04.07.2021 Views

SkiMag_Timeless

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

SPECIAL EDITION

SKI &

SNOWBOARD

FILM

#

70

PRESENTS




FIRST FRAME

F

FROM THE

DIRECTOR

When we wrapped Timeless, it hit me that we had the 70th Warren

Miller film in the can—and that blew me away. Aside from Walt Disney,

I don’t believe there’s a film company in the world that has annually produced

a feature film for 70 consecutive years. Personally, I find it amazing

to think that all those years ago, Warren, a surfer from the beaches of

Southern California, was lured into 1940s ski culture; that his annual films

would become the unofficial archive of the sport’s history, and Warren its

accidental historian.

Decade after decade, town after town, for generations of skiers and

snowboarders around the world, Warren Miller films have filled the big

screen with winter sports magic—each era documented forever in its own

unique color, unquestionable style, and cutting edge technique.

Our annual pilgrimage with cameras, skis, and passports is always fruitful

with action and adventure. Again this year—from Chamonix to Bella

Coola, Eldora to Austria, and Jackson to Blue River—our passionate team

of athletes and filmmakers, who like myself have decades of service under

the Warren Miller flag, continue archiving and documenting winter sports

fueled by the same affection for the exciting, inspiring, and laughable nuances

that Warren entertained us with each fall.

Timeless celebrates 70 years of this company chronicling the simple

act of sliding down a snow-covered hill. Even amidst all the tech in our

contemporary world—our heated chairlifts and apps to aid in vertical

consumption—there is still something so wonderfully simple about

skiing. Something Warren said several years ago still rings true today:

“You can do four things with a pair of skis … You can turn right, you can

turn left, you can go straight, or you can sell them.”

While skiing may have changed over the years, the reason why people

pick up a pair of skis and head into the mountains hasn’t. Timeless is a

celebration of the tie that binds skiers across generations, cultures, and

countries; a look back at how far our sport has progressed, as well as a

glimpse of all that’s still ahead.

Warren in the spring of 1947

on an Ostrander Lake

backcountry trip in Yosemite.

Enjoy the show!

Chris Patterson

Director/Director of Photography

Warren Miller Entertainment

FROM LEFT: THE WARREN MILLER ARCHIVES; ROB KINGWILL

2 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE

TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM



EDITORIAL

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Samantha Berman

CONTENT PRODUCER

Jenny Wiegand

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Jessi Hackett, Josh Haskins, Skylar Kraatz

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Andrew Guckes, Megan O’Herron,

Emy Reznik, Callie Rhoades

ART

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Keri Bascetta

LEAD DESIGNER

Sarah Hughes

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

Keri Bascetta

ART INTERNS

Liam Bendicksen, Iñigo Diaz, Kayla Kelly,

Austin Long, Matt Newey

DIGITAL

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Stephen Sebestyen

DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR

Jon Jay

PRODUCTION

COLOR SPECIALIST

Brad Burleson

AD PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Caitlin O’Connor

PREPRESS SPECIALIST

Idania Mentana

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Jenny Desjean

SINGLE COPY SALES MANAGER

NPS

FACILITIES

MANAGER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Tony Pene

FACILITIES MANAGER

Tony Wilhelms

BACK ISSUES/REPRINTS

To request back issues, call Palm Coast Data at

800-678-0817 or e-mail

skicustserv@cdsfulfillment.com.

For article reprints:

Logo Licensing, Reprints and Permissions

Contact Brett Petillo, Wrights Media

877-652-5295 or aim@wrightsmedia.com.

SKI does not accept unsolicited manuscripts and

assumes no responsibility for their return.

PRINTED IN USA

VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

David Perry

SALES

INDUSTRY SALES DIRECTOR

Ginna Larson

303-859-7276

EASTERN SALES DIRECTOR

JoAnn Martin

917-577-0191

MIDWEST SALES DIRECTOR

Brian Brigman

773-329-3957

WESTERN AND DETROIT AUTO SALES DIRECTOR

Allen Crolius

760-212-9116

SKI MARKETPLACE SALES

Casey Vandenoever

303-253-6419

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Lori Ostrow

303-253-6364

FINANCE MANAGER

Alice Morgan

303-253-6336

DIRECTOR ACCOUNTING SHARED SERVICES

Kelly Baumgardner

CANADA SALES OFFICE,

NEWBASE CONNECTED MARKETING

Perry Di Iorio

416-363-1388 EX 247, PERRY.DIIORIO@NEWBASE.CO

Rosalind Genge

778-340-1324, ROSALIND.GENGE@NEWBASE.CO

MARKETING

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Amy DeBarr

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Tina Rolf

SENIOR BRAND MARKETING MANAGER

Leslie Barrett

CORRESPONDENCE

Letters to the editor may be mailed to SKI,

Liftlines, 5720 Flatiron Parkway, Boulder, CO

80301 or e-mailed to editor@skimag.com.

Include your full name, address, and daytime

phone number.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

For customer service and subscription matters,

such as renewals, address changes, e-mail

preferences, billing, and account status, go

to: skimag.com/cs. You can also call 800-678-

0817 or write to SKI Magazine, P.O. Box 37274,

Boone, IA 50037-0274.

FILM

NARRATOR

Jonny Moseley

DIRECTOR

Chris Patterson

PRODUCER

Josh Haskins

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Ian Anderson

EDITORS

Andrew Mairs,

Keiko Ozaki, Kim Schneider

DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Day, Chris Patterson, Jeff Wright

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Nina Selinoff

ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHERS

Zach Almader, Ian Anderson, Markus Casutt, Matt

Hardy, Josh Haskins, Rob Kingwill, Lance Koudele,

Joe Teahan, Ryan Varchol, Colin Witherill

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ian Anderson, Danny DeClare, Chris Figenshau,

Matt Hardy, Josh Haskins, Rob Kingwill, Jeffrey

Loewe, Cam McLeod, Izzie Rait, Ryan Varchol

SCREENWRITER

Joe Cutts

MUSIC SUPERVISOR

Travis Schneider

OPERATIONS & DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR

Fiachra Stokes

OPERATIONS & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

John Shafer

INDEPENDENT PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR

Templeton Stump

ACCOUNT MANAGER –

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Renée Geary

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR

Doug Kohn

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jessica McGee

MARKETING & CONTENT MANAGER

Jessi Hackett

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Peter Haggstrom

DIGITAL & GRASSROOTS

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Skylar Kraatz

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Carlin O’Connell

PRESENTS

PRESIDENT & CEO

Andrew W. Clurman

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & TREASURER

Michael Henry

VICE PRESIDENT, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Tom Masterson

VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION & MANUFACTURING

Barb Van Sickle

VICE PRESIDENT, PEOPLE & PLACES

JoAnn Thomas

AIM BOARD CHAIR

Efrem Zimbalist III

4 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Eldora. Closer To You.

Feel like a local again at the Rockies’

friendliest and most convenient mountain.

One hour from Denver International Airport.

30 Minutes from Boulder.

Unlimited access on the Ikon Pass.

Eldora.com


PP LA Y BILL

PLAYBILL

1. MUSTANG POWDER

Athletes: Glen Plake, Brenna Kelleher,

AJ Oliver

PSIA pros Brenna Kelleher and AJ Oliver

arrive at Mustang Powder Lodge, nestled in

the Monashee Mountains of B.C., to sample

the operation’s renowned cat-skiing terrain.

Soon after, ski legend Glen Plake shows up

to join his peers and prove that ski instructors

do, in fact, know how to have fun. p. 18

2. CHAMONIX

Athletes: Marcus Caston, Aurélien Ducroz,

Mattias Hargin, Erin Mielzynski, Johann

Vienney

For centuries, mountaineers have made

a pilgrimage to Chamonix to conquer the

Mont Blanc massif and surrounding peaks.

Two ski racers, two mountain guides, and

one jokester embark on an adventure that

can only be found in Cham. p. 24

3. SILVERTON

Athletes: Connery Lundin, Jaelin Kauf,

Lorraine Huber

Colorado’s San Juans, home to Silverton

Mountain, were once the center of a

gold boom, beckoning miners in search

of treasure. Today, Silverton is a powder

seeker’s dream. With plenty of hike-to and

heli-accessible terrain, the opportunities for

striking white gold here are endless. p. 41

FROM LEFT: RYAN VARCHOL; CAM MCLEOD; IAN ANDERSON

6 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


4. SWITZERLAND

5. MIKE WIEGELE HELI-SKIING

6. ELDORA

Athletes: Ryland Bell, Morgan Hebert,

Rob Kingwill

From the Matterhorn to the picturesque

high-country valleys, the Swiss Alps have

long inspired the imagination of snowriders.

Three snowboarders learn fi rst-hand what

makes Switzerland so enchanting. p. 58

Athletes: Jim Ryan, Austin Ross, Bob Rankin,

Mike Wiegele

Fifty years after opening, Wiegele World

has become a dream destination for skiers

around the world. Ryan and Ross get to live

that dream for a few days; Wiegele guide

Bob Rankin has lived it for decades. p. 46

Athletes: Karina Luscher, Mario Molina, Raul

Pinto, Barb and Scott Henderson, Christian

Løvenskiold, Cooper Branaham

Eldora Mountain may not be the most

famous Colorado ski area, but as locals and

fanatics will testify, what it lacks in prestige

it makes up for in character. p. 74

INTERMISSION

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROB KINGWILL; JOSH HASKINS; IAN ANDERSON; CHRIS FIGENSHAU; ZACH ALMADER; MATT HARDY

7. AUSTRIA

Athletes: Baker Boyd, Ian Morrison

Baker Boyd and Ian Morrison take on the

“Cradle of Alpine Skiing” in the Austrian

Alps. Road tripping from Kitzbühel to Ötztal

to Arlberg, they explore the regions famously

known as the birthplace of modern-day

alpine skiing and fi nd themselves mesmerized

by the scenery, skiing, Stiegl beer, and

Schnitzel. p. 68

8. BELLA COOLA

Athletes: Amie Engerbretson, Tyler Ceccanti

A road trip along coastal B.C. ends with a

heli-ski trip into the Coast Range Mountains,

where the annual snowfall averages over

100 feet, the terrain is steep, and the snow is

perfect for sending it big. Remote and rustic

Bracewell’s Alpine Wilderness Adventures

Lodge serves as the perfect headquarters

for a trip that’s centered on skiing. p. 32

9. JACKSON HOLE

Athletes: Forrest Jillson, Cam Fitzpatrick,

Caite Zeliff, Jess McMillan, Rob, Kit, Grace,

and Tia DesLauriers

There’s a place in Wyoming where the buffalo

still roam, the cowboys still ride, and the

West is still wild—a place where some come

to make it big in the world of freeskiing, and

others who have already made it settle down

to raise the next generation of rippers. p. 55

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 7


FACE SHOTS

Introducing some of the newest additions to the Warren Miller athlete roster.

