In defense of: Thoughts

In Defense of the SuperKids (FEAT. Wrap City): A discussion of nostalgia and rationality

June 26, 2016

There are certain things in life that continue without explanation. There are also certain things in life that seem invincible to critique or improvement. Born to question such glacial standards, there are those souls brave enough to examine the authoritarianism of the status quo and defy conformity. I would like to engage in a discourse of status quo by offering a critique of a specific societal bedrock that exists at the foundation of the Sun Valley community, the SuperKids.

To begin, allow me to briefly summarize what the SuperKids is, in an objective sense. Then, I will delve into the culture that has developed around and subsequently supports the SuperKids. Finally, I will provide a subjective review of the SuperKid and the rational for the continuance of its dominance as a community icon. Note that for this review I am subjecting myself to forever being known as an iconoclast within Sun Valley, but in this case, the need for discourse outweighs the risk.

In an objective sense, the SuperKids is a wrap. It is comprised of a base of rice, accented with bacon, cheese, and chicken. Additions include soy sauce or a “strip of hot,” which is a line of Siracha. One can customize the SuperKids in two primary ways. First, one may request a melted SuperKid, which simply means the cheese gets slightly, and second, one may request their SuperKids to be “big,” which means more ingredients, led by rice.

The SuperKids is typically of dry and bland of flavor. None of the ingredients (chicken, rice, cheese, soy sauce, Siracha, bacon) are destined to create a substantial or unique flavor – bacon exempt. Admittedly, this flavor composition is for a reason – to serve the picky youth of Sun Valley.

The SuperKid’s target market is the substantial large youth population of the family driven community of Sun Valley. As a result, there is a unique youth-driven culture around a SuperKids. They will gather, eat, play, and even keep the small sticker that keeps the wrap closed as a trophy of their wrap conquest. Additionally, they will often tattoo their bikes, skis, skateboards, etc, with the sticker showcasing the number of SuperKids they have devoured. The SuperKids has created a slightly competitive culture around its consumption, boarding and alpha-male style hierarchy defined by stickers.

Side note: Historically, a similar culture developed around Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong bracelets. Youth everywhere were competitive in their drive to wear the greatest number of bracelets on their arms, often adorning 10-15 at a time.

While the youth culture and history is understandable, the most fascinating aspect about the SuperKids is how, even still, adolescent and young adult populations have continued to purchase the SuperKids without hesitation. One may question, “hey bro, why did you get that dry and basic wrap when many other more flavorful and healthier wraps exist?” The answer is simple, “because I like it, pal.”

For obvious reasons, this rational is worth a deeper look. The question begs, why would a rational human being choose the SuperKids over a superior alternative? The answer is nostalgia.

Nostalgia, as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary: “pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again.” Nostalgia is a remembrance often stemmed by a motivator such as a flavor, smell, sight, or other sense. Nostalgia is the core of the SuperKids for many in the Sun Valley community.

Warm nostalgia for winter days skiing with your best friends, exhausted after a day of fun or maybe training, and finding refuge at Wrap City in Warm Springs at the base of the lift. Finishing a long mountain bike ride during summer with the family and feasting on the wholesomeness of a SuperKids outside in the sunshine, still dusty from the trail. For many, the experience of being together with friends and family and enjoying the tradition of the SuperKids brings many back to the care-free days of youth and freedom of being on the mountain.

It is the momentary, but powerful feeling of happiness that brings people back to the SuperKids. Is it rational to choose a lesser option when objectively greater options are available? No. However, we as citizens of the earth are not rational and our experience is not about objectivity, it is about subjectivity. Reality is and always will be subjective. If happiness is the end goal and a SuperKids brings emotions of happiness to a greater extent than a meaningless but more flavorful alternative, this author would like to express full support for the SuperKids. A SuperKids is more than just a meal to so many in the Sun Valley community, it is a way of reliving and celebrating the past.

With that said, I hope everyone has a fantastic lunch….I’m pretty hungry.

K

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