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People (Interviews)

Listen up: Interview with Melanie Bernier on CBC Radio!

February 25, 2014 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

Here you can listen to Melanie Bernier’s five minute telephone interview on Canada’s main station – the CBC Radio – from this morning. This is another step for ski mountaineering racing in finding its way into more Canadian hearts.
Being the first ever Canadian to step onto the World Cup ski mountaineering podium she rightly deserved to be featured on the CBC Daybreak show.

For more details about Melanie’s 2014 skimo World Cup racing check out these Skintrack interviews and articles:

  • Podcast interview with Melanie from December 2014
    http://www.skintrack.com/tips-tricks-advice/interview-with-melanie-bernier-skimo-training/
  • Melanie’s exclusive recap from January 2014
    http://www.skintrack.com/skimo-racing/world-cup-skimo-racing-melanie-bernier/

If you know of other main stream media interviews with skimo athletes share a link in comments below.

Melanie on the World Cup podium (right side) after placing 3rd in a sprint in Feb 2014.
Melanie on the World Cup podium (right side) after placing 3rd in a sprint in Feb 2014.

Filed Under: People (Interviews), Skimo Racing Tagged With: Melanie Bernier, skimo World Cup

Training and gear for Gore-Tex Grand Traverse: Interview with Jon Brown

January 28, 2014 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

Once known as the Elk Mountains Grand Traverse, I learned about this race in 2003 and wanted to attend it ever since. With other commitments lined up I will have to postpone it once again but since some of you are going, here, I want to provide you of what to expect and how to go about preparing for it.
grand-traverse-logoAt midnight on Friday March 28th, 2014 a head-lamped horde will set out from Crested Butte, CO for the town of Aspen, CO. Skiing 40 miles through the backcountry at night, teams of two racers carry the equipment needed to navigate a largely unmarked course past two checkpoints before finishing down Aspen Mountain in the sunlight. This annual ritual of athleticism and backcountry hardiness now called the Gore-Tex Grand Traverse is among the longest and most challenging skimo races in North America.
Modeled after European-style traverse races and based on old mail routes between Crested Butte and Aspen, the Grand Traverse gains only seven-thousand vertical feet over its length, offering instead the more variable challenges of a true backcountry experience: the unmarked course has offered temperatures well-below zero, variable snow conditions, open river crossings, and snowless hillsides in years past.
The Grand Traverse has traditionally been a race won by nordic skiers with metal-edged touring skis until in recent years advances in alpine touring race equipment have put randonnee skiers on the podium, with only the strongest nordic teams remaining among the top-ten finishers.

Interview – training and gear

In the following interview, Patrick Fink interviews Team Crested Butte member Jon Brown who answers questions about the training and gear that contribute to a successful and competitive Grand Traverse.
Jon has raced ten of the last twelve Grand Traverses, winning the race in 2006 with his partner Brian Smith. He talks about the strategy he uses to prepare for a race with so much time on the flats, the lightest possible kit for the traverse, and the “positive attitude and sense of adventure” needed to make the race into an “amazing experience”. His extensive experience with the traverse shows through, offering nuggets of hard-won wisdom for first-timers and veterans alike.
Continue to the interview and enjoy, it’s a nice read:
» http://mountainlessons.com/skiing/elkmountainsgrandtraverse-qa-with-jonbrown

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Grand Traverse, Jon Brown

Back in the USA: Interview with Nina Silitch, the most successful North American skimo racer

January 21, 2014 By Stano Faban 4 Comments

I interviewed Nina Silitch back in April, 2012 after she won a World Cup skimo race as the first North American ever. It was a sprint event in Tromso, Norway and her win was only a signal of things to come in the following season.
We all know what happened last winter (2012/13) but in case you didn’t catch it – she went on to win a silver medal at the 2013 SkiMo World Championships and another World Cup gold in Tromso later last season (link to Nina’s blog post about that) – and all this while raising two boys!
But let’s catch up with her now as lots of things changed since she won that gold in Norway.

Nina leading finals in Tromso (April, 2013).
Nina leading skimo sprint finals in Tromso (April, 2013).

And here we go

Q: I understand that you have moved back to US permanently. Where do you live now?
My family moved to Dublin, New Hampshire in New England, back to my roots. It was in New England that I discovered my love of skiing. Michael (my husband) and I are teaching at a small independent boarding school. We are heading up their cross country ski team, helping it grow to a new level. I used to compete in cross country and I am really excited to be coaching and helping this program grow!
Q: For how many years did you live in Europe?
We lived in the Alps for twelve years. I taught in Switzerland where my two children were born, before living in Chamonix.

