Who's the best skier in the world?

[ballsohard]

I was always under the impression that the undisputed best skier in the world is Nate Smith but after listening to the distance from center podcast I have heard Trent Finlayson refer to first Terry Winter then Will Asher as the best skier in the world. Is there something that I don't know?

[BraceMaker]

Slalom specialist.

[ballsohard]

What would Trent have been meaning? I feel that he must believe that Nate is the best.

[jcamp]

Regina Jaques has won three-straight world slalom titles and four in her career, the most ever among women. She is the eight-time world record holder. She has also won three-straight world overall titles and has five world overall titles in her career, the most ever among women and only second to Patrice Martin (six) among all sexes.

 

Regina Jaquess is the best skier in the world.

[liquid d]

That would be Adam Sedlmajer.

[Cent]

Regina

[Andre]

Regina has no chance of winning jump or tricks.

Adam is a serious contender in each event.

I vote Adam.

[Chef23]

@liquid d I agree that Sedlmejer is the best men’s overall skier but comparatively Regina is better. I looked it up recently and I don’t remember the exact rankings but she is #1 in slalom, inside top 10 in tricks, and I think top 5 in jump. Much higher than Adam when you look at the individual rankings.

 

It is a fun discussion but hard to compare cross sexes.

 

The argument for Terry Winter could be partially based on his height I think he is 5’8” or so and at extreme short line height makes a difference.

[slow]

Nate

[eyepeeler]

Whoever wins the worlds is the best skier in the world for two years.

[ozski]

For single event dominance it would be Jacinta.

[MickeyThompson]

Nate

[The_MS]

Regina

 

[ScottScott]

For the individual sports i look at the current world record holder. Nate mens slalom, ragina womens slalom...... especially in both cases since they generally win most events they enter by wide margins.

[BraceMaker]

Apparently Cale Burdick

[6balls]

Nate is the best mens slalom skier alive, and will have a legit argument before he is done as the GOAT in slalom. Regina is the GOAT already in slalom and a helluva 3-event skier.

 

Talking 3-event...Regina may be the best ever with a special excellence in slalom as part of the package--dominance in one event (not just now but history book stuff) and very high level in the other two.

[DaveD]

Sammy and in a close second, Tony Klarich. If you are talking skiing in general, you have to have multi-event people. Specialist are great and push the limits of specific events but it takes special talent to be able to do multiple events at high levels....and monster sized balls to jump over 200'.

[Horton]

@ozski Ace

[Horton]

Seriously it's Regina. Nate is a one event skier.

Second best is clearly @eleeski

[Horton]

Those of you who want to dip in the history need to think long and hard about Brett Wing. If your unaware of his pedigree do a Google search. 3 event plus barefoot plus speed ski plus show ski. Historically Brett is on the level with Chuck Stearns. If you don't know who Chuck Stearns is you shouldn't be in this conversation.

[6balls]

Back in the day there were not specialists...amazing athletes competing in all events.

 

Sammy (good at all but a jump machine--today's tech and skis that guy is challenging anyone today in jump), Camille, Deena, Karl...even the LaPoints were multi-event skiers. Brett Wing as @horton mentioned was a monster. Multi-event skills not seen so much today.

 

I'm amazed at what Regina has done given she is mostly known for slalom...and has a consuming day job. Most don't know how well she tricks/jumps. Remarkable athlete.

[Drago]

Sammy was not a good sl skier

[Ilivetoski]

Nate. I’m curious of the % of tournaments he’s won since becoming pro. Would bet it’s >90%, he’s upped the world record at the shortest length. No skier in the history of this sport could go against Nate and have a good confidence level that they actually come out on top

[thager]

For this week apparently Cale Burdick.

[ntx]

@thager and....... Cale is a pretty decent overall skier

[GregHind]

That rule about needing to maintain a controller skiing position in the slalom course at all times came about because Brett Wing had time to ski around a buoy, crash, tumble turn, cut to the next buoy, ski around it AND complete the slalom course. If you haven’t seen his video you need to.

[AdamCord]

I’m sure there are lots of different ways to quantify “best in the world”, but I will say Cale has to be right up there with Parrish for raw natural talent on a slalom ski. If he had chosen a different path in life I’m certain we’d see him at or near the top of the podium on a regular basis.

 

Oh wait what am I saying, it’s totally the ski!

[Edbrazil]

Don't forget Hall of Famer Liz Allan. World records in Jumping, before there were WRs in Tricks and Jump. The ONLY person to sweep a Worlds: Denmark 1969, where she won SL, TR, JU, and OA. Never done before or since by any woman or man.

For all-around, in all aspects, I would be inclined to say Brett Wing.

[Texas6]

 

 

[Than_Bogan]

@AdamCord it's gotta be the ski!!

