Note: this article is taken from the archives of the Newschoolers Digital Magazine, Issue #1.
Posted as is for glory.
We were discussing what one athlete embodies not only the image of newschool skiing, but also the soul.
I wanted to catch up with JF and see what he was up to today.
He’s gotten to world class status in two sports already, and is headed for his third.
Aint nobody more Newschool than JF motherfucking Cusson.
Doug - How was your summer?
JF - I’ve been teaching golf all summer.
Gotta pay the bills.
Its fascinating to see how much things have changed from back in the day.
Its tough at the beginning, because its like your bubble is popping.
You’ve been working so hard on skiing, the tricks and your physical conditioning, and suddenly boom.
Its like you did that all for no reason and you might’t do it anymore.
Then you gotta go chace the avalanche, and I’m not a big fan of that.
Come on you did a lot of BC stuff.
Yeah I did… but its a lot of work and commitment.
You really, really need to have the passion.
I always liked better going skiing with my friends.
I never really got that work ethic.
Really though, its probably the fact that golf got into my life.
I found something new that captivated my interest, and stole my passion for skiing.
So you would consider yourself retired from Professional skiing?
Yeah no waiting for 40 minutes waiting for the signal from Felix to drop…. only fun.
When it becomes a job, that’s when you lose the real spirit of it.
I had more fun then, even compared to when I won the X-games.
What do you think about the direction sport has taken?
It would be hard to say its not a good direction.
He set the new standard for building jumps.
Its similar to the aerialists in classic freestyle… very steep landings that are all soft.
They can go extremely high and still make the landings.
Of course… their sport is going to die pretty soon.
Yeah its crazy… you see doubles coming up, now triples… how far can is possibly go?
Every year there’s something new coming, and so I’m going to quit on calling the plateau.
There’s no Plateau Doug, you’ll be seeing a quint 6 years from now.
Do you think that it will get too dangerous and have things banned?
No - I don’t think so.
For sure next year on the big air you’ll see triples.
You could really see in their face that something crazy was happening right now.
Just the way it goes my friend.
Its so hard to judge because its always new, and you don’t know what to expect.
How do you judge?
Its all there - you should probably look for perfect landing, perfect style and perfect execution.
It comes down to who does everything perfectly at the right moment.
Who do you think is the hottest skier on the planet right now?
Sammy has reached where Tanner was before his injury.
But then again, Jossi Wells is killing it on pipe and slopestyle… so its tough to say.
Does the sport now represent the ideas that you guys set out when you first started the whole thing?
Heh…. yeah for sure.
Snowboarding was always getting that and skiing had problems.
This is finally changing…. We still are a little under-respected, but this is just coming from our history.
The historical image of the skier is fading away slowly, and we’re heading in a great direction.
Where do you see Freeskiing being in 20 years?
For sure you have to realize that skiing’s fundamental concept is having fun.
I don’t think these kids are having as much fun as the kids are having in the park.
So you would think that Freeskiing is going to become the main market soon.
You have to remember that its only been barely 10 years.
Its already reached that point we were going for.
We watched two snowboarders hitting it, and they both landed on their head and crashed doing straight airs.
and boom we fuckin' stomp two 7s.
The patrol guy was waiting for us, and he fuckin' clipped our tickets.
And I’m like “are you kidding me?
We just stomped two 7s and we’re not?”
Starting from there 15 years ago to where we are right now, its massive.
But its hard to describe when you’re creating something like that the feeling you have.
Its a feeling you might’t find again by any means.
But creating it was indescribable.
I remember when there was Freeze, Freeskier, Powder and all those other mags that sucked.
Once a year a couple of videos came out, and that was it.
You’d think - Yeah!
I got all 3 ski movies that were out this year.
That’s pretty much what is boosting the progression right now.
If Sammy is going to throw a switch triple rodeo, its on the Internet the next day.
One week later there’s three guys doing it.
I think Its a good and a bad thing.
Its bad for the creator because then it gives the option to everyone to copy him within a minute.
Who do you feel is the most creative skier out there these days?
For sure I watch the webisodes… whats it called…. Yeah these guys are awesome.
Put it in a 360 and you’re the man.
Makes me feel like a girl… gawd.
There was a time when a daffy was awesome.
Yeah, I mean its come so far…
I remember back in 1991 at Mont Gabriel, Edgar Grospiron doing a daffy twister spread…
I watched that shit on slow motion for three months straight…. Daffy Twister Spread.
I taught him to do it in La Plangne like two months before the Olympics.
He stole your shit eh?
Oh yeah… then he claimed it and named it.
Do you know that he’s going to be on Skating with the Stars?
Well you know - thats Johnny Mosely.
He’s good with the public, and a little cheesy, so its perfect for him.
Golf, and beyond.
How has the career been going?
It is definitely harder than I thought.
I’m really starting to see the light.
Then its up to me how much I want to dedicate my time and my life to golf.
Are you a naturally talented golfer like you are a naturally talented skier?
When I first grabbed a driver I hit it 300 yards.
I definitely had some natural skills, and thats what got me started.
Yeah.. but it actually helps me.
- Golfers are cocky and narrow minded, and won’t accept you.
) If I didn’t have skiing background like that they’d hate me.
So its definitely helping me through the process.
Do you think you’re going to make it to the big time?
Well like I say I think I have the potential, and I have the abilities.
It depends on how much time I want to dedicate to this.
Its all a matter of how much sacrifice I want to do.
Well maybe once you’ve won the PGA tour a couple of times you might retire.
Its hard to go back to that same process as I did with Mogul Skiing and Newschool skiing.
Honestly though, thats all I know how to do.
Thats no small accomplishment.
(both laugh)
I would say don’t rush through the steps.
You have to learn to walk before you learn to run.
DOn’t make a run at impress other people.
Just do it for you, when you feel it.
The game is so tight right now with so many good skiers, it comes down to injuries.
I saw a lot of very good kids with talent who blew their career with injuries.
If you have the will to get into the gym - go to the gym.
Stay healthy
Drink milk.
Don’t drink, go to the gym, stay healthy, stay safe…. (laughs) I can’t wear a helmet.
