I'm kind of a big deal around these parts. I'm famous.
Last week I got a new ski movie titled Adrenaline Hunters and my cousin purchased the new Poor Boyz film, Ski Porn. To my amazement, I had a cameo in both of them. No, I was not skiing. I was however playing a key role as an enthusiastic fan watching guys like Simon Dumont and Sammy Carlson throw huge tricks off even bigger jumps. I couldn't actually convince anyone who was watching the films with me that the little dot off in the side of the screen was me, but I know.
For a long time ski movies were pretty much just Warren Miller traveling the world with some of the greatest skiers. His cameramen would film them skiing some amazing lines while he romantized the sport through narration. It was enough to bring a tear to my eye. Now with the decreasing cost of equipment and production, guys that decided to start filming for fun a few years ago are turning their love for skiing and making it look as cool as possible into a money making venture. Ski Porn retails for $39.99.
So why is there a market? I wouldn't purchase a ski movie just to see my ant-like resemblance off in the corner. I, along with many other skiers, purchase the films to get amped for a day of skiing. Nothing will make you want to ski bigger lines and huck cliffs than watching someone who is way better than you do something 10 times bigger than you would even consider.
When i was skiing in New Zealand, we had no television, no heat except for wood that we cut and one outlet. We plugged in my friends computer and gathered around to watch what we called "white porn." White of course refers to the snow and it was the perfect way to end a day and get ready for another gnarly day of skiing.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The rise of helmet use
It had been about six years since I started religiously wearing a helmet to ski and bike when a doctor and a paramedic told my mom that I might not be alive if I was not wearing a helmet. I was biking home from work on my triathlon bike when I was 18. I was going through a green light when a car made a lefthand turn without seeing me. I slammed on my brakes, but it was too late. I flipped shoulder first into the car breaking his windshield. My pedals unclipped from my shoes sending my bike to the other side of the road while I did a flip off the car, landed on m head and rolled for a few metres on the concrete. A passerby luckily called an ambulance which rushed me to the hospital. I needed two stitches in my leg. I flew a few metres after the car came to a complete stop, landed on my head and only needed stitches in my leg. And some people say they don't really need a helmet.
This is just one story from biking that happened to be quite serious, but I can't even count the number of falls I've had on skis where I pop an advil and shake it off for a few days - falls that could have been bad news. When I look at the scratches in my ski helmet, I can't believe I beat some of those trees.
I bring up this story to show the importance of wearing a helmet. In the past dozen years, I can count on one hand the number of times I've skied or biked without a helmet and they were all working days. I make it a policy to not go on challenging terrain if someone I'm skiing with isn't wearing a helmet.
Most resorts, such as Whistler, require everyone under 18 to have one on. A study done a few years ago suggests that one can reduce your chance of a head injury by almost 60%.
This is because most fatalities on the hill are due to multiple injuries. An impact to the head is usually the number one cause of death. Another finding shows that helmet use is rising about five per cent per year and highest among children, experienced skiers and males.
However, hospitals such as Seattle Children's Hospital feel the need to remind people that wearing a helmet isn't a license to go faster.
I have definitely noticed that more people are wearing helmets, especially ones that want to ski with me. However, one of my friend's wasn't lucky enough to jump on the helmet bandwagon earlier. I can't help but think if it would have helped.
This is just one story from biking that happened to be quite serious, but I can't even count the number of falls I've had on skis where I pop an advil and shake it off for a few days - falls that could have been bad news. When I look at the scratches in my ski helmet, I can't believe I beat some of those trees.
I bring up this story to show the importance of wearing a helmet. In the past dozen years, I can count on one hand the number of times I've skied or biked without a helmet and they were all working days. I make it a policy to not go on challenging terrain if someone I'm skiing with isn't wearing a helmet.
Most resorts, such as Whistler, require everyone under 18 to have one on. A study done a few years ago suggests that one can reduce your chance of a head injury by almost 60%.
This is because most fatalities on the hill are due to multiple injuries. An impact to the head is usually the number one cause of death. Another finding shows that helmet use is rising about five per cent per year and highest among children, experienced skiers and males.
However, hospitals such as Seattle Children's Hospital feel the need to remind people that wearing a helmet isn't a license to go faster.
I have definitely noticed that more people are wearing helmets, especially ones that want to ski with me. However, one of my friend's wasn't lucky enough to jump on the helmet bandwagon earlier. I can't help but think if it would have helped.
