Skiing is a pulsating, chameleon-like, mass. Its many colorful faces change without warning. One second, the world is on 160's, doing the "slow dog noodle." Then, suddenly, we are arcing huge fat skis, skying "misty 540's"

If it was 1981, youd be wearing red Roffe stretch pants and acting like you were the bomb. Wear that today and you might get flogged. And if Craig Beck and crew watched you walk up to the Palisades ten years ago, sporting your baggies and metal-studded, punk-guy belt, they would have laughed you all the way down to the parking lot. -It all changes.

The fact is, whether its a trick, trend, fad, piece of gear, or a tradition, they all move at Harry Egger speed in these mountains. The only certainty is that things change. The things we do and how we look today, will be different tomorrow. Any doubts? Just take a look at the ski world from a decade ago: Beck's, Daydreams (which by the way has some damn good hucking in it). That movie was what TGR would have been producing, had it been around back then. Or god forbid, remember the days of freestyle ballet. I'm not going to lie to you; I probably can still do a mean pole flip to some rad seventies tune. Help me.

What will be next? How will skiing evolve?

What will be the latest trend, or become the biggest marketing flop? Who knows. But there is today. Right now, from the depths of ski town America on a rainy day, I can give you the local coffee shop rendition of ski reality in a complex world. The following lists have been compiled by real skiers, some with big hero names -some just big heroes with no names. Every one of them is way too jacked on coffee. For the date of 4/20/00, I give you forty under-rated, twenty over-rated, and a handful of just plain stupid items and experiences that reflect a season in the modern ski world, enjoy:

The 1999-2000 List

The Under-Rated (a few of the real good things)
1. ski gees
2. wax
3. scratch-free lenses
4. straight side cuts
5. being strong
6. the pair of 205 super fat skis that doesn't exist yet
7. flip-flops after a day in race boots
8. drinking coffee before skiing
9. drinking water during skiing
10. drinking beer after skiing
11. gu's
12. Beck's Daydreams (minus the camera tilt)
13. high DIN settings
14. skiing alone
15. Interior B.C.
16. helicopters
17. not having skin cancer -wearing sunscreen gear
18. long sleeve cotton tee-shirts
19. fear
20. the sheer genius of Dr. Richard Steadman
21. not waiting for anyone
22. youth
23. yurts
24. avalanche transceivers
25. freak storms
26. waterproof ski gear -like the yellow stuff
27. advil
28. studded tires
29. ice for knees
30. stable snowpacks
31. hauling ass
32. helmets and battle gear
33. surviving a fall
34. the lovely 2000 Polaris RMK 700
35. boot dryers
36. corn snow
37. wind proof lighters
38. Intact ACLs and cartilage
39. isothermic slop snow
40. having the time and freedom to ski everyday

The Over-Rated (bail it, sell it, stop it, fix it)
1. SUVs
2. parabolic ski design
3. every outerwear fabric except gor-tex
4. cap ski technology
5. the prowess of being a sponsored athlete
6. any ski material that is not wood
7. skiing at big resorts
8. roof racks
9. drinking and skiing
10. old, low angle mountain ranges
11. the bar scene on Saturday night
12. making a living in the ski industry
13. making a work-trade deal for a season pass
14. the social benefits of lift lines
15. skiing with large groups
16. 2 wheel drive Audis and Saabs
17. making turns
18. "huck-neck"
19. credit card financing
20. summer

Just Plain-Stupid (stupid is as stupid does)
1. "Cat-track" boot protectors
2. chains
3. Ski-Totes
4. rear-entry boots
5. paying $4.75 for a beer in a plastic cup
5. waking up late on a powder day
6. going home early
7. missing a powder day
8. working more and skiing less