Parkrats v Big Mountain Billy Goats

The argument between park skiers and big mountain skiers about who is the better overall skier has come up in the past decade or so. The first argument was between skiers v snowboards, but I am not going to tackle that one because I feel my bias would get in the way (plus we all know skiers are better!).  Looking at the two different type of skiers, they both have their own unique styles on and off the mountain. Parkrats usually are dressed in very very very baggy clothes, loud colors, and usually have some sort of headphones on. The Big Mountain Billy Goat on the other hand, usually has a very inconspicuous outfit, wears a helmet (safety first), and some times has a great facial hair to go along with it. Now I know that someones outfit isn't the only thing you should judge on.... So I am not, the Parkrat has their own jargon, with words and phrases like: Sick Bro, What's going on Brosif, that was gnarly, Man that dude was about to geek out, and the list can go on and on. Now I know that a lot of skiers talk like that, even the Big Mountain Billy Goat, but the Parkrat is usually the suspect when you hear those phrases. Now lets just move on from just appearances and personalities and really look at who is actually the better skier shall we!

We will start with the Parkrat, the Parkrat has the ability to throw themselves through the air like a flying squirrel, it just doesn't make sense! While flying through the air they can also spin themselves like a top, again doesn't make sense! They also have the ability to flip themselves like a slinky, and in rare occasions you can see them flip and spin while flying through the air like a flying squirrel all at once. As seen in X Games 14 by Bobby Brown . When you watch that video the first thing that comes to mind is Holy SH**, and even the announcer is lost of words on what he just did. These abilities cannot be acquired by your average skier. This takes a lot of skill, practice, and of course BALLS! I know what you are going to say, Well, Bobby is going off a huge jump and it is straight forward what he is going off. Yes, that is correct, Bobby in the video knows exactly what is in front of him, but I will ask you this. Would you ski down going between 20-30mphs(backwards) and lunch yourself off a jump that is well over 30 feet tall and in order to just make it to landing you needs to travel over a hundred feet??? Yea, I thought so. 

Now for the Big Mountain Billy Goat, he/she is a person that goes out on the mountain, and the last thing they have on their mind is what trick they are going to throw. Instead, they are looking at the mountain and trying to find an awesome or (I'll say it) SICK line. What little rock could they go off of and stick the landing. They are people that pick fights with trees, cliffs, and powder snakes, and do not always win these battles. They make very technical turns which result in pretty skiing and once they are down at the bottom amazing lines. If the Bill Goat is not in the back country skiing powder, they will be doing anything but the Park. If that is groomers, ice runs, moguls, and they might not be the best at all those areas but the sure as SH** can do them. Shane McConkey; RIP, was your quint essential Big Mountain Bill Goat, as seen in this video, Shane did everything with precious execution. While watching him ski there is also something that is just unreal, beautiful, amazing, breath taking (whatever word you want to use) and you do not have the ability to turn away. 

The chart below shows some areas that these two types of skiers are being judged on. When you look at the skill section, the Billy Goat takes the cake on this with their unbelievable lines and stupid crazy things they do. The Creativity sections goes to the Parkrat just because to have the ability to come up with ideas of how to throw yourself through air like that is insane. Awesomeness, well they both get that because what they both do is awesome. Perception, looking at how both types are perceived the Billy Goat doesn't give skiing a bad name, and I won't say anymore. Glory, the Parkrat is all about glory. You see one area that I cannot make my decision on... BALLS. Looking at both these skiers I cannot figure out or give a little edge to one to who has more... So on that let the debate continue!!!  

Column1	Skill	Creativity	Awesomeness	Balls	Perception	Glory
Billy Goat	x		x	?	x
Parkrat		x	x	?		x