Basically I wrote down a story told by Aadne – it gives you some more background and also some overview on how a film group and professional riders work together in the mountains.

Aadne Olsrud worked as a back-up guide for the Missing Link film group

The team of eight persons was filming for Missing link. The team consisted of following people: three riders, Fred Syversen, Dennis Risvol and Lars Fidjestøl; the head cameraman was Norwegian Peter Nyquist (quite famous in Norway) and his assistant Finnish Jani Johanssen (Btw. he is a great telemarker too!); and Jarkko Henttonen and Aadne Olsrud worked as guides. Helicopter pilot was a local guy called Mathias.

The mountain they had been sessioning is called Blåbærfjellet (”Blueberry Fell”). The accident happened on the mountain’s northeast face. One day earlier the riders had been warming up with mellower lines, and by the friday the 7th of May, the riders were ready for some harder lines. Aadne worked as a back-up guy for the filming crew, waiting with his snowmobile at the bottom of the mountain, ready to pick up riders and filmers and move them quickly to the new filming zones and/or pick up zones for the helicopter.

The conditions had been great for the whole area in early May: snow was good, the base was deep and the conditions had been stable for a while – perfect spring skiing conditions for Northern Norway.

Fred Syversen had eyed the line in question for days. And on Friday he lent Aadne’s binoculars and checked the line once more intensively and thoroughly for thirty minutes, then deciding, “calculated risk but I am ready for it”.

The accident scene – what happened right after Fred Syversen’s crash?

The line itself is something one would call “hairy”, “gnarly” or something similar in “skier’s jargon”…it is about 40-45 degrees steep, has three back to back mandatory airs, and is in Aadne’s own words “just wide enough for good turns – for a skier like Fred”. What makes it really hard though is the short distance between the cliff drops, by Fred’s own estimate there was enough space for maybe just one or two quick turns before hitting another eight to ten meter (around 30 feet) air.

When Fred crashed Aadne was waiting to carry cameraman Peter to another location on his sled. Aadne didn’t see the fall but hear shouting and saw a small avalanhe coming out of the chute.  Then he saw Fred lying at the bottom of the line and cameraman Peter running to him. Fred seemed to be able to move his hands and legs though. Aadne drove immediately to the waiting heli where they had a radio connection and heard Fred reporting, “I am OK“.

Aadne then tried to drive the sled up the hill to where Fred was lying. But the hill was so steep that he had to stop about 200 meters before Fred’s location. Fred then managed(!) to walk down the steep hill (with deep soft snow) to the waiting snowmobile. Aadne was just thinking to get the man to the helicopter and back to the base camp they had down in the valley. He also called an ambulance. It took only thirty minutes for the ambulance to arrive in the base lodge. (Scandinavian public health care system has its good sides)

The aftermath – analyzing and calculating figures of the Fred Syversen’s crazy tumble

When Aadne saw the video clip of the crash, he did some analyzing from the screen.  He wonders mostly Fred’s cat like ability to hit everything skis first. It is also evident that to take this much of abuse requires the physics of a high level athlete. We both agree that even a normal, relatively fit skier would probably had much more serious injuries. So it is not totally about the luck either!

As for trying to find someone or something to blame, Aadne simply refuses, “it was no ones fault“. In the chute/couloir the snow was probably a bit dryer and deeper than anybody thought causing more snow than expected to wash out in the air from the spindrift. Everything also happened very fast – a skier going at around 60 km / hour and the whole scene lasting only about 20-30 seconds.

There wasn’t just that much time to react once Fred was at speed. He took the calculated risk and this time it didn’t go as well as planned. The most important thing is that Fred is alive and skiing again soon, and that the whole team worked effortlessly together even in the sudden accident situation.

The fall itself is hard to grasp. Based on Aadne’s calculations the fall was about 250 meters of vertical and around 350-400 meters of distance.

PS. If you are interested in Tamokdalen as a skiing/riding or climbing location check out this cool facebook group The Northern Playground

Photos in the post by Aadne Olsrud, used by permission. Thanks Aadne – we look forward to ski with you in the future!

At the moment I have a lot of “original content” drafts under work but while they require still some more editing / research, I will now do an exception to the above mentioned principle. I have thought the whole winter that when these guys get three editions/parts together I will post them all at once – because this is just good, progressive stuff and the guys behind it (Aarni Toiviainen, Oskari Raitanen and Matti Räty) reserve all the possible support and coverage.

So I won’t write more this time. Check out the clips below and judge yourself. You don’t even have to be huge new school fan/skier to see that the guys are just having big fun everywhere and don’t take skiing too serioysly – just like it should be in our opinion.

And, yes remember to check the Nipwitz Blog too!

Nipwitz episode 1 from Aarni Toiviainen on Vimeo.

Nipwitz episode 2 from Aarni Toiviainen on Vimeo.

Episode 2 documents the cold yet snowy January 2010 in Finland.

Nipwitz episode 3 from Aarni Toiviainen on Vimeo.

This is how the marketing message of iSki Instructor begins. Although I have seen already quite a few similar ads I got curious and wanted to know more about this particular application, so instead of reading and trusting the whole marketing bribe I wanted to hear more from the company behind iSki application. I contacted  Pernille Slot who runs the Danish company and shot few hot questions.

Interviewing Pernille Slot – the creative founder and owner of Danish iSki company

[Hometown Boy]: Pernille, what’s the purpose of iSki application? As a self-learned skier, snowboarder and telemarker I’s like to know what kind of benefits such an application provides to skiers?

[Pernille]: I believe you “Homeboys” are already experienced and skillful skiers, so I wouldn’t recommend iSki exactly to you, but people who are learning to ski can benefit from using iSki application. Having iSki on your iPhone or iPod Touch you can listen to how you get into the most optimal skiing position and you can also watch live on the screen how your are doing the exercises. This way you can start preparing yourself at home or on your way to the destination and listen to iSki’s guiding when you are on the slopes. If you find special interest in certain chapters you can choose to practice them as many times as you like.

[Hometown Boy]: All right, I see. I’d like to dig this a bit more, so could you describe who exactly needs “a ski instructor in a pocket”?

[Pernille]: I would say iSki Basic is for you

• who have been skiing more than 3 weeks
• who would like a dynamic skiing style
• who would like a nice relaxed and stable skiing style
• who would like to learn how to control the speed during turning
• who would like to learn how to carve ski

In fact iSki is not meant to be used only by beginners. It could also help experienced skiers who have been away from the skies for a little while, to find there balance point again. It`s a good brush up for everybody who is not standing on skis several months a year. So for the common ski enthusiasts who have few weeks a year time to ski, and who would like to develop their skiing from the beginning, I would say iSki brings them faster to the point where they can start developing instead of using a day or two to adjust body to the new environment. Start with iSki and develop to the level you want.

[Hometown Boy]: May be my next question is a bit silly, but do you personally use your own product?

[Pernille]: No, it’s not silly at all. I do use iSki when I go skiing. I have the opportunity to do my ski lessons when I like to and as many times as I like. Basically with iSki you get your own personal ski instructor for less than the price of one ski lesson, and iSki you may use again, again and again.