 

In which case, mine is broken :).

[ShererSkier]

Whoever invented waterskiing??

[lewis310]

It's hard to compare skiers from different eras because the technology changes. Carl Roberge was pretty awesome back in the day - a world record holder in slalom and a very good 3 event skier. For today's era, its hard to argue with Nate or Regina - especially if you focus on slalom. I've had the pleasure of meeting Nate once and I'm a big fan for 3 reasons. 1) He is an awesome skier 2) Every time I see him (pictures, video, etc.) he is smiling. He just looks like he enjoys the sport. 3) He gives back to the sport. From what I understand he showed up several days early for Nationals last year and helped by driving and judging. He seems to be a class guy and symbolic of what is right in the waterski world.

[MrJones]

I did not know that about Liz Allan. Sweeping a worlds is impressive in any era!

 

It's a bit pointless (if fun) to try to choose the "best" in any event. You really can't argue against Nate for men's slalom, but it would certainly be fun to see what TWinter would be running if the same height...

[Edbrazil]

Although in slalom, for all time best, I'd be inclined to vote for Warren Witherell. Got into super short line when many tournaments didn't even have lineoff loops in their towlines.

But he did win a Worlds...in Tricks!! Was also the first person to go 100 feet (1954 Nationals), and held the US jump record twice.

[DaveD]

@MrJones Yes, pointless and fun. A lot more fun and less pointless than 95% of the conversations on sports talk radio.

[ski6jones]

To @MrJones point if Terry is 6 feet whatever he wins slalom everytime.

[lpskier]

@ShererSkier That would be Ralph Samuelson. My skiing style is often compared to his.

@Horton Chuck Sterns. He made life jackets, no? ;-)

[Horton]

@ski6jones yea sort of. TW is short but his knuckles still drag on the ground. Would he better than Nate IDK but he would run 41.

[Zman]

Regina

[Jody_Seal]

2nd on Regina! tricks over 8000, jumps into the high 170's and well you all know what she can do in slalom!!!

[matthewbrown]

The question is pretty vague, what do you mean by best? Now or of all time? Male/Female? Slalom or the other disciplines? It would have been nice to have a straightforward question, something like this—-

 

“which slalom skier in their prime would Vegas favor over any other slalom skier in their prime, in a head to head best 3 out of 5 rounds?”

[swc5150]

Too vague of a question. If it's simply who can round the most balls at the shortest length and fastest speed, it's obviously Nate. Best ever in their era, I'd say Mapple. Overall, Sammy has to be in the discussion. FWIW, when your name gets inked on the side of a boat, you've done something to earn it.

[Terry Winter]

@Horton I'm not quite 5' 9". I just saw your comment so I measured... my reach is 70.5" or 5' 10.5"

 

There's a measuring pole out at Liquid Zone with some awesome slalom skiers... BLP, Jennifer, Asher, Brian Detrick, Smart... I think there's positives and negatives to height and reach. Somewhere in that middle of 6' 2" - 6' 3" with a longer reach is probably ideal to maintain as much athleticism as possible while still being able to reach around the ball. Someone like CP has a great reach, but it also requires that he maintains a more quiet body on the ski. I have the freedom to move a lot more and regain balance, but damn I swear it would be nice to have a little extra when I need it.

 

Without a doubt, Nate has the most complete package for running buoys right now.

[Keith_Menard]

Of the subsection of skiers passionate enough to care about who the best skier is only a subsection of that subsection would be interested enough to factor in jump and or trick.

 

Either way...the correct answer is Regina.

[matthewbrown]

Serena Williams is the greatest female tennis player to have ever lived and it’s not even close, yet, she would lose 6-0, 6-0 to Roger Federer in about 30 minutes......so no, the answer is not Regina, unless your definition of best is subjective rather than objective.

[Drago]

I agree with @twhisper on the height pros and cons. His height with super-monkey arms would be the ticket.

This one time, in Miami, I stood back to back with several open skiers. I'm 6-4 (or was then). Maple stood out having about 8" on me with reach. He was 6-2(?)

Anyway, who IS the best is present tense.=Nate

[BraceMaker]

Longer arms than height would imply hands even tighter to waist. Find a short torso long armed leggy person and shazam.

[LLUSA]

@Horton I'm probably one of the few on this line that can say they skied with all of them from Liz to Bob/Kris/Andy/Lucky/Sammy/Deena, Regina is the best and most dominant by far.

[slow]

Is this best by gender or best of all time head to head

[RAWSki]

This could be more specific as others have mentioned.

Perhaps ask, who is the best Overall skier of all time?

AND Who is the best all time in a single event?

 

Regina may still come out on top in both Overall and Slalom