Spring Time Slush

Well that time of year is here, the temperatures are rising and the snow is getting soft and people are sure to fall victim to some nasty sunburns.  Spring skiing has arrived, one the best and worst times of year to ski.  They are a mix of days with perfect snow from an overnight sprinkle and bluebird skies with warmer temperatures to slushy snow, over-heating and closing down of your favorite runs.   As April draws near, avid skiers are saying a sad farewell to the season and already planning out their days for next season (me) or they are just going to migrate with the snow to Chile or somewhere that they can keep that incessant goggle tan going.   Spring skiing seems to posses some the best on-mountain stories. I am going to recap my personal favorite.

One of my first memories of the sacred spring skiing season is when my friends and I all got to be in a ski school class together (what were are parents thinking), it met every Saturday for six weeks.  Being in 2^nd grade at that time we thought we were the coolest kids the mountain, grant it we were higher level than most kids our age but we needed a reality check.  At the end of the six-week program every “team” would do a performance for parents at the bottom of the hill.  You did a synchro ski routine to the song of you choice and you had a team name that they announced, we took this very seriously. We practiced every single week, our poor instructor Pania, who we idolized, with her skilled skiing and Australian accent could hardly change our old skiing habits with our focus on the final performance.

            The second to the last week we all decided we all wanted to do the performance on blade skis, they are super short, Band-Aid looking ski’s, that do not handle the spring slush well at all. We had incorporated all kind of low level tricks and turns that needed to be done in your normal ski but we thought the extra touch of the blades along with our song choice “Eye of the Tiger” and team name of “Snow Cheetahs” was a clear winner. Clearly we were into the cat family at that time.

             Pania told us that we could do not it on blades, she told us do not bring them next week, she also explained we would for sure not win any recognition if we did them on blades. Did we listen? Of course not. We all lied to our parents, and told them we could bring our blade skis, our parents, not strangers to the spring snow perils were questioning this but let us go ahead anyways. 

Ali, Alex, Ashton, Jordan, Ally, Me and Reid

            Fast-forward to the final day, the big performance, we even received the privilege of being able to take or helmets off, which our parents did not enjoy, to wear bandanas on our head.  Imagine a team of six 2^nd grade girls, in different colored bandana (hello bikers), being announced as “snow cheetahs” to the song “Eye of the Tiger”, it was a scene. We started down in our blades, about to perform our first trick of skiing under each other legs, half the group made it through the other half, blades could not cut through the slush, so it was a car crash 10 seconds in. As they struggled to get up, the other half proceeded with Pania stuck in the middle, they were doing a gate simulation with bodies.  It is staggering each other to ski through like gates, as they entered the tuck position.  Kendall Blake, I will never forget, crashed into me so hard from her edge being caught, that there was a gasp. We were laughing and within 30 seconds of our two-minute performance it was already done. All because of those stupid blade ski’s. We are all so mad, and embarrassed that we could not finish nor that we showed off our perfected routine. On the other hand if left our parents and Pania laughing and gave them the worst parent permission to say, I told you so.  

            All I can say is, spring snow you win, you literally took us down.  It not only taught us the ways of spring skiing but also gave us a reality check about how seriously we should take ourselves.  Kendall, Ashton, Ali, Alex, Jordan and Reid, I still think we look pretty good out there. I still have that bandana, I wore the bright blue one.  Spring skiing may not be the best conditions for skiing but I think it is the best condition for memories.

            

2013 X-Games Hometown Showdown

Tinge, France is about to experience a intense showdown. In the 2013 X-Games Park City has sent five different athletes to compete. They compete March 20-22. Some of them were born and raised in PC, others moved to town early on to train. Each of these athletes grew up perfecting their style right in front of each other weather at the Utah Olympic Training Park or the Park City Mountain Resort half-pipe and terrain park.