BAKER BOYD

Segment: Austria

Hometown: Aspen, Colorado

Home mountain: Aspen Mountain

Claim to fame: King of the Aspen ski gang,

The Freaks

Skier who inspires you: Glen Plake

If you won the lottery, you’d… Build a

private ski resort for The Freaks!

Best meal you can cook: Frozen pizzas

Highlight memory from Timeless: Eating

Schnitzel and drinking Stiegl beer

Instagram handle: @studebakerhawk

CAM FITZPATRICK

Segment: Jackson Hole

Hometown: Jackson, Wyoming

Home mountain: Jackson Hole Mountain

Resort

Claim to fame: Breakout film role in Brain

Farm’s The Fourth Phase

Favorite WME film: Cold Fusion

If you won the lottery, you’d… Travel as

much as I could, and invest

Alter ego: Superman

Instagram handle: @camfitzpatrick

FROM TOP: MATT HARDY; CHRIS FIGENSHAU

8 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM



ACE SHOTS

FF

BRENNA KELLEHER

Segment: Mustang Powder

Hometown: Big Sky, Montana

Home mountain: Big Sky

Claim to fame: Professional Ski Instructors of

America national demo team member

Most interesting thing you’ve read this year:

A really great article on Greenland sharks

and their lifespan—mind-blowing!

Go-to gear: People in the powder community

are going to stone me, but I’m really enjoying

my Blizzard Firebirds

Instagram handle: @brennakelleher

CONNERY LUNDIN

Segment: Silverton

Hometown: Piedmont, California

Home Mountain: Squaw Valley

Claim to fame: Winner of the 2015 Free

Skiing World Tour

Skier who inspires you: Marcus Caston

Favorite WME segment: The Silverton segment

with Andy Mahre and Pep Fujas from

Children of Winter

Alter ego: Buzz Lightyear

Instagram handle: @c0nnery

CAITE ZELIFF

Segment: Jackson Hole

Hometown: North Conway, New Hampshire

Home Mountain: Jackson Hole Mountain

Resort

Claim to fame: Reigning queen of Jackson

Hole’s Kings and Queens of Corbet’s comp

If you won the lottery, you’d… Buy a snowmobile,

and maybe a little cabin somewhere.

I’d pick up the bar tab a little more, too

Go-to gear: I’m madly in love with my

Blizzard Rustler 11s for deep days

Instagram handle: @caite_zeliff

FROM TOP: RYAN VARCHOL; IAN ANDERSON; CHRIS FIGENSHAU

10 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM



Tools used,

abused, and

reviewed by

the pros.

GEAR

FILM

of the

1 / VÖLKL

Revolt 121

SEGMENT:

Wiegele’s

MSRP: $775

“The new Revolt 121 is

the absolute best ski

for the big cliff stomp.

Featuring a multi-layer

wood core, it’s strong

enough to support

big landings, and the

specially shaped tip

allows for all kinds of

fun tricks. The Revolt

makes all my airs look

and feel better.”

-JIM RYAN

1

2

2 / YES.

Hybrid Snowboard

SEGMENT:

Switzerland

MSRP: $550

“The YES. Hybrid is

an aggressive freeride

powder board with

the perfect blend of

stiffness and flotation

for exceptional

performance in fresh

snow. Nimble enough

to shred natural terrain

and powder, this board

is a big mountain line

charger.”

-MORGAN HEBERT

12 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


3

4

5

7

6

ALL-MOUNTAIN

3 / ELAN

Ripstick 106

SEGMENT:

Mustang Powder

MSRP: $900

“The Ripstick 106 can

do everything. I ski tour

in the backcountry, ski

powder, and even play

on groomers at the resort

with them. They’re

fun everywhere and,

because of the innovative

carbon fiber tube

core and Amphibio

tech, unlike any other

ski on the market.”

-GLEN PLAKE

4 / SPYDER

Solitaire Kit

SEGMENT:

Bella Coola

MSRP: Jacket $750;

Bib $600

“Spyder said ‘Let’s

design your dream ski

outfit,’ and this is it! It’s

Gore-Tex Proshell, so

it’s waterproof and still

breathable, and the

bibs were designed

to look great without

giving up athlete

function.”

-AMIE

ENGERBRETSON

5 / POC

Fovea Clarity

SEGMENT:

Wiegele’s

MSRP: $220

“I love the color of the

frames and the

lens tints—see and be

seen. These new goggles

feature highquality

lenses with

unique mirror coatings

engineered to

optimize light in any

weather condition.

Quality lenses is the

place to splurge.”

-JIM RYAN

6 / SCOTT

Ultimate

Plus Mitten

SEGMENT:

Bella Coola

MSRP: $90

“Nothing ruins your

day quicker than cold

hands. I love these

mittens because

they are super warm

with Primaloft Gold

insulation. A goat skin

palm and Dryosphere

membrane also keep

hands dry and cozy.”

-AMIE

ENGERBRETSON

7 / POC

Obex SPIN Helmet

SEGMENT:

Wiegele’s

MSRP: $200

“This is my go-to

helmet because it’s

the safest—it features

innovative materials

designed for weight

savings and maximum

crash protection. You

gotta protect your

brain—skiing is cool,

but so is reading. The

fact that it looks good

is just gravy.”

-JIM RYAN

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 13


2

GG EAR

1

4

3

5

1 / BLIZZARD

Zero G 105

SEGMENT:

Chamonix

MSRP: $960

“These touring skis really

don’t sacrifice any

performance over any

of my alpine skis, and

they are super light. It’s

the perfect ski to bring

to Europe where you

have big tours and big

skiing. You need a ski

that will get you there

and perform, not one

or the other.”

-MARCUS CASTON

2 / K2

Mindbender

115 C Alliance

SEGMENT:

Bella Coola

MSRP: $850

“This is the baddest

women’s ski in the new

Mindbender line. It’s

the perfect balance of

aggressive turn initiation,

strong edge hold,

and playfulness thanks

to a light aspen core,

Carbon Spectral Braid,

and fun tail shape.”

-AMIE

ENGERBRETSON

3 / HELLY HANSEN

Odin Mountain Shell

Jacket + Bib Pant

SEGMENT:

Chamonix

MSRP: Jacket $600;

Bib $475

“I’m a simple guy, and

I like simple things

that get the job done.

This bib and jacket are

just that: windproof,

waterproof, breathable

shells with vents and

pockets where you

need them, and none

where you don’t.”

-MARCUS CASTON

4 / BCA

Link Radio 2.0

SEGMENT:

Jackson Hole

MSRP: $180

“Communication is

important, especially

when navigating in the

backcountry. I really like

the Link 2.0 radio because

it has good battery

life, good range,

and a loud, crystal-clear

speaker. It’s small, easy

to carry, and above all,

makes communicating

in the field easy.”

-FORREST JILLSON

5 / PETZL

Ride Ice Axe

SEGMENT:

Chamonix

MSRP: $120

“The Petzl Ice Axe is

strong yet lightweight,

which made touring

and skiing with it practical.

I felt safer knowing

that it was always

with me in case things

got icy, challenging, or

steep. And when we

were in Chamonix, we

experienced all of the

above.”

-ERIN MIELZYNSKI

14 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


7

8

6

9

10

BACKCOUNTRY

6 / SCOTT

Patrol E1 22L

SEGMENT:

Bella Coola

MSRP: $1,100

“I always ski with an

airbag in the backcountry.

The Scott

Patrol E1 pack uses a

battery super capacitor

technology, not a

lithium battery or canister,

so it’s a breeze to

travel with. It charges

fast and holds its

charge for a long time.”

-AMIE

ENGERBRETSON

7 / BCA

Tracker 3

SEGMENT:

Switzerland

MSRP: $335

“The BCA tracker 3

is the standard for

avalanche transceivers.

It provides one

of the best formats

for ease of use, and I

love how quick it is to

flip to search mode.

It’s one of the most

user-friendly and intuitive

beacons on the

market.”

-MORGAN HEBERT

8 / BLACK

DIAMOND

QuickDraw

Probe Tour

SEGMENT:

Switzerland

MSRP: $70

“The BD QuickDraw

Probe Tour is nice and

lightweight, packs

down easily, and has all

the great features of a

longer probe. While

lightweight, the Quick-

Draw Tour is durable

and provides a long

range of probing.”

-MORGAN HEBERT

9 / ORTOVOX

Beast Shovel

SEGMENT:

Switzerland

MSRP: $60

“This shovel has a

solid sharp edge on

the head that easily

cuts through ice and

bad layers. It’s comfortable

to work with

and chops through

all types of snow like

butter. You never want

to have to use your

shovel, but if you do,

you’d want this one.”

-MORGAN HEBERT

10 / HEAD

Kore 1

SEGMENT:

Austria

MSRP: $900

“These boots are stiff

(130 flex) and damp

enough to handle

high speeds thanks

to a shell of high

performance plastic

and Head’s Duo Flex

technology. And the

lightweight construction

and 45-degree

range of motion makes

touring less tiring.”

-BAKER BOYD

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 15


GG EAR

1

2

3

5

4

IFESTYLE

1 / HELLY HANSEN

Wool Knit Sweater

SEGMENT:

Chamonix

MSRP: $150

“Every skier needs a

practical and warm

cabin sweater. This

new sweater from HH

makes for the perfect

winter layer thanks to

its Merino wool/nylon

blend that’s cozy and

moisture-wicking.

