Steamboat

Although some critics felt threatened by Pistorius’ Cheetah
FlexFoot limbs, supporters argued that Pistorius is a normal man
with innate athletic ability, a competitive spirit and a lot of drive.
Those are the characteristics that have, and will continue to,
inspire future athletes.
Lindsey Vonn grew up skiing at Buck Hill, Minn., a 309-foot
hill. She became the best skier in the world. In the future, any hill
will do – even indoor ski areas, like the one in a shopping mall
in Dubai. The ski world is expanding – one day we could have a
Brazilian Olympic ski champion.
The indoor ski area in Dubai
Global warming is one of the greatest hurdles ski areas are
facing. As climate change makes snow coverage dicier in some
places, plastic, like the material we have on Howelsen Hill’s
jumps, will cover more trails.
The best plastic I ever skied on was at a little ski area in
Gatlinburg, Tenn. in the 1980s. It was like Astroturf, with a layer
of little polyethylene beads spread over it, and an intermittent
sprinkler system. You could actually carve turns on it, and skiers
of all levels were having fun. The British presently lead the world
with 154 artificial ski hills. In the future, they’ll exist everywhere.
This also enables ski areas to be in unconventional places,
closer to and potentially less cold weather gear-intensive for the
sports’ growing number of fans. It will help promote diversity
that has already taken root at Mountain High, 80 miles east of
downtown Los Angeles, which earned a reputation as “the Ellis
Island of ski areas” with roughly half its customers being nonwhite
as of five years ago.
One of my contemporary heroes is 11-year-old Delaney
Tyon, a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe from South Dakota.
He’s the first Native American to become a national champion
in ski racing by winning a gold medal in the NASTAR Finals.
Rapid City’s TV station did a story about him and somebody
sent me the clip. Not only did I see an outstanding young skier,
but when he got to the bottom of the hill he stopped and thanked
his family and those who helped him. When I also learned that
he did well in school I remember thinking, “This kid could be the
future of skiing.”
Suzy Chaffee, my 1968 Olympic teammate, and I are
working together to build the Native American Olympic Team
Foundation, which promotes skiing and other sports among
Native American people. Skiing vs. riding – it doesn’t matter as
long as you’re out there.
With the challenges of air travel, I predict people will
increasingly rent the latest equipment. But for sheer comfort,
most skiers will still own their own boots. I’ve been using the
new Apex boots, which are changing boot design dramatically
by being comfortable and warm – and dual sport so you can
both ski and ride using the same boots. Plus, they use BOA
Technology, a closure system designed in Steamboat Springs.
Helmets will become technological marvels, especially for
racers. The competitors of tomorrow will visualize their run
with the aid of a projector inside their goggles, feeding them
information about conditions, speed and weather. All of us will
enjoy full-face shields that keep out the wind, but still allow
skiers to feel the cold air so they can bring all their senses into
visualization.
Clothing will change too. New materials offer remarkably
low thermal conductivity and can insulate from heat as well as
cold. In the future, we’ll see weaves that expand when a skier is
going downhill to allow ventilation, then contract on the lift to
keep in warmth. They’ll be able to change color according to a
programmable dial too.
Most lifts will be covered, have padded seats and built-in
chargers for personal media and cell phones – and the once
maligned “bubble” will be refined for good visibility.
Beginners will learn on simulators resembling a video game
in order to have their psychological breakthrough indoors.
Then they can move confidently onto the snow.
Within 50 years there will be an Olympic ski champion who
is a Native American adaptive skier and veteran. In the finish
line interview, she will thank Mother Earth, Mother Nature and
the Heavenly Spirits. And she will donate her winnings to the
Nature Conservancy and Special Olympics athletes throughout
the world.
The author, Billy Kidd
© Ron Dahlquist
STEAMBOAT MAGAZINE | SKI SEASON 2012/13 | 87