Skiing at the beach
I spoke to a man named Derek last year around the end of March. He fasions long hair, a long goatee and a sick pair of tele skis. I made some comment about the great snow and he slowly glanced at me to say, "my mind is already in biking mode." He has been a true mountain man for a long time and when the snow starts to fade, he can't help but hope to be back on his bike soon. I thought this was strange. Afterall, I was living to ski. But this year for some reason I am definitely ready for summer to roll around. One of the key signs that sailing, kayaking and biking are right around the corner is spring skiing.
Often called slush skiing or sitting on the beach, it really has no substitute for the unambitious, lazy alcoholic who has trouble dealing with the transition between sports. That time when neither is good and you can do both, but would rather just sit on the beach. This beach is not sand covered, but the snow has a certain corn-like quality to it.
Some times the snow would melt beyond slush and form little ponds in flat sections of the hill. These are the times when I got to show off my pond skimming ability. One gains a lot of speed and waterskis through the water hoping not to fall.
Not far from Vancouver is a local mountain called Cypress. Locals talk about sitting on that beach as they talk about looking forward to a day of spring skiing. Similarly, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado is a small local mountain with no accomodations nearby. Cars back into the closest spots near the hill and pop their tailgates to blast music. They display small groups of fold-out chairs in a circle around a portable camping stove. They tap the keg and, dressed in either Hawaiian or 80's wear, do a few runs before having a burger and beer while baking in the sun. The skiing is really just a way to cool down.
For whatever reason people enjoy spring skiing, I am definitely happy it's finally here. While the skiing may not be great, I'm starting to get some colour back on my face and it is getting me in the mood for summer.
Often called slush skiing or sitting on the beach, it really has no substitute for the unambitious, lazy alcoholic who has trouble dealing with the transition between sports. That time when neither is good and you can do both, but would rather just sit on the beach. This beach is not sand covered, but the snow has a certain corn-like quality to it.
Some times the snow would melt beyond slush and form little ponds in flat sections of the hill. These are the times when I got to show off my pond skimming ability. One gains a lot of speed and waterskis through the water hoping not to fall.
Not far from Vancouver is a local mountain called Cypress. Locals talk about sitting on that beach as they talk about looking forward to a day of spring skiing. Similarly, Arapahoe Basin in Colorado is a small local mountain with no accomodations nearby. Cars back into the closest spots near the hill and pop their tailgates to blast music. They display small groups of fold-out chairs in a circle around a portable camping stove. They tap the keg and, dressed in either Hawaiian or 80's wear, do a few runs before having a burger and beer while baking in the sun. The skiing is really just a way to cool down.
For whatever reason people enjoy spring skiing, I am definitely happy it's finally here. While the skiing may not be great, I'm starting to get some colour back on my face and it is getting me in the mood for summer.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A lot of snow, or names for it anyways
Sometimes it feels like my skis are either easily gliding over or being forced through a different consistency of snow every turn. Some turns are easy. These are the turns in fluffy, deep powder. But sometimes the skis fight through heavy slush or glide over ice that would resemble the Red Bull Cushed Ice course.
I guess the Inuit hit the nail on the hammer with the 100 plus names they have for snow. If an Inuit was having a great day on the hill, he or she would be skiing some steep and deep tlapa. But if the hill gets all skied out and no new snow falls overnight, he or she would probably talk about klin. If no new snow falls for weeks, the word changes to naklin.
Here on the wet coast we get a mixture of tlamo and tlapinti. And on St. Patrick's day last week, we even saw some sulitlana. It was a good thing, we could all go in for some mactla and mexla.
In the minds of skiers, nothing is just tla. Sometimes if you hit a patch or shlim, it will soon be motla. Just make sure to watch out for tlayopi.
Some say that even the English language has numerous words and the Inuit words are a bit of a myth. But I feel that it's so much easier to say jatla instead of snow between your fingers or toes, or in groin-folds or quinyaya instead of snow mixed with the shit of a lead dog.
One thing is for sure. If an Inuit is a serious skier, he or she never stops talking about ylaipi.
I guess the Inuit hit the nail on the hammer with the 100 plus names they have for snow. If an Inuit was having a great day on the hill, he or she would be skiing some steep and deep tlapa. But if the hill gets all skied out and no new snow falls overnight, he or she would probably talk about klin. If no new snow falls for weeks, the word changes to naklin.