[Hometown Boy]: Does this mean we won’t need real ski instructors anymore in the future?

[Pernille]: No, because iSki is not meant to replace a real human ski instructor. Anyhow, it can prepare you so that you will get the absolute best out of your skiing also when you are with your local ski instructor.

[Hometown Boy]: Ok, I see. iSki seems to be an additional tool for learning to ski. Pernille, how did you come up with the idea of iPhone or iPod Touch teaching people to ski?

[Pernille]: Well, it’s a long story, but let me tell you..

I had been away from teaching skiing for a couple of years when I was invited to come along on a trip with teenagers. The first day I had 16 beginners on a cold frosty northside of the mountain. I started teaching without thinking too seriously about all the ski teaching or technicals trueness. It was just me teaching these kids and having fun. After 1,5 hour of balance training all 16 beginners could ski.. All this happened without talking anything about technics such as “This is how you break, this is how you turn”, but only by letting them play with there balance on skis and guiding them to the good feeling of balance. That was amazing to me, and I acctually thought it was a coincidental.

Later on the afternoon a pair wanted to get a ski lesson. In the beginning the of the lesson the lady told me that she was a little bit scared because she was ran over by a snowboarder earlier that day. We started out nice and easy, and I did the same way as with teenagers. I communicated with my tools from my knowledge about how the human brain works and the fact that the body is learning faster than the brain. I trained them balancing in 2 hours on all diffrent kind of terrain. In the end of the day I was waiting on the side of the slope when she came down to me doing nice big curves, while suddenly a snowboarder approaced behind here and came really close to here legs. She just continued with the same peace and dynamic as before. I was affraid in that moment on her behalf, but she just continued and told me afterwards: “I saw him but It’s fine now, I have the control. I know how it feels when I’m running good, and I knew he would stop because he had the giving way.”

Then it stroke me. This is to good to keep in my mind. I had to find a way to provide this information to anyone who wants to learn to ski. Afterwards some of their friends said to the male “Soren, what have you done? You ski like a whole other skier than for 2 hours ago!” They have been skiing together for over 15 years.

[Hometown Boy]: Interesting story, Pernille. Thanks for giving us your time and sharing your story. Is there something more you would like to say?

[Pernille]: Well, my bottom line is that the strategy of my work is to do it as simple as possible, and to make it work most places possible. People can see the video at home, on the road, in the lift or even on the slope. They can plug in the earplugs and let them be guided for just 1 hour to their best balance point where all good skiing begins. In the future I will add some software technical features as speedometer, altitude meter, trailtrack and even a movement sensor. So it will become an interactive ski instructor.

[Hometown Boy]: All right, thanks! All the best for you and your iSki Instructor application!

What do YOU as a reader think about apps like iSki? Is this the future of learning to ski? Please have your say.

It’s a lovely day in late January. Rays of the sun dancing on pure white snow fields make the day so bright that I hardly can see without sunglasses. As an old stick chaser I am teaching my 6-year-old the “secrets” of slalom skiing. He is clearly not interested in my “methods” and rather wants to discover his own way to learn to ski. This time he wants to collect all sticks of our little slalom course while coming down a straight line.

I’m a bit afraid. Last three times he has failed to collect them all but came down so fast that he almost forgot to look ahead and avoid crashing with other skiers.

My boy is focused. He wants to make it to prove me something. “Am I him pushing too hard?” I think. I grew up with strong entrepreneurial spirit and I have my desire to challenge and compete with others, and for some reason I expect others to behave like me. I want my kids to learn to survive on their own whatever happened, but I don’t want them to do things just to get my acceptance. I want them understand that they are good as they are, but I would love to see them grow strong and independent.

“I’m coming now, dad! Look”.

And I am watching. There he comes, fast and furious. I like his attitude. He is a fighter, but also a fragile child. This is a play he has invented and he likes it, so let’s play.

What’s the result this time? A huge smile and a number of sticks in his little hands.

“I did it!”

“Awesome! You were so fast. I knew you can do it. Now let’s enjoy some hot chocolate, ok?”

I like their philosophies

It is interesting how a small event in life can make you think about something for days and weeks. Few weeks ago my friend and lifelong skier Skipe Oivo told me about a humble Swedish dude who goes big in Chamonix.

“Why not interview Andreas Fransson who is living here with us? He is a really nice dude who skis some pretty nasty mountain faces, AND he looks at skiing from a bit different perspective”, said Skipe. “Yeah, why not. Let me call him this week”, I replied.

Easy access to a nice couloir in in L’Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix. Photo by Patrik Linqvist.

I called Andreas by Skype and spent couple of hours chatting about skiing, Chamonix and life. In fact we spoke mostly about life and philosophy. During those days I also happened to read Yvon Chouinard’s “Let My People Go Surfing”. The founder of Patagonia is a climber, surfer and kayaker who cares about people and nature. He is a reluctant businessman who wasn’t supposed to become a business man, but “suddenly” created a $230 million company that has been voted as one of the best 100 companies to work for in the world.

Just like reading Yvon Chouinard’s book Let My People Go Surfing made me stop and think about my own philosophies, also discussion with Andreas Fransson was clearly influential. I recognized that these two gentlemen have something interesting to say, and I should listen up. Both respect life and try to live to the full. They rather live rich and colorful life by doing things that can literally open your eyes instead of sticking to the “holy triangle” of work, milk shop and home. These two men offered me philosophical thoughts that made something “click” in my head.

Secret spot in the backcountry of Chamonix. Photo by Patrik Linqvist.

I have been a skier all my life and in the mountains I have experienced moments that are far beyond the imagination of typical nine to five people, but during the last few years I somehow got stuck. My safe but boring 9-5 lifestyle froze my imagination and locked me inside my very own “career prison”. I wasn’t living my life to the full, and in fact I was dead bored. I threw my career goals to a thrasher already some time ago and started bringing the joy back to my life, but every now and then I need a wake up because I easily lose my focus and start working too much again. That is the guilt of a workaholic like me. This time my wake up call was the lessons I learned from Andreas Fransson and Yvon Chouinard.

Andreas Fransson goes big in Chamonix

Born in northern Sweden Andreas Fransson naturally got introduced to skiing during his early years of childhood. His family includes a number of successful cross country skiers who used to train in ski resorts in northern Finland. Andreas tried cross-country skiing but soon realized that alpine skiing was pulling him like a magnet.

Soulskier Andreas Fransson. Photo by Patrik Linqvist.

By spending most of his time in ski resorts Andreas learned to ski various terrain from slopes to the backcountry. As a teenager he met Finnish colleagues Jani Johanssen, Joonas Karhumaa and Skipe Oivo, and spent a lot of time in the slopes with these “dirtbags” (a.k.a. die hard skiers).

Passionate young skier went to the Alps (St. Anton) already at the age of 16, but in 2003 he finally discovered the magnificent playground of these young mountains. Not a wonder, because in their first road trip with Joonas Karhumaa they skied resorts such as Verbier, Monte Rosa and Chamonix which are some of the best places for ski mountaineering in Europe. Now as a 26-year-old Andreas Fransson is living in Chamonix, in the headquarter of European mountaineering and backcountry skiing.