Summer endurance training and winter strength session with her sons.
Nina’s summer endurance training and winter strength sessions with her sons.
Q: Was your return to the US a long planned decision or a sudden one? What do your boys say about it?
Michael and I were ready for a change. Not specifically to the USA, but one that could develop our careers further. My boys are very excited to be living here. They have opportunities to ski both alpine and cross country.
Q: Does it mean that you are out of Europe now that you are retiring from skimo racing? Will we see you racing in the US?
I am sure that I will be back in Europe someday to compete in a Grande Course race but I can say that I am retired from the World Cup. Chamonix has been a home for many years and I have many close friends there still. We plan to stay connected as a family to the Alps and could one day return.
I am very excited to help grow the sport of skimo in North America, particularly New England, where I am living.  The youth are really the future of the sport; I hope to help bring on some younger skiers in the sport.
Putting the hammer down!
Putting the hammer down!
Q: So what lays ahead? Have you figured out what will be your daily motivation?
Right now it’s a big transition for me from the Alps and what I was doing as a world cup athlete. I am trying to embrace all the newness of being here and breath through the transition. This winter, as I am on my x-country skis a lot, I am excited to try my hand at the sprint races in Nordic. I will explore the skimo scene here in New England and keep discovering new and meeting people who love to get out there in the mountains pushing their bodies.
Q: Do you plan on coaching whether that be skimo or other sports?
As I mentioned before, I am a head coach for the Dublin School Nordic team with my husband. I am also excited to work with younger skiers in the sport of skimo and help the sport grow. If skimo does get into the Olympics in 2022, it is with the youth that we need to focus on today.
Q: You had some great performances last season, with cherry on the cake being the silver medal from Worlds. If any, what were the most important changes in your training for that season? Have you trained more, better… recovery, food…?
For me,  actually winning the final World Cup sprint of the season was the cherry on the cake and ending my season with another World Cup gold medal in Tromso was really serendipitous.
I had a few errors in the sprint World Cups and at World Champs, starting with a disqualification in the first sprint in Switzerland when I was in the semi finals. I came 2nd at the World Championships, missing the gold by mere seconds  due to an error and 4th at the Italian Sprint World Cup not feeling my best. To end my season and World Cup career with the gold was my goal.
What did I do differently? I did focus more on strength training, specifically for the sprint,  working my fast twitch muscles.  Because of this, I did suffer more and sacrifice my distance races but it was a choice I made to get to where I wanted to go. It’s tough to be the best sprinter in the world and the best distance racer so that was a sacrifice I had to make.
I worked a lot on mental preparation and breathing techniques as well as knowing when I needed to recover and when to push myself. The sprint to me is one of the most stressful races as so much happens in 3 minutes one has to be ready for anything. I have to thank my coaches, Adam St. Pierre of Boulder Sports Medicine and Fabien Meyer who helped me a lot with sprinting as well as Romain Flandin,  my amazing friends at Chamonix Ski Alpinisme Club. Last but not least is my husband, Michael, also an ISMF technical delegate but more importantly, the one who supported me in this World Cup pursuit. It has been an amazing journey!
Q: Have you also experimented with equipment?
I have been playing around with pole length. The trick with poles is not to go too long for quickness. I use Swix Carbon Fiber poles: CT2s or Triaxs as I am sponsored by Swix.  I have had opportunities to be sponsored by different ski manufacturers and have chosen SkiTrab because of the great combination of ski performance up and down, and light weight. Plum bindings have been the best for me. The company is really supportive and growing world wide. I have worked with Pomoca in developing a fast skin that also has good hold. I also work really hard to dial in my race pack so it is top notch for my sprint transitions.
With gold in Tromso last April.
With gold in Tromso last April.
Q: What did you race on during last season? (Skis, boots, bindings, skins)
Ski Trab World Cup Race skis, Plum bindings, Pierre Gignoux 444 boots, Pomoca skins, Swix Ct2 poles, Oakley glasses. Hammer Nutrition Heed in my CamelBak bottle between rounds. These sponsors have been amazing supporters of me and I thank them very much!
Q: How tall are you and how long were the ski poles you used for your sprint races?
My poles for the sprint are identical for the individual. I like shorter poles as they allow me to be quicker. I am 5’ 5.5” (166 cm) and my poles are 127.5 cm.
I think that people generally use poles that are too long. There is a trend on the World Cup over the last few years for men to race with shorter poles. A shorter pole length allows a quicker cadence. By comparison my Nordic classic poles are 140cm so 12.5 cm shorter.
Q: Let’s talk about others now. What did you think of the US team performance as a whole at the 2013 skimo Worlds?
I think it’s great to see the North Americans growing stronger in the sport! It is a sport so rooted in the Alps but we are certainly bringing a stronger presence in Europe, especially with the Canadians living there last year. This year I know there are a few more Americans in Europe.
It’s funny, when I first did the Pierra Menta in 2008, the French thought we would never survive and finish it. We did and I went on to compete in five Pierra Mentas back-to-back.
Q: What would you advise US and Canadian skimo athletes to do (or keep doing) to improve towards the 2015 World Champs?
It is essential to work on transitions. To keep creating courses that are technical, that are not just straight up a piste, but one that provides a variety of terrain. My husband is a technical delegate for the ISMF and is excited to help with course setting in the US.
Q: Why do you think French skimo team was so dominant in the past season? Have you trained with them a bit?
In Europe, these athletes are starting skimo early as teenagers and have been doing it for many years. Many of them come from a strong background in alpine and cross country and this can carry over into the sport of skimo.
I trained  a lot with some of the French athletes in Chamonix, especially for the sprint. Our club had four medals in World Cup, two at the World Championships (a gold in the relay and a silver in the sprint) and two in the final World Cup sprint. A gold for USA (for me, the President of the club) and a bronze for our coach, Yann Gachet for France. It’s clear that we were doing something right in the sprint.
Nina got very close to capturing gold at the 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Championships. Only her mistake bumped her to 2nd.
Nina got very close to capturing gold at the 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Championships. Only a small mistake bumped her to 2nd.
Q: Which racer do you think has the best technique or technical skills on the World Cup level? 
That is a tough question to pinpoint one person. The World Cup courses tend not to be as technical as persay a Grand Course. William Bon Mardion from France is the best descender and also an amazing climber. Lateicia Roux still is very strong in France but many younger athletes are coming up the ranks. I think a claim to fame for me is that I was able to beat her three times in my career.
Nina Silitch at Pierra Menta
Nina with her partner, Valentine Fabre, climbing the Grand Mont at Pierra Menta 2012. (Photo by Xtof Aubonnet, from Nina’s blog.)
Q: Can you list some Euro races you recommend North Americans should do?
Any of the Grand Course races are a must: The Pierra Menta, The Mezzalama, The PDG. All of these races can give one a real sense of racing in the Alps.
Q: Which one was your favourite?
Non-World Cup race: The hardest and most memorable is the Pierra Menta. The Tromso sprint (where I won a gold in 2012 & 2013) is my favourite World Cup hands down.
Q: I have to ask this one as I am very curious – do any people in France read Skintrack at least a bit? 🙂

I don’t know but I am happy to help get it out there. Do you have a French translation?
Stano: I don’t, but I will look into incorporating Google translate tool on the site.
Q: What would be your advice to further improve this site?
I love how you interview athletes and also have gear reviews and race reports. Maybe you can start a series on training for ski mountaineering. I just wrote an article on transitioning from trail running to skimo season.

Nina’s skimo career results

And that is all for this interview with Nina, and I am looking forward to talking to her in the future again. Thank you Nina!
To finish this article, here are some highlights from Nina career:

  • World Championships Podiums: 1 (Silver medal in Sprint, Pelvoux 2013)
  • World Cup Podiums: 2 (2 Gold medals)
  • World Cup starts: 41
  • World Cup top ten: 14
  • World Championships race starts: 10
  • World Championships selections: 4 last World Champs (Pelvoux, France 2013, Claut, Italy 2011, Andorra 2010, Champery, Switzerland 2008)
  • World Championships top ten: 3 (Pelvoux 2013, Claut 2011, Andorra 2010)
  • US Ski Mountaineering Team: 2008-2013

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Nina Silitch

Podcast interview with Chad Brackelsberg on Wasatch Powder Keg, race organizing, racing

January 9, 2014 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

chad-600x300-banner
I didn’t think the second episode of SkinTrack podcast would come so soon but the opportunity was there so why not. Now, after the interview with Melanie Bernier, you can listen to my conversation with the Wasatch Powder Keg race director Chad Brackelsberg. It’s full of great tips for anyone involved (or wanting to be) in the skimo racing community,
Chad is a skimo racer himself but he is mostly known in the rapidly growing skimo community as the guy that puts on one of the best races on the continent.
At the beginning, I provided a preview of the upcoming events in North America, and at the end, I talked about the Canadian Skimo Championships that will be held at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, BC over two days on Mar 21-22, 2013.