These guys were also the people who I grew up walking the halls of high school with and sometimes skiing with. I may not be park skier myself but I have a lot of respect for the skill and talent of these guys. As I skiied the trees to right of the run, I could see each "cork-screw" or "back-flip mute grab" (different trick's coming off the jump or pipe). Needless to say, between my I-phone X games app and a friend with Tivo, I cannot wait to watch my hometown showdown. Here are the competitors:













Torin Wallace- Mens Superpipe







Walter Wood- Mens Superpipe
















McRea William - Mens Slope Style




















Alex Schlopy - Mens Slope Style









Joss Christensen- Mens Slope Style



For a little background on what this all about. The Winter X Games are, as described by ESPN is: " a competition compiled of the greatest winter action sport athletes from around the world competing on an annual basis" I totally agree, the X-games is not meant to replace the the thrill of the Olympics but be in a totally different realm of sport competition. It has a judging system that better recognizes the difficulty of the high-risk tricks. It also embodies the FreeSki culture much better, and competition is much more individual. The events also include snowboarding and snowmobiling.


The first Winter X Games took place in 1997 at Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, California. Starting in 2002, the games Winter have been held at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado. This year ESPN decided to do two rounds of the winter X-Games, first round occurred in January in Aspen and this week the second round is taking place in Tinges, France.



Being in Texas is not ideal when thinking about how I could be perfecting my own carve or rotation but watching these risk-seekers is pretty good. Your sport becomes that much more special when you are cheering on people  you know. Fame, glory and the vision of Marker and Burton sponsor deals are on the horizon for them. Best of luck to all the athletes but I know who I am looking to see on the podium.

The World Cup Review

I can tell you it is not the fireworks that make a great World Cup experience, save that for 4th of July.  It the combination of practice run the actual  few competition runs, and the atmosphere of high caliber competition. The World Cup is an experience that cannot be surpassed, it is a honor to host the global community and watch athletes try and reach Olympic dreams. The fact that it is at my home resort of Deer Valley, makes me want to get a plane and get home for some freestyle skiing.

Getting on the chairlift in your snow boots and shoes as the sun sets down up the resort, indicates the special experience, this is no normal events on the mountain. Make sure you dress warm or you will freeze in those dark nights. As always there is the IHC LifeFlight helicopter at the top, which is stark reminder that this high actions sport is full of risk for that 10 second thrill.
The hike up to the base of the venue is always a trek, the cold air filling your lungs.

As you approach you come upon the huge white VIP tent, let me tell you in all my World Cup watching days, I have never been in the white tent but I would rather not. It is down on the snow, leaning against the fence where you can get sprayed with by the athletes as they come to a stop that really and seeing their moms and dads face that makes this such a cool event.

It is hard not to to go slack-jaw when you see the athletes bump and bounce across the moguls, hopefully nailing their Iron Cross. The ring of the cow-bells and people waving flags from all the over the world, brings this feeling of such content. It is very uniting, everyone doing this for the same purpose. I am counting the minutes until the 2014 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in January already.

I love how  extremely goal-oriented this event is and normally skiing is not a place where I place too much emphasis on goals.  But when watching the world cup I cannot help but envision myself trying to accomplish all the flips and flys of those athletes one day. I want the snow gods to grant me the ability to catch all that high flying air. I guess that is my competitive spirit coming through. Hey you never know maybe one day you will see me on that FIS route. 

The Outer-Layers

Skiing is not just about the snow or technique, it is also about the gear. It goes beyond fashion lines, to compliment that outfit you have to the proper skis, bindings, boots, helmet, goggles and more Luckily you  do not have to sacrifice looks for performance, goodbye rail skis and neon full pieces. Here is the 2012-2013 season review of gear trends and fashion.

We will start with the obvious, the skis, you cannot go skiing without them. There are so many types of skis for every kind of terrain. We will stick to all mountain skis, what majority of visitors will use on their vacation. 

The top pick this last season for all mountain ski is the 4FRNT Madonna Ski. The tapered tail makes edge to edge carving easier than ever before. 