Andreas Fransson hucking in Courmayer, Italy. Photo by Patrik Linqvist.

Andreas is a smart guy but not interested in MBA and successful career in international companies. He is clearly not a corporate junkie collecting work merits to his CV. Instead he prefers to conquer mountains and work enough to support his lifestyle, and in fact his long and broad experience in skiing has helped with finding perfect jobs. Andreas doesn’t need a CV or resume because to his job as a ski instructor and heli ski guide he has qualified already years ago. No wonder because his best year includes incredible 340-350 days of skiing which is even more than legendary Seth Morrison told me to ski every year. For Andreas this is possible because as soon as summer comes to northern hemisphere he used to take a plane to the southern hemisphere. Nowadays he lives full time in Chamonix, skiing the winters and climbing the summers.

Just like for any of us the road has been bumpy also for Andreas. Enthusiastic skier has been forced to rest due to numerous injuries. Six operations and months of rest during seasons have made him think about life and health. In fact he feels that getting injured might be one of the best things that has happened to him. In my humble opinion this is a good measure to make distinction between an active skier and a “Sunday skier”, because only a pro skier would come up with such a deep philosophical thought.

Just a random rappel in L’Auiguille du Midi, Chamonix. Photo by Patrik Linqvist.

Today Andreas feels good and skis a lot. Unlike most of us he doesn’t have a problem to ski alone. When skiing alone he can tune in with  the rythm of the mountain and do things in his own pace following his intuition fully. There are no fears or wills from others, just him and the mountain, in many ways he feels like he learns more like that. When skiing with others he prefers skiing with his closest friends that he can trust in 100%.

I don’t have problems with dying with what I do, but I don’t want that people skiing with me face their destiny, so that’s why I enjoy skiing alone. If I decide to ski with someone I prefer skiing with people that i can trust and that can take care of themselves.. or; good young people who are humble and really want to learn and listen to my directions..

As it was mentioned in the beginning Andreas Fransson goes big in Chamonix. He has courage to ski very challenging backcountry runs where most of us would bail out. He for example solo skied the north face of L’Aiguille du Midi of Chamonix via Mallory couloir already in autumn. Nobody had done that since the 70s. Even though he skis pretty nasty mountain faces he doesn’t consider very extreme runs as any kind of highlights in his life. His highlight is more like a day during which intuition and experience have come into play.

It was actually pretty surprising that skiing the Mallory in autumn became a “big thing” here in Chamonix. I mean I like doing these sorts of things for the adventure in itself and wasn’t counting on that attention really..

Andreas has shown his capabilities also in competitions since his first telemark freeride event in Riksgränsen in 2000. He was second in Scandinavian championships of telemark skiing in 2003 and second in Engadin snow invitational in 2008, but unfortunately got injured and decided to have a break with competitions. Although getting injured forced him to rest, the biggest reason for the break is more philosophical. He just didn’t feel like racing at that time, and therefore he decided to focus on adventures and freeskiing.

Andreas Fransson freeriding in Marecottes, Switzerland. Photo by Patrik Lindqvist.

Andreas is supported by a few companies. He receives all needed clothing from Haglöfs while he skis on all the Nordica freeride skis from Girish to Jah Love and Enforcer with race bindings or Dynafits when ski mountaineering. All protection gear and goggles’ he receives from POC. In addition to skiing he also climbs rock and ice about 150 days a year, and he is currently studying to become a UIAGM mountain guide. Climbing gives him confidence to ski big mountains.

If not skiing or climbing, Andreas likes to read a lot. He is also in love with yoga and tai chi that clearly support his philosophical thinking. But he is more into their applications in to everyday then in the movements in themselves. He is curious to learn new things, and maybe that’s why he is also learning French. As a professional skier he travels a lot which is a great way to learn about life and yourself.

Skiing is my yoga

Andreas does not believe in statistics. You don’t hear him bragging about what he has done in the mountains. In fact  he is not looking for huge drops or nasty places in order to add yet another line in his never ending list of killed mountains. Instead you can hear him talking about something deeper and philosophical and the beauty of life.

Andreas Fransson charging the backcountry of Chamonix. Photo by Patrik Lindqvist.

Skiing for Andreas is his yoga and a tool to learn about life. He skis very challenging mountains in order to learn about life and himself. Surviving alone in difficult mountains gives a tremendous possibility to learn about ones strengths and weaknesses. Up there you can find your limits and even stretch them. Back in the valley you know yourself a bit better.

Hold on! Let’s have a bit more precise definition of yoga by his own words: “first of all one has to understand what a yogi is. It’s someone who never sleeps.. not physically of course, but in his mind. He or she is always awake, fully conscius. I think skiing and most action sports can drag you in to that state or level of consciousness”, says Andreas.

“I ski because it brings me joy just like to anyone else, but I’m also interested in question why.. Why does it bring joy (and so much more) to me and so many others? What are the mechanics behind the joy it brings? I say its because it drags us in to this present moment, and then the next question is; why would that bring us joy? Because feeling fully present we lack nothing. We don’t need to add something, everything is like it is – we are whole, and so everything is perfect. It’s a perfect state. Try it out right now and you will see, and watch what happens to your skiing or whatever you do when you succeed in applying it to your life”, states Andreas.

“From another point of view my skiing can be related to the subject of fear which also can have to do with being in this moment, and/or about being whole as a human being, not divided. Being divided gives doubt, which is fear.. and so on. Or it can be related to skiing and society in the sense of how the ski world is just a small model of the much bigger world and how the same mechanics, action-reaction and so on are working in our ski towns in the same as in any town all over the world.. Basically you can take any subject and it all relates to the world. We just hide ourselves behind our skis and hope or think that we are different. I don’t think we are”, concludes Andreas.

According to our soulskier there are lots of people to whom skiing is a way to learn about life. No matter if people are business men, ski bums, students or even unemployed, they all get into their “special moment” when skiing. Days in the mountains make them happy. “Some people are looking for a meaning in their lives, so why not through skiing?” asks Andreas. “There are lots of unhappy people out there. They can help themselves understand more about their lives by skiing.. or of course by anything they do, but manytimes doing something one loves, that still provides fear and holds you in the grip of this moment is one of the greatest catalysts“, continues Andreas.

Climbing in order to access a nice backcountry run in Chamonix. Photo by Patrik Linqvist.

I believe I got the point from our discussion. Andreas is looking for answers to philosophical questions and he is using skiing as his vehicle to find the answers. He has clearly stepped into next level of “philosophical skiing”, so that’s why we immediately called him “The Soulskier”.

My discussion with Andreas was truly an eye opening moment. I have lost my passion to discover the world and set myself physical challenges. I have drifted away from the soul of skiing and I have become part of the machine, a real “cubicle ninja”. I am not really proud of it, but I have recognized my root cause for the lack of joy. As a father of three kids I have responsibilities and certain limitations to ski the mountains like I used to, but I learned my lesson from my “Zen master of skiing”. There is more than just skiing in skiing. I will keep this in mind when chasing sticks or checking the backcountry with my son next weekend.

