Crash
The competition scene these days is going through the roof. Athletes are pushing it harder, faster, and bigger than ever before. This video of Murray Elliott is truly nuts. Competitions force skiers and riders to go big in conditions that may not exactly be ideal.
On one side of the coin, huge props to Murray for taking this line, but on the flip side- WHAT THE HECK? There has been no snow here in Colorado (minus the last 4 inch storm a week ago), but regardless, this line choice was way too aggressive for the conditions, and clearly not the safest landing zone. Although a questionable decision, luckily, Murray back-slaps the landing and manages to avoid the tree, but holy Sh*t, he could have died on that run-and he knows it.
I love where the competition scene has been taking big mountain skiing over the last couple years, however it’s moments like in this clip that bring us back to reality and make us say, “wow, maybe I shouldn’t have done that”.
Sometimes people get too caught up in the scene, and sometimes we just need to chill out, relax- and realize why we’re all out here skiing in the first place. Simply, to have fun sliding down the hill in whatever fashion you please.
Just to clarify John the winner from day one skied straight through the finish area without stopping. Any number of things could have happened if this line wasn’t landed but it was, what hasn’t happened shouldn’t be a consideration. How about you guys try find some consistency and award some real skiing instead of controlled instructor turns?
Great article; some notes for clarification: I would agree that the caliber of skiing at the FWQ level is absolutely amazing and at the IFSA junior level as well. In this specific circumstance, at the IFSA we do not excuse this sort of skiing – we find it to be uncontrolled and reckless. This athlete received the 3rd lowest score of the day causing him to fall in the rankings. We know that it may appeal to a crowd of people, but what if he didn’t pull it together in his landing or right before he went into the finish line? Spectators were running away from his trajectory into the finish area, because they thought he was going to crash into them. As an IFSA Board Member & Head Judge I can tell you our judging system will reward smart, controlled, skilled, clean skiing/riding and not reward loose, dangerous skiing/riding. There were many athletes that day that ski and rode phenomenally well, in gnarly and extremely fast conditions. They chose lines that were difficult of course, but lines that were controllable and within their abilities. We intend to have our judging send a clear message that safety is our number 1 priority.