For most of us, watching ski movies with friends is a vital part of this thing we call a lifestyle. There’s the annual fall get together as the new films come in, or if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere cool, a tour might even stop near your door. Either way, I’ll bet you watch videos with the same group of friends each time.

I’ve been wading into the shred flick waters with my brother and Barberdude for years now. We know what to expect and die laughing when one of us bitches and moans about some pet peeve that gets violated year in and year out. Every now and again that tradition is broken and you watch some videos with a new group of characters. It’s really a pretty interesting experience, because the new people notice different things, have different perspectives, and will call you on your hatefulness.

I’m currently in Burlington VT, and I spent last night watching ski and snowboard videos with Mike Rogge and a couple friends. As the fine Vermont brews went down, my opinions became louder, and I started bitching like I usually do. Rogge had the audacity to challenge my gripes with insightful tidbits. Bastard.

Gripe #1: I hate when these assholes wear their sponsor’s gear so damn conspicuously. It’s like a movie where the can of Coke is awkwardly turned towards the camera before it’s guzzled and finished off with a prolonged, “Aaaaaaah!” It’s just cheap and unnecessary.

Rogge’s Rebuttal (summarized, rephrased, and a little made up): Dude! You have no idea man, sponsors want their stuff in the shot. It’s unavoidable, these guys are paid to wear the stuff because they’re in videos, and the companies sponsor the video because the athlete is going to wear their stuff in it. The products have got to be in the video.

Gripe 2: Can we call a three year moratorium on skiers talking about how much work goes into making a shot? We all get it, I don’t doubt that it’s a ton of work, but let’s just let it be for a little while.

What I heard Rogge say: “I hear you man, but it IS a ton of work. There’s no real way to capture how much hard labor goes into it without it being boring. So I think they talk about it in order to give people an idea.”

Gripe 3: Simon Dumont is a scourge to skiing. He should be wiped from the face of the earth and never allowed near a television camera again.

Rogge: To be honest I didn’t listen to what he said on this one. There was some thing about how it’s an image that sells and he’s really the sweetest dude in the world. I’m sure it made lots of sense, but my hate is too precious for me to allow Rogge to kill it with all his positivity.