All photographs by Patrik Lindqvist. Remember to check out his cool shots in his website. Also don’t forget to check more Patrik’s amazing shots in Outdooria image agency.

Joonas is not a stick chaser nor a pure jibber, so there might be a few guys that are a bit faster or spin and land even crazier, more technical tricks. But for an all-around skier Joonas doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of among the elite skiers in the world. He skis fast and fluid in all conditions, competes in big-mountain events, lands huge fakie fives and zero spins in jib comps and nails urban rails like the best of ‘em. And all that in true nordic style, skiing with the free heels.

I first met Joonas many years ago at a local freestyle club’s trampoline training. I was already an “old fart” and just goofed around with couple of friends, trying to land/learn something that would even remotely help my clumsy freestyle efforts. Joonas was there with some friends and started to chat with us in very polite and mature way. We started to talk about tricks and skiing in a way you would talk to a 14-year old jibber. But we eventually ended up discussing telemark turns, powder, mountains and skiing in general. Friend of mine said to me afterwards that he had a feeling we are going to hear from this kid sooner or later. Already back then Joonas wasn’t your typical teenage park rat.

Since then I have met him here and there occasionally and even skied with him a few times here in Finland. Joonas always goes big on skis and really amazes people on what can be done on a pair of telemark skis. Off the snow he has the ability to surprise too…read more and find out how. (all photos in this interview by Tero Repo).

Joonas Karhumaa competes against alpine freeskiers

Hello Andermatt? How is life? I heard you had some nice early season conditions there?

Actually I am home in Sweden again. I am going to take part in a jump contest in Helsinki next week and then head back to Andermatt for the rest of the winter. In Andermatt ski resort every early winter for like five or six years has been pretty good. All the lines have been skiable from early on etc. Everything works fine there. Of course the last season (08/09) was incredible in Andermatt as anywhere in the Alps but anyway I have no complaints about this early season.

What is your plan for the winter? Or do you have any? Are you going to focus more on the big mountain side of the sport now that you pretty much live there in the Alps for the whole winter? Your (opening) part in Virne Ski Movie was pretty straightforward good old big mountain ripping…

Well, last winter was a bit different for me. For three earlier seasons it was all about six to seven photo shooting trips per winter, and all hard work, not much time to just ski and have fun. In the summer 2008 our second son was born and I decided to take it quite easy. We had a nice climbing trip to Thailand and then I skied as much as I could in Andermatt but didn’t take any stress about results or photos. I skied more and had more fun. The result was also some good progression. It is good to ski just by your own at times, without any pressure. The (big mountain competition) results also proved that I can ski, and encouraged by that fact I actually got really enthusiastic about training real well this fall. I have a real coach now and a well planned training program.

The goal is to go compete with the alpine guys and see how far I can go in that field. I am going to do some Freeride World Tour qualifiers, Engadin Snow, Flain, Monte Rosa…We’ll see.

Life as a professional telemark skier

Do you have any plans for the USA? I would think the whole “tele-market” and audience is there these days (maybe beside Norway I guess)?

For me it has been a bit complicated. I wasn’t actually that interested about the States at all when I was younger. Then I went there to do some shooting with Lipstick Films and I was surprised: people were super friendly, skiing was great and overall the experience was very, very positive. I’ve heard that the telemark market bigger in the States. However, it seems like the mainstream ski media is a bit more reserved towards telemarking, the disciplines seem to be more separated. For example, the instant feedback from the general audience or media has been better in Europe. In the USA some people might be a bit too worried about the “hippie” and “underground” feel of the telemarking scene.

In general how hard is it to “break through” as a tele skier? I mean for general public snowboarding still seems to be the hottest new snow sport around and even alpine jibbing/freeskiing often is left from the lime light – what do you think? Or does it even matter to you?

I’ve been asked that so many times! In a way it is good to speculate what I would have become had I put all the effort to snowboarding. On the other hand, it is pretty useless. Telemarking is what has been the key to my success. In the end there is so little competition, which can be a bad thing too. I don’t see telemarking growing as big as snowboarding or new school skiing, I guess it is going to remain somehow underground in the future too. Telemarking is pretty damn hard too. There are days when I think that is there no reason to ski free heeled after all. Then, a few good turns make me change my mind again (laughing). Every winter you still realize that in the end telemarking is a very difficult and hard sport.

I see myself more as a freeride skier anyway. Telemarking is just a little addition, “spice” to that, it doesn’t have to be raised too much into the limelight. In soccer there are some guys that shoot right footed, some left footed and some are good on both legs…well, a clumsy comparison but you get the point. Freeride as a bigger concept offers also better opportunities for an athelete, and also money, I have no shame to admit that.

Is the tele gaining some more “mainstream” popularity again? I have a feeling it slowly is…

Maybe I should call my sponsors and ask? On the slopes, yes, you see quite a lot of freeheelers. Especially in Scandinavia sometimes you feel 50% of the tourists ski telemark. But you don’t see as much of a movement towards a more “professional” direction and progress as you would see in the freeride and new school skiing. The amount of people skiing telemark is maybe growing just a tad but that doesn’t seem to mirror in the progress of the sport. But I can also see why a lot of people try tele and quit after a while, frustrated.

We pretty much think you are the best! Probably not knowing that much about current top tele freeriders…so, give us some names that are really coming up in the tele-scene? Or do you follow your free-heeled “competitors” at all?

When I was in the States I saw some pretty good rail action. Per Jonsson (Sweden) is one solid freeride guy. Most of the time, I don’t ski or hang with other telemarkers, so I also don’t see a lot of good telemarkers around often. I know there are some though. In the videos I’ve seen some double back flips and some big airs but nothing as impressive as you see in (alpine) new school or snowboard flicks. I don’t remember any names at the moment, gotta admit that.

Also, there are a lot of really good more “extreme”/mountaineering skiers in the mountains anywhere who couldn’t care less about sponsors or films or any publicity. And this holds for any discipline (alpine, snowboard, telemark). In general in telemarking it is hard to get noticed, you have to be the right guy, in the right place at the just right time. You can say I have had some luck too!

How about telemark girls?

There sure are some. Skiing in general is maybe a bit male-dominated but the telemarking seems to attract ladies as well which is nice

Joonas Karhumaa recommends old school gear for telemark first timers

Any advice on tele-novice…I mean at first the whole damn free heel thing feels very hard, especially on the varying, natural snow. How to get more aggressive, to really control those floppy things? (Or do I think too much based on the alpine technique…when I feel I lack the power and control?)

I guess you are right. It is not that easy. There are a lot of factors that you should be taken care of in every turn and every conditions and different terrain require some more knowledge and feel. It is not easy in a way that you just go ahead and turn right, turn left, turn right, turn left…

By the way, tell us about your own way – how did you learn your first tele turns?

I got the classic straight, narrow and long skis and leather boots set-up. I’d say that is still the key. I hope the ski instructors won’t kill me for saying that, heh. But seriously, just for starters take the old school gear for a few days. You can ditch them pretty soon but you won’t learn the basics as well with modern gear. Cross country gear works fine too. With that kind of equipment the turn doesn’t get easier if you parallel. And the feeling is really different from alpine skiing and fun in its own way.

