Does hardcore freestyle help growth?

[Adi]

With all the crazy hardcore videos out lately, I started wondering if hardcore freestyle helps or hurts freestyle growth.

I know it can motivate average freestylers to get to the next level, but what about beginners and those not freestyling yet?  Heck, does it even push average freestylers away at times since they might think they'll never get to that level?

In the first few years of freestyle, tricks were modest and most beginners thought they could learn those tricks in decent time.  I don't think most beginners think that anymore.  Top freestylers are so far ahead of everyone else now.

I knot it's not always about being the best or knowing all the tricks, but how much do hardcore videos help/hurt freestyle growth in general?  I have a feeling that it somewhat hurts the overall growth.  I think if we look at footballers who are not freestyling yet, we'll see that these targets for freestyle growth are more likely to be intimidated by it than encouraged to jump in and try on their own.  Hardcore videos will encourage current freestylers to keep training, but I don't think they help general freestyle growth with those who are not freestyling yet.  Ultimately, we need more people jumping in so we can have millions of freestylers, and not just a few hundred who are really, really good.  Freestyle should have different levels and regular footballers should be encouraged to jump in. 

[L_I_S]

At the moment I believe it does hinder freestyle, for the same reasons you mentioned.
But I think that when freestyle has reached close to the maximum potential it will be a lot better for everyone who wants to start. It always seems like it would be impossible to catch up to a top freestyler when you're so far away.
I doubt it influences freestyler who aren't freestyling for anything other than a hobby, but most freestylers are young adolescence who strive to be the best.

[Adi]

I remember 10 years ago when every beginner knew to learn the ATW first and that was quite a cool trick to have under your belt.

Now, who knows what to start with if you happened to watch a random freestyle video.  And even if you know to start with an ATW, it barely gives you any kind of sense of accomplishment after learning it.

I think the freestyle community needs to change its stance towards beginners.  Beginners need to be welcomed more and encouraged.  They should be praised for really basic stuff so they can feel the sense of accomplishment at a similar level as years before.

To be honest, we don't have that many new freestylers here.  I wish more signed up and asked questions.  We have tons of good freestylers and they could all help.  It'd be nice to create a big brother environment around here.  Make this a helpful place where everyone can enjoy freestyle, rather than being ashamed of showing off their beginner video. 

As we did with the old BF, we can maybe create a Beginner Video section so basic videos can be posted there and advice can be given.  It'd be better than posting a beginner video and getting 0 replied and 20 views in the current setup.

[L_I_S]

The beginner section will be ignored for the most part.
There are just too many freestylers now, you can't expect us to watch all the good freestylers and then downgrade and watch beginners as well. There's a certain standard now. I guess that only applies to people who watch freestyle as entertainment and to admire the new level. I've seen so many videos now there's no point in watching beginners any more unless you want to keep track of their freestyle.
But if you do watch a beginner video you should really comment on it, it means a lot more to them than to a freestyler who gets 200+ comments on the first day of release. I'm aware that all freestylers love getting comments too, but try to remember how much it meant to get 2 comments when you just started out..

[Miran Pirner]

Then how should beginners in more developed sports/arts like bboying, skateboarding, etc., that have been around for 20+ years feel like? 

In sports like those, you need 4-5 years just get to a decent level, whereas in FS, you can reach the same in a year and in 2-3 you could be already competing at high level competitions.

Anyways, I think that if you're concerned with other people's progress and level too much, you're in it for the wrong reasons. You need to enjoy what you do and simply strive to be the best you can, not stress about how long it took some guy to learn a 3 rev. move or with what someone else can do & you can't...

[L_I_S]

then how should beginners in more developed sports/arts like bboying, skateboarding, etc., that have been around for 20+ years feel like? 

With those sports you know what you're getting into because it's been around for so long; Where as in a few years 6 amatw nt could become the standard. It's like trying to get to the top but the top moves at such an immense rate you're always feeling further behind. Which sounds like a recipe for failure which is never a good thing for beginners.

[samfs]

To me hardcore freestyle is hurting the overall growth of the sport but without it, the current average/good freestylers would lose motivation! So we would have a bunch of beginners striving to get to things like latw or alatw at the max. I am still at a noob level but when I had given up fs for some and then watched tobias becs shades of grey...I am still motivated to keep going! So it won't necessarily stop freestylers I suppose cuz some want to reach that level so badly so they start/keep going

[Christof]

I agree that some years ago, it was easier to be motivated because the accomplishments were relatively big and now, the motivation of becoming the best isn't there anymore...

Still, if you only start freestyling nowadays to become the best, that motivation does not last, that was already the same 10 years ago. there is also a decent amount of passion and joy required.

Anyway, even if there were a lot of beginners posting, you couldn't remember their names and improvements, so all you can post is "nice atw-htw, keep it up".

Personally I find the direction this topic is going a little weird, because (no offence) it seems to me that Adi's reason to start this topic is just to have more posts...

[tbc]

once upon a time there was 'joy and fun' in freestyle.

[Adi]

Personally I find the direction this topic is going a little weird, because (no offence) it seems to me that Adi's reason to start this topic is just to have more posts...

 

I could've posted one sentence if I cared about my post count.  Writing out a 4 paragraph post isn't exactly trying to boost your posts.

If you are talking about the overall forum activity, then partially yes, but I'm also curious about this myself so it was worth posting.

[DanTheMan]

you guys must be shitting me, the better freestylers get the more it pushes the growth. hardcore or allround

the better the athletes, the better the sport. freestyle is a relatively fast sport to get to the top.

you can train hard for 2 or 3 years and be known by the entire community.. in skateboarding it would take twice or 2 times as long

what should we do? stop improving so that noobs are less intimidated by videos? fuck that lol

[Tupac]

I must say that hardcore videos motivate me? I wanted to be like turlakov a long time ago, and everytime he/bangau/luki release a video with some type of upper combo in it i try to match it and do better...
The same applies with lowers, my level isn't high, but I compare myself with people around my level and try to beat them.
It's stupid to be intimidated, everyone sucked at one point.
The hardcore videos represent where you can be if you train now...