Bonus: It looks so nice

that it can double as a

dinner/town sweater.”

-ERIN MIELZYNSKI

2 / SPYDER

Transit GTX Infinium

Down Parka

SEGMENT:

Bella Coola

MSRP: $500

“This is a great lifestyle

jacket. I love the long

cut, soft feel of the

fabric, and modern

military cut. It’s

crazy warm and cozy.

Another plus: It folds

into a compartment to

become a super comfy

down travel pillow. ”

-AMIE

ENGERBRETSON

3 / K2

Knit Beanie

SEGMENT:

Bella Coola

MSRP: $20

“I love my beanies

simple and durable.

This K2 beanie is just

that. I can wear it on

the slopes and then

keep it on for dinner

to hide my hat hair. It

goes with everything

and I’m loving the

fold up beanie style

these days.”

-AMIE

ENGERBRETSON

4 / OAKLEY

Latch Key

Sunglasses

SEGMENT:

Chamonix

MSRP: $166

“These sunglasses

have incredible

prizm/polarized

lenses which block

the reflection from

the snow, have great

visibility, and improve

contrast. I also love

the fact that they

stand up to rough

adventuring.”

-ERIN MIELZYNSKI

5 / HELLY HANSEN

Stockholm 2

Men’s Boot

SEGMENT:

Chamonix

MSRP: $130

“The Stockholm 2 is

the perfect mountain

lifestyle boot.

It’s light and feels

like a sneaker, which

makes it nice to step

into after a long day

in ski boots. It’s also

water-resistant and

will keep your feet dry

and warm.”

-MATTIAS HARGIN

16 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM



THE

METAMORPHOSIS OF

GLEN PLAKE

RYAN VARCHOL

The rebel turned PSIA poster child may not fly his signature

mohawk much these days, and he may keep different company,

but don’t let him fool you—he still loves skiing powder.

INTERVIEW BY JENNY WIEGAND


WE ALL KNOW GLEN PLAKE.

WE KNOW HIM AS THE MOHAWKED

HOT DOGGER WITH AN

UNHEALTHY ADDICTION TO

MOGULS WHO, THANKS TO GREG

STUMP’S 1987 SKI MOVIE CLASSIC

Opposite: Plake showed

fellow ski instructors

Brenna Kelleher and AJ

Oliver a trick or two at

Mustang Powder, B.C.

But that was all decades ago. Since then, Hot

Doggers came and went the way of skinny

skis; other pro skiers like Shane McConkey

dreamed up bigger stunts and took on the

roles of skiing’s riffraff. And yet, Glen Plake

has managed to stay current and relevant in

today’s ski culture. How? By transforming

himself into something entirely unexpected:

a ski instructor who believes in skiing by the

book.

In his own words, here’s a look at his

surprising transformation from an antiestablishment

punk skier into a fully certified

professional ski instructor who now not

only spreads stoke, but the Professional Ski

Instructors of America’s (PSIA) credo.

THE BLIZZARD OF AAHHHH’S,

HELPED ADD “PRO SKIER” TO THE

OFFICIAL LIST OF VIABLE CAREERS.

BUT ABOVE ALL, WE KNOW GLEN

PLAKE AS SKIING’S ANTIHERO—

THE GUY WHO DITCHED THE U.S.

SKI TEAM IN FAVOR OF SKIING

WITHOUT RULES AND ONCE FLED

TO CHAMONIX, FRANCE, TO AVOID

TROUBLE WITH THE LAW AT HOME.

THEN: Eff the Poodles! All I wanted to do was

kick their ass.

NOW: I think we take ski instructors for

granted. That person trained, they’re a

professional. Unfortunately, in the ’80s ski

instruction took a bit of a hit. If you look back

at the ’60s and ’70s, everyone knew who the

best skiers on the hill were: the ski instructors.

That’s why they were ski instructors during

that era, and they were respected and admired.

But something happened in the ’80s, and it

was partially due to technique and partially

due to some protocols like Perfect Form that

made it a bad, dark time for ski instruction. It

just got weird, and the ski instructor became

that poodle that we all made fun of.

THEN: I was a spokesperson for Learn a

Snowsport Month and was asked on the

“Today Show” to teach anchor Hoda Kotb, a

first-time skier, to ski. We were on the ski lift

and she asked me ‘What happens when we get

to the top here?’ And I thought, ‘Interesting

question, I have no idea.’ I ended up literally

carrying this woman around the ski area—

that was my teaching capacity at the time.

And I thought, anyone who sees this is going

to think this guy has no idea what he’s doing.

That night, I made a call to PSIA.

NOW: I took my PSIA Level 1 certification at

Breckenridge in 2011 with 250 new hires. I’ll be

very honest: I was ready to call the examiners

out. And yet, as I moved through the process,

there was nothing I could call them out on.

I was like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense’ ... ‘OK,

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 19


GLEN PLAKE

G

Plake, a legendary Hot

Dogger known for ripping

moguls and throwing

Daffys, is not your

average ski instructor.

interesting,’ … ‘Yeah, can’t argue with that.’

So, I felt good about the whole process, and

started thinking about Level 2 and 3, which

turned out to be a little more involved. But

I was never given a hall pass through the

process. If anything, examiners expected me

to be better than I was. That said, I went on to

get my Level 2 and 3, and now I’m an official

PSIA examiner.

THEN: Back in the ’80s, ski instructors all got

these dang certifications and thought they

were somebodies, when clearly, they weren’t.

HISTORY OF SKI INSTRUCTION (PSIA) IN THE U.S.

1930-60

The early days of ski instruction in

the United States. Teaching technique

and principles varied across the

country; ski instructors could choose

to teach Austrian, French, or Swiss

methods—there was no set standard

for instruction

“T HE SKI INSTRUCTOR

BECAME THAT POODLE

THAT WE ALL MADE

FUN OF.

A group of

seven

committed

instructors

incorporate

PSIA

‘61

‘64

The Official

American Ski

Technique is born,

setting a standard

for how skiing was

to be taught in

America

NOW: Here’s what a lot of people don’t

understand: A Level 3 certification means

that you’re a wonderful instructor—it doesn’t

mean that you’re the best skier on the hill. At

the same time, some Level 3 instructors are

really, really, really good skiers. That’s why

AJ Oliver, Brenna Kelleher, and I were up at

Mustang Powder—to show people that ski

instructors can be awesome skiers. On one

of my Down Home Tours, I was at this little

ski area, and in their lodge they had all these

old pictures of ski instructors from the ’60s

and ’70s and after looking at them I thought,

there’s no way you wouldn’t take a lesson from

PSIA developed

the first training

and education

snowboard

programs

‘87

‘97

PSIA forms the

American

Association

of Snowboard

Instructors (AASI)

as an affiliate

association

RYAN VARCHOL

20 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


sugarbush.com 800.53.SUGAR #sugarbushvt

PHOTO: JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR

Adventure Awaits

There’s something more to the Sugarbush experience than the legendary

terrain variety, the meticulous snowmaking and grooming, the fabled

history, and the authentic Vermont mountain setting.

Come discover what makes Sugarbush different.

For the best deals on season passes, discount tickets, lodging and more,

visit sugarbush.com.

$279

PLUS TAX

(four unrestricted tickets)

For sale thru November, purchase four non-refundable 2019/20 Adult

All Mountain lift tickets for just $279. Quad Pack tickets are transferable,

but you have to act fast, the Quad Pack is gone when December hits.


GG

LEN PLAKE

these dudes. Pictures of them jumping, doing

tricks, all the things that ski instructors could

do in that romantic era of the occupation—I

think we need to bring that back a little bit.

THEN: Twenty-five years ago, my buddies

and I were stubborn, stupid, and ornery

enough to go out and climb and ski mountains.

NOW: Everything you see now is telling you

to buy backcountry gear, ski powder, go ski

tour—and people have no clue how to use the

gear or what it’s really for. We need to adopt

the European instruction model and teach

people that mountain guides can help them

access this natural skiing environment that

everybody is shoving down our throats, and

is, in fact, fun. I feel that ski school should

teach people some general backcountry

technique—not snow safety, not avalanche

awareness, not mountain sense, but just teach

people how to use the equipment.

THEN: Powder has never been that big of a

deal to me. I guess because I knew how to ski

powder before powder skis showed up.

NOW: Something that drives me nuts is this

frantic, inhuman addiction to a powder day.

I can’t stand it, it drives me fricken nuts. It’s

just crazy how people are about powder now.

That’s why I love mogul skiing so much—it

doesn’t matter how many people are skiing

the moguls. While it’s wonderful to have the

spectacles of the sport—those once-in-alifetime

Warren Miller moments—we need to

realize that those are just spectacles. We’re

putting a lot of emphasis not on the everyday

aspects of the sport, and I think we need to

rediscover why we ski. We need to understand

the joy of the actual sport itself, not the snow

conditions.

He’s been in the ski biz for decades, yet instead of fading from skiing’s collective memory, Plake

has stayed relevant by reinventing himself. One thing he hasn’t changed: his eccentric style.

WHERE TO GO:

THE OPERATION

Mustang Powder provides some of the best

and most remote backcountry cat skiing in the

Monashee Montains of B.C. Boasting more

than 30,000 acres of terrain accessible via 275

miles of snow roads, the operation caters to

advanced skiers and boarders looking to ski

until they drop. Mustang Powder offers twoto

four-day trips starting November 30, 2019

through April 5, 2020. Prices vary depending

on dates and program.

GETTING THERE

To get after it, fly into Kelowna, B.C., a twohour

drive from Mustang’s meeting spot

near Craigallachie. Mustang Powder is also

accessible via major highways from the east

(Kamloops, approx. two-hour drive) and the

west (Revelstoke, approx. 45-minute drive).

Plan to arrive the day prior to your trip dates.

New for the 2019-2020 season, all guests will

be flown into the lodge from the meeting spot

near Craigallachie. Info: mustangpowder.com

COURTESY OF ELAN SKIS/PETER MORNING

22 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


MINDBENDER

115C ALLIANCE

We were gonna smash out a bunch of jargon in this ad about what goes into making this ski so

insane. But we know you won't read it. So instead we're just gonna leave you with this:

The Mindbender 115C Alliance. Built to blast.

