Who is the greatest underrated skier in the modern era?

[Horton]

I am doing some research for a future Distance From Center show and got to thinking…..

 

Who is the greatest underrated or unknown skier in the modern era?

I define the modern era as 1980 to present.

[Horton]

Clarification: unknown men's slalom skier. The greatest unknown 3 event skier in the world is CLEARLY Martin Kolman

[Than_Bogan]

Well he's certainly unknown. To me anyhow.

[Ilivetoski]

Cale

[Wish]

+1 on Cale considering he holds down a full time pharmacists job, a dad, and cannot ski year round do to living in the Midwest. And he's on some waky ski design ?

[The_MS]

Wim

T-Mo

Natalie H

 

 

[Horton]

@MS

First of all I am pretty sure that Natalie is (was) not a men's slalom skier and she was not unknown when she was skiing.

 

Wim? yea I see your point.

 

T-Mo? darn good skier but as well known as I would expect.

 

@Ilivetoski Yea maybe. Cale is my first guess.

 

 

[jcamp]

Patrice Martin was a great slalom skier, although he is primarily known for overall and tricks.

[Rednucleus]

Steve Miller, Marysville WA

[Not_The_Pug]

- Dirt

[The_MS]

Sorry I didn’t read your next post.

 

[The_MS]

Tyler Scott

[aspski]

Nate Smith

Will Asher

[Nando]

Not exactly unknown, but Jeff Rogers has always seemed underrated, or at least overshadowed, to me. The guy held the world record and always had a day job. He's such an unassuming guy that I think he kind of gets overlooked.

[Horton]

@aspski

http://media.tumblr.com/fe497dd337d9af8479bb6398b9565d16/tumblr_inline_mg6n5ltl6X1rxe4lt.gif

http://media.tumblr.com/fe497dd337d9af8479bb6398b9565d16/tumblr_inline_mg6n5ltl6X1rxe4lt.gif

http://media.tumblr.com/fe497dd337d9af8479bb6398b9565d16/tumblr_inline_mg6n5ltl6X1rxe4lt.gif

 

[Horton]

@Nando you think Rogers is underrated? Really? He ALMOST makes my Mt Rushmore list. He is a titan of the sport.

 

@aspski you almost received a QUADRUPLE Panda for that.

 

[Nando]

@Horton, just sayin' that if you ask a lot of serious skiers, he's either down their list of all-timers or they forget about him. I'm with you- not just a titan, but a LONG-TIME titan of the sport.

[Horton]

@MS

I gave you crap about Natalie but I'm thinking about it and I think April Coble is a massively underrated 34 mph skier

[The_MS]

@Horton April is top 5 all time in my book. Lots of titles and she skied on top until 41/42

[Horton]

@ms the thing about April that just blows my mind is the way she maintains rope tension so well all the way out to apex.

[Than_Bogan]

It's hard for me to disagree with Cale -- remarkable athlete who just happens to be part of the same Denali Project that I am.

 

But I do think @Nando has a point, and it's because Jeff Rodgers probably should be on Mount Rushmore, and yet I don't think I would have even thought of him sitting here on my own.

[Orlando76]

I feel this is a vague topic or maybe I misunderstand it. 1980 was almost 40 years ago, heck I wasn’t even born yet.

On this side of the land mass if you say Terry Winters people say Terry Who? When I feel his name should be at number 5.

The other would be Robert Pigozzi. Granted he’s a young buck and hasn’t proven his ground well enough but the guy is a beast.

And yes, Burdick should be up there.

[mikegile]

Noah and Vennesa

[Chet]

Sonny Berry, Jeremy kovak, Kreg Llewellyn,

 

 

[Chet]

Ok not so modern but I agree that Martin he is sooo good

[Horton]

@Mike Gile ?

[Horton]

@Orlando76 I am perfectly willing to debate the definition of modern era. There is no wrong answer unless you are the guy who says that Nate Smith is underrated :smile:

[block]

Maybe not greatest of all but Mike Esay(Spell check)? Was very good.

[Horton]

@block never heard of the guy or I don't remember. Give us some details. Who was this guy?

[ToddF]

jason Paredes, or Tom Brantly practices without a course right?

 

[Horton]

@ToddF I'm pretty sure that's not true about Jason. Now Tom is a freak and yes he maybe the greatest underrated skier in the world.

[mikegile]

Vieke. Noah coaches with Chet. Vennesa got third at Moomba.

[Orlando76]

@Horton

Granted I’m no way a ski expert nor a ski historian. In my mind I can come up with the big names for the past 5 decades of skiing. I’m drawing a blank on big names from the 60’s. We’re there even waterskiing records in the 50’s? So “since 1980” is 80% of the decades within my skiing knowledge, I’d call 1980+ modern times.

[greg]

Cole McCormick

[Cooper_Trelawney]

Since you're thinking from the 80s to now; some great slalom skiers you don't hear a lot about that come to mind include Kenny Auture, Brett Thurley, John McElyea, Jason Parades, Mark Crone, Simon Hill, Tyler Yeager. I think they've all been either top 20, top 10 or top 5. Cale Burdick and the guys at Denali are pretty amazing and not the biggest names these days.

[Hallpass]

@Orlando76 I'd guess that Dick Pope Jr., Chuck Stearns, Joker Osborne, Mike Suyderhoud, Kris LaPoint, Bob LaPoint might be some big names from the 50's, 60s, and 70s that you have heard

[LoopSki]

Mike Champion

 

Actually I don't know , I just remember hearing the name thrown around many yesrs ago

[Orlando76]

@Hallpass I didn’t take into account for Dick Pope. Guessing Chuck Stearns is Stearns which sure ok, rings a bell, that’s all I can say there. LaPoint brothers brought home awards in the 60’s? I thought KLP started early 70’s. Joker Osborne nope never heard of him. Did not know Suyderhoud went that far back.

 

Edit-Yep Kris set a title in 1967. Didn’t think he went that far back.

[elr]

Martin Kolman (yes Slalom), Sledgehammer (yes Slalom), Danny Odvarko, Dane Mechler

[Horton]

@Orlando76 Chuck Stearns is worth a Google. He's a Hall of Fame skier who likely makes my all-time Mount Rushmore list. he's one of the most decorated skiers of all time not only in 3 event but also in ski racing.

[Wish]

Dane Mechler is a good one. Dude is short but manages shortline like 6+footer.

[aspski]

@Horton I knew I was gonna get a laugh from that one haha

[skier2788]

Sacha Descuns has ran 41 multiple times... No love because it was in Europe.

[ozski]

Plus one on Sacha Descuns, dude gets it done and I wonder who Connelly would consider its number one skier.. Joel has a much higher profile

[Gar]

Chuck Forest for 34mph seems he dominated Nationals for quite awhile. Carl Roberge, Drew Ross.

[E_T]

Jamie beauchesne

[Wish]

Some dude named Dr Jim something. Heard he was good on a slalom but got cought up in a scandal and was never heard from again.

[kc]

Gotta give it some thought for guys from the past. Cale and Dane definitely both great choices for current skiers. Go Team Midwest! Indy and Cincy born and bred, respectively.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

Dave Spencer. Running 39 in 1984. #9 on world standings at the time.

[Cam]

Jez Newby-Ricci, has always had a full time job but was up with the pros at 36mph has scored 5@41/34 in a record comp and has won a Big Dawg.