This interview is full of great tips but we mainly discussed:

  • all about, history included, the upcoming Wasatch Powder Keg skimo race which will be held on March 7-9
  • how the Wasatch Citizen Skimo series is growing
  • what organizers can do to improve their races
  • Chad’s skimo and ultra trail running
  • his passion for FKTs in the mountains (fastest known time)
  • how he balances training, work, and family

Resources related to this podcast episode:

  • Wasatch Powder Keg website – http://wasatchpowderkeg.com/
  • Chad’s blog – http://thebrackpack.com/
  • Couple of times we referred to my interview with Melanie Bernier from 10 days ago
    http://www.skintrack.com/tips-tricks-advice/interview-with-melanie-bernier-skimo-training

Thank you for listening and leave a comment below with ideas how these episodes could be improved.

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Chad Brackelsberg, podcast, skimo training, Wasatch Po

Podcast Interview with Melanie Bernier: Lots of tips from her training for skimo racing, gear, nutrition…

December 28, 2013 By Stano Faban 6 Comments

melanie-bernier-episode-1-600x300-banner
This is the first ever episode of SkinTrack.com podcast! It’s not fully podcast-like in a sense that you can download it (will come later) but you can definitely just sit back and listen instead of reading.
For this first episode, I chose to interview my good friend Melanie Bernier who is one of the most inspirational people I know, and a fellow member on the Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Team.
Melanie is one of the most accomplished skimo racers in North America with a 4th place from 2013 Pierra Menta being one of her career highlights. She is fine tuning her game every season and her improvements are results of long-term daily hard work, strong commitment and big passion for skimo.

In this interview we discussed:

  • Melanie’s last winter Euro racing campaign and her most favourite moments
  • her upcoming trip back to Europe for more World Cup action
  • current training
  • nutrition (Paleo diet)
  • her current racing gear
  • skimo pole lengths
  • and her future goals

Resources related to this podcast episode:

  • How to determine your skimo poles length?
    http://www.skintrack.com/skimo-racing/racing-101/how-to-choose-right-length-kind-skimo-racing-poles/
  • How to structure your skimo racing training?
    http://www.skintrack.com/skimo-racing/how-to-structure-your-day-to-day-skimo-training/
  • Pierra Menta
    http://www.pierramenta.com/

I really hope that you enjoyed this interview format and please leave a comment below if you liked it. If not then please leave suggestions on what can be improved going forward with these podcast episodes. Thank you!

Filed Under: People (Interviews), Training, Tricks & Tips Tagged With: Melanie Bernier, Paleo diet, Pierra Menta, podcast, skimo racing poles length, skimo training

Interview with under-the-radar Trevor Hunt: About light gear and steep skiing on the Coast and beyond

December 14, 2013 By Stano Faban 5 Comments

coast_steep_skier_logoI don’t get stoked easily, but I am totally psyched to bring you this interview because Trevor Hunt skis literally the gnarliest shit on almost ski mountaineering racing gear – and you never heard of him!
Sure there are people that knew of Trevor before but the reality is that most of us never heard about him even a year ago, yet, for over a decade now, he has been collecting big lines and first descents.
To this day I never met him, never talked to him. Despite that I decided to bother him with an interview request. He agreed.

And here we go, as good as it gets!

» Trevor’s blog – http://www.coaststeepskier.com/wphome/
» Trevor on Twitter – @coaststeepskier
Q: Trevor, you grew up in Whistler, what is your skiing background? Downhill racing?
No racing. I was sort of a mellow freeskier growing up. My parents mostly taught me in the beginning.
Fun fact: Shane McConkey’s Dad, Jim, once told my Dad not to give kids ski poles when they’re young. I remember being made fun of by the other kids for not having poles. But I guess I turned out pretty good.
Q: When did the steep slopes become a strong inspiration?
I discovered the backcountry in late high school, but skiing steeps in the backcountry didn’t come till after 4 years at University.
I moved back to Whistler, and gradually progressed on steeper objectives.  I enjoyed it, but it was all pretty innocent.  Wasn’t really aware or concerned with skiing anything specific, or with the history of the sport, or what other people were currently doing.

