Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Champs
By Rocky Thompson on March 18th, 2011
Angel Collinson and Drew Tabke both took home the World Freeskiing Championship and the McConkey Cup after the final round of the Subaru tour at Snowbird yesterday. What do they both have in common (besides stunning good looks and incredible skiing skills)? They’re both Backcountry.com athletes.
That’s right, I know what you’re thinking: “All I need to do is become a Backcountry.com athlete and all the world’s problems will be solved.” I wish I could say you’re wrong. Check out this video from day 1 at Snowbird.
This competition is a reckless endangerment of human life. How many athletes have died in pursuit of this silly competition? Sure, it’s a calculated risk, but if you’re pushed in the name of competition, the sponsors have to bear some of the responsibility. I knew John Nicoletta casually, skiied with him a bunch, and was really saddened by the way this contest (in my opinion) coerced him into a deadly situation. Then, a few weeks ago, I watched a corpse (essentially) helicoptered out of Kirkwood. The competition went on all day, without word making its way through the resort. Very sad. Enough is enough!
Not to mention, the Cup is named after Shane, because, well… You get the point. Very easy to have fun in the backcountry/resorts without taking on THIS MUCH risk.
That’s right Rob S., take a stand! Don’t go skiing any more for fear of the possibility that you might want to do more than not take a risk. In fact, why not stop trying at anything for fear of risk and failure? You’re totally right, pushing for excellence is over rated.
In this vid (http://vimeo.com/21071323) Drew reflects on the strength of the bond that exists in the FWT community–particularly in the light and context that you use to disparage it.
Spend some more time looking, and you’ll find that the positive fruits of community abound. Check out this post over at UnofficialNetworks about the subject: http://unofficialnetworks.com/2011/03/17/mckenna-peterson/
Plus, there’s the whole ‘more people die in cars everday…” argument, so keep it positive, mang.
Are you serious? I doubt that many/if any of these athletes will make millions, or will be known in house holds across america because of their skiing. These guys do it because they love skiing. it is probably irresponsible for some kid to take a couple winters off after college and move to some ski mecca to earn a minimal wage that only pays off when it dumps, but people choose to do it because they love skiing. I like the fact that the world isn’t completely covered in rubber, and that I can occasionally scare the shit out of myself in a semi controlled way.
“it is probably irresponsible for some kid to take a couple winters off after college and move to some ski mecca to earn a minimal wage that only pays off when it dumps,”
uh.. why? its pretty great.
I don’t have a problem with people taking risks. I have a problem with a contest encouraging them to take deadly risks, and I resent that Backcountry and Subaru sponsor such a contest, and post about the fun stuff without the real meat of the comp in my opinion.