The 2015 Winter X Games hit the ground running Wednesday night with the women’s halfpipe finals.
This victory, even considering all her other accolades, was the sweetest for her.
Very few things are as satisfying for an athlete to overcome great adversity and doubt to reach great success.
Unfortunately for Maddie, the next morning she logged on to Freeskier.com.
From 1998 to 2005, Freeskier played mostly second fiddle to those two other media outlets.
Freeskier’s most notable reaction to Freeze’s demise was the publication of Ski Time Magazine.
If you ever wondered how a 16-year-old freeskier on acid saw skiing, this was your big chance.
The evidence of Freeskier’s lack of integration in the sport is evident today.
Like one of her coaches.
Alas, good sense reporting is not provocative.
Newschoolers.com crushes Freeskier.com in traffic by nearly three times.
Newschoolers has a community that is, if anything, controversial and has that edge that Freeskier desires.
Unfortunately, being provocative in a small ski industry is not easy.
So Freeskier played a card from the Medieval Ages and decided to pick on the women for some controversy.
What they lack in creativity, they certainly made up in political strategy.
They need help with funding, training, and media that supports their cause.
I’m not joking.
But criticism that causes stark division within such a small industry is counterproductive.
Without a doubt, freeskiing needs more talented and successful female skiers.
Our industry needs many more Maddie Bowmans and far fewer Freeskier Magazines.
Photo Credit: Gabriel Christus / ESPN Images