As close to revealing himself as it gets.
As close to revealing himself as it gets.
Q: What does steep skiing mean to you?
Probably easiest to take a step back. To me, the term ski mountaineering works well as an umbrella term for travelling safely in the mountains, using mountaineering skills to traverse glaciers and climb and ski technical lines. These skills are the priority, and allow participants to have a wide range of skiing abilities. For example, expert climbers with little ski experience can have great success in ski mountaineering.
I see steep skiing as a sub-discipline of this: the art of linking turns on ultra-steep slopes with no safe run-outs. Steep skiing focuses on the skiing and its style. Whether on skis or snowboard, side-slipping is not steep skiing… it is just side-slipping.
Regardless of how many rappels are done, if the skiing in-between isn’t steep, well it just isn’t steep skiing. But even steep skiing has become just another overused hashtag.
trevor-hunt-03
Q: Which lines that you skied challenged you the most?
My 2003 solo of the Siberian Express on Atwell Peak – I was young and had never soloed anything that physically nor mentally challenging.
My 2004 solo of Nun (7000m) in India – I’d gone a bit rogue in the Himalayas and was randomly picking off various peaks in different countries. Internet was spotty back then and I don’t think anyone knew I was actually in India. Playing that far away from the safety net was mentally challenging.
1st descent of Mount Vancouver in 2005 with Ptor Spricenieks – two days of non-stop climbing and skiing, maybe the most challenging endurance-wise.
1st descent of the Canadian on Atwell in 2012 – I made the mistake of climbing a slope (without a rope) that was too steep and icy to ski.  Took some serious mental gymnastics to convince myself it was skiable.
1st descent of the southeast couloir of Chatyn-Tau, Georgia this year – conditions were very icy, slopes were very steep and my legs were totally spent.
Stano’s note: Atwell Peak has special place in Trevor’s heart, or is it that it’s just close to his home.
Q: Within reason, you use quite the light gear for such lines. Can you discuss some of your history with light gear?
My first ski line on short skis. Dynafits (with original logo!) 170cm 73mm underfoot. Siberian Express, Mt Atwell, 2003.
My first ski line on short skis. Dynafits (with original logo!) 170cm 73mm underfoot. Siberian Express, Mt Atwell, 2003.
In 2003/04 I spent a year in the Himalayas skiing on a pair of Dynafit Alpha Rando skis. It forced me to become an expert at using them in all conditions and opened my eyes as to what and how you could ski on small skis. Since then, I’ve always had an expedition steep set-up that was about 170cm long and very thin.
In 2006 I bought some TLT4 boots, and used them on some ‘fat’ ultra-light Goode Carbon skis.  This setup opened my eyes to the Jedi techniques possible when using light and wide skis in deep powder. Since then, I’ve been experimenting with some of the lightest boots and bindings available on fatter skis.
I cannot overstate the joy of skiing deep powder with these types of setups – pretty much a different sport. Something about all the weight being distributed along the length of the ski, allows for interesting centrifugal forces within the carve. Even the weight of standard ‘light’ boots and tech bindings, is enough to create dead weight in the center of the ski, and ruin the fun.
When I bought my DyNA’s in ’09, I sold all my heavier boots, and haven’t skied on a boot with more than 2 buckles since. I also bought what was probably the first pair of Plum race bindings sold at retail in North America. A little ridiculous since I immediately mounted them on a pair of powder skis.
Q: Can you list some of the gear combinations that you use and for what?
My favourite steep setup was 171cm Dynafit Nanga Parbats 74mm wide with low-tech bindings and DyNA boots (09/10 models). But I sold the skis, since the low-techs couldn’t handle steep ice.
This has been replaced with 174cm Dynafit Cho Oyus 88mm wide, with Speed Radicals (they’re samples that came with Speeds so I’ll probably lighten up the heels).
Currently my steep powder setup is Dynafit TLT 6 boots with Speed toes and proto heels (56g), on 173cm Grand Tetons 105mm wide. Also have the same combo on a pair of 186 Dynafit Huascarans 114mm wide, for powder and big mountain stuff.
I’ve also gotten back on the “light and fat” program, with DyNA Evo boots, superlight bindings and 177cm Huascarans 112mm wide. Although I should probably just have Low Techs on this setup instead of Superlights.
trevor-hunt-quiver
Q: Just give us a perspective to the above gear, how tall are you and how much do you weigh?
Six foot one, 175 pounds.
Q: Have you ever used the Ascent Plates for boot-packing up steep snow?
I used them a bunch last year. They did a great job of saving my energy, and allowed me to get up stuff that would usually be too steep to climb in deep snow. I could also see them revolutionizing climbing speed ascents in the Himalayas etc. on lesser travelled peaks with no established tracks.
Stano’s note: If you like to go up steep snowy slopes I recommend checking out these plates – http://billygoattech.com. I have never used them and have no affiliation but I am becoming a fan.
Q: Where have you skied outside of Coast Mountains?
With a job and bills etc, I’ve been more focused with skiing in my backyard, but when I was younger I spent a lot of time overseas.  I have a special connection with a family in the Karakoram (Pakistan) that I’ve visited a few times. India, Nepal, New Zealand, Georgia, Alaska, Peru. Most trips were always very random with no clear objectives, which is my favourite kind.
Can you spot Trevor's tracks? Pic is from Chatyn-Tau, Georgia and Trevor says it was "...very steep and very icy."
Can you spot Trevor’s tracks? Pic is from Chatyn-Tau, Georgia and Trevor says it was “…very steep and very icy.”
Q: Any plans for steep descents beyond the Coast? What would be a dream or a big challenge?
Well there are the usual suspects, the last great ski lines that everybody mentions. I also have a bunch of world-class lines off the radar.  But as I mentioned before, I enjoy trips that don’t have specific itineraries, mountains, or routes. Impossible to get sponsors though when your main goal is just to wander in the Himalayas and poach peaks at random.
Q: You have recently become a Dynafit athlete. Do you have a daily job?
I’m a designer. Mostly backpacks and outdoor clothing.
Q: Do you do any special training to improve at what you do?
Not really any specific training. I think weight training is important to make your body more indestructible. I’m not as concerned about my cardio, which slowly builds throughout the season as I ski tour. But I always try to keep the body moving.
Q: What other sports do you do? And what about summer, do you ski or just enjoy other things?
I’m certainly a very dedicated skier. I had such an intense winter last year that I really relaxed this summer.  I’ve always dabbled a bit in climbing and mountain biking though – hard not to when you live in Squamish.
Q: You do lots of big missions by yourself. I have done a couple like that myself. What is your reasoning, or not fearing to do something big alone?
Because of the stable snowpack and easy travel on relatively smooth glaciers, the Coast has a rich history of soloing: from guys like Trevor Peterson, to Ptor Spricenieks, and now I guess I’m continuing that tradition.
For me soloing was a natural and slow progression. When I was young it was probably a bit ego based. But I soon realized that I was just meant to do some stuff solo, and I really began to enjoy it. There is a purity to it as well, in that you make 100% of decisions for yourself, which is a must when skiing stuff with life and death consequences.  No one is there to influence you with his or her fears or over-confidence.
But getting psyched on soloing is about as cool as getting psyched on heroin. I would never suggest it, and I certainly wouldn’t solo the big stuff if I had kids.
Coastal steeps on Dynafit TLT6's, 177cm Huascaran skis and Superlights bindings.
Coastal steeps on Dynafit TLT6’s, 177cm Huascaran skis and Superlights bindings.
Q: In your opinion, what are the two most inspiring descents ever skied – one in Canada, and one worldwide?
The coolest thing about steep skiing is that there is no best, no gold medals, no competition. Every participant at the elite level has the same life and death mental struggles, regardless of the advancement in gear over previous generations.  So you don’t get much progression, or descents that are heads and shoulders above the rest.
If I had to choose a descents that give me the most joy just thinking about them, then surely the style of Chris Brazeau’s solo descent of Bryce is tops. It’s probably the most badass singular effort in North American ski mountaineering.  What makes it even cooler, is that the ski media doesn’t seem realize it even happened, and also the fact that Chris is an unsponsored dirt-bag climber (thank-god someone is still keeping shit real!).
Internationally you’d assume that the most significant descents would happen in highest mountains of Himalayas. But skiers have had very mixed results in the fickle conditions there. I’ve always enjoyed the descents of Jean Noel Urban. I like the G6 descent in Pakistan or both the SW face attempts on Shishipangma (8,013m). But he wrote so little about them before he died.
Q: And who are some of the skiers/mountaineers/people that you find most inspiring?
Risking your life in the mountains is a totally personal experience. So I’ve never really been inspired by anyone else, although I certainly enjoy looking at what others are doing, and I’m psyched when a guy like Andreas Fransson skis something big. But in sports where death is a possible consequence, I don’t think there should be any heroes, role models, or inspiring figures.
If a skier succeeds on a massive line, we have no idea what his internal motivations are. Is he motivated by ego, recognition, depression, or is he naïve and surviving on dumb luck? No matter how the media romanticizes ski mountaineers, everybody has shit simmering below that isn’t very inspiring.
But I wouldn’t mind the fitness of Kilian Jornet and the skills of Jean Marc Boivin RIP.
Q: What would be your advice for someone that is a good backcountry skier but would like to try some steeper lines or couloirs? How should they go about it?
Having common sense and infinite patience are the two most important things any steep skier can have.
Education and learning from others is obviously important, but don’t rely on them.  Learn about yourself and your own limitations. It is a very precise sport, and if you’re not a very precise person then you should probably try something else.
Have an ‘elastic’ mind (ie. be open to every possibility, don’t blindly follow established plans).  Talk to the experts in your area. Find the fun, easy lines and progress from there.
And that’s it for the chat with Trevor – Thank you!
I am super happy he shared so much about his gear and that for a long time he kind of devoted himself to test its limitations for us 😉