AMIE ENGERBRETSON K2SNOW.COM

BUILT TO BLAST


CC HAMONIX

Marcus Caston,

unrecognizable in the

pow during a heli-ski

excursion on the

French-Swiss border.

PHOTO CREDIT

24 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


FRENCH

CONNECTION

Ski racers Mattias Hargin and

Erin Mielzynski swap skinny skis

for powder boards and head to

Chamonix in search of backcountry

adventure—no gates required.

BY SAMANTHA BERMAN

PHOTO CREDIT

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 25


CC HAMONIX

FOR CANADIAN

SKI RACER

ERIN MIELZYNSKI,

CHAMONIX GARNERS

IMAGES OF THE

FAMED KANDAHAR

RACE COURSE AND

BASHING GATES IN THE

MOUNTAINS WHERE SKI

RACING WAS BORN.

SO WHEN SHE WAS

ASKED TO FILM WITH

SWEDISH SKI RACER

on a big-mountain freeride shoot, she was more

than a little surprised. Especially considering

she’d never skied in the backcountry, didn’t

know how to use the equipment—and didn’t

even own any. “They just kept reassuring me

that they wanted me to come,” says Mielzynski.

“Pretty crazy to be in a Warren Miller movie doing

something you’ve never even done before!”

Luckily, the trio would be in good company,

heading into the backcountry accompanied by

experienced Chamonix guide and 2009 Freeride

World Tour champion Aurélian Ducroz. From

heli-skiing to hut-to-hut skinning, the athletes

got the adventure they came for—and a little

extra, to boot. For Mielzynski and Hargin, the

experience ignited a new passion for freeskiing

that both plan to nourish for seasons to come.

On ski racing:

Erin Mielzynski: My parents were skiers, so it

was in my blood right away. I started skiing on

snow and water before I was two years old, following

my older sister around. I actually got very

heavily into water skiing, and I got better at water

skiing faster. In 2006 I went to the Junior Worlds

in Moissac, France and placed 2nd in the jump

event, then placed 1st in the same event at the

Junior Masters in Georgia. Then, when I was 17

I made the Canadian National Alpine Team, so

that’s when my entire focus turned to ski racing.

Mattias Hargin: I come from a big family with

four older siblings. When I was born, the whole

family was into skiing, and my older siblings

were already into ski racing, so it was an easy

choice for me. I grew up in Stockholm, and there

are a lot of smaller slopes in town. At my home

hill, Flottsbro, it takes 20 seconds to ski the slalom

course—it’s only about 20 meters (65 feet).

But that’s where I started racing.

MATTIAS HARGIN AND

PRO FREESKIER

MARCUS CASTON

On filming with WME:

EM: I got an email back in January asking if

I was interested in doing some filming with

WME and Helly Hansen in Chamonix. I originally

pictured myself flying down a race course,

I totally thought I’d be ski racing in the heart

of ski racing’s culture. As our communications

progressed, I realized it was big mountain

backcountry skiing that they wanted to film. I

had never ski toured, and only been on fat skis

PHOTO CREDIT

26 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE

TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


TOP: The whole crew makes a push to the summit of the Argentière

Glacier on a clear, early morning. BOTTOM: Caston (left) and Aurélian

Ducroz leave rooster tails in their wake.

TOP: Erin Mielzynski looks right at home in the waist-deep powder.

BOTTOM: Mielzynski and Ducroz take the time to go over glacier

travel safety precautions before putting the knowledge to good use.

PHOTO CREDIT

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 27


CC HAMONIX

a handful of times. I told them ‘I don’t think

I’m your girl, I have absolutely no experience in

the backcountry, I don’t know what to expect,

I don’t even have the right equipment.’

MH: This was my first time filming with

WME, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

I had met the other athletes before, but I had

never skied with them. I was surprised to find

out that Erin had never been in the backcountry

before! But filming is a little like ski racing in the

sense that when you’re filming, you have to perform,

and you might have only one shot at getting

it right so you have to be really focused.

TOP: A Grands Montets ski patroller practices high-angle rescue techniques with the

Chamonix Valley in the backdrop. BOTTOM: Patroller Johann Vienny flakes rope in

preparation for more high-angle rescue drills. OPPOSITE: Patrollers take in the view.

On backcountry skiing vs. ski racing:

EM: I think racing helped me adapt to the backcountry

more easily. Racing built the backbone of

my skiing and made me a technically sound skier.

It also helped with safety—not so much avalanche

safety, but I know how to assess risk. That came

up time and time again. I’d be nervous to go down

something, and I had to trust that I knew how to

ski. I raced on ice, on skinny, sharp skis, and I had

to have faith that was enough knowledge.

MH: Racers are used to speed, and really good

technique from a racing background definitely

makes it easier to adjust to conditions in the backcountry.

Yes, you have to learn new techniques,

but having a high comfort level on the snow helps

with confidence, form, and picking up new skills.

28 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


PHOTO CREDIT

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 29


CC HAMONIX

On Chamonix:

MH: My favorite part of the trip was when we

skinned out to a couple of small huts, so remote

and amazing. I’m planning a trip to go back and

ski more of the huts between Chamonix and

Zermatt. The nights in the huts were pretty

special, to be deep in the Alps like that.

EM: We went heli-skiing one day, and it was

the best powder I’ve ever experienced. This was

on the second or third day of filming, Also, touring

to the refuge and leaving the next morning

before the sun rose. That was pretty amazing.

On iconic Cham guide Aurélian Ducroz:

EM: He’s super interesting because everything

he does is very precise, from the way he

skis to the way he dances to the decisions he

makes. He’s never still. At the top of a peak he’s

off in search of crystals, checking the snow, using

the ice axe, always up for anything, he likes

to be on the move. To learn from him was really

a privilege.

MH: I really trusted him when we were out

there, he’s a very calm person, you can tell he

spends a lot of time in the mountains. I felt that

from the first moment I could trust him, and

follow him. He does a lot of extreme stuff.

You’d think his personality would be more intense,

but he’s a really nice, down-to-earth guy.

On what’s next this winter:

MH: I just retired from ski racing at the end

of last season (2019), so I’m transitioning to

freeride and I’m excited to see what my winter

will look like. I will finally have time to do what

I’ve been missing out on! I’m eager to do more

backcountry and powder skiing and explore skiing

even more. It’s still my passion.

EM: I’m bringing my touring gear to training

camp and plan to get out as much as I can. I think

it’ll be great recovery from training. I’d also like

to go to Norway, to be able to ski right down to

the water. This trip really opened my eyes, and

now I just have so many places I’d like to go.

FROM TOP: Hargin takes a breather during the early-morning Argentière

Glacier summit, then hits the powder jackpot on the way down.

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

The closest airport to Chamonix is

Switzerland’s Geneva International Airport,

55 miles away. Either a private or a shared

transfer is the fastest and most convenient way

to get from the airport to Chamonix. Be sure to

book a transfer in advance through companies

such as ChamExpress or AlpyBus. A shared

ride runs about $30 per person. It’s possible to

take the train, but there’s no direct route and

travel time can be over four hours.

LODGING

The Gare des Glaciers was built for the

Chamonix Winter Olympics in 1924, and was

the original tram terminal for the Aiguille du

Midi. The five-room lodge with views of Mont

Blanc sleeps 22 and is located 10 minutes

from Chamonix; garedeglaciers.com. For

more traditional accommodations, the 23-

room Hotel des Lacs inhabits a charming

1930s building set on a lake with mountain

views and easy access to the slopes.

30 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE

TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


#simplyvolkl

volkl.com

BAVARIAN TO THE CORE.

HIGH TECH MADE WHERE WE LIVE AND SKI:

BAVARIA, GERMANY

NEW KENDO 88

WITH 3D RADIUS

SIDECUT

The choices are endless in this

category, so Völkl engineers

have made it easy. With a new

3D Radius sidecut technology

that makes it effortless to switch

from long turns to short turns,

the Kendo 88 reaches a new level

of versatility for all mountain

skiing. Add in the proven Titanal

Frame construction that debuted

on the M5 Mantra last season,

and there‘s even more reason

than ever to ride the newest

Bavarian best seller.


HIGHWAY

TO HELI

PRO SKIERS TYLER CECCANTI AND AMIE

ENGERBRETSON EMBARK ON DUAL ROAD TRIPS

FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE HOMETOWNS OF SEATTLE

AND SQUAW VALLEY TO BELLA COOLA HELI SPORTS’

BRACEWELL’S LODGE, A FEW HOURS NORTH OF BELLA

COOLA, B.C., FOR BIG-MOUNTAIN HELI-SKIING, GUITAR-

STRUMMING, AND ALL THE CAMARADERIE YOU COULD

WANT IN THE REMOTE COAST MOUNTAINS.

PHOTOS BY ZACH ALMADER

32 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

Tyler Ceccanti drops in among the peaks of the Chilcotin

Mountain Range; Ceccanti enjoys a cuppa joe on a down

day; Amie Engerbretson shreds under a cloudless sky; Engerbretson

scopes out potential lines on the topo map; a quick

20-minute heli ride delivers the crew to its destination.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 33


BELLA COOLA

B

LEFT, FROM TOP:

In head-to-toe pink and

purple, Engerbretson is hard

to miss against the walls of

pure white she sprays as

she shreds.

Ceccanti and Engerbretson

mess around during a down

day at Bracewell’s Alpine

Lodge. The pair frequently

goofed around during the

week-long shoot, much to

the entertainment of the rest

of the crew.

CENTER, FROM TOP:

Engerbretson makes her

mark in some fresh pow.

The team worked with a

guide to make sure that

when they found big lines

to ski, the snow would be

safe. This is one of the many

winning spots they came

across outside of Bracewell’s

Lodge.

Ceccanti shows off his K2

fatties as he throws down a

quick trick. The pro freeskier

has been competing in

freeride competitions since

his earliest days at Washington’s

Crystal Mountain.