And hey, before I even got started, I trained at home with wool socks on and did “tele-turns” on the living room floor. The burn to learn was that high! After that, the first season, I skied in Ylläs (Lappland, Finland) with those old school sticks and leather boots. I hiked up and skied down and broke some skis. Today, I don’t mind a parallel turn here and there. When skiing telemark it is not good to get stuck to a mentality of only making “perfect” tele-turns everywhere. When I see some line, I don’t think of how I ski it with text book turns, I just go on and ski, and do parallel turns when or if needed. Parallel turn as a back-up makes your playground much broader. Two straight legs have more power than one bent one, right?

Ziggy Stardust, lurex and glitter…

Skiing is skiing but there is still something to be said about the freedom feeling in tele etc. But I won’t go into that because maybe your off-the-snow antics tell even more about what I mean…tell us a little bit about your studies for example?

Before my older son, Benjamin, was born I started in a clothes design school. During that year I had some pretty big things going on: moving to Stockholm, starting the school, my girlfriend was pregnant, a lot of huge changes at the same time. And at about the same time I also first realized that I was going to make living from skiing.

Yes, but the school. It was a “classic” clothes design school. A super intensive course of one year, which I had to break to shorter periods because of the ski season. We learned everything from history of clothes design to material science, and the main focus was on sewing and pattern design. That was really interesting and good time. During the second fall I got less time to study but I still finished the school. After that I haven’t had too much time to concentrate on the design stuff but I still got a passion for that. Skiing, renovating our house and being a father have just taken all of my time. Last summer we moved to new, bigger house in Piteå (North of Sweden) and finally I have had some more room and time to design and draw. I hope I can make something out of clothes design later in my life. For now, skiing is and has been my profession for some three or four years. But of course, now already I’m designing a bit for my new clothing sponsor, FourElements, and it’s just great fun and good experience.

Your typical day?

For example, in the fall I did two to three hours of design work every morning. Then some training: running, gym, biking, jumps, sprints etc. for maybe three hours. Then maybe some more creative work in the afternoon and the evening spent with my family. In winter it is more irregular because if the all ski trips, shoot and competitions etc.

By the way, I played soccer quite serioysky until I was nineteen or so. Then there was five years that I didn’t train at all, just skied, skateboarded, and climbed some etc. by the feel. Only this fall I really got into the training again, mainly because if the good results in the 2008/2009 season. I want to give everything to skiing at the moment. I thought that if I did so well without any formal training, I want to see where I can go after giving it my 100%!

How about music. lifestyle…David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust, all that androgynous stuff etc?

Dawid Bowie / Ziggy Stardust is still my thing for sure. Later I have dug Madonna quite a lot too, and some Frank Sinatra among others.

I was about to say that for me it seems that Freeriding scene (especially big mountain side) is almost exaggerated masculine, often in a very stereotypical way. I mean, for example in skateboarding there are currently a huge variety of styles and personalities around and it seems to me that the scene is a bit more open to all kind of variety/minorities too…what do you think? Is this something that matters to you at all?

I just like to dress up, maybe put on some make-up too…you know for parties and so. At the moment I rarely go to parties though because of the two little kids. But no, that kind of stuff is not a statement. Maybe that was a bit when I was younger, I wanted to provoke and irritate people sometimes. But for all my life I have just loved all things visual and aesthetic. You know, for example, as kids when we used to build ski jumps with my friends in our neighborhoods, I was really careful how all the edges had to be straight and all things shaped very well, just for the right look. I think that dressing up and make-up etc. just looks good. I think I think more aesthetically than people in general, maybe? In my opinion it is very important to do what you personally feel good and also not to be afraid to do it. For example Bowie just makes very great music and lives his passion.

The so called ski scene is very hetero nominated though; you are right for sure, if you compare to e.g. fashion world or people in the big cities in general (Stockholm as an example). For me this is  quite suprising because on the other hand skiers as people are usually very liberal and tolerant in many other ways, skiing kind of unites people from many different social backgrounds etc. I haven’t seen anything like that elsewhere, the Army excluded maybe (– but I didn’t like that otherwise at all). Hard to say why it is like you mentioned, maybe only the straight people like skiing? (laughing). Or maybe we just lack idols who are different from the standard and who open the way for more people..?

Joonas Karhumaa on family and risk taking

The family – for a relatively young guy you have a family with two kids. Many readers probably wonder how to combine a freeskier’s job and a family. Can you tell us how the family has affected for example your ability/will to take risks? (For us it surely has!)

I am aware of the risks. Freeriding is nice in that sense though that experience helps you to evaluate risks and conditions in the mountains. And every year I feel I know a little bit more about the mountains, snow conditions and skiing. That said; somewhere in the background I always feel that there are two small boys waiting for me at home. But that feel doesn’t have to be negative sake. I have also been a father for my entire professional freeride career – that is my everyday life after all.

I was in Chamonix with Andreas Fransson some days ago (note: Andreas Fransson is one of Joonas’ best ski partner and friends. He taught Joonas how to ski telemark some ten years ago. Andreas is a soul skier and we have an article of him coming soon!). Andreas skied a steep and tight couloir skier’s left of E.N.S.A (Famous couloir in Chamonix, France). It looked good and frightening at the same time. And I decided to ski the E.N.S.A first, did it four times actually. I can always ski the steep stuff later when it feels right, but this time I felt like not going for it. I’ve always been skiing pretty much from my instincts and it never has been a problem for me to say no for a run that I don’t have good vibes of, even though I’d hike for it ten hours… I know I have so many days under my belt that if I make the decision to ski something it doesn’t depend on the turns.

But you can say that I am a freeride man. The real extreme stuff is not for me. The places where it is not allowed to fall are not for me. I can understand someone enjoying that situation and I know that you can get so much from just being in that spot and that those moments give quite intensive experiences.

You have shot alot of pictures with Tero Repo – you guys have a nice “team”, or…?

We met at the office, Tero was taking pictures and I was flying from the kickers – business as usual. The team thing just formed because of the mutual professional attitude towards skiing and shooting. Immediately we worked together in a way that we just don’t shoot pictures, we shoot some GREAT pictures. We got along very well from the start that way. Last winter we didn’t shoot at all together, and some sponsorship issues were one reason for that. Now I am stoked to work with him again. It is just hard to find enough time, as a family men, you know. We shot one day in Chamonix already and I guess we get to do some more days this winter.

Finally, give us three reasons why tele is better than alpine? Or is it?