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Atwell Peak, Trevor Hunt

Interview with Cripple Creek BC ski mountaineering store owners Doug Stenclik and Randy Young

November 2, 2013 By Stano Faban Leave a Comment

Four weeks ago you had a chance to read the very first store owner interview on Skintrack as I spoke to Jason Borro of Skimo.co.
Today, the spotlight is on the two owners of the Cripple Creek BC store and their website – CrippleCreekBC.com. Doug and Randy also choose to specialize on light & fast ski mountaineering gear which means more choice than ever for all North American ski mountaineers.
Q: You are a small store but you sell online as well. Where are you based?
cripple-creek-bc-thumb
Doug: We are at the foot of the Elk Mountains in Carbondale, Colorado just down valley from Aspen.
Q: For how long have you been open?
Randy: This dream has been about 4 years in the making. Doug and I were in different states and very different jobs and out of frustration with gear selection we decided this sport needed its own dedicated shop.
We were incorporated within the year and after a lot of grunt work we were officially open for business at the start of 12/13 season.
Q: Who are the people behind the store? Do you also rando race or only ski tour?
Doug: We are both avid rando racers. To commemorate the decision to officially go into business we did the Power of Four race as partners. After nearly 12,000 feet and 26 miles of racing we were still friends so it seemed like we’d have a chance in business.
Randy: I would also like to say Doug is a real sweet dude and while starting this business and waiting tables at night he still had the energy to race in nearly every COSMIC event in Colorado as well as the national championship in Jackson Hole. For me, on a good year I take on the Grand Traverse and sometimes even finish it.

Doug racing the Power of Four.
Doug racing the Power of Four.
Q: What are your backgrounds?
Randy: I worked at Surefoot as a boot fitter for a couple of seasons and at an outdoor equipment store in Aspen before we started Cripple Creek.
Doug: I also started at Surefoot and then The Gear Exchange in Burlington, VT and then onto Oregon Mountain Community before moving to Carbondale.
Randy and Doug have draft beer right in their new store.
Randy and Doug have draft beer right in their new store.
Q: Are you involved in any races as an organizer or a supporter?
Doug: Last year I helped Pete Swenson set the course for the Heathen Challenge at Sunlight Mountain. This year we’re officially taking the race over and hope to run even more COSMIC events in future years.
Randy: We also want to get new racers that may not know just yet how much they like wearing Lycra. We started a town series race at Sunlight last year, this year upping it to 6 races along with weekly training/recreational group skins.
Q: What gear do you focus on? And what brands do you carry gear from?
Doug: Our passion is taking it real deep. In skiing that means we take it deeper into the backcountry for bigger tours and higher peaks and lightweight gear from brands like La Sportiva, Dynafit, Scarpa, Ski Trab and Hagan are what we like to get us there. We also support other brands that are still on the light end of the spectrum, but appeal to those looking for hard charging equipment.
cripple-creek-store-skis
Q: Do you have gear packages? Thus people can save money.
We work with customers on an individual basis to get them in the best setup for their budget.  This is true in our shop in Carbondale and world wide through our website. We have a survey on our site to start the conversation, but we bend over backwards, through trade-ins and wild combinations to get people in lighter gear.
Q: You carry lots of bindings and all are Tech (Dynafit) technology based. Is that on purpose or just a coincidence?
Doug: Randy and I both started on plate bindings and although it got us started on touring it wasted money and time dealing with busted gear. I was so frustrated popping out of my Naxo bindings on kick turns and having them explode on the downhill, I almost never saw a second season.  We hope that by strictly carrying tech bindings we can help avoid that rough learning curve.
Randy: We have seriously considered a used car salesman campaign “We pay cash for your plate bindings”, then get them on tech fit and bury the rest at sea.
Q: What are your future goals for Cripple Creek Backcountry?
Doug: We want to take our dedication specialty that we’re able to offer to people locally to the whole country through our website – CrippleCreekBC.com – especially for those that don’t have a gear shop in their hometown.
boots-at-cripple-creek-store
austera-peak-north-cascades

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Cripple Creek BC, Doug Stenclik, Randy Young, skimo race gear, The Power of Four

Exclusive interview with Max Taam and John Gaston: On training, gear and life with a team that dominated the 2013 US skimo racing circuit

October 25, 2013 By Stano Faban 2 Comments

There must have been very few people in the skimo racing community that would have picked Max Taam and John Gaston to dominate last season’s (2012/13) American racing circuit the way they did.

