i agree with what you're saying about how it's hard for kids to dream about being a pro freestyler. with basketball, baseball, etc a kid can go to the local park and practice with $10 to a couple hundred dollars worth of equipment. not too many parents are going to be willing to take their kid out to shop for a ski so he can practice to be the next stoyer.
i've actually been rethinking my career goals. i use to be all about getting a job with the major airlines. i'd love to be flying a 747 or 777 and they make extrememly good money. however, their schedule is typically 4 on, 3 off. not a bad work week, except your days off are constantly rotated and it's rare for a weekend off. so that has had me thinking about flying corporate or fractionals where they typically work a 7 on, 7 off schedule. they make less money, but i think it'll be worth it to have every other weekend off. plus i'd still be doing what i love. i guess ya have to balance things out in life so you're not just working for the money. if you don't have the time to enjoy it, is it worth doing?