RIGHT, FROM TOP:

Did someone say breathtaking?

Engerbretson and

Ceccanti hike up to their

designated drop-in point

with some serious views as

their only company. This

was Ceccanti’s eighth

Warren Miller film and

Engerbretson’s third. Just

another day at the office.

Engerbretson and Ceccanti

make some four-legged

friends on the way to Bracewell’s,

located alongside

Tatlayoko Lake. The horses

greeted the pair at the fence,

and Engerbretson, a horse

lover, insisted they stop to

say hi.

Bracewell’s guide, Klemen

Mali, and pilot, Wayne

Goodridge, scoping out

potential locations to ski.

34 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE

TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 35


BELLA COOLA

B

36 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


TOP, FROM LEFT: Talk about 360-degree views. The helicopter is barely visible among the magnificent alpine landscape before

dropping photographer Zach Almader and cinematographer Jeff Wright off, allowing them to find their angles and set up their gear

before the skiers dropped in; Howard Peak soars out of the surrounding glaciers and plays host to Ceccanti as he shreds a steep,

snowy line. If you squint, you can see him ripping down the mountain early on in his run, not another soul in sight; Ceccanti and new

friend Sasha explore the land around Bracewell’s Lodge. The lodge was established in 1918, and the current owner, Alex Bracewell,

has lived in the area his entire life.

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

Bella Coola Heli Sports caters to skiers and

boarders who have experience heli-skiing as

well as those who don’t. Despite a truly remote

and rugged location deep in the Coast Range,

the heli op’s base is only a 70-minute flight

north of Vancouver. There are numerous flight

options out of Vancouver International Airport,

and transfer flights to Bella Coola Heli Sports

is included in most multi-day packages. Visit

bellacoolaheliskiing.com for info.

LODGING

Bella Coola Heli Sports is known for offering

excellent small-group heli-skiing over 3.25

million acres in the Coast Mountains of B.C.

Skiers lodge at one of five properties: Tweedsmuir

Park Lodge, Eagle Lodge, Pantheon

Heli Ranch, Mystery Mountain Lodge, and

Terra Nostra Guest Ranch. Bracewell’s Lodge,

featured in the film, is not currently open to the

public, but plans are underway to add it to the

operation’s lodging portfolio in the future.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 37


BELLA COOLA

B

BELOW:

From the lodge, the sunrise

illuminates Alf Bracewell

Mountain, a majestic peak

named for Alex Bracewell’s

father, Alf, a pioneer of the

area. Alf Bracewell is known

for helping carve 30 miles of

the Freedom Road, a mountain

pass in the Bella Coola

Valley, in 1952.

RIGHT, FROM TOP:

Engerbretson shreds against

a shadowy background

while cinematographer Jeff

Wright captures her

on camera.

A candid moment between

Engerbretson and Ceccanti

in the living room at

Bracewell’s Lodge. The

lodge is quintessentially

rustic, completely heated by

wood, powered by diesel

generators, and ideal for a

truly remote getaway.

38 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE


ILLUMINATE

CHRIS BENCHETLER

STYLE: PXV, ECHO/PH AMBER

©2019 Marchon Eyewear, Inc.


REALSKIERS.COM

2020


MOGULS meets

BIG MOUNTAIN

U.S. Ski Team moguls racer

Jaelin Kauf is set loose

on the steeps of Silverton

Mountain under the guidance

of veteran freeskiers Lorraine

Huber and Connery Lundin.

Interview by Megan O’Herron

Photos by Ian Anderson

PHOTO CREDIT

Austrian freeskier

Lorraine Huber

(pictured) lent guidance

to Jaelin Kauf while

filming at Colo.’s

Silverton Mountain.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 41


INTERVIEW

SILVERTON

S

“That is just what we did as a family. Our trips

were ski trips, and whenever we had free time we

went up skiing. It was everything for us.”

Twenty-three-year-old U.S. Ski Team member Jaelin Kauf grew

up chasing her mom, dad (both pro skiers), and older brother

down the hills of Grand Targhee, Wyo., starting at age three.

Skiing was the family activity for the Kaufs. “That is just what we

did as a family,” she says. Her dad, Scott Kauf, ran the cat-skiing

operation at Grand Targhee, so when the kids weren’t racing,

they were out on the cat with Dad. As a young skier, Kauf did

everything from racing to big mountain skiing to skier cross. It

wasn’t until high school that she found her stride as a mogul

skier, but when she finally found it, it stuck.

“There’s just something about the sport. There’s

the speed, there’s the jumping, and there’s the

technical side of it with the tight turns. You have to

perfect every aspect of it.”

After moving to Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 2010 as a high

school freshman, Kauf’s ascension into mogul skiing stardom

came quickly. She made the U.S. Moguls Team in 2016,

and in that same season earned her first career podium and

the Rookie of the Year title. “There’s just something about

the sport,” she says. Mogul skiing combines the critical

aspects of all the different sports she grew up doing—the

Jaelin Kauf grew

up skiing all types

of terrain, which

certainly helped

prepare her for the

big-mountain skiing

she encountered at

Silverton Mountain.

speed of racing, the jumping, and creativity of freeskiing

and skier cross, and the precision and technique unique to

moguls. Since her 2016 breakout season, Kauf has notched

six World Cup wins, two World Championship podiums,

and placed 7th in her first Olympics in PyeongChang in

2018. She has proudly followed in the ski tracks of her parents,

who were both World Pro Mogul Tour champions—

not only in competition, but also in front of the Warren

Miller camera.

“I grew up thinking that the coolest thing you

could do as a skier was to be in a Warren

Miller movie. So when I got invited, I immediately

yelled, ‘Oh my god, Mom, guess what, guess what,

guess what?’”

Like many young skiers, Kauf grew up watching Warren

Miller ski films. Unlike most skiers, though, she grew up

watching her parents star in some of those films. Her mom,

Patti Kauf, was in Born to Ski (1991), and both of her parents

were featured in Fifty (1999), Warren Miller’s 50th

anniversary film where Kauf and her brother, Skyler, were

on set as toddlers. So, when she got invited to be in her

own WME movie, her first reaction was “Oh my god, Mom,

guess what, guess what, guess what?” The chance to fulfill a

childhood dream was way too good to pass up.

42 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Kauf carves the

Grande Couloir,

Silverton’s signature

backcountry descent;

Connery Lundin

in one his favorite

places—mid-air; the

athletes check in

with cinematographers

Tom Day and

Jeff Wright.

“The other two athletes I was skiing with,

Connery and Lorraine, are professional big mountain

skiers. I stalked their Instagrams and watched

some of their videos and was definitely a little

intimidated by it.”

For this segment, filmed in Silverton, Colo., Kauf was joined

by two professional big mountain skiers, Lorraine Huber and

Connery Lundin. Not being a big mountain skier herself, Kauf

says she was “definitely a little intimidated” at first, but that

didn’t last long. Both Huber and Lundin are world champions

in their sport and have experience in front of the camera, so

they coached Kauf on what to do and what not to do throughout

the week. Early in the week, it was just the girls, and Huber

quickly became a role model for Kauf. At the end of the day,

they were all just skiers who loved what they do, and Kauf says

everyone was easygoing and fun to be around.

“I was definitely a little nervous. But for a few of

our heli-skiing runs, Tom was sitting up in the helicopter,

hanging out the side basically right over

us. I thought, ‘Oh my god, if he’s hanging out of a

helicopter, I can’t be nervous!’”

After a few days skiing runs off of Silverton Mountain’s one

lift, the group took to the skies for some signature Silverton

heli-skiing. This was Kauf’s first time in a helicopter, but it certainly

won’t be the last. She admits she was more than a little

nervous getting ready to descend some daunting vertical, but

then she looked up to see cameraman Tom Day leaning precipitously

from the heli door to get the shot. She told herself, “Oh

my god, if he’s hanging out of a helicopter, I can’t be nervous!”

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 43


SILVERTON

S

“It’s not so much the actual skiing that was scary,

but more, what if I mess this up? Some of the shots

were like, make a right turn exactly at that piece of

snow, otherwise you ruin it.”

When you’re deep in the snow of the Rockies, it might be easy

to forget that you’re actually on the job. When the camera is on

the other side of the hill, Kauf and the other athletes had the

freedom to ski the line their hearts desired—with some guidance

from the crew, of course. Other times, film crew guys Day,

Ian Anderson, and Jeff Wright were looking for specific shots,

and they’d pick out the exact spots they wanted the athletes to

make turns. In some moments, the instruction was along the

lines of “Make a right turn exactly at that piece of snow, otherwise

you ruin it,” laughs Kauf. No pressure.

In a classic behindthe-scenes

moment,

Kauf (left) and Huber

discuss logistics

before a run.

“I’d never been to Silverton before, and up until

this winter, I honestly didn’t know a ski mountain

existed there. Once you take the lift up, you’re just

in the middle of the mountains.”

Silverton Mountain is nestled in the San Juan Mountains

of southern Colorado. With a peak elevation of 13,487 feet,

Silverton is the highest and steepest ski area in North

America. There’s only one two-seater ski lift sans safety

bar, so it’s not a mountain for the faint of heart. “Up until

this winter, I honestly didn’t know a ski mountain existed

there,” Kauf admits. Silverton flies under the radar, but is

well-known to big mountain skiers as a great place to get

guided backcountry experience and spectacular heli-skiing

views. Needless to say, it’s on her radar now.

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

Silverton Mountain is located six miles from

the former silver-mining town of Silverton, Colo.;

silvertonmountain.com. The closest airports

are Durango (63 miles south) and Montrose

(64 miles north), both of which host direct flights

from various hubs in addition to Denver. Denver

International Airport is 380 miles north in the

winter—or about an eight-hour drive. A fourwheel

drive car is highly recommended. However,

there’s no need to rent a car once you’re

in town, as there are shuttles to the mountain

and town itself is delightfully walkable.