This edition also has shorter "rocker"(the curve)  radius in tip and tail for more control. This ski not only performs perfectly but has an edgier design that brings out the new-age style of skiing.  

Just like skis, boot come in a wide variety of choices for all terrain and performance. Race boots vary greatly from your leisure skiing boot. We will stick to a high performance boot but still well rounded  that most skiers above a novice level could navigate in across all terrain. The Rossignol Electra Pro 110 Boot.

This boots does a great job combining comfort, performance and style. The asymmetrical toe-box and ankle space allow provide comfort, the stiff angle and straps keep you in form. That fur is not just for show but actually will help keep those toes warm.

Goggles are the most under-rated piece of ski equipment. They are vital to style and experience. They not only make up a large part of your ski fashion but they are your eye protection from elements, affect your field of vision, and the visual clarity of the snow. The Smith I/0X Goggle.


The neutral colors will match any outfit and the boxy shape is right on trend with the high fashion or park skiing. The best part about this product though is the lenses. The lenses are interchangeable for lighting conditions which is ideal for flat light days or sunny skies. The lenses have anti-fog protection layer which is perfect when you are working up a sweat.


Gone are the days of ugly helmets and other unsightly pieces of head wear. A helmet is no longer a eye sore for the sake of safety but a stylish, sleek and technological piece that I think every skier or snowboarder alike should wear because it makes all the difference in that downhill crash. This helmet meets comfort, beauty, technology and more. The Pro-Tec Riot Boa Helmet .

This helmet comes in a sleek, matte variety of colors along with a perfect fit for great looks (no big heads). The "Boa" system though is what makes the real difference, the padding inside the helmet with the carbonate outside ensures ultimate protection in a fall. This helmet also has top vents for the days you are breaking a sweat. To top it off this helmet has blue tooth ear buds built in for some tunes on the snow.

Cold hands are the worst, it effects your entire day. It makes everything difficult with thumbing fingers and you are just plain miserable, that is why bad gloves are not option. The Walmart gloves do not make the cut, it is  a worthy investment to go for quality. The Hestra Henrik Windset Pro Model Mitt is in top price range but worth every penny.



These mittens have top hand padding for any impact you may endure, with a cowhide exterior these gloves are made for durability and keep the elements out. It comes in a set of sassy colors that would match any outfit. It has tight fabric with Velcro strap to keep snow with a set of wrist bands so that there is no missing gloves off the lift. The best part of this glove is the interior with the thermal insulation with individual finger compartments that keep you fingers toasty all day long, the fabric wicks moisture so that sweaty hand don't lead to ice cubes.


Now for the true identity if a skier, the jacket and pants! It is the best way to show you on mountain style. It shows what kind of skier you are, how much you ski and terrain choice. The high end lunching skiers that enjoy those groomers and leisure skiing you can always find in Bogner gear, Europe's line of ski wear luxury. The  "park rats" are in their neon over sized jackets but do not be fooled the park skiers know quality also. I could categorize every type of ski wear but I am going to keep in line with a general theme of a all mountain skier, and this brand is personally on of my favorites. The Arc'teryx Sabe Jacket and Arc'teryx Sabe full bib Pant. 


This brand defines excellence combining clean, sporty looks that turns heads and know how to the battle elements while including cool extras on the jacket.  It is made out of Gore-Tex NP80-X material that is so light weight you would forget you have all your gear but do not fear you this jacket will keep you toasty on the most brutal days. The weather sealed zippers keep all your gadgets dry and grab at the ankles keep the snow out. These jackets look great on and off the mountain and the pants fit perfectly, no grab or constraint. 

This whole group of gear is the full-time, highest performance gear.  Each item hit on the latest trends of the 2012-2013 ski season. Next time you decided to come out to the snow, you can do it in style and performance. . Skiing is not just puffy coats and ugly knit hats anymore ski gear has its own high end line of clothing that meet any performance and fashion needs.