John Gaston (left) and Max Taam holding on to the lead in teams at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg.
John Gaston (left) and Max Taam holding on to the lead in teams at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg.
It certainly never crossed my mind that Max will be going that fast despite knowing he always was a great skimo racer. And I didn’t even know who John Gaston was until he won US Champs in Jackson Hole on January 5, 2013!
On top of their domination in the US they also achieved a historic finish for North American men at World Championships (not including relay race results). They finished 10th in teams race at the 2013 Worlds in France! Previous NA best was a 16th place by Canadian’s Reiner Thoni and Andrew McNab in teams race in 2011.
So that’s who we are talking to today 😉
Q: Let’s start from the beginning: When did you start racing ski mountaineering?
Max: My first race was the Aspen Highlands Inferno in 2006. The race goes up the boot-pack on Highlands ridge and down the center of the bowl. A year or two after this I started doing a few of the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup races (COSMIC).
John: 2008 Aspen Highlands Inferno was my first uphill/downhill ski race. At the time I couldn’t believe how fast Mike Kloser was compared to everyone else, so I kind of made that my goal to win, which happened in 2010.
I was still very much a downhill-focused skier though at that point, and it wasn’t until 2012 that I finally started racing skimo. I skied myself of course and DNF’d my first race at Winter Park, then got a serious ass kicking a couple weeks later at the Teva Games in Vail. And then I was hooked.
At the start of the 2013 Five Peaks race in Breckenridge, CO. They won this one too.
At the start of the 2013 Five Peaks race in Breckenridge, CO. They won this one too.
Q: What is your background sports-wise? Have you raced anything else before skimo?
Max: I have done all sorts of endurance racing and skimo is definitely my favourite. I started with crew in high school and college, and since then have competed road biking, mountain biking, and trail running.
John: I grew up mountain biking, dirt biking, and skiing in New England. But I think like most kids I wasn’t really into the endurance side of these sports; I liked going downhill but hated climbing so much. It really wasn’t until right after graduating college that I started doing endurance sports for more than an hour at a time.
Q: What gear did you do your first skimo races on? Did you have very light gear right away?
Max: For my first Highlands inferno I was on Garmont Adrenaline boots and Stockli Stormrider DP alpine skis.
By the time I did my first real skimo races I had Scarpa F1 boots, Volkl Snowwolf skis, Dynafit Comfort bindings, and full length and width BD synthetic skins.
John: My first Highlands Inferno races were all done on full alpine gear – Full Tilt boots and 4FRNT EHP’s mounted with Salomon STH 16’s.
But for skimo I definitely had very light gear right off the bat. It wasn’t really a question for me whether it was worth the investment or if I was even going to like the sport. Having sat out nearly all of the 10/11 winter with a back injury and watched Max and my brother Pete getting more into skimo racing, I knew right away that that was going to be my sport. It just made sense, even though I’d never done it, and I wanted to be competitive right away.
Q: Max, I know you from previous racing seasons and World Champs in 2010 and 2011. You have been always fast but obviously you turned some switch to really dig into skimo. When did that happen?
Max steep skiing.
Max dropping into a couloir off Pacific Peak during Chris Davenport’s Ski the 13ers project.
Max: A number of factors contributed to my increased success last year. I spent the winter of 2011-2012 in Chamonix, France and although I trained very little that winter, I learned a lot about the sport.
Then having John around Aspen last winter definitely pushed me to get faster.  The experience I have gained over my years of racing, have made me a smarted racer.  I dramatically decreased the amount of meat in my diet at the start of last summer, which pretty quickly made me a few pounds lighter.
Q: When did you guys started to train together for ski mountaineering races?
John: Max and my brother Pete were training partners way before I came into the mix. He was over in Cham the 11/12 winter when I started racing, so it wasn’t until last season that we ever trained together.
Still, we do most of our training alone just due to schedules and what not. But it’s definitely really fun to have someone to motivate you if you’re not feeling it that day. But we didn’t really need to train a lot together to be good racing together – we knew we were very compatible for team racing.
Q: Where do you live and train?
John booting up a couloir in France in his one piece Strafe suit.
John booting up a couloir in France in his one piece Strafe suit.
Max: I live a mile outside Aspen, CO. I can ride my bike all winter to train on our local hills.
John: I live in Aspen, and Strafe’s office is right in the Highlands base village, so most of my training is done around Ajax and Highlands.
Q: Do you have any sponsors or do you work to support your racing?
Max: I work as a ski patroller on Aspen Mountain. I also have a number of sponsors that make a big difference in my success: Strafe Outerwear, SCARPA, Ski Trab, Oakley, Aspen/Snowmass, Honey Stinger, and POC.
John: I work for STRAFE Outerwear designing and developing some sweet outerwear, but I’m lucky to have a pretty flexible schedule, which means as long as I am efficient I get to ski almost every day.
This sport ain’t cheap and none of the racing would be possible without great support from STRAFE, Oakley, Scarpa, Ski Trab, Honey Stinger, POC, Aspen/Snowmass, and the Aspen Brewing Company. Thanks guys!
Q: You guys are both great skiers. What gear did you race on last season (skis, bindings, boots)? Any changes for this year?
Max: Last year I raced on Dynafit boots, Dynafit bindings, and Atomic skis. This year I will be racing on SCARPA Alien 1.0 boots, Ski Trab TR Race binding, and the Ski Trab Gara Aero World Cup ski.
I love equipment that I don’t have to hold back on, on the descents. I have been skiing in the SCARPA Alien 1.0 since March and have been very impressed.
The first pair of race skis I had were made by Ski Trab and I was amazed at how durable they were and how well they skied, so I am really excited to go back to them. I am also really looking forward to touring and training on the Ski Trab Magico ski.
» Check out the comparison pages for what Max will be racing on this year – lightest boots, skis, bindings.
John: Last year I was on Dynafit boots and binders, and Atomic skis, but I’m really stoked to try out Scarpa Aliens 1.0 this year. They weigh the same as the Evo’s but the walk mode is ridiculous. I weigh a bit more than a lot of racers too so I’m definitely excited for the stiffer support they offer on the downhill.
I’ll also be on Ski Trab Gara Aero World Cup skis and TR Race bindings. It’s pretty cool to be on the same equipment used by the majority of top world cup racers over in Europe.
Q: John, you won all three US qualifying races for the 2013 World Champs, including the Nationals at Jackson. Were you surprised? What did it change or confirm for you?
John: I was a little surprised. I knew I had an outside shot, but there are so many variables in skimo that can and do go wrong all the time.
I didn’t have a lot of racing experience under my belt but what I did have was very helpful. I mean the 2012 Power of Four was one of the most brutal races anyone had ever experienced, so that alone gave me confidence that if I kept my cool I could get a good result.