Here on the wet coast we get a mixture of tlamo and tlapinti. And on St. Patrick's day last week, we even saw some sulitlana. It was a good thing, we could all go in for some mactla and mexla.
In the minds of skiers, nothing is just tla. Sometimes if you hit a patch or shlim, it will soon be motla. Just make sure to watch out for tlayopi.
Some say that even the English language has numerous words and the Inuit words are a bit of a myth. But I feel that it's so much easier to say jatla instead of snow between your fingers or toes, or in groin-folds or quinyaya instead of snow mixed with the shit of a lead dog.
One thing is for sure. If an Inuit is a serious skier, he or she never stops talking about ylaipi.
Monday, March 19, 2007
St. Patrick's day on the hill
There are many great theme days on the mountain - Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, rock star day, one-piece day, 80's day, Australia Day. But the best one is definitely St. Patrick's day and last Saturday didn't disappoint.
I don't remember the last time I wasn't skiing on St. Patty's day so I have a number of good memories. Lots of people ski around in strange green apparel some wearing Irish flags and some trying new tricks thanks to a little liquid courage. The funny thing about these days is that the skiing doesn't really matter. A great outfit and bragging about hitting the bar early do.
Lift operators, mountain hosts and other guest services representatives can all be seen getting people in the mood by wearing all green and speaking in poor Irish accents.
The town of Snowmass has possibly the most organization of any ski town and even puts on a parade to celebrate among other events. The parade runs right through the centre of town where tourists can purchase cheap, green beer right on the street. This year the parade even featured the Colorado Youth Pipe Band. I remember not even being able to walk through the town during the afternoon because of the number of people. The preview article in the Aspen Times about this day even ended with a suggestion to check local bars for specials.
Was anyone on the hill? Lift lines don't exist on St. Patrick's Day, but by 2 p.m. it really seems like the lift operators are the only ones on the hill.
This year, I shifted festivities to Whistler where some rationalizing between friends turned a full day into seven runs and a trip to the bar at the top of the hill at noon. Some people didn't even have ski stuff on. They just rode the gondola to the top in their full Irish apparel. The town of Whistler doesn't seem to have the same organization, but the spirit was still there. It was almost raining at the top of the hill and groups of green-clad stumbling fools were lining up to have their pictures taken at the top of the hill. The bar was standing room only by noon. It was a good thing I had a long ski down to my car before driving home.
I don't remember the last time I wasn't skiing on St. Patty's day so I have a number of good memories. Lots of people ski around in strange green apparel some wearing Irish flags and some trying new tricks thanks to a little liquid courage. The funny thing about these days is that the skiing doesn't really matter. A great outfit and bragging about hitting the bar early do.
Lift operators, mountain hosts and other guest services representatives can all be seen getting people in the mood by wearing all green and speaking in poor Irish accents.
The town of Snowmass has possibly the most organization of any ski town and even puts on a parade to celebrate among other events. The parade runs right through the centre of town where tourists can purchase cheap, green beer right on the street. This year the parade even featured the Colorado Youth Pipe Band. I remember not even being able to walk through the town during the afternoon because of the number of people. The preview article in the Aspen Times about this day even ended with a suggestion to check local bars for specials.
Was anyone on the hill? Lift lines don't exist on St. Patrick's Day, but by 2 p.m. it really seems like the lift operators are the only ones on the hill.
This year, I shifted festivities to Whistler where some rationalizing between friends turned a full day into seven runs and a trip to the bar at the top of the hill at noon. Some people didn't even have ski stuff on. They just rode the gondola to the top in their full Irish apparel. The town of Whistler doesn't seem to have the same organization, but the spirit was still there. It was almost raining at the top of the hill and groups of green-clad stumbling fools were lining up to have their pictures taken at the top of the hill. The bar was standing room only by noon. It was a good thing I had a long ski down to my car before driving home.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Murder near the mountain
The strangest thing happened last weekend in Whistler. Someone was murdered for the first time in 30 years. I couldn't believe it when I saw the caution tape. When my brother told me it was a murder, I didn't believe him and insisted the tape was for the movie that was being shot. The first thing I did was ask a local, because in a town that size locals know everything. The story from this local who walked by the scene 10 minutes before the shooting said he saw two men in an altercation and that is why the cops were called. The Globe and Mail reported that a cop was nearby, but it seems like more than luck. Something I heard that all the news missed was a rumour that the two men were rival gang members. The altercation involved one party owing the other money and when the one didn't pay he was shot.
