder2020 says I'd love to be at the level of stoke some newbies are at for cruising a mundane blue run in crappy conditions. I often feel that competition by measurement (outside formal races/competition) e.g. Strava/skitracks recording is a bit of a substitute for actual enjoyment. And I will stop mid run if I don't feel I'm doing good turns or want a breather etc to reboot because it isn't actually a competition. In fact the best competition in skiing is probably something like the 100 turns challenge instead of pissing down a groomer in 10 turns or so, try to get in as close to 100 as you can (also works in getting you down mogul fields when you're knacked set a strict limit of 20 turns between rests).
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
Better/more dedicated/approach as a sport doesn't actually mean "better" as a qualitative experience. |
Yeah, “better” than what you would have been had you not bothered to work on it. And I would suggest that for the majority of people, that lead to more enjoyment.
If you’re no longer enjoying more while skiing more, I’d suggest you should ski less. Stop more often, get up later and quit earlier to have a beer or 3 with mates instead of ditching them.
I do that when the condition is less than ideal.
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@Peter S, you forgot the term”pastime” in your list of possible buckets to put skiing into.
I read somewhere that the term “sport” refers to activities involving killing things like fox hunting. Football etc were games.
I gather that some people like going to restaurants, some like bars, some like staying in hotels rather than self catering. Some prefer doing other things. Does it matter?
My view is that the more people who buy lift passes then don’t use them by sitting in restaurants the better. They are funding my enjoyment and should be encouraged
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@johnE, I think most people use the term “sport” to describe any pastime that involves physical movement that could lead to some level of fatigue, from walking all the way to doing an Ironman.
Chess is a “game” in my book. But I’ll readily accept it can be termed as “sport” as it exercise the brain.
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I think sport implies competition, so skiing could be a sport and/or a pastime, and that's why chess is a sport, as, by definition, it's competitive.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You know it makes sense.
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I didn't know chess was considered a sport. Is poker a sport too? I'm inclined to agree that some sort of physical element must be involved.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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On that definition: yes. As is backgammon. Are there leagues? Is money involved? Then you have sport.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Poster: A snowHead
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I tend to use as little energy as possible skiing.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hurtle wrote: |
I didn't know chess was considered a sport. Is poker a sport too? I'm inclined to agree that some sort of physical element must be involved. |
Definition of sport does include "physical exertion" which would rule out chess, which I think would be a game along with poker, darts, snooker etc.
As for skiing it's different things to different people.
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I often feel that competition by measurement (outside formal races/competition) e.g. Strava/skitracks recording is a bit of a substitute for actual enjoyment.
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To be fair most of the better skiers I know couldn't care less about their "stats" each day. The judge their "performance" on difficulty of line and quality of skiing. Of course you need a bit of experience to do that. While my seasonnaire friends might do a day of "who can rack up most km/vert" it tends to be something to keep them entertained when conditions are too bad to do anything better, and while a bit of fun, it's is never a best memory of the season for anyone.
At least the above is true for downhill. The tourers love their uphill stats!
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I can't remember who said it but one quote was "Its not a sport unless you need special shoes to do it", which probably makes skiing the most sporty sport going!
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Or it's not a sport if you can manage to have a cigarette during it
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Weathercam, that counts skiing out then.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll need to Register first of course.
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Marathon running has never been a sport, it's an exercise in masochism.
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![](templates/subSilver/images/full_size.gif) You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I find that the objective measures of skiing (Strava, Speed measurement, CARV etc.) seem to cheapen the experience for me.
I have my best days when I feel like I am shredding; not when I am skiing objectively well by some quantifiable external measure.
It doesn't matter to me who is a great skier or boarder as measured by an app. What matters is enjoying it and being safe (for all the people on the slopes).
I do love to see impressive tricks though and you'll usually get an air five or a shout out from me if I see you land a jib 540 or some kind of impressive butter on the piste
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