But to follow up Nationals with 3 more race wins in a week (there was a Highlands town series race on Thursday before Sunlight), that was really cool. In the past it didn’t seem like there were consistent winners, so to train and prepare and work out the details to try and minimize all those variable factors, and then see it really work, and work well, was great.
John after his big win at the 2013 Nationals in Jackson Hole. Jason Dorais was second and Luke Nelson third.
John after his big win at the 2013 Nationals in Jackson Hole. Jason Dorais was second and Luke Nelson third. (Shouldn’t the 
Q: Max, you kept improving throughout the season, from race to race, what was your biggest goal?
Max: I typically struggle to find my speed for the first month of the season. I was really excited to find it by the end of January and maintain it through the end of the season. Worlds were definitely my biggest goal, and finishing 10th in the teams race with John was the highlight.
Q: So let’s talk about the 10th place at 2013 Worlds then. I label it as a superb result! How was that day? What were your hardest moments?
Max: We were pretty slow on the first climb, because I usually struggle early on, especially at lower altitudes. We were probably in 25th or so at the top of the first climb. From the first descent to the finish we continuously made up ground both skiing and climbing.
John and I are usually some of the faster skiers, which always makes things more fun.
John: That day was hard! I felt great from the gun, but kind of over did it on the first climb and felt pretty bad the rest of the race. It was just slow and steady after that I really just had to follow Max’s heels for the middle climbs. Not my best feelings on the up, but we were cruising on the descents, passing a lot of teams and having a blast.
I also really liked the downhill ridge running section and the crampon section. That was my first time racing with crampons and it definitely made it way more interesting. But I was totally blown by the final skate and really happy to see the finishing chute!
» Here’s a short report from that day.
Team USA checking out the race course at 2013 Worlds in France.
Team USA checking out the race course at 2013 Worlds in France.
Q: How did you like other disciplines at the Worlds you raced in and the event as a whole?
Max: I really like the individual race, even though it’s usually a bit short for me. As with the teams race I fell back early on, but made up ground during the second half of the race. I didn’t have a great sprint race, but it’s something I would like to do some specific training for in the future.
John: The individual race was definitely my favourite, mainly because the course was still really cool, and I just felt and raced a lot better. It started off just crazy fast, and the intensity stayed so high the whole time. I know the 31st place isn’t nearly as impressive sounding as the 10th from teams, but I was really proud of that.
And the relay was way more exciting than I was expecting. I didn’t think too much of it beforehand since it was a ten-minute effort, but that was some of the most pain I have ever experienced in my life.
Everything about the Worlds is really incredible if you’re coming from the grassroots American scene. The courses, the fans, the atmosphere – all of it is next level!
Q: Do you plan on racing team races together in the future?
Max: Yes, I feel like our skills complement each other really well.
John: For sure. I think we work very well together, and it’s especially nice to be the same speed on the descents. Climbs are one thing – if someone’s going faster you can tow and vice versa, but that’s not possible on descents and it would suck to have to hold back.
Max took the the overall at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg, with John second (left), and Tom Goth third (right).
Max took the the overall at 2013 Wasatch Powder Keg, with John second (left), and Tom Goth third (right).
Q: Which race would be the ultimate goal for you – Pierra Menta, Trofeo Mezzalama…?
Max: I raced the Pierra Menta in 2012 with Pete Gaston, John’s brother. I would love to go back and race it again.
John: I would love to race the Pierra Menta.
John Gaston with his brother Pete (right) after taking the win at 2012 Power of Four teams race.
John with his brother Pete (right) after taking the win at 2012 Power of Four teams race.
Q: Seems like you both spent time in Europe this summer. Was it for training or just tripping?
Max: I spent September in France guiding road bike trips for Cycle the Alps. My friends Liz and Miles Smart, who are mountain guides in Chamonix, France, started the company, and I am excited to be apart of it. This years trips brought me to some incredible places and were a great few weeks of high volume training.
John: I actually wasn’t over there this summer – my brother Pete was guiding mountain bike trips over there so maybe you were thinking of him! 😉
I did take a trip over in the Fall though to go to Oktoberfest! I love Europe though and definitely plan on spending more time over there in the future.
Q: How do you train in the summer? Do you also race?
Max: I used to do a lot of bike racing. Since I started focusing more on skimo a few years ago, I reduced my summer racing to a select few mountain biking and trail running races.
John: Summer is all about mtb racing. I end up racing the same amount summer and winter.
Max on a ride.
Max ripping above Camp Hale.
above Camp Hale
Q: What does your racing calendar looks like for this season, only US races or will you visit foreign countries as well?
Max: I am excited about our growing US schedule, in particular the 3 ISMF sanctioned races in the US. I would love to race in Europe again this winter, if the opportunity arises. I would really like to make it up to Canada sometime to race as well.
John: Not totally sure yet. I’m not going to start racing until January, when it’s Jackson/Targhee/Sunlight time. I’d love to go to Europe and race some World Cups after that, but I think Pierra Menta may take priority. And I guess it’s about time Max and I give the Grand Traverse a go, even though the race itself doesn’t really appeal to me from a skiing standpoint.
Q: Do you have any goals in the backcountry? Descents, traverses…?
Max: I would like to do some big traverses in Colorado. It’s a pretty new thing for Colorado. We don’t always have the right conditions, but when we do, I think some epic days are possible.
John: I want to get more comfortable in bigger, more technical mountains. That’s always been a weak point of mine, as I have zero climbing background. That pretty much means following Pete and Max around on their objectives and trying not to kill myself.
Max touring.
Max skinning towards Castle Peak.
Q: Let’s each of you give a tip to less experienced skimo racers. One on climbing, one for skiing – anything you consider a very important detail.
Max: I really like to preview courses. This allows me to know exactly what I have coming up on every climb and to ski the descents faster with more confidence.
John: I think eating and drinking is really important in any race over an hour. Maybe it’s because a lot of racers come from running backgrounds, where apparently starving yourself is the norm, but most skimo racers don’t eat or drink nearly enough to sustain their level of intensity.
For downhill, I think people who spend most of their time in the backcountry should vary it up and ski the resort once in awhile. Ski Areas allow you to ski much harder, steeper terrain in a wider variety of conditions, at faster speeds, more often.
Q: How would you advise an absolute skimo racing novice to start besides just jumping into a race? Give me three most important things in order of priority.
Max:

