I know skiers from rad places

Before I came to Colorado I thought the only place a true skier could be born was in the mountainous west.  In my ignorant Californian eyes the mid-west was nothing but a bunch of back of the boot side slippers, and the south, well, I’ll spare the time questioning their “mountains” but does it even snow there? So here I find myself in Colorado and woe to my surprise I know skiers from rad places, most of them without mountains. 

The Virginian Gavin, getting it done early season.

In my eyes it doesn’t take too much to be a skier, just a love for carving, slashing, pizzaing or french frying. If you have a stoke for downhill bliss or an affinity for the uphill pain cave it’s no matter; you are a skier. In the past year I have met more improbable skiers than a spoiled western kid could have ever imagined existed.  While a lot of my friends do hail from the American west a special few don’t and together we’ve shared some epic turns. 

Jonathan skinning in Eldeberry Canyon.

Jonathan, my eighth grade earth science teacher hails from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and is a Tele-whacker at its finest.  He was the first person with the patients and willingness to take this over eager 15 year old into the backcountry.  While Jonathan isn’t the next Bode Miller, he knows how to move safely in the mountains and is a superb teacher. The first time this east coaster let me break trail he didn’t know he had just handed me the reigns to the last four years of my life, for that I can’t thank him enough.

Zach booting his way up the Harrington Couliour on the Thomson Ridge.

My second ski partner came in the package of another teacher, this one with a little different style. Zach was a pro snowboarder in his teenage years, shredding the icy jumps of Wisconsin and traveling for competitions, he found lust in the terrain park at a young age and a deeper love for the mountains of the west after graduating college in Madison, Wisconsin.  Being my high school woodshop teacher we would talk mountains all week long, and often have a scheme to get out in them come Saturday morning.  As time went on and trips began to accumulate Zach and I’s relationship evolved beyond a mentorship and into my first partnership. Our goals aligned and we communicated freely with each other on both rock and snow. Zach’s talked my head down on my scariest leads, shreds pow like a pro (oh wait) and we have accomplished many of my biggest day together. 

Elias sent a huge front 180 of this cliff in the Monarch BC last season

I met Elias because he was talking about snow, when most of the people around the campfire were too far gone to talk about the clothes they were wearing.  It caught my ear and on that fall evening I not only met the first Greek Native of my life but found a true soul shredder hidden underneath that signature Hawaiian shirt, and helicopter hat.  Elias and I haven’t shared any turns together this season but I enjoy his company and intellect in the mountains as much as anyone.  He was part of my first epic in Colorado last November where he kept his cool soloing chossy fourth class and thin ice on Mount Sneffels. Elias arcs the cleanest turns I have ever seen on a board. This guy is more than olive oil and hummus and he will prove it to you with out trying if you give him the chance!

Dylan skiing some great snow on our S.L.U.T yesterday. (Super, long, uphill, tour)

Though I owe many more flatlanders props for changing my mind about what exactly it takes to breed a true skier I’ll finish this one up with a little about Dylan.  Dylan, was born and raised in Texas, yup, Texas. He came to school here in Gunnison because he’s a fishing fool and the Valley holds some of the best trout fishing in the nation.  He quickly found skiing after arriving and hasn’t quite putting effort into it for the four years he’s been here.  Dylan is currently one of my most prized partners in the mountains. Coming from the Sierra’s I grew used to long approaches for shorter ski’s, here in Colorado you can start earning your turns straight out of the car. But that’s not Dylan’s style and nor is it mine. He’s a wilderness skier at its finest, keen on long days, big vert, and bigger views.   We share many of the same goals and never have a shortage of things to talk about. He’s always ready to go peak around the corner, or gain the extra thirty feet even though it never really matters.  We check each other when our route choice is crap and never take it too personally, bounce ideas off each other, and have proven our ability to back down from a beautiful run that just doesn’t add up.  But the best thing about Dylan? Well, it might be his love for Teocalli Tamale Burritos, after a long day off-piste.  

So here's to skiers, of all disciplines, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds!