Photos: Laura Obermeyer
Tell a FriendTour 2019 kicked off its SEVENTH year in Killington, VT this weekend.
It all ties into the big scheme of KEEP PEOPLE SKIING.
Of course, Andy wants to get new skiers, but also to keep people skiing.
Its kind of a long -term event, were seven years in now.
That good feeling comes from hanging out with your friends when you were younger.
Everyone strives to have that.
Andy founded the tour in 2012, but skiing has been changing his life since way before that.
Where would I be without all those small dots and breadcrumbs leading me to where I am now?
It gave me such a great outlook, friends and experiences.
Its given me so much that to think about not having it is f*cking depressing.
They will have a group of friends that they wouldnt have had otherwise without skiing.
Theyre going to be fitter, theyre going to be into outdoor activities.
Theyll be more likely to try rock climbing and venture to stay fit because thats part of the culture.
You dont see many fat skiers.
Its an escape, that is a huge emotional thing.
Escaping to something thats productive, something that you enjoy.
Skiing and freeskiing is an escape from that.
Skiing puts a smile on your face.
Making a turn, doing a slash, doing your first backflip.
More than a few lives changed this past weekend at Killington.
The crew was rolling deep.
Im just a f*cking skier, but people see what youre doing, and it inspires them.
That is the biggest thing I can make a run at emphasize- inspiration.
Inspiring people to do things, to do great things.
It can pull you out of depression, it can give your life meaning.
If youre stuck in a 9-5, skiing on the weekends can give your life meaning.
Its such an important thing to have in our society.
Its a physical outdoor activity that you share with a peer group.
Sh*t wasnt easy for me and its not easy for a lot of people.
Skiing just helped give me so much that I want to give it back.
Videos, movies, segments, urban parts and competitions, all have their place in skiing.
It’s so individually goal-oriented when youre doing that stuff though.
You want to get the shot for your segment, your video part, like thats the end.
Its just one of those little breadcrumbs to making a lifelong skier.
Stop hitting an urban rail for one second and come shake a kids hand.
Then go back to the rail.
It is so important to the survival of freeskiing that the tour and stuff happens."
Who has the time?"
Andy’s concern is that the same is increasingly true in freeskiing.
I want skiing to stay fun.
Sitting in a start-gate, when its f*cking freezing cold before having throw some insane trick…
I know to some people thats fun but not for most of us.
That is not freeskiing anymore.
Skiing gave Andy Parry a purpose, and he just wants to share it with everyone.
To find your local Tell A Friend Tour Stop, and more information about the tour,click here.
Next stop is Ski Sundown