(laughing) I could give you ten reasons why alpine is better…

Joonas thanks his sponsors: FourElements, Battery Energy-Drink, Bollé, Elan, Samsung, Scarpa, Rottefella, Kask, DaKine, Alpingaraget, Andermatt

Joonas Karhumaa bio

• Age 26
• Lives in Sweden
• Born in LA/Finland, january 1984
• Family: girlfriend and our two sons
• Favourite ski resort: Andermatt
• Interests: clothes designing, skateboarding, climbing
• Favourite music: Bowie and everything from Faithless to Frank Sinatra
• Favourite movie: The Million Dollar Hotel (at the moment, but I got millions of them)

Competition results

• 2009 1st telemark (6th in alpine category), Scandinavian Bigmountain Championships, Riksgränsen/ Sweden
• 2009 1st telemark (7th in alpine category), Engadin Snow, Corvach/ St Moritz
• 2009 1st Swiss Championships Telemark Cross, Andermatt/ Switzerland
• 2008 2nd Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships, Riksgränsen
• 2008 special telemark-award Engadin Snow, Corvach/ St Moritz
• 2007 1st Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships, Riksgränsen
• 2007 only telemarker in BigMountainPro -tour
• 2007 XtremeVerbier telemark-demo
• 2006 1st Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships, Riksgränsen
• 2006 Rookie Quest, Andermatt & Champery
• 2006 special telemark-award Engadin Snow, Corvach/ St Moritz
• 2005 1st Scandinavian Big Mountain Championships, Riksgränsen
• 2005 1st Finnish Freeride Championships, Kilpisjärvi/ Finland
• 2004 1st Finnish Freeride Championships, Kilpisjärvi/ Finland
• 2003 1st Finnish Freeride Championships, Kilpisjärvi/ Finland

Also check out the renewed JoonasKarhumaa.Com

Huge thanks again to photographer Tero Repo. More Tero’s pics can be found in his site TeroRepo.Com. Tero has been shooting a lot with some of the greatest riders and skiers in the world lately, and for example did a trip to Antarctica last spring, shooting guys like Jeremy Jones and Xavier DeLarue.

Have your say

I said that Joonas Karhumaa is the best telemarker in the world. Do you agree/disagree? Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

As Wikipedia says, Ingemar Stenmark was born in the province of Lappland. His family moved to Tärnaby when he was four years old, where he became neighbours with Stig Strand, who would later win the World Cup Slalom title. He began skiing at the age of five and won his first national competition at the age of eight.

When looking at the whole career of Ingemar Stenmark we can see that his results are simply amazing.

• 1st place: 92 times
• 2nd place: 45 times
• 3rd place: 28 times
• 4th place: 10 times
• 5th place: 13 times
• 6th place: 10 times
• 7th place: 8 times
• 8th place: 7 times
• 9th place: 5 times
• 10th place: 4 times.

During the years from 1976 to 1978 Ingemar Stenmark, along with tennis player Björn Borg, became a national icon in Sweden. This was not changed by the fact that he (for tax reasons) soon moved to Monaco.

Needles to say, Ingemar Stenmark is a very interesting person in alpine skiing world, especially for Finns living side by side with our Swedish neighbors. Our Slovakian partners at Snowmagazin got a chance to chat with Ingemar Stenmark (see the original interview here). It is our pleasure to present you the whole interview in English. They say short answers are typical to Ingemar, so no long stories coming  next.

Ingemar Stenmark in interview

How did you end up competing for Slovenian ski brand Elan although you come from Sweden? How your co-operation started?

A man from Elan Sweden offered me 3 pairs of Elan skis for free when I was 13. That’s how it all began. The skis were good so I just continued with Elan.

At that time Elan skis were very modern and up to date. What do you think about Elan skis today? How long were the slalom skis you had that time?

I think that Elan has a very good research and development department, and they have a lot of ideas and innovations. I used 205 for slalom and 210 for GS.

Which is your favorite ski resort where you spend most of skiing?

Tärnaby, Sweden and Colorado.

You became a real legend. How has it affected your life?

I spend most of my time with my family.

At what age did you start ski racing, and how would you advice kids at the beginning of their career?

I began at 7, but the important is that you have fun no matter what age.

Did you have a life slogan, which you followed?

No.

Despite that it is not a challenge for you, don’t you plan to participate at the The World Winter Masters Games 2010, which starts on the 25th January in Slovenia?

No, my racing career is over.

Do you remember where you won your first race?

Yes it was a school race at the age of 7.

A lot of journalists have most probably already asked you this question. Which victory was the most valuable for you?

The olympic games 1980 GS in Lake Placid.

What do you think about the new disciplines in skiing such as ski cross that will be introduction at the Winter Olympic Games this year?

I do not like ski cross so much but I personally I like powder skiing.

You reached your biggest success at the end of 70s and beginning of 80s. What was your motivation to keep competing after this great period of victories?

It was hard to find motivation which you could also see at my results.

In 1984 you were not allowed to enter the Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo to repeat two victories from Lake Placid due to be a professional skier. What do you think about it?

I knew it already 4 years in advance and accepted it.

Couple of Ingemar Stenmark videos

Skipe has no limits, and I am totally cool with that. Imagine if we all were frickin’ boring engineers stuck in our offices (yeah, I am one of those) and never make fun of ourselves. This would be a dead boring world.

Photographer Mikko Lampinen

It’s a pity I don’t get to ski with guys like Skipe too often. I spent many seasons in Chamonix with a bunch of great ski bums, but nowadays I mostly ski with my kids. I’m pretty OK with my decisions, but I gotta say it is so nice to meet my old buddies once a year at the SkiExpo exhibition in Finland. This year we had no time to enjoy a beer with Skipe because he was so damn busy with promotions, but I had a chace to chat with him for a while. Thank God we still have wild guys like Skipe!

14 questions to Skipe Oivo

#1 Homeboy: Dude, how do you spend you summers and winters?

Skipe: Well, I spend my summers at work, mostly in constructions sites. You know, I gotta make some money before winter. I also have lots of injuries, I mean A LOT, so summers are also great time to get better. I don’t travel much during summers because I have my support network (doctors, etc.) in my hometown. Guys like Martti Lakovaara and Risto Ojala have operated me many times, so I rather let them put myself be back in shape instead of traveling around.

2# Homeboy: You know, we have lots of talented and skillful skiers and snowboarders here in Finland. I mean people like Kalle Palander, Tanja Poutiainen, Janne Lahtela, Jarkko Henttonen, and now also Skipe Oivo. How come this kind of world class skiers and riders can come from almost totally flat country like Finland?

Skipe: First of all I should not be even mentioned in the same sentence with these professional athletes, because they are world class and they have done a lot of work to reach their merits, and I am just a hippie skier. I admire them and see them as icons, but I became what I am because I have been damn active and I have always had my burning desire. I would never compare myself with these athletes and their level of expertise.

Photographer Petri Kovalainen, Location Courmayer, Italy

3# Homeboy: Back in the good ol’ 90’s we enjoyed “pocket warm vodka” in northern ski resorts. I remember bartenders dedicating you your own bottle with label “Skipe” under the bar desk. Every time I placed my order I said “two vodkas, one for me and one for Skipe”. Your vodka came always from the dedicated bottle under the desk, because other bottles were stored in fridge.  You still enjoy that stuff?

Skipe: Hehe.. I remember that. Nowadays I prefer Pastis, which is good and cheap. I am no professional athlete or role model, and I do everything with a smile in my face, so I really enjoy toasting drinks some times, especially in good company. I love social lifestyle.

4# Homeboy: Man, I know this a stupid question, but I must ask you this one because you are such a “soul rider”. What is the meaning of life?

Skipe: Go sleep with no worries and wake up with a smile in your face. You can’t always make it, but good buddies help a lot.

