Our early-season was unbelievable--I rode shin-deep powder with Bodie-the-dog on Peaked Mountain on October 7th.

After a dry November, the holidays brought fat powder back to the Tetons. Matt Lloyd goes deep near Teton Pass.

Laying our lines with nary a soul around. I spent 2 weeks in the Tetons in January with 5 NOLS instructors on snowboards, watching our tracks fill in every night as we received 1.5 meters of snowfall.

Dinnertime! Working the stoves by lamplight, turning out high backcountry cuisine.

My Winterstick Swallowtail made epic powder riding effortless.

The results of hip-checking on limestone...

Rappelling into the entrance of the Pinnochio Couloir on the Middle Teton. We had hoped to climb the North Ridge and make turns from the summit, but ended up riding this sweet line instead.

Digging the sun with Mark after a long, cold climb and descent on the north side of the Middle Teton.

Climbing out of The Handle of the Skillet Glacier on Mt. Moran. Evan Horn breaking trail.

Beautiful, firm powder riding on the Skillet Glacier with Jackson Lake below.

Summit photo with Jaime Musnicki on the Grand Teton. We took advantage of a short window of good weather and great conditions to make this 2-day trip up and down the Grand in late-March.

Approaching the anchors at the bottom of the Ford Couloir/top of the Chevy Couloir on the Grand. Thousands of feet of air beyond the edge to my right.

Rappelling past the ice bulges in the Chevy Couloir.

Zahan Billimoria leads Stephen Koch up the Chouinard Couloir on a blustery day in April. Middle Teton.

Zahan digs the chalky powder on our descent of the Chouinard Couloir.

Escaping a bit of mud-season with my wife in Belize.

There are always lines that I wish I had ridden in a given season, possibilities that never came to fruition, but overall it was a good season.  And it’s not so bad having dreams to fulfill next season.  For now, I’m moving on to mountain biking and trail running until the snow flies again.  My sincere thanks go to Wagner Custom for supporting my drive to climb and ride with the best backcountry/alpine snowboarding tools imaginable.

Hevenly 11's

Sometimes it’s hard to know what the day will bring?  following a few all time kant-mak-em’s, I loosely made a plan while soaking in the second to last apre ski of the Telluride ski area season. All we  had decided was to bring skins and go for a tour.  The afternoon turned to evening, and the skies had cleared for morning.

Excited to ski something a little bigger, I was sure to catch the first round of chairs in the morning. Standing in line I was fortunate to meet up with the right skiers. A few others had similar prospects for the day.  Making the pilgrimage up the lifts, it was apparent the wind had howled all night . Lines that appeared filled in the day before seemed a bit thinner.  I had high hopes of skiing the Grand Dad couloir however, anything on the little Wasatch face would do.

Making our way across the upper Bear Creek drainage there would be six of us who converged to ski the Little Wasatch face. All friends, all stoked to ski, it was easily decided to let Dylan and Dave go for the Grand Dad first. We would either wait for them to exit safely or choose to ski a different line. We settled for the 11’s.

It’s not all about the powder. Navigating through wind scoured snow was comforting, the snow did not feel like it wanted to move. Our first view down the chute revealed a narrow crux and a significant runnel.

Entering the chute we were greeted by a small down climb. grippy yet firm snow split by the runnel, with constant flow in the runnel, we made our way down one turn at a time to the exit.

Huge stoke factor, psyched to reach the ground floor!

Entering the Chute Photo Brad Foley

My View of Harold, Jon, and Ricky entering the Chute

Harold Ehnbom

Brother Jon

Looking down

Cedar Palmer

After finding or landmarks and a quick laugh at how much snow had fallen over night it was time for a little fun.

Cedar sending the pillow line

Making it look easy

Skiing out out the bottom of the run we all new we be back for more.

Cedar and his custom rockered Wagners

Trenching in the Wasatch

Ski touring with your friends…. It is not always about getting the steep, deep, first tracks, or first D. It’s about doing what you love. It’s about being outside with your friends. Choosing the right terrain on the right days. Making good decisions. Taking memorable photos, and leaving nothing but sweet, sweet tracks. At the end of the day you and all your friends know the cold frothy beverage in your hand is well deserved!