  1. Focus on good skinning technique. You can beat far fitter people, with good technique.
  2. Practice a few transitions before the race. They don’t need to be perfect, but this will help you relax in the transitions.
  3. Be familiar with the course and race format, so that there are no big surprises.

John:

  1. Make sure you have comfortable boots! Nothing turns people off from skinning like massive blisters.
  2. Build up some solid base fitness. Racing is more fun when it doesn’t feel like you’re dying the whole time.
  3. Go touring with friends, preferably some that have a little racing experience. You’ll learn basic race technique in a way more fun and casual manner.

» For more skimo tips check out this article – 10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Skimo Racing
Q: A bit off topic now: What did you wanted to be when you were 15? And what do you want to be now?
Max: When I was 15, I knew that I loved skiing. Now, I get to spend most of my day on skis!
John: I wanted to be pro big mountain skier. I think that was the year MSP’s Ski Movie 3 came out. Seth Morrison was the coolest skier in the world (still is), and Hugo Harrison had just come onto the scene, skiing faster and harder than anyone. I wanted to do what they did. I guess I still do, but now I have this endurance itch that needs scratching, and sometimes gets in the way of the more fun aspects of the sport!

Filed Under: People (Interviews), Skimo Racing Tagged With: 2013 US Skimo Champion, 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Championships, Aspen, Jason Dorais, John Gaston, Luke Nelson, Max Taam, Scarpa Alien 1.0, Ski Trab Gara skis, Strafe Outerwear, The Power of Four

Interview with Skimo.co founder Jason Borro: "Weight is a handicap on freedom"

October 2, 2013 By Stano Faban 23 Comments

Stano: First of all, congrats on opening Skimo Co – North America’s first absolutely specialized light skimo gear online store!
Jason: Thanks!  I am excited for the season, pray for snow!
Q:  You had the grand opening yesterday, October 1st. When did the idea of such a specialized store came to you? Why ski mountaineering gear? Will it be all light gear?
skimoco-screen-capSometime in the past few years, while hunting for specs on Skintrack or in the comments of WildSnow, it became evident that shopping for ski mountaineering gear was way too hard. I only have the passion to be a gear head when it comes to ski mountaineering; I would do a poor job with bikes or whatever.
Lightness is relative of course, but we aren’t carrying any skis or boots over 1500 grams this season.  That was more a practical budgeting decision than any magic number; I imagine it will creep up a bit over time.
But I don’t ever see us with 10lb skis, as that would dilute the focused experience for people who have realized that weight is a handicap on freedom.
Q: Where are you based?
Salt Lake City, Utah, North America.
Q: Oh, so you are in the same town as the online outdoor gear giant Backcountry.com. Why should one shop at your store versus theirs?
I recently read a quote from a BC founder saying how they regretted losing focus on skiing.  We won’t make that same mistake.  If you want to chat with an expert kayaker while looking at a dated stock photo, check them out.  If you want to be helped by a ski mountaineer, or you expect ski shop services like binding mounts and skin trimming, check out Skimo Co.
Q: Are you a ski mountaineer? Do you also race?
I’m one of those people that passes the summer doing any activity just to stay in shape for winter, when (barring injury) I ski 100+ days a season, mostly in the Wasatch backcountry. Peak bagging, powder lapping, technical chuting, I love all of it.
jason-skimoco-climbing
I race recreationally but unfortunately do not have the pedigree to seriously challenge a local Dorais for a podium spot.  I need lightweight skimo gear just to keep up with one on a casual tour!
[Here’s an interview with Jason and Andy Dorais if you don’t know who they are. Or even if you know.] jason-skimoco-skiing
Q: How long did it take to open the store since you really started to work on it?
It started with the hopes of saving me time while looking for gear, but I think it backfired.  It’s been more than a full-time job for somewhere around a year.  This is after spending my twenties honing software development skills in corporate America and Europe.  Hopefully other skiers can benefit from my sacrifice / stupidity.
Q: What kind of gear will you carry? And what brands?
I’ve been convinced of the benefits of lightweight gear for some time, and we are working with great partners who share the same vision.  Dynafit, La Sportiva, SCARPA/Trab, and CAMP are leaders in the space, and we also have great items from smaller names (at least in N.A.) like Hagan, Movement, Plum, Millet and more.
I hope we can become a one-stop shop for all things related to light and fast ski mountaineering.
Q: Will you be running any kind of loyalty program?
We were planning on launching with one, but it took a back seat to getting the product experience right. Our experiment with paid reviews (in store credit) is a step in that direction. We are currently more worried about getting gear in stock than getting it out the door. Dealing with fuzzy shipping dates and lost parcels are some of the many challenges we are learning how to overcome.
Q: I see that you have gear packages, that’s great people will save some money. Would you be open to let people customize these in the future?
I think package deals are a good way to get started with a new style of skiing.  We put a few together to help guide people into combinations that make sense, but certainly they are not one-size-fits-all. A customizable approach makes a lot of sense if we can safely navigate manufacturer restrictions on pricing.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
We pledged our first $1000 in sales to avalanche centers and we hope to do more in the future.  We can’t thank avalanche professionals enough for making our sport safer.  Let’s have a fun and safe season!

Check it out

If you haven’t checked out the new Skimo.co store yet you better do it right now. But you better have some napkins handy, drooling is guaranteed 😉
 

Filed Under: People (Interviews) Tagged With: Jason Borro, Salt Lake City, skimo race gear, Skimo.co, Wasatch

Ski movies production and filming: interview with Sherpas Cinema producer

September 5, 2013 By Stano Faban 2 Comments

Many, many ski films are being produced in the recent years. Some are good, some great, and some…
I used to watch them 10-15 years ago but not much these days. However, I am always interested in how films are made and what makes them great. Personally I film a lot but due to film editing time requirements little of my footage makes it to the “screens” (out of my editing software).
Just back from a big trip and with lot’s of footage in hand I trying to get inspired what to do with all. And I came across an interview with Sherpas Cinema (producers of All I Can) producer Malcolm Sangster where he discusses all kinds of things related to film making in snowy mountains. The interview is published on BackcountrySkiingCanada.com website and you can read it here.

Image copied from BackcountrySkiingCanada.com where it was provided by Sherpas Cinema.
Image copied from BackcountrySkiingCanada.com where it was provided by Sherpas Cinema.
What caught my eye was this particular question and answer since I witnessed it first hand this summer.:

Out of all the locations that you guys shot in, what area surprised you the most?
Well personally I find myself more in the office the larger the company grows. But for the team as a whole, I would probably say Denali National Park for its massive gnarly peaks….or Bolivia for the altitude factor and how exhausted the entire team was trying to climb, ski and film at 6000m.

And one more that reveals where the best snow might fall in the future:

In All I Can, the film focused a lot about climate change and how it is effecting the ski community. If the world keeps warming and you need to relocate to find the last powder, where do you think you will find it?
The Canadian Rockies – it seems that region will bode well compared to most in a slightly warmer/wetter climate. You’ll find me on the backside of Lake Louise.

If you are passionate about filming as well then definitely check out the interview. And if not, get ready for the newest Sherpas’ film Into The Mind.

Filed Under: General News & Articles, People (Interviews) Tagged With: filming, Into The Mind, Sherpas Cinema

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