5# Homeboy: Well said. May be I should try that. Tell me what else you do in addition to skiing?

Skipe: I love fishing, it’s so great. I also ride a mountain bike, but mainly in Finland. It is actually a very good treatment for my knee injuries. Sometimes I go rock climbing, but the latest thing I have discovered is scuba diving. I can’t say much about it because I have just started, but so far it feels very nice.

6# Homeboy: Only few months ago you signed a deal with K2. Tell us how you ended up riding in K2 Backside Team and how it all happened?

Skipe: Well, I guess the reason why I was picked up is related to my skiing style. I am no educated man, but I have +30 years of experience in active skiing, that is something K2 sees valuable. They take care of my needs and make sure I keep on skiing. They also take into account my lifestyle, and won’t push me to races. I respect that. All in all it is an honor to ski with K2, and I respect our co-operation.

7# Homeboy: Getting the very first sponsor is hard as we know. What would you like to say young dudes looking for their first sponsor?

Skipe: Ski as much as you can. You will be noticed when you are ready, so no need to hunt sponsors. Your skills talk more than any “personal sales pitch”. Anyhow, you can introduce yourself to sponsor candidates, but before that make sure you are a helluva good skier.

Photographer Petri Kovalainen, Location Lyngen, Norway

8# Homeboy: I recently did an interview with Seth Morrison, who is known from sticking double backflips from 60 feet cliffs. What do you think about Seth boy?

Skipe: I love his style. Seth is always so confident which makes his style so great. No matter how high he drops he always lands like a cat. I admire Seth’s ability to utilize different shapes of mountain faces in order to stick totally unexpected flips.

9# Homeboy: Last season you did few turns in Chamonix with the legendary Glen Plake. What kind of dude is this “godfather of freeskiing”?

Skipe: Glen is a helluva nice guy! I really respect his passion, attitude and dedication to the sport, and it is an honor to meet him in person. Glen probably makes good money skiing, but I bet he would do it for free too. He is confident and familiar on all terrain. You can see him ski the same runs with narrow skis while others survive with fat skis.

Talking about ski gear, I see many youngsters complaining in Internet discussion forums that less than 100 mm wide skis don’t work in powder. Come on! Guess what we did 15 years ago? Ski doesn’t make you a good skier, but your attitude and desire. Older generation seems to be technically more confident, so may be younger skiers should ski narrow skis every now and then.

I have also seen guys skiing big mountains with back protection and full face helmets, but without any sense. I am no “Edmund Hillary” but I know my limits and my skills. I believe I’m still alive and kicking because I’ve known when it’s better for me back off.

What I want to say is that proceed step by step. Ski for yourself and don’t take risks only to show off. Be patient.

10# Homeboy: Good points. Are we gonna see you in Chamonix this year?

Skipe: Sure. My flight is scheduled on December 30th, and I will stay until the end of April. I might also join a bunch of guys traveling to Svalbard, but I am not sure yet. Anyhow, I will continue the season in Lyngen right after Chamonix.

11# Homeboy: Are we going to see you skiing 8000 meters mountains just like Fredrik Ericsson?

Skipe: Never! I’ve never been interested in skiing such hard mountains. Why would I ski 8000 meter high mountains while I can get better feelings on 3000 meter mountains? I have no need to take additional risks, so I’m heading to 3000 meters in “good ol’ Chamonix”.

12# Homeboy: You have several skis. Tell us about your “tools”.

Skipe: I use K2 Hellbent (189) in powder, K2 Dark Side (188) in couloirs, K2 SideStash when ski touring and K2 ObSeth (189) and Kung Fujas as all round ski.

Photographer Mikko Lampinen

13# Homeboy: You work much with Finnish ski photographers. Who are your favorite camera men?

Skipe: Mikko Lampinen is like my “royal” photographer. He has shot tons of pictures of me. I also enjoy working with Petri Kovalainen. Working with Tero Repo is an honor, because the dude is a real pro. Co-operation with Tero is so seamless. Days in the mountains go well and we get results.

14# Homeboy: Thanks Skipe for this chat! Before we quit, could you list three words that best describe Skipe Oivo?

Skipe: happy, eternal little boy, inexperienced (there’s still so much to experience out there).

Skipe Oivo according to ski photographer Petri Kovalainen

“I met Skipe in the middle of 1990s when he lived half a season in travel trailer in Lapland, but then flew to Chamonix. Skipe is a true rebel. He is 43 but still in flames every time snow starts falling. He is more experienced than 99% of skiers, but still willing to reach the next level in skiing. Skiing with Skipe is a lot of fun. For years he has been an important evangelist of freeskiing in Finland. Respect!”

In 3 bullets Skipe (according to Petri Kovalainen):
-    is a cornerstone of Finnish freeskiing
-    is Stefa (Skipe’s well known alter ego who becomes alive after few drinks)
-    has spent more time being operated or on surgery bed than random dude on snow

Roots in the mountains

Just like the legendary big mountain ski pioneer Eric Pehota and his close friend Kye Petersen, also Ashleigh McIvor grew up in Whistler. In places like Whistler it is more than natural to become a skier as they provide endless possibilities to challenge yourself in the mountains. Ashleigh McIvor started skiing when he was only two years old, and only few years later she found herself fighting for the victory in alpine ski races.

“It was just natural for me to start racing. I didn’t really plan it. I just loved to compete with others“, says Ashleigh McIvor.

Ashleigh McIvor did alpine ski racing until the age of sixteen. She toured around the world and was one of the best ones, but decided to step into ski cross, which is a relatively new type of skiing competition. In a time trial or qualification round, every competitor skis down the course, which is built to encompass both naturally occurring terrain and artificial features like jumps, rollers and banks. After the time trial, the fastest 16 (in women’s events) or 32 skiers (in men’s events) compete in a knockout (KO)-style series in rounds of four. A group of four skiers start simultaneously and attempt to reach the end of the course. The first two to cross the finish line will advance to the next round. At the end, the final and small final rounds determine 1st to 4th and 5th to 8th places, respectively. 

“Ski cross is so fantastic! It’s so much fun. I love ski cross because of the adrenalin boost it gives me, and the close connection to other skiers on the track. It is such a cool sport!“, says Ashleigh McIvor when asked about her interest in ski cross.

When talking about big mountain skiing, Ashleigh McIvor prefers skiing right behind her own “backyard”. Nearby mountains of Whistler provide so much fun and challenges that she does not need to “go fishing overseas”.

“My dream day of skiing would be heli-skiing the BC mountains with a bunch of good skiers. No particular names or well-known skiers. Just a bunch of good riders and a helicopter.“

As a European I was interested in knowing where in Europe Ashleigh McIvor prefers skiing. According to her website she has visited at least Engelberg and Sweden, but where in Europe Ashleigh would enjoy the most?

“Well, I actually don’t have a reason to go to Europe as I have the best playground right behind my backyard.“

Come on, Ashleigh! Join us and we’ll take you to the backcountry of Chamonix. I bet you would be stoked in the north face of L’Aiguille du Midi or feeling like in powder heaven in Tyrol, Austria.