  
For this article I referenced  my own knowledge and the editors picks at: http://freeskier.com/gear

Behind The Uniform

 I feel at this point, I have given you all a pretty good idea of ski culture and community. I hope so at least! Before I delved more into my personal spin on skiing I wanted to ensure that y'all had some background. Now that you know the in's and outs of powder days and more, I am going to take you on a personal tour of my ski life, a day in life inside Deer Valley Ski School.  I started working at ski school when I was 14 years old, a freshman in high school and I here I am sophomore in college, 20 years old still wearing that signature green and gold uniform. I went into my first day of work hoping to meet some new people and have a cool job on my resume but that expectation was by far exceeded. Deer Valley Ski Resort became my second home within Park City. Ski school became the place where I found mentors, a passion for children, a source of motivation along with  forming  unprecedented costumer service skills and more. Deer Valley Ski School, is not a day job, it is a lifestyle job. Being responsible for someones child in a high risk sport from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM creates a set stories and relationships between people that go beyond the clock.

My first four seasons were spent as an instructor assistant, since I was under 18 I could not be a full instructor. My job was to ski with a class normally at first time/beginner level and help the instructor. We also made sure all lifts had riders for the children, wore the Deer Valley mascot costumes (imagine me in a reindeer suit, haha) and any indoor tasks. The past two seasons I have been full instructor, meaning the responsibility is all on me now. I received my PSIA level I certification last winter, which is a national ski instructor certification that requires clinic hours, workshops, workbooks and a final two day on-mountain test. This certification allows me to teach up to advance-intermediate classes. Deer Valley takes instructor training very seriously. Being the number one ski resort in North American for the past five seasons and a top-tier ski school, Deer Valley ski instructors have more employee-guest interaction than anyone other employee at the resort. You are expected to perform at the Deer Valley standard. Moving up in the instructor ranks takes time and work. You have to prove your skill on snow, attend endless clinic hours ranging from how to make progression turns to autism spectrum disorders.  Receive continual positive feedback at your 45 day and end of season review and receive the national level certifications. Being a ski instructor is not all goggle tans and powder days.

Ski School 2007-Season one

You start your day greeting families inside and reassuring their last worries. Each age group is in a different meeting area inside. Fun fact, Deer Valley has the largest childcare area out of any other ski resort in the country.  Greeting families includes proper tag checking, doing what is called a verbal split (talking them through their ability level, parents tend to over exaggerate!), ensuring that  they have all their equipment then taking them to the proper instructor. What is not included in the list of this process is that most of these children come in with altitude sickness and tears and a cranky five year old is no fun. Once the clock hits 9:30 your 6 children in your class need to be fully dressed, sun screened and mentally prepared to leave. You have also turned in a yellow slip with all children names, their security code and the days game plan.  You hit the snow, go through initial instruction which changes for every level, even sub-level. You can either then head to the lift or magic carpet. Between then and lunch at 11:45 you objective is to ensure that every child belongs in that group, which sometimes means switching with supervisors and instructors. You all need to cover basic skills of that ability level and start your real work.

 Lunch comes you get every child undressed, serve them all lunch, fill out a pink slip again and start the whole process over. at 2:15 is hot chocolate break, start the whole process again  but this time you are filling out report cards. Now on a normal day some child has been continually crying, you have ran into multiple parents with crazy requests, a child who will not listen for the life of him/her and another little one who wont let go of your hand. The day ends at 3:45PM but don't expect most of these parents to be down till 4:00 PM, you give report card, take their vest, also do a conference with each one and fill out a white slip to turn in.  At this point I have been in my ski boots since 7:45AM, that is almost six hours, the weather has gone from a warm day to freezing blizzard.  After this description you are probably thinking, who would ever want to do this? I do.

