snowboarder

Someone mentioned in another thread that "freestyle is park". Would you agree with this statement. I have always been under the impression that freestyle was more about what you are doing, not where you're doing it. Any thoughts?

alaric

I agree and disagree. While many things you do in the park ARE freestyle, you can also build a natural kicker out in the BC and do stuff off of that. And of course that would also be considered freestyle.

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mpdsnowman

So freestyle involves some sort of jump?? or is it just what comes along. I always thought freestyle indicated more of just regular riding.

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M P D S N O W M A N

boarderaholic

Hah. That would be me. And I meant it in relative terms. Park-ish, as in, jibbing, jumps etc etc and not necessarily in a man-made environment. It could be out in the B/C for all I care.

snowboarder

Yea it was you BA. I didn't want to bring any names if not needed. I just felt bad for the person in the way you corrected them. For me, freestyle at low levels can be flatspins on green runs, ollies, and little jumps. MPD is right, it's hitting what ever comes along the way. As well as any kind of man made park/feature. I guess if you only go left and right you ain't styling.

boarderaholic

Meh. No worries.

PaoloSmythe

for me, snowboarding is free expression...... you effectively draw a line with your plank, on a big white canvas. whether you add spins and flips into the mix, is up to you.

to this end, i find the 'need' to jump higher, to spin more, to flip more and to be penned in to a 'park' of a pre-determined area, to be everything that runs counter to the experience of snowboarding.

i find it somewhat concerning, that so many in here are asking what board to buy, what trick to pull, what brand to wear..... as all this suggests a growing trend towards social acceptance and nothing to do with a spirit of FREE STYLE.

but that's just me! no one has the courage anymore to determine their own experience. i find that troubling.

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Just coz you don't understand it
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Jwilliam

I think that depends on how the question is asked, really. If n00bs and rusty people like me are asking about boards and brands, or what tricks to start out on, it could be that we just don't want to get burned on a bad brand or break our necks first time out. For instance, I'm looking for some good bindings this season, those and some gloves are the only things I need since I found all my other stuff and my brother gave me some good boots(switching from step ins, so I've been browsing around and asking people what brands of bindings they have ridden and prefer. I don't want a set that are going to break when I take them into a park, or are uncomfortable to freeride in, or cost a bazillion dollars. I understand certain brands are good at certain things, so when I saw some killer looking Burton bindings I called my brother and asked him about them, and what other companies make good bindings, what materials to look for etc.(and I'm about to do some searching in regards to that here). I'm not worried about what people think about my gear, especially since they're going to be under my pants(when my feet aren't sticking out of a drift).

but yeah, there are people who are more worried about looking cool in the lodge or whatever, I see this all the time with my other addiction; cars. Thanks to certain magazines and movies drifting has exploded in popularity and there are tons of kids trading in their mad tyte civics and integras for 240s and hachis, and asking what parts, engines, kits, wheels etc. are cool and shit. Some people actually want to know real info, but many just want to know what will make them look sweet in the parking lot of sonic on friday nights.

it's all about context.

PaoloSmythe

sorry old chap, but whilst i ain't looking at you sepcifically, i just don't buy that explanation.

if you could go out and buy snowboard hardware from major retailers and market stalls alike, then you might be forgiven for looking to get the inside scoop on what's hot or not.

as absurd as it might be for us who love this sideways slide, it is a niche sport and so the manufacture of such items is costly and exclusive. to this end, only a few companies out there produce such items for snowboarding, and a small fraction of these manufacturers have an output and quality control enuff, for their wares to be carried by major stores and other retailers.

you can buy a 5 dollar magazine and be bombarded with enuff brand names and adverts to last you several lifetimes of snowboarding and so you can gauge who has got the money, and thus who has made the sales, and therefore who has an adequate customer base to suggest a solid reputation.

burton didn't get where they are thru zero innovation, research and production of inferior items.

so considering all this.... i conclude that people who seem to constantly ask what trick, which binder blah blah blah, just lack the inclination to think for themselves, or the courage to make a simple consumer choice.

but that is just my opinion. personally i prefer to determine my own life, rather than rely on whatever attitude of complete strangers.

__________________
Just coz you don't understand it
Doesn't mean it makes no sense!

djcuba908

Freestyle is wherever you happen to be doing it on the mountain, and I don't believe it has to be limited to riding in the park. There are plenty of pro riders who are self described "natural freestyle terrian riders," that is to say that they jib or spin off of any natural terrain that crosses their path on the mountain. I think that the old-school catogorizing of the freestyle vs. freeride line has become shades of gray, and I think that applies to boards as well. A freeride board used to be defined simply as a directional board that was responsive and stiffer compared to a freestyle board which was traditionally twin-tipped with lots of flex and pop. However, there are plenty of "freestyle" boards with directional shapes and stiffer flex for big air and halfpipe riding.

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Gnu Carbon Hi-Beam 156
Burton Mission LTD "Pancho Villa" Bindings
Burton Ruler Boots

Shredding the gnar Jersey style...