It is not all about snow skiing

Although Ashleigh McIvor is a pro athlete, she has time to do many other interesting things, such as surfing and mountain biking. Ashleigh is an avid surfer who can take mid-sized waves, but would be wiped out on big waves. Many people think that all great surfers hang around in Hawaii or such distant place, but how many knew that there is a great surf spot in Whistler?

When snow begins to melt, Ashleigh starts looking for her surf board and mountain bike. She is in perpetual motion. Constantly looking for feelings and kicks from outdoor activities.

Ashleigh McIvor and the Great Mountain Giveaway contest

Ashleigh McIvor is partnering together with Tourism British Columbia to tell skiers from across North America about their chance to one of the biggest skiing prizes ever offered, the Great Mountain Giveaway. One lucky winner will have the chance to bring 19 friends to share in a VIP skiing experience at one of 13 world class ski resorts across British Columbia. Winners will have the chance to pick their own prize: ranging from exclusive mountain access, to having no lift lines and their own mountain personal guides at Whistler Blackcomb. Each of the 13 mountains offers its own unique world class experience.

Make sure you participate in this contest, because you might get a change to ski side by side with the world champion.

“If possible, I will take my skis and join the winner’s group to ski BC. I can’t promise yet, but I hope I can make it“, said Ashleigh McIvor to Homeboy Ski blog.

Good deal? Yeah, not too shabby.

Photo by Adam Clark and Black Diamond

They say Seth Morrison is a quiet and may be a bit shy man, but I believe Seth is just a humble dude who doesn’t want to make too much noise of himself. We bombarded Seth with a truckload of questions hoping that he would open the doors to his life, but no. It’s not that easy. Seth provided short, sharp and direct answers with no emotional blah blah. What else could you actually expect from a man who sticks 60 foot cliffs at the high Alaskan mountains? You must be sharp, focused and effective up there, and Seth is just like that.

Good morning Seth Morrison. Going to work again?

Seth Morrison skis about 170 days a year, and he goes off the Calendar Year. Skiing almost every second day might sound much, but how often do we regular people go to work? Skiing is Seth’s profession, his job. Although it doesn’t feel like a job for Seth, the fact is that he does skiing for living.

Photo by Oakley

Being in Seth Morrison’s boots is probably a big dream for many kids out there, and some might consider that he is living in the spotlight. Seth disagrees and doesn’t think that that’s the case. Seth is not a typical celebrity-type person, and that’s probably one of the reasons he’s so well-liked.

The difference between Seth Morrison and regular people is that for Seth his work doesn’t feel like work, while for a lot for us it does. Regular people need to take time off from work, but Seth wants to “stay at work” in the mountains.

“Taking time off is pretty much like retiring. Once you miss a season at what we do, you’re that much farther behind.”

Photo by Adam Clark and Black Diamond

When Seth Morrison takes a day off from “work” he actually goes back to “the office”.

“During my dream day of skiing I would be in the backcountry touring skiing over the head powder with good friends. We get to do this a few days a season.”

Life is life – also for Seth Morrison

Seth has survived avalanches, a helicopter crash and mountain faces most of us would never even try to ski. He has traveled across the world and has experienced things many of us only dream of. Although Seth is in his “best age”, one day it is his turn to leave the snowy playground, but he doesn’t take aging too seriously. When asking about his “retirement plans”, Seth replies by saying “Don’t know, age is what you make of it”.

Seth uses Oakley’s goggles

Life in the mountains can be dangerous and deadly. Bill Briggs, the godfather of American backcountry skiing, has said “if there is no risk, there is no reward”. Late Trevor Petersen wrote in his notebook “There comes a time when one must risk something, or sit forever with one’s dreams”. Seth Morrison says “fear is your only enemy, and even that you can overcome”.

Doug Coombs and Shane McConkey knew the risks, but for some reason they had to go. Although many great and well known skiers have passed away during the years, Shane McConkey’s death stopped us thinking about the risk and rewards of big mountain skiing. During his early years Seth Morrison learned much about big mountain skiing from people like Dean Conway and Kreitler, but also Doug and Shane.

“Beyond being well know skiers they were cool guys that I enjoyed skiing with. I learned a lot from both of them about being a person and a skier.”

Life can be difficult. Anyhow, the sport keeps on developing. Seth Morrison has lived in the world of skiing longer than many of us, and he is recognized from pushing the sport into new direction. Now we’ve already seen skiers ripping gigantic mountain faces, newschoolers spinning huge amount of degrees and ski baser jumpers doing some crazy stuff. What next?

“Faster, bigger, more technical tricks in the Big mountain arena”, says Seth Morrison.

We can’t wait to see.

Photo by Adam Clark and Black Diamond

Shaun White has figured out totally new snowboarding tricks in the backwoods of the Silverton mountain, and we are about to see those new tricks during this season, but how about skiing? When do we see something totally new? While “freestyle skiing” was the trend back in the 80s, and “newschool” was the trend in 2000, what is the next trend?

Although we might have to wait until 2020 to see the new trend, one thing is clear. We think that nobody is going to try to break Fred Syversen’s world record on cliff dropping. Although it was an accident, 107 meters is so much that it would be totally crazy to try bigger. Seth Morrison agrees.

“Jamie’s jump was a few years back and Fred’s was an accident. Not many people are going super big anymore, but more people are working on their tricks of cliffs, more rodeos and 720’s. People’s fear is the only limitation; you need to have perfect conditions to do jumps like that. It just doesn’t happen every day.”

So you wanna stick a backflip?

Most of us here in Homeboy Headquarter are old Chamonix skibums, and we have skied many steep and gnarly couloirs, but not many of us stick a backflip just like Seth Morrison. How could aging office-guys like us start sticking the backflip? Is it actually totally hopeless for a 36 year old guy that gets to ski some 30-40 days a year? Nope, if you listen to Seth.

Photo by Adam Clark and Black Diamond

“Learn on a trampoline, then try them off cliffs into water or water ramps if you can do that. They are pretty easy once you figure it out.”

Oh boy, we actually DO have some hope. It is actually not reasonable to think that learning new tricks in thirties is hopeless. I guess the real problem is to find time and place for practicing, as most of us are married with job and family. We asked Seth Morrison what are his top 3 concrete tips for an aspiring “beginner” or “advanced” freerider who wants to become a better at the sport and evolve into a better skier (in terms of improving skiing technique), and again the reply was typical for Seth; quick, direct and obvious.

“Go skiing every day, be in shape, and ski on rockered skis.”

So, what are you waiting for?

Tools must be the best for the smith

Seth Morrison has his own Seth Morrison Pro model, which includes for example the Full Tilt ski boot. If you have seen the boot, you know it looks different. It gives a clear signal of “punk rock attitude”. The art for the second Seth Pistol ski model was done by Josh Malay who passed away in a snowboard accident in Andorra five years ago. As a tribute to him we used his art work for Full Tilt ski boot the way it was intended to be used on the skis.

Photo by Oakley

“Only some of the art was used on the Seth Pistols from a giant 3 ski collage, so we used the full cover on the boot 6 years later.”

Ski industry has taken big steps during the past 10 years, and new gear has opened up some new possibilities in the sport. According