New Skis!

It feels like summer now but just a few short weeks ago it was still snowing and I was still hitting the slopes. Just in time to catch the final long days on the hill I picked up some new skis that I’m super excited about!

I’d read lots about alpine touring (AT) racing skis and how they are amazingly light weight, but I had a really hard time finding anywhere to buy them in North America. I was actually starting to plan a trip to Switzerland to pick up a pair in person when I came across ShowInn.com. Strangely, this site is based out of baking hot Spain but has high-end skis that you’ll have a hard time finding even at the most ski die-hard resorts in Canada or the US.

I debated for ages about which line of skis to get – the very top end used by the fastest ski mountaineering racers in the world or one step down. In the end I decided to go with Dynafit PDGs, an amazingly light ski but one that won’t have you winning gold running up and skiing down challenging slopes. And these skis are tough too. Since I tend to really beat up anything I put on my feet, that’s important.

A comparison - fat skiboards, my new dynafits, nordic skis — A comparison – fat skiboards, my new dynafits, nordic skis

A comparison - beefy AT boots, my new dynafits, cross country boots — A comparison – beefy AT boots, my new dynafits, cross country boots

As soon as my new toys arrived I brought them into MEC for a hotwax. Everyone was amazed at the feathery lightness. Three different people asked me how my racing season went. That’s funny – when I take my fat skiboard to the hill teenagers ask what kind of tricks I do at the terrain park. Suddenly, everyone thinks I’m a skimo racer. But I bought these more as an efficient tool to get into the backcountry. They really shine at climbing big slopes but they’re also great when you want to explore a bubbling creek that winds its way up into the mountains.

But they’re fun when it comes to charging down steep slopes too. I headed out to Fernie for the final week of the ski season to put in turns on some of my favorite runs and to discover some new ones. Ski patrol let me skin up to the wind-swept summit for an exhilarating run down through ice and fallen boulders.

I only got about 10 days on these new skis before the lifts stopped running but I’m really excited to take them out into the backcountry next season!

The Final Days of Skiing – Kicking Horse

As spring starts to melt the snow away, the final days of skiing are here. I’m a little sad to see the season come to an end after some fantastic days on the slopes but spring skiing brings its own pleasures. I’m especially enjoying the soft snow – a great thing for someone who does a lot of wipeouts!

Castle Mountain in Spring

It feels like spring at Castle Mountain. While the mornings are still chilly (-22C last Sunday), it sure warms up during the day. Over two days of cross-country skiing around the hostel and downhill skiing at Lake Louise the sun shone brilliantly and warmed me up even when the air was still cool.

The sound of trains passing in the night is one of the things that defines this palce — The sound of trains passing in the night is one of the things that defines this place

Cell phone tower and still-snowy mountain tops

Cross Country Skiing to Boom Lake

A few winters ago I decided to try cross-country skiing. Once I got the hang of it I found it very enjoyable. These last few winters I’ve traveled much of the time and this year I’ve been focused on making the most of downhill skiing. Last week I took a break from steep runs and put on the Nordic skis for a quick glide up to Boom Lake.

A fresh snowfall covered the well packed trail and the forest sheltered me from the wind. When I got to the lake I was surprised to see that less than an hour and a half had passed. Faint tracks led out along the lake shore so I followed them until they became windswept. Breaking trail was fun but reminded me how much more work it is than following established tracks. The Boom Lake trail has some pretty steep sections and tight turns toward the bottom. These were great fun on cross-country skis and gave me the chance to take a few really good wipe-outs!

Frozen ice at the bottom of a massive old avalanche chute

Skiing the Dream

When I was a little kid I dreamed of being able to spend my winters skiing. I pictured myself escaping the city and being outside, enjoying beautiful views and exhilarating runs. I probably skied a dozen or so times during school trips and a few times with a family friend. It was always enjoyable but I often felt a bit nervous too. At best I skied blue runs. Black Diamond runs looked way too scary.

Last year I started skiing at COP, the local bunny hill. This year I’ve stepped it up with trips to four different mountains and I’m really happy to see my skills improve each time. I’ve gone from cautiously skiing green runs at the start of last year to now jumping off cornices into boulder-strewn double blacks. Best of all, it feels like I’m living that childhood dream I had many years ago.

The back side of Lake Louise on a chilly Tuesday morning

An untouched cornice waits for the first skier of the day

Eating Snow Around the World

Outdoor Adventure Travel and Strange Foods

Category: skiing