LODGING + DINING

The newly renovated Wyman Hotel sits on

Main Street in an historic 1902 building that’s

close to dining, shopping, and bars. The 16-

room boutique hotel offers six rooms types,

including options with single or double bunk

beds for a maximum occupancy of five. For

dinner check out the Avalanche Brewing

Company for from-scratch pizzas and craft

beers plus wraps, tacos, and salads. Bonus:

Avalanche is moving to Main Street in

November 2019, where it will double its

brewing capacity and triple its kitchen space.

44 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Always Good Times

RIPSTICK 106 BLACK EDITION

_LIGHT WEIGHT

_SMOOTH RIDE

_POWERFUL REBOUND

Good times are what Glen Plake is all about. He

designed the Ripstick series to be the best of both

worlds: effortless in powder and rips the hardpack. Add

the state of the art Black Edition carbon construction,

it goes beyond both worlds and generates more

power and response in any terrain, in style.

ELANSKIS.COM


THE

WIEGELE

Where world-class guiding

meets world-class skiing.

WAY

BY JESSI HACKETT

PHOTOS BY JOSH HASKINS

46 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Athletes Jim Ryan

and Austin Ross

await their ride

accompanied by

longtime Wiegele’s

guide Bob Rankin.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 47


WW IEGELE

Ross gets schooled in

the ways of Wiegele.

48 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


A WINDING, TWO-LANE HIGHWAY SKIRTS A RIVER LINED BY

MAJESTIC LODGEPOLE PINE AS I MAKE MY WAY NORTHEAST

FROM KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA. AFTER A BEAUTIFUL

TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR DRIVE DEEP INTO THE INTERIOR OF

THE PROVINCE, I ARRIVE AT THE SMALL, SINGLE-BREWPUB

COMMUNITY OF BLUE RIVER—HOME OF WIEGELE WORLD,

A SKIER’S DREAM. AT LEAST IT’S THIS SKIER’S DREAM.

There are no other heli-skiing operations in the world quite like Mike

Wiegele Heli-Skiing (MWHS). With 50 years of operation under its belt,

this luxurious resort makes it its core mission to embrace the pure love

for powder skiing that drove Austrian–born Mike Wiegele to start this

operation in 1970.

As the story goes, after nearly 10 years of ski touring and exploring the

Monashee and Cariboo mountain ranges in interior B.C., Wiegele took a

chance at running his own helicopter guiding service. Garry Forman, heli

pilot and owner of Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd., would fly the helis and

Wiegele would guide. But with no guests signing up for trips initially,

Wiegele wrote to Warren Miller, extending an invite to come up and give

his operation a go, free of charge, so long as Miller would include Wiegele’s

fledgling operation in one of his films. Today, Wiegele laughs as he admits

he wrote other filmmakers, but Warren was the only one to take advantage.

“I just wanted people to come up here to ski,” he says.

Fifty years and a whopping 26 Warren Miller film inclusions later,

Wiegele World is considered a bucket list ski destination for people all

over the world, and at 80 years old, Wiegele himself is still the key stakeholder,

opting to attend all of the guide meetings that take place every

single morning before skiing and every afternoon after skiing. With a

unique approach to snow safety and having spearheaded and facilitated

the creation of the Canadian Ski Guide Association in the late 1980s to

help grow the field of educated and capable guides available in Canada,

the Wiegele experience is as much about world-class guiding and snow

safety as it is about world-class skiing.

Wiegele’s “5 Step Checklist” for terrain risk management differs from

other avalanche-forecasting methods. Wiegele factors in “Cosmic Solar

Radiation” (CMR) as Step 2 in checking snow stability. While it has not

been adopted across the entire ski industry, the idea is that “radiation enters

the snowpack, melting tiny particles of snow and emitting water vapor

in the process,” Wiegele describes. This step factors in humidity, temperature,

and load into a graph with relation to tidal times and has been used by

Wiegele and his guides since 1987.

“I’ve always looked for a sense of character and humility,” he says

when asked what sort of person makes a strong guide. “Aggression is bad

and so is ego.”

With 43 years and counting, Senior Lead Heli-Ski Guide Erich

Schadinger is the most-veteran guide on staff at Wiegele’s. Born in Canada

to Austrian parents, Schadinger went to Austria for Mountaineering

School in the early ’70s and found his way to Wiegele’s by 1978. At that

time, there were a total of six guides. Today there are 35.

“How our boss has raised us and the facility, and how he’s passed on

his mountain awareness and knowledge are all what make this operation

unique,” says Schadinger, who answers the question while simultaneously

completing his hour-long workout routine that he does every day—after

a full day of guiding and skiing. “I like to be calmer and slower when

I’m out with guests,” he says. “Things can happen really quick and so I

like to give explanations.”

Schadinger, 64, guides every day of the season, which runs from December

to the first week of April. He’s an admirable leader, whose quiet yet

friendly approach has lent itself to mentorship for multiple guides who

have come after him. One of those guides is Ryan Bush, a 26-year-old local

from Kamloops. Bush is a prime example of the development efforts at the

grassroots level that MWHS has invested in its local community.

At the age of 19, Bush completed his Level 1 certification through the

Canadian Ski Guide Association. “When it was time to complete my Level

2, Mike told me he’d reimburse me a good portion of the course if I passed

it,” Bush says. “And if I didn’t, I’d have to pay for it in full.” Luckily, he

passed—and has been guiding at Wiegele’s for the last eight years.

“With this job, there isn’t a day I ever want to take off,” says Bush.

Around 1,300 guests come to MWHS between December and early April,

and if the weather allows, every day is a potential ski day.

White, jagged peaks draped with snow poke out of dispersed clouds

and long, even-pitched cascading ski lines beg to be explored from

every direction. Between the Monashees, the Cariboos, and a recently added

Rocky Mountain tenure, there are 1.5 million acres of skiable terrain and

over 1,000 named runs, such as “Warren’s Way” and “BooBoo Juice.”

Working hard comes easy when it feels like play. Case in point: 30-year

veteran guide Bob Rankin. “It’s like the mice have been put in charge

of the cheese,” he laughs. Like Wiegele’s wife Bonnie has said, people

thought her husband was a little cuckoo. And he probably was, Rankin

jokes when discussing the risks Wiegele took when starting this operation

50 years ago. “But you know, he’s built up this amazing place and I’m

pretty happy he did.”

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 49


WW IEGELE

50 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT:

Ross and Ryan celebrate an epic run during some of

the best weather of the trip.

Last winter, Bob Rankin celebrated his 60th birthday

and 30th season of guiding at Wiegele’s.

Ryan goes deep during an early-morning run.

Mike Wiegele reminisces over old ski films during a

quiet moment at his lodge. Mike and Warren were great

friends and partners throughout both of their careers.

Ryan, Ross, and Rankin under the sign for the run

Mike dedicated to Warren after the filmmaker’s passing

last winter.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 51


WW IEGELE

ABOVE: A good sport in the truest sense of the term, Ross took one for the team during a Truth or Dare session with Ryan at the Wiegele

compound. Yes, that’s Ryan at the wheel of the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas.

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

Mike Wiegele Heli-Skiing is located in Blue

River, B.C., with a permitted tenure of 1.5 million

acres across 1,000 peaks in the Cariboo and

Monashee mountain ranges. The most convenient

airport is in Kamloops, B.C.; Air Canada

and West Jet offer daily service from Vancouver

and Calgary. The drive to Blue River from

Kamloops takes about two-and-a-half hours;

Saturday transfers to and from Wiegele’s are

included in the rate when you book a

seven-day package. For info, visit wiegele.com.

LODGING

Wiegele’s is a full-service luxury resort with

four different types of accommodations to suit

every type of traveler. Blue River Resort offers

easiest access to the most amenities, including

the Powder Max dining room and cocktails at

the Silver Buckle Lounge. The 17-room Albreda

Lodge is ideal for private and semi-private

groups. For more intimate options, consider the

six-room log Bavarian Estate House or Eleanor

Lake Estate, a private home. No matter where

you sleep, you’ll be close to the heli pad.

52 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


A DIFFERENT ADVENTURE EVERY DAY.

No other ski destination gives you more. With 4 world-class ski resorts and a seemingly endless number

of bars, brewpubs, sporting events, museums, restaurants, food trucks, and concerts, you’ll find just the

adventure you’re looking for. This is Salt Lake. This is Ski City. PLAN YOUR TRIP AT SKICITY.COM»


GET YOUR SKI STOKE ON THIS FALL WITH THE LATEST

WARREN MILLER FLICKS AND GEAR.

VINTAGE ART

“MANY MOODS

OF SKIING” MUG

WM BUG

FIVE PANEL CAP

“NO TURNING

BACK” (2014)

BLURAY/DVD

“CHASING

SHADOWS” (2015)

BLURAY/DVD

SKI BUM 3/4 SLEEVE

RAGLAN TEE

WM BUG MESH

FIVE PANEL

SNAPBACK

“FACE OF

WINTER” (2018)

BLURAY/DVD

HELI ZIP

HOODIE

“IN SEARCH

OF SKIING”

VINTAGE ART

PILLOW

PLUS FIND OUR FILMS ONLINE FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

COLLECT ONE OR COLLECT THEM ALL.

WARRENMILLERGEAR.COM


RAISING

RIPPERS:

KIT DESLAURIERS’ GUIDE

TO JACKSON HOLE

IAN ANDERSON

Timeless athlete Forrest Jillson

grew up on the slopes of Jackson

Hole Mountain Resort, where his

father was a ski patroller.

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 55


JACKSON HOLE

J

ABOVE: The family trekked to Everest Base Camp during a 20-day trip in September

2017. “The kids asked to go,” says Kit DesLauriers. “They’d heard all about it.”

BELOW: Grace and Tia can tick Japan off their bucket list thanks to a visit last winter.

Ski mountaineer Kit DesLauriers has traveled

the world in pursuit of mountain adventures—as

if being the first person to complete

ski descents from each of the Seven Summits

doesn’t give that away. In 2001 DesLauriers, along

with husband and fellow ski mountaineer Rob,

settled down in Jackson Hole’s mountainside

Teton Village and set forth on a different kind of

adventure: parenthood. Not surprisingly, the two

DesLauriers girls, Grace, 11, and Tia, 10, are total

rippers. They joined their folks in front of the

camera on their home slopes alongside athletes

Forrest Jillson, Cam Fitzpatrick, Caite Zeliff, and

Jess McMillan to film a segment for Timeless,

making the business of appearing in ski movies a

true family affair.

