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.