See you are always going to have difficult children and parents. There are some days it is so hard to make a effective lesson with all these factors but working through and making that lesson effective is the Deer Valley difference. That despite all these situations, your child will be a better skier, you don't pay the price you do for a ineffective lesson.There are so many moments that occur everyday that you cannot experience anywhere else. Watching a fearful, teary child turn into the little ripper down the mountain, singing songs in the lift line with a bunch of people your age or older, spending every moment outside  talking, not texting, taking that kid who could not do anything at the start day end up yelling to his parents that he is dying to come back tomorrow or having that little girl hug you every season when she returns. Our job is to make family vacations magical, that sounds lame but it true. People spend thousands of dollars on a family vacation like this, it is a lot of work for these families and my job is to make sure it is a good one. I know from my own family vacations, what having a great vacation feels like and the memories you come back with. I honored to be apart of that.

Last Chair, skiing that goes beyond the snow.

            You know you are true ski junkie when you replace your daily social media of Facebook and Pintrest with website like skinet.com or the ski episode channel on vimeo. The other day I was doing my daily browsing of ski media and came across a article off of skinet.com called,“Stuff We Like: Flyin’ Ryan” by Berne Body. This story was written back in 2012 about Ryan Hawks a year after he sustained life-ending injuries at the Freeride World Tour Competition at Kirkwood Resort in California. The article discusses how his family found after his death a list of his core life principles on his computer that Ryan aimed to live by and how they turned that list into a working non-profit called: Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation.

            

The foundation provides “adventure scholarships to deserving adventurers who are: passionate about their pursuit, represent the principles for which Ryan was widely known and admired, and financially disadvantaged.”  As I clicked link after link on the website I was more and more captivated by the mission of this organization because I will admit it is hard for me to defend the idea of giving scholarship money to young people who want to adventure when there are millions of children who cant afford to go to college.

This perspective changed when I read through Ryan’s 14 core life principles:

Live every day, all day

Never stop exploring life

Never lose my adventuresome attitude

Be the best friend I can be

Be the best brother, son, uncle I can

Look out for others

Look out for myself

Look out for our surroundings

Play like I’m thirteen

Be self-sufficient

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Work hard

Live easy

     Live simply

            These principles are so basic but yet so insightful. These qualities also truly reflect a skier. When you dedicate your entire career and life to a sport like skiing, it is unlike any other sport because these athletes have to posses an ability to really push themselves physically, be comfortable directly interacting in the natural environment. The audience of this sport is very small beside coverage on winter Olympics and X-games, you have to have a true passion to continue to dedicate your life without out much payment and recognition. This sport is also very individual, every success or lose is on your sole performance which creates a sisterhood and brotherhood between people because only those who put in those hours with you. They can testify to your true talent. Ryan managed to articulate the ideologies of skiing, which are hard to understand if you don’t spend the day after day battling the elements.

           

            As someone who grew up in a community that placed high value on adventure, breaking the norm I can see how important a foundation like this is. The idea of waiting on college possibly and continuing to ski in hopes of that Olympic gold medal or hiking the Andes in Peru instead of working on a career is extremely hard to imagine. I never considered not going directly to college, that is what I was taught and that is what I wanted. I think that college is in valuable but I can appreciate that for some people that may not be the path for them and the foundation can provide the guidance and aid for them to take a healthy and successful path for those who are true adventurers at heart.

           

            I sat down and thought about what would be some of my core principles would be and decide to create a list of five.

            -Connect to nature

            -Appreciate the quiet moments

            -Be charged with passion

            -Dedicate yourself completely

            -Keep exploring

           

            Creating this list of five I found how enlightening it is to really sit down and think about what doctrines you think/want to live by. It forced me to think about what I was doing with my life now and what I would have done if I choose to go on a grand adventure like Ryan and his recipients did. I would not change anything but I realized that my time for a grand adventure has not been lost, I should aim to make my entire life a grand adventure. Why does a adventure have to only be exploring the far depths of the world, college is a adventure just a different one. Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation maybe provide for the most perilous adventure but I think in end Ryan wanted to instill in others the importance of going beyond the line you set for yourself in what your pursue, you dream, how you treat yourself and others. 

Flyin Ryan Hawk Foundation website: http://www.flyinryanhawks.org/