Despite being arguably one of the most successful

and prolific ski mountaineers ever, Kit

DesLauriers says that she’s never pushed her

kids to compete. “I was given the opportunity to

become who I am because of the way my family

raised me,” she explains. “I want them to have the

latitude to decide what their passions are. I’m not

driven to make my kids ski race.” Both girls tried it,

but it didn’t stick. Grace has recently started getting

into the backcountry (with mom’s guidance)

and Tia enjoys Nordic skiing in a local program. “I

would like them to ski race because it provides a

good foundation, but they don’t have the competitive

spirit for racing, at least right now.”

That’s not to say that the girls are not driven.

Grace climbed the Grand Teton last summer at

age 10, and Tia has already bagged the Middle and

South Tetons. And the family has traveled all over

the world, plowing pow in Japan, carving turns in

the Dolomites, and trekking to Everest Base Camp

when the girls were only 6 and 8. “It’s so important

to us that our kids understand our mountain tie,”

DesLauriers says. “This culture of a welcoming

tribe of people has been so impactful in our lives,

and we want them to know this kind of hospitality.”

At the end of the day, the kids know that they

need not venture too far from their front stoop

to find all the adventure a girl can dream of—

adventure that can sometimes result in playing

hooky from school. “The day Grace decided to ski

Corbet’s, she was heading out to school and she

looked at the clearing sky and said, ‘It’s been snowing

for three days, I bet it’s a good day to do it,’”

says DesLauriers. That was winter of 2017-18. This

past winter she got her first touring setup and can

now skin up Teton Pass with mom and dad. Not

too shabby.

Yet none of that holds a candle to Grace and

Tia’s favorite thing to do at Jackson Hole. “Getting

a waffle at the top of the Tram,” DesLauriers

laughs. “That’s in the film, of course.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DESLAURIERS FAMILY

56 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE

TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


THE DESLAURIERS

FAMILY’S JACKSON

HOLE TIP SHEET

WE ASKED KIT TO SHARE SOME OF

HER FAMILY’S FAVORITE SPOTS IN

TOWN AND AT THE MOUNTAIN.

1

DON’T-MISS BREAKFAST SPOT

“We like to go to Picnic for breakfast,

in town. It’s the sister restaurant of

Persephone, which is another really

popular and delicious option, also in town.

We also love the Juicery, next to

Persephone, on the busy side of town.”

2

FAVE ON-MOUNTAIN LUNCH

“Hands down Piste Bistro, at the top of

the gondola. If we want to have a special

lunch, or have family or friends visiting,

we hike the headwall then ski down to

Piste for lunch. The girls love it.”

3

A FAMILY AFFAIR: The DesLauriers have wasted no time introducing daughters

Grace and Tia to the wonders of the outdoors, from skiing and climbing missions right

outside their Teton Village back door to far-flung adventures in Japan and Italy.

DATE-NIGHT DINNER

“You can’t beat Il Villagio Osteria, in the

village. Great menu and ambience. For

something more casual, we love OYG

[Old Yellowstone Garage].”

4

GREAT FAMILY HOTEL

“Teton Mountain Lodge [disclaimer:

husband Rob helped develop it]. The food

is amazing at Spur, you can eat there for

a week and be happy. The indoor pool

is great, the location is so easy, it’s such

a comfortable family place—nice without

being over-the-top luxe and unattainable.”

5

PHOTO CREDIT

GRACE AND TIA’S FAVORITE

TERRAIN AT JHMR

“It’s evolved over the years, but right

now I’d say Thunder. They love to lap

Thunder. Then this season, we had so

much snow, they really enjoyed skiing

the powder on the lower faces.”

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 57


Morgan Hebert attempts

to hand plant on a lip

in the shadow of the

Matterhorn.


MADE IN

Photos By

Rob Kingwill

SWITZERLAND

Athletes Ryland

Bell and Morgan

Hebert embrace

the classic

Swiss towns of

Lenzerheide and

Zermatt.

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 59


SS WITZERLAND

THIS PAGE, FROM TOP:

Hiking to “get to the goods,” as photographer

Rob Kingwill puts it, was

in no short supply on this trip. Hebert

and Ryland Bell bring up the rear

as Kingwill snaps photos from the

front. “We got to a point where they

were pretty haired out,” he says. “I

managed to do a couple of climbing

moves to get us to this really beautiful

line that went all the way to the

valley floor.”

Zermatt is a hub for heli-skiing, as

well as big-mountain rescue training.

“There’s a TV show on the heli crew

there called ‘Air Zermatt,’” Kingwill

explains. “They’re definitely some

of the world’s best rescue people.”

The group’s own guide in Zermatt

was kind but tentative. “I think we

scared him a little bit,” Kingwill jokes.

“[We told him] ‘It’s fine dude, let’s

just ski down this little chute, it’ll be

awesome,’ and he was like ‘No, I go

around. Don’t die!’”

60 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Bell rips through

Swiss powder on the

first day of the trip.

With great conditions

and stellar

views of Lenzerheide,

this ridge is

about as good as

it gets. “We were

super surprised

that even though it

hadn’t snowed for

weeks, conditions

were pretty stable

and there was still

pow,” Kingwill says.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 61


SS WITZERLAND

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Bell carries his board through the streets of Lenzerheide on his way back from a day of shredding.

The town is perfectly Old World Europe, says Kingwill: quaint churches, stone walls, and friendly faces whose families have populated the

area for generations; Hebert sprays a wave a powder behind him as he descends a rock chute in one of Kingwill’s favorite shots of the trip.

“Quintessential Switzerland. It really just felt like such a pinnacle moment”; a cog railway filled with skiers and snowboarders travels up the

mountain towards the Gornergrat. Kingwill has one word for this uniquely Swiss experience: “Magical.”

62 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


SKI MAGAZINE

WA R R E N M

I L L E R

Join Us

This

Winter!

BECOME AN INSIDE EDGE

MEMBER AND HAVE YOUR

BEST SEASON EVER:

Print and Digital

subscriptions to

SKI Magazine

Members-only video

tutorials

Monthly Member

Newsletter

Exclusive year-round hotel

and travel deals from our

friends at SKI.com

One free ticket to any

Warren Miller national tour

screening of Timeless

Early Access to select

in-depth gear and resort

reviews

Join today: skimag.com/insideedge


SS WITZERLAND

Hebert and Bell traverse a boulder in the shadow of the Matterhorn, a symbol of culture in the Alps for centuries. Seeing it in person is “the

experience of a lifetime,” says Kingwill. “To ride underneath it and feel the energy of that mountain is something that anybody who loves

mountains should experience.”

64 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Bell launches off a rock at the bottom of a dicey run during one of the first descents of the trip. He hiked

1,500 vertical feet to earn this shot, bringing down tons of snow along with him. “The sound was just

ricocheting out of the valley,” says Kingwill.

FROM LEFT:

Hebert and Bell in front of an old log cabin during

their two-mile uphill walk back to town. “We stayed

out too late and all the gondolas closed, so our

guide turned to us and he was like, ‘You guys like to

walk, right?’” Kingwill laughs.

Director Chris Patterson sets up a shot while Bell

confers with the guide, who Kingwill describes as

“the most classic Switzerland guy ever.”

Bell and Hebert get ready to feast on some fondue.

“We ate like kings—it’s almost worth going to

Switzerland just to eat,” says Kingwill.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 65


SS WITZERLAND

Hebert tears down the

mountain with a massive

cloud of powder in tow.

Kingwill shot this sequence

so tight that many of the

frames missed Hebert

completely—but this one is

perfect

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

Fly into the Zurich or Geneva airports; both

have regular train service to Zermatt from their

in-airport stations. (The train ride takes threeand-a-half

and four hours, respectively, and

usually requires you to change trains once.)

Zermatt is a car-free town, so there’s no need

to rent one. Don’t miss a trip on the Glacier

Express train between Zermatt and St. Moritz,

a scenic eight-hour trip through the Alps. Get

details at myswitzerland.com.

LODGING

The pedestrian village of Zermatt is classic

Switzerland in every sense, so your accommodations

should be, as well. Hotel Hemizeus is

a family-run lodge with on-site spa and Matterhorn

views located 20 minutes from town.

In Arosa/Lenzerheide, Sunstar is a sprawling,

family-friendly resort-style hotel with 107

rooms and amenities such as restaurant, bar,

spa, fitness center, indoor pool, and shuttles to

the ski areas.

66 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


PRESENTS

World Tour

Sweepstakes

®

GRAND

PRIZE

FIRST

PRIZE

SECOND

PRIZE

THIRD

PRIZE

FOURTH

PRIZE

A 7-night trip for two to

Switzerland on Swiss

International Air Lines

with lodging in Zermatt

at the Hotel Zermatterhof.

A 7-night trip for two to

Austria’s Tirol region

including lodging and

skiing in the Arlberg

and Ötztal ski regions.

A 4-night trip for two

to ski at Jackson Hole,

Wyoming including

lodging, lift tickets,

and more.

A 3-day, 4-night trip

for two to Crested

Butte, CO, and Helly

Hansen outerwear kits

for winner and guest. No

transportation included.

A 5-day deluxe heliskiing

package at Mike

Wiegele Helicopter

Skiing with unlimited

vertical and more. No

transportation included.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 49 continental U.S. and DC (void in Hawaii) and

Canada (void in the province of Quebec) age 21 or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. Ends: 11:59 p.m. PT on 1/31/20. Visit

warrenmiller.com to enter or submit the sweeps entry card at the show. See Official Rules for details. Sponsor: Warren Miller Entertainment, Inc.


Baker Boyd drops into

spring corn off the

slopes of Obergurgl,

Austria.


BY JENNY WIEGAND

PHOTOS BY MATT HARDY

AUTOBAHN

ADVENTURE

In search of high-speed adventure, Aspen native

Baker Boyd and Whistler local Ian Morrison head

out on a road trip from Munich, Germany to the

Austrian Alps, home to some of the best freeride

terrain in Europe. From the minute they hit the

Autobahn, the duo has one mission: Charge.

TRIP

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 69


AA USTRIA

ABOVE:

Boyd and Ian Morrison

work to get the goods

beyond Sölden’s pistes.

If the backdrop looks

familiar it’s because

you’ve seen it in the

2015 James Bond flick,

Spectre.

LEFT:

Boyd and Morrison enjoy

the views from the top

of Obergurgl-Hochgurgl

ski area at 3,000 meters

(9,800 feet).

RIGHT:

Boyd sends a 360 over

Zürs, one of the five ski

towns connected by

Arlberg’s slopes.

70 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


LEFT:

The Top Mountain Star,

a stunning summit bar

at the top of Hochgurgl,

is perched above the

Austrian-Italian border

and offers spectacular

360-degree views of the

surrounding peaks.

BELOW:

A stormy day in Sölden

didn’t interfere with the

athletes’ agenda to hit

every feature in sight.

Morrison throws it back

with a spread eagle

under Sölden’s tram.

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 71


AA USTRIA

1 2 3

ARLBERG

Dubbed the “Cradle of

Alpine Skiing” because

this is where modern

ski technique was

pioneered, the Arlberg

region is Austria’s largest

ski area (and the world’s

5th largest). Eighty-eight

lifts connect Arlberg’s

five historic ski towns of

St. Anton, St. Christoph,

Stuben, Lech, and Zürs,

forming a massive web

of nearly 200 miles

of groomed slopes.

Info: skiarlberg.at/en

OBERGURGL-

HOCHGURGL

Thanks to a high base

elevation, the Obergurgl-

Hochgurgl ski area,

dubbed the Diamond of

the Alps, is one of the

most snow-sure resorts in

Austria. Nestled at the far

end of the picturesque

Ötztal valley, the ski

area comprised of two

resorts is connected by

a gondola and offers up

miles of groomed slopes

and freeride terrain.

Info: oetztal.com

SÖLDEN

Europeans jonesing for

ski season to start head

to Sölden, also located

in the Ötztal valley and

home of the Rettenbach

and Tiefenbachferner

glaciers, which open

in September each

season. These glaciers

offer more than 21

miles of runs; when the

adjacent slopes of the

Sölden ski area open,

that increases to 89

miles of piste perfection.

Info: soelden.com

4KITZBÜHEL

Kitzbühel became

synonymous with skiing

when ski pioneer Franz

Reisch imported the first

wooden skis and skied

down the steep slopes

above the quintessential

Austrian town in 1893.

Today, thousands of ski

racing enthusiasts flock

to the historic mountain

town in January to cheer

and party at ski racing’s

most spectacular event:

the Hahnenkamm.

Info: kitzbuehel.com/en

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSH COCHRAN

72 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


1 2

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF LECH ZUERS TOURISM/CHRISTOPH SCHOECH; COURTESY OF ÖTZTAL TOURISM; COURTESY OF KITZBÜHEL TOURISMUS/MICHAEL WERLBERER; COURTESY OF BERGBAHNEN SÖLDEN

3

Lech Zürs am Arlberg

The Tiefenbachkogl viewing

platform, Sölden

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

The most convenient access point from the U.S.

to the Austrian Alps is Munich, Germany. Fly

into Munich International Airport, a two-hour

drive from Kitzbühel and a three-hour drive

from St. Anton. If renting a car and driving, be

sure to pick up a “Vignette,” a road tax sticker

needed to drive on highways in Austria.

STAY

Kitzbühel: Gasthof Jodlbühel, jodlbuehel.at;

Sölden: Hotel Das Central 5*, central-soelden

.com; Arlberg: Hotel Maiensee, maiensee.com

SIGHTS AND SLOPES

Kitzbühel: If you can, plan your visit to

coincide with the Hahnenkamm World

Cup Downhill race on Jan. 24-27 to experience

Kitzbühel’s ski racing culture and

après. Sölden: Check out 007 Elements,

a James Bond installation situated at

the top of the mountain where scenes of

Spectre were filmed. Hochgurgl: Take in

stunning views from the Top Mountain Star.

Arlberg: Experience world-class freeriding

by booking a guide and skiing the famed

Valluga North Face.

4

Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski area

Kitzbühel

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 73


Eldora Mountain Resort may not be a

household name, but its fans are devoted

to this place known for building community

and welcoming all. Here. U.S. Snowboard

Team member Chase Blackwell

shows how it’s done in Eldora’s vibrant

park and pipe scene.

74 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


HOME

GROWN

MEET THE DIVERSE TAPESTRY OF

ELDORA LOCALS AND DIEHARDS WHO

COMPRISE THE TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY OF

BOULDER, COLORADO’S BACKYARD HILL.

PHOTOS BY IAN ANDERSON

AND IZZIE RAITT

IAN ANDERSON

WARRENMILLER.COM TIMELESS

SPECIAL ISSUE SKI MAGAZINE 75


EE LDORA

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

Longtime Eldora rider and

local shop owner Raul Pinto

spends much of his winters on

the slopes of Eldora mentoring

young riders and strengthening

the mountain’s vibrant snowboarding

community.

Eldora’s annual end of season

pond skim turned into a chance

for a movie cameo in Timeless.

Good thing this competitor was

dressed for the occasion.

Pinto doing what he loves.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: IAN ANDERSON; IZZIE RAITT; IAN ANDERSON

76 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE

TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM



ELDORA

E

ABOVE: Nederland

locals Barb and Scott

Henderson do what they

enjoy most—carving the

slopes of Eldora.

RIGHT: The pair, both

former ski racers, have

traveled the world but

chose to settle down in

tiny Nederland, where

they can see the slopes

of Eldora from their deck.

WHERE TO GO:

GETTING THERE

The closest skiing and snowboarding from

Boulder, Colorado can be found at Eldora

Mountain Resort, about 20 miles up Boulder

Canyon just outside the town of Nederland.

Ride the RTD’s N Route bus from Boulder, which

deposits skiers and riders steps from the resort’s

Alpenglow Chair. In Boulder, catch the bus at

the Transit Center, the Boulder County Justice

Center, or Settler’s Park. Visit rtd-denver.com

for this season’s schedule.

IN TOWN

The quirky town of Nederland couldn’t be a

better home base for Eldora. Stop into Salto,

where owner Karina Luscher roasts coffee

beans in-house to ensure a taste and quality

that’s up to her standards. Take home a bag of

her Salto blend. Crosscut Pizzeria & Taphouse

makes tasty pies made with Colorado-milled

flour and serves wine and beer on tap. Finally,

for $2, take a spin on the Carousel of

Happiness, a restored 1910 carousel.

IAN ANDERSON (2)

78 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


THIS IS PRO SKI RACING

BRINGING DUAL PRO SKI RACING TO THE WORLD

W O R L D P R O S K I T O U R . C O M


BB ACK P A GE

70TH ANNIVERSARY

HIGHLIGHT REEL

A look back at the WME crew’s favorite films over the years.

2009: DYNASTY

“This film contains so many

iconic Warren Miller elements.

Adaptive athletes battling on

the skier cross course in Aspen

at Winter X Games, remote ski

touring under the midnight sun

in the Lyngen Alps of Norway,

and of course one of the best

stories of all time, a journey to

the Altai Mountains in China to

ski with a family who has been

making their own skis for generations.”

– Josh Haskins, Producer

2018: FACE OF

WINTER

“Loved the

cross-country

segment featuring

Jessie Diggins. That

moment in Olympic

history shook the

whole world. To see

it on film gave me

chills.”

—Forrest Jillson,

Athlete

1964: THE SKIERS

“This movie from way-back-when featured a

high schooler named Rebel who had killer

flow and was surely one of the pioneers of the

micro-tranny.”

—Jim Ryan, Athlete

2003: JOURNEY

“This movie included

a segment filmed in

France featuring wing

suits. It was insane. It

was when wing suits

were first coming out

and this Frenchman

set the record for the

longest flight. I was a

kid and my mind was

blown!”

– Tyler Ceccanti,

Athlete

2012: FLOW STATE

“In the film, Jess

McMillan is eating at

a diner when she receives

a text from Chris

Davenport and Ted

Ligety inviting her to go

heli-skiing. She pays her

bill and hops in a race

car to make it to the heli

pad in time for take-off.

That’s my dream ski

movie segment.”

—Caite Zeliff, Athlete

1994: VERTICAL REALITY

“I always remember the segment

shot in India in this film. Neon

one-piece suits, riding elephants,

locals skiing on handmade skis.

It’s got it all.”

—AJ Oliver, Athlete

2015: CHASING SHADOWS

“Going to Nepal with

Seth Wescott was one epic

adventure!”

– Rob Kingwill, Athlete

2010: WINTERVENTION

“Getting to film in my

hometown of Lech was a

huge honor.”

– Lorraine Huber, Athlete

2007: PLAYGROUND

“Filming in Dubai was an

amazing experience.”

– Austin Ross, Athlete

2001: COLD FUSION

“There are so many good films,

but this one featuring the Alaska

segment with Rob Kingwill

and Julie Zell is my favorite.”

– Cam Fitzpatrick, Athlete

1991: BORN TO SKI

“My mom was in a really

badass all-girls segment with

one-legged skier Dianna

Goldman in this movie.”

—Jaelin Kauf, Athlete

WARREN MILLER FILM ARCHIVES (5)

80 SKI MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE TIMELESS WARRENMILLER.COM


Proud sponsor of fresh tracks.

Available 4MOTION® all-wheel drive.

Face winter with the Volkswagen Atlas, Tiguan, and Golf Alltrack.

Volkswagen is a proud presenting sponsor of Warren Miller’s film

Timeless. Go to warrenmiller.com to further your experience.

©201 9 Volkswagen of America, Inc.


Proud sponsor of fresh tracks.

Available 4MOTION® all-wheel drive.

Face winter with the Volkswagen Atlas, Tiguan, and Golf Alltrack.

Volkswagen is a proud presenting sponsor of Warren Miller’s film

Timeless. Go to warrenmiller.com to further your experience.

©201 9 Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!