Photo: Dave Mossop Skier: Kris Cormier
I live in Whistler, a town with a ski resort boasting two massive mountains with more acres than Vatican City and almost as many sexual deviants. World-renowned as an international destination for skiers, there is no shortage of people who come to ski its slopes. Even though this monstrosity of amazing skiing lies 5 minutes from my doorstep, almost every single skier I know owns a snowmobile. Not only do they own one, but they feel the need to tell me I am an idiot for not. Of course, this is not exclusive to Whistler. I would estimate that 75% of ski magazine photos, including this one, are shot out-of-bounds. The rest consist of urban stunts or one-off in-bounds terrain park features. Most of these photo shoots are accessed by helicopter or snowmobile. But it’s just not a realistic scenario for regular skiers.
Quick show of hands: when’s the last time you stepped out of a helicopter with ski boots on? Do you own a snowmobile? Do you regularly search out and ski handrails at schools or government buildings? Ok, the 1000 of you with your hands up can sit down. Now, of the remaining 2,999,000 skiers, answer this; where do you ski? Right there alongside me, in bounds at a ski resort amidst the groomers, unsightly tracks and lift infrastructure polluting the landscape. This is skiing reality. And you know what? It’s not so bad. It’s pretty damn fun actually; ripping around perfectly gladed tree runs, laying down badass carves on fresh groomers or straightlining bumped-out pitches. It’s easy and relatively inexpensive, and you can do it with as many or as few friends as possible. You don’t need specialized training or avalanche safety gear. and often, when you know what you’re doing, there is powder. Lots of it.
I understand why the ski media focuses on the untouched paradise of the backcountry—we’re are selling fantasy here. Actual pornography sells fantasy too, but it’s still filmed in an average Los Angeles bungalow. It helps when we inject a little reality into our ski porn. How often do ski filmmakers, writers and photographers give due credit to the lowly ski hill? We all got started on a shitty t-bar or a beat-up double chair somewhere. Let’s acknowledge it. – Mike Berard
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
i heard there’s a fledgling xxx porn industry in whistler.
just another reason why whistler is so rad…
Somehow, it doesn’t surprise me. There’s a lot of dodgy dudes with an excessive amount of drugs and a lot of willing talent with low-paying jobs. The perfect storm of porn…
This is where I contradict my own writing. Today on Whistler Blackcomb (and many days at WB), the line-ups were absurdly long. You don’t find that in the backcountry…unless it’s a long line of sleds in the Whistler backcountry.
The night skiing segment Nimbus filmed in-bounds at Ski Bowl for Hunting Yeti is one of my favorite segments in a really long time. Being from Vancouver, a city where night skiing is the norm rather than the exception, it captured more of what I love about skiing on a personal level than any Alaska segment ever could.
An even better example, that can be applied broadly, is the foggy chairlift shot Iberg opened Stereotype and Idea with. One of the most iconic images in the history of freeskiing.
Great piece Mike.
Thanks. And good choices Dave. I am a HUGE fan of the Japanese night skiing segment from Poor Boyz’ Reasons. It’s so beautiful.
Thanks for this Mike. There is something lost in the ski porn of today. Stump et al brought us a little more reality, and we seem to have forgotten some of that.