This is the kind of news that shocks a small town. For security reasons, cops are on the hill, but they are mostly looking for pass fraud. The only time I've ever seen cops in action in a ski town was to meet someone at the top of a chairlift to see if they were using someone else's pass. The person turned out to be local snowboarding Olympian Jason Smith who had a lot of gear on. When Jason got off the lift, the cop said, "Oh, hey Jason." They went their separate ways. Hopefully this event doesn't keep people from coming to Whistler.
This is the kind of news that shocks a small town. For security reasons, cops are on the hill, but they are mostly looking for pass fraud. The only time I've ever seen cops in action in a ski town was to meet someone at the top of a chairlift to see if they were using someone else's pass. The person turned out to be local snowboarding Olympian Jason Smith who had a lot of gear on. When Jason got off the lift, the cop said, "Oh, hey Jason." They went their separate ways. Hopefully this event doesn't keep people from coming to Whistler.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The best of Apres
As I mentioned last week, a crucial part to finding a good apres spot is cheap beer and wings/nachos. I'm not sure why finger food is associated with good apres. It may be because skiers love the stench of their gloves after a day of skiing or because it is too early for dinner so appetizers are a good food choice. Because of this tradition, I've come to crave beer and wings/nachos almost every day while skiing. I've skied a lot of different places and I want to share some of my favourite places with you.
Just down the road from the main village in Keystone, Colo., but still in the town is a place called Dos Locos. From 3-6 p.m. you can get 2-for-1 margaritas and cheap pitchers of American beer, but the best part is their free nacho tray. They feature a constantly refilling hot tray of some of the best nachos I've ever had and its free. Not many people know about it so you always get good service and nachos.
Only five miles away in the town of Breckenridge, Colo. is a place lots of people know about, Mi Casa Mexican Cantina. Also a Mexican restaurant, it has unlimited free chips and salsa with beer specials on good, local beer. You aren't guaranteed a seat, but it is right on the main street in Breckenridge and close to the hill.
The town of aspen features a lot of apres destinations between the four mountains, but my favourite by far is Zane's. After eating wings at other places I usually have to say, "these wings are good, but their no Zane's." They feature flavours such as cajun and asian teriyaki in addition to the traditional hot and barbecue. They are the biggest wings I've ever seen and they are only 25 cents. That is all in addition to the friendly service and $6.50 pitchers of beer.
My final spot is the Crystal Lounge in the village of Whistler about 50 steps from where you take your skis off at the bottom of the hill. It is downstairs with a small sign so it is harder to find than the ones with outdoor patios right next to the hill, but that doesn't mean people don't know about it. It is a younger crowd, mostly in their twenties, and features a couple different drink specials each day plus 25 cent wings. They are good, but they are no Zane's.
Just down the road from the main village in Keystone, Colo., but still in the town is a place called Dos Locos. From 3-6 p.m. you can get 2-for-1 margaritas and cheap pitchers of American beer, but the best part is their free nacho tray. They feature a constantly refilling hot tray of some of the best nachos I've ever had and its free. Not many people know about it so you always get good service and nachos.
Only five miles away in the town of Breckenridge, Colo. is a place lots of people know about, Mi Casa Mexican Cantina. Also a Mexican restaurant, it has unlimited free chips and salsa with beer specials on good, local beer. You aren't guaranteed a seat, but it is right on the main street in Breckenridge and close to the hill.
The town of aspen features a lot of apres destinations between the four mountains, but my favourite by far is Zane's. After eating wings at other places I usually have to say, "these wings are good, but their no Zane's." They feature flavours such as cajun and asian teriyaki in addition to the traditional hot and barbecue. They are the biggest wings I've ever seen and they are only 25 cents. That is all in addition to the friendly service and $6.50 pitchers of beer.
My final spot is the Crystal Lounge in the village of Whistler about 50 steps from where you take your skis off at the bottom of the hill. It is downstairs with a small sign so it is harder to find than the ones with outdoor patios right next to the hill, but that doesn't mean people don't know about it. It is a younger crowd, mostly in their twenties, and features a couple different drink specials each day plus 25 cent wings. They are good, but they are no Zane's.
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