There is nothing inherently wrong with trying to improve; I’m in a constant state of improvement myself. What does matter is the road you choose to seek out betterment. There are many paths toward progress, but one in particular leads down a dark road—The road of optimization.
Thanks for the link. I think that it's a good thing to try hard, yes. But I also think that there is an immense amount of value in being okay with being bad at things. In fact, I have a draft post that I'm working on with that as its subject.
There is a lot of toxicity amongst elite athletes. I've seen friends face eating disorders, overtraining to the point of injury, depression, and taking on unreasonable risk in pursuit of an unrealizable ideal. Being suboptimal is actually the *only* way to be, because no one is truly optimal. It's all relative when it comes down to it.
Thanks for the thoughts, appreciate this perspective a lot.
Every now and then I get lucky, what can I say 😉 thank you for the comments! I agree with you, the true balance is somewhere in-between watching ski flicks on the couch and prepping for those deep days. Whatever allows you to have your version of maximum fun!
Great question! Hippie turns are a term many skiers use to describe relaxed skiing on mellow terrain that involves short radius, poppy turns ⛷️ they’re a staple in the skiing community!
Thanks for answers my question. ‘Hippie turns ’, “relaxed skiing on mellow terrain”. Huh, I guess that definition has not made it to the northeastern US .Winter is my favorite time of year. I have been a backcountry skier for over 30 years. No lift serve. No hopping on to a set skin track . BYO~ break your own trail with your ski buddies. And heads up, watch out when your skiing in the bc with someone carrying an “ultra light pack ”, odds are pretty good that there is not much safety equipment , first aid , extra warmth, food, water, headlamp , well you get the picture. A liability to your group.
Hey Chad,
Thanks for the link. I think that it's a good thing to try hard, yes. But I also think that there is an immense amount of value in being okay with being bad at things. In fact, I have a draft post that I'm working on with that as its subject.
There is a lot of toxicity amongst elite athletes. I've seen friends face eating disorders, overtraining to the point of injury, depression, and taking on unreasonable risk in pursuit of an unrealizable ideal. Being suboptimal is actually the *only* way to be, because no one is truly optimal. It's all relative when it comes down to it.
Thanks for the thoughts, appreciate this perspective a lot.
Also--that skiing shot doesn't look too suboptimal to me...
Every now and then I get lucky, what can I say 😉 thank you for the comments! I agree with you, the true balance is somewhere in-between watching ski flicks on the couch and prepping for those deep days. Whatever allows you to have your version of maximum fun!
Just Curious ~ “It’s okay to spend your ski season making hippie turns through the trees “
What are hippie turns?
Great question! Hippie turns are a term many skiers use to describe relaxed skiing on mellow terrain that involves short radius, poppy turns ⛷️ they’re a staple in the skiing community!
Thanks for answers my question. ‘Hippie turns ’, “relaxed skiing on mellow terrain”. Huh, I guess that definition has not made it to the northeastern US .Winter is my favorite time of year. I have been a backcountry skier for over 30 years. No lift serve. No hopping on to a set skin track . BYO~ break your own trail with your ski buddies. And heads up, watch out when your skiing in the bc with someone carrying an “ultra light pack ”, odds are pretty good that there is not much safety equipment , first aid , extra warmth, food, water, headlamp , well you get the picture. A liability to your group.
Hey, best of luck with your magazine.