Deep Turns in Mustang

Brad Foley on the Alta Ridge

This year the touring in the San Juan’s has been limited by sketchy conditions, though it ’s still possible to get out there. The big lines will be there later in the season. Conditions will change, new lines will fill in, when it happens we will be there. For more touring with friends photos, check out the web gallery at the following link: http://www.chasonphoto.com/SkiTouring/

Enjoy the journey, ski safely out there…..

The Future of Skiing is... Wagner Custom

Thanks for the recognition, Skiing Mag.

Sven wanted me to try some new boots — the Head Raptor Supershape, a plug boot with a solid upright stance and very narrow last, especially in the heel. For the past couple of years I’ve been in the Rossignol Race 1 Pro shell, with a Zipfit liner. We popped the liners into the Heads, and Sven ground the inside of the Head shell near the toe buckle rivet to take the pressure off the lateral metatarsal.

The stance in the Head is more upright than in the Rossignol, and the closer around the heel gives a better sense of power. I felt really rooted to the skis. We skied hard snow, especially in spar gulch, and I was able to match Wayne ’s snaky fast short-radius carves. Exhilarating. I like the boots. I love the skis.

Happy to report that Clendenin still skis like a pro moguls world champion, and Sven still skis like a guy who trained with Perillat and Killy back in the day. –Seth Masia

2008 & 2009 US Masters Extreme Skiing Champion. Photo: Eben Wight/MSI

Wagner Custom Factory Team Rider, Scott Kennett, age 51 won the U.S. Extreme Masters Championship last spring, for the second year in a row.  We talked to him about the Crested Butte competition.

Us: The competition was pretty tough there.

Scott: Well, some of these guys have just turned 40 and are just out of the pro class. And they’re Crested Butte locals, so they know the terrain cold, and I’m coming in from Telluride.

Scott Kennett airs Cheeseburger Rock during the 2009 US Extreme Skiing Championships

Us: What keeps you going?

Scott: I have the passion. I’ve competed all my life, starting with motocross at 11. And by now I feel I have to compete at something, have something to train for. I need that goal or purpose. Besides, it’s healthy to get involved in competition. It’s a reason to get up earlier, eat healthier, get in the extra run. If you just sit around on the couch, you rot.

Us: How do you prepare mentally for an event?

Scott: I still get just as nervous as I did as a kid. I used to use Rolaids to settle my stomach. Now I channel the nervous energy. I visualize winning. I focus on this idea that “I love this and live for this.” It turns into that feeling like you’re in love. I stay focused on the goal, and go there saying I’m going to win. That way I don’t stress out. I visualize the perfect run and never have a negative thought – think positive thoughts all the way. It works if you have the desire and mindset to win.

Us: What’s your training routine?

Scott: I ski a lot in the backcountry. In Telluride that requires some hiking. It means working hard at higher altitudes, and skiing varied conditions. I try to get a lot of runs – I do long days with two or three runs, skinning up radical terrain. Meanwhile, Telluride keeps opening up more and more radical terrain, like Lower Bear Creek.

Us: Isn’t that where you got hurt sometime back?

Scott: It was six years ago, and it was out-of-bounds then. I hit a tree and did a compound tib-fib fracture. The patrol guys had to haul me out of deep heavy avalanche terrain, and they kicked me off the mountain for two years – about how long it took to rehab. And now it’s legal. The Forest Service said “Maybe we should open this up.”  Maybe I opened it.

Us: What else about training?

Scott: I watch the diet. I eat pretty good. I drink mostly alkaline water to counter lactic acid. I have a machine that treats the water through electrolysis at the sink. It changes the pH level and filters it. I eat elk meat a lot – we all hunt. Each year someone in the family gets an elk and we share it out.

Us: You’re still coaching freestyle?

Scott: It’s fun to go to events and coach kids. If I’m going to be there anyway, I feel I can compete.

Kennett Freeskiing near Telluride

Us: What gear did you use at the Extremes?

Scott: I’m in the Lange Banshee Pro Freeride. I’m an oldschool bumper. I used to use the Raichle Flexon Pro. Now I get boots from Lange and try to get the flex and lean of the old Raichles. I hate to get in back seat so I put shims behind calf and crank the boot forward. For bindings I have the Salomon DIN 16. The track for the heel binding is reinforced with steel so it won’t deform like plastic. In the backcountry I’ve been on Marker Dukes, but I’m going back to the Fritschi Freeride this year. It’s better in crucial situations because you don’t have to take off the skis and your glove to convert. You can do it with a ski pole and go right into sidestepping.

In the contest I’ve used the same Wagner Custom skis for two years and they’re still holding up. It’s my best-friend ski. I might have worn the bases off from tuning but the ski still has plenty of life. I’ll have a pair made just for backcountry powder,  really wide with normal sidecut and camber but a rocker tip. But I’ll compete on the original Wagner skis.

Us: What’s next? If you win a third time, do you retire the trophy?

Scott: I’d like to win five, and then call it quits. I need to keep that passion for competition. I don’t know many people who’ve done as many extreme events as I have – Alaska, Colo, Argentina, France, all over. Even if you don’t win, it’s great fun to be involved.

Peter Kray is a great guy and prolific, talented writer (check out The God of Skiing series).   You might know his work from The Mountain Gazette, Ski Press World, or one of many other cool publications.  Recently, Peter has been working on a new project called Shred White & Blue which celebrates surfing and skiing in the United States.

Shred White & Blue did a quick Q&A with me recently about Wagner Custom’s American Made skis.  Check it out here and take some time to look through the Shred White & Blue site.  As you’ll see, the content is impressive.

Click Here for Shred White & Blue Q&A with Pete Wagner

We’ve had an amazingly snowy October here in the Tetons.  While the valley has been mostly just cold and gray, the mountains are holding a remarkable amount of snow.  A storm cycle at the start of the month dumped over 20″ at Targhee and we had powder turns before the crops were all in.  And then last week saw another decent cycle move through and it’s powder again!  Granted, the base is a bit thin (watch out for the sagebrush,) but it’s pretty fun anyway.  Bodie has so much fun that it’s hard not to take advantage…

It felt a bit too warm in the valley for skiing, but the parking lot temps up at Targhee were just below freezing–perfect for warm, fast skinning.

Wray and Bodie cruising up the track

We flew up the cat-track with long strides and lots of glide (these skins from Climbing Skins Direct are unbelievable,) out towards Peaked Peak.  The majority of our local over-eager early-season skiers stay over on the main mountain so Peaked guaranteed a blank canvas, and less than an hour later we were at the top, transitioning for the trip down.

The whole trip down is pretty mellow terrain, but with 10″ of creamy powder on November 1st, who cares?  (And back on my Wagner Custom board again!  So sweet.)

November 1st powder with Bodie

We tore through the cream, laying it over until we hit the lower slopes and transitioned to rock-skipping down to the cat-track.  A second run on the upper slopes would certainly have been icing on the cake, but perhaps later in the week.  It’s awesome to start logging vert this early in the season, working out the kinks and starting the season’s base endurance.  Now, with almost a week’s worth of skinning and riding already this fall, I’m all fired up to get up high and start pursuing big descents once the alpine fills in.  It’s a good year to be a rider in the Tetons…

The Wire and Silver Chute mid summer

Scoping lines is a year long activity.  For one reason or another skiing always seems to occupy the mind no matter what the season.   Watching the mountains change throughout the season has become a favorite past time. This post contains just a few photos taken in the back yard of Telluride during different times of the year.

The Wire in the Fall

Palmyra and Silver Mountain

From the first snow of the fall throughout the hot summer days there is much to learn from watching the mountains transform through-out the seasons. Some lines that never looked possible gleam with possibility, and others continually expo their cruxes which might never be challenged by skiers.

The Wire and Silver Chute mid winter

Sneffels in early spring

Different times and different angles shed light on different possibilities.

Sneffels and yankee boy basin in early summer

Keeping your eyes on the lines until that moment when the snowpack, weather, and right friends all line-up. It may be a year or many years in some cases before your standing on top of that line that you’ve been looking at, but when you do it all seems to make sense.

Entrance to the 'Super Sic' couloir

The moment of truth.

Motivational ski shot of the day: Sven Brunso and his Wagner Custom skis earning some early summer turns on Red Mountain Pass.

The Corner Pocket by Brad Foley               Photos by Brad Foley and Chason Russell

The day started out normal enough, coffee, breakfast, morning phone calls to find a ski partner for the day and out the door.  By the time I had made it to town Chason was calling with one thing on his mind, the Corner Pocket.  As one of the last unskied lines on the west face of Silver Mountain the Corner Pocket was high on the list of ski decents.  After grabbing climbing gear and ropes Erin Raley, Chason Russell and I were on the lifts and on our way to Silver Mountain.

Erin Raley climbing to the Corner Pocket in Lena Basin

Moving quickly through upper Lena basin we made it to the entrance of the Corner Pocket at the top of the ridge between Palmyra Peak and Silver Mountain.  Looking down the couloir that led to the hanging snowfield of the Corner we knew that it was going to be more of an adventure than we had thought. 

Chason Russell entering the upper couloir

Wanting to ski the line as pure as possible Chason kept the ropes in his backpack and headed down the steep, rocky terrain.  Sidestepping with skis on to a small patch of snow we were able to make a few turns to the next section of extremely steep rock.  Trying not to think of the cliff below we made it through the crux of the down climb with adding only a few grey hairs.

Hop turns in the upper couloir

Down climbing the steep rocky section

Back on snow and feeling much more comfortable we had finally made it to the heart of the Corner Pocket.  The heat of the sun had left us with soft easy skiing snow; with breathtaking views to the west and smiles now on our faces the only thing left to do was ski.  Left right left right down to the “powder reserve” and on to the Observatory for a much needed rest before skinning back to our cars.  Even if someone had skied the Corner Pocket before us, it didn’t matter I was just happy to have spent the day with two great friends in one of the most beautiful places around.

Chason enjoying turns in the Corner Pocket

The Corner Pocket

photo Chason Russell

TELLURIDE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR QUALIFIER

The energy begins to build days before the event. Skiers with backpacks and fat skis begin to examine terrain, and lines that rarely ever have tracks in them become highways. By Friday morning around 140 skiers have converged on the prospect ridge for a final inspection of the rocky rib and surrounding terrain. Tents are set up, judges are in place, and the Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier in Telluride is underway.

Inspection Day. photo Chason Russell

DAY 1:
With snow in the forecast and a run order selected at random, one can only hope to get a window of visibility during a run that is sure to last less than a minute.  Running 84th in a long list of great skiers there is a lot on the line for this one run. Only 40% of the field will advance to the next day’s venue and this year, event officials have big plans for the finals.

Variable conditions including rotten snow and cheese grader rocks plague the venue. Line selection is key. Choosing a line within ones ability that stands out enough to impress the judges is the name of the game. As the day goes on, the lines become increasingly skied out. By the time I get to drop in for my run, I have changed my flight plan several times, but the crux of my run remains the same. Fortunately no one has put tracks on the small, shallow patch of snow that my run depends on.

Chason Russell day one. photo Brad Foley

Standing on top of the venue, I struggle to visualize my run several times amidst the distraction of the huge lines and couloirs staring down from Palmyra peak and Silver Mountain. It seems surreal when the starter gives the countdown, and my Wagner skis find the fall line.  Any thoughts give way to focus and I’m skiing on autopilot. Recognizing a few key landmarks I soon find myself on top of a rocky outcropping that hardly looks skiable. Believing in my skis and line I have chosen, I commit to the fall line and within seconds ski into the finish, welcomed by the cheers from hardy spectators. I can only hope it was enough to qualify me for the finals which are set to take place off the summit of Palmyra peak the next day.

Palmyra Peak, photo Chason Russell

DAY 2:
Waking up to clear skies, it dawns on me that we are getting the weather window we need to be flown with Helitracks to the top of Palmyra peak. Loading chair 4 at 7:30am, the surrounding peaks are glowing with rich morning light that reflects the glowing vibe in all the competitors. Hard to believe event officials and Helitracks will be able to fly 15 female and 35 male competitors along with all the staff to the peak of Palmyra, but as we near the top of lift 4 the unmistakable sound of the heli fills the air, seems we’re going for it!

organizers prepare competitors to load the helicopter. photo Chason Russell

Michael Gardner in the heli. photo Chason Russell

Arriving with several other competitors to the LZ on top of prospect ridge the heli has already made several trips to the peak. Organizers helped assemble groups by weight, secure skis and poles with duct tape and send waves of groups toward the helicopter. The closer our group gets to the LZ the harder the wind seems to gust. With incredible precision the pilot places the skids within inches of our kneeling group. In seconds we are loaded and airborne toward the peak. Gaining altitude we all seem to recognize when the wind is pushing the chopper around. Approaching the summit we hovered for a few seconds just feet above the snow before the pilot decided the conditions were not ideal to touch down.  The incredible sensation of thrust, power, and gravity, takeover as we peal down the west face of Palmyra with incredible speed. Seems we were only inches from the snow when we pulled off the summit for a second time. This time we pattern around the east face of the peak getting a close look at the spires of Palmyra. As we approach the summit for a third time it feels like the winds had subsided a little. Only seconds passed before we were crawling on the summit of Palmyra shielding our faces from the rotor wash created by the heli as it took to the skies again.

We would be the last group of skiers to be flown to the top because of the high winds. Fortunately the remaining competitors decided the hour long, steep hike would be worth keeping the competition on Palmyra. From the summit we all made our way down the shoulder of the peak to scope lines, it didn’t seem long before the athletes who had to hike began arriving on ridge. With more camaraderie than competitiveness athletes discussed line choice and snow conditions and before long the first female competitors began navigating their way down the hard pack snow on the north face of Palmyra peak.

Competitors on the ridge of Palmyra. photo Brad Foley

Without an inspection run it seemed many competitors didn’t know what to expect. After watching only a few runs it was apparent that technical controlled skiing would prove beneficial.

Travis Wolfe contemplating big air. photo Chason Russell

Michael Gardner was the third male skier to drop in, at age 17 and a member of the Telluride Big Mountain Team he laid down a run that would set a precedent for the remaining field of competitors. Pacing up and down the ridge finalizing my line, trying to stay warm, I remained entertained by watching competitors and spectators find their way to the finish area. By the time I was standing in the start zone, the light had gone flat and there were more ski patrol and event staff than competitors standing on the top. Visualizing all the components of my run one more time, I soon found myself making my first real turns of the day.

Chason Russell dropping in. photo Matt Steen

Excited to finally be skiing I worked my way through a technical section into a short one-ski strait line, over a small air, then over to one last air near the finish. Though relatively mellow it was a line I have wanted to ski for some time.  Not convinced that my run would be enough to put me in the top five, friends, spectators, and judges seemed to think otherwise. Next stop on the Freeskiing World Tour takes place in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Chason Russell earned a podium spot at the 2009 Subarau Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier. Photo: Brett Schreckengost

The competitors and audience were stoked to see the finals take place on Telluride’s 13,300″ Palmyra Peak. Mark Welgos of Aspen impressively won the event with Arne Backstrom of Squaw Valley taking second place. Chason’s protege, 17 year old Michael Gardner of Ridgway Colorado, finished in fifth place. Claudia Bouvier of Vail won the women’s event. Results and more information regarding the event can be found here.

Placing third in the competition earns Russell a spot in all 2009 Freeskiing World Tour events, as well as the honor of recognition as one of the top freeskiers on the big mountain circuit.

Congratulations Chason!

The next Freeskiing World Tour event takes place in Crested Butte February 19-22. For more information, check out www.FreeSkiingWorldTour.com.

For more info on Chason’s skiing, check out his summer of 2008 trip report from Lanin Volcano in Argentia

The Why Couloir January 11, 2009 — Words and photos by Brad Foley

Scott in the Why

The Why Couloir

Scott skiing the upper pitch of the Why

Skiing the Exit couloir

Turns in lower Delta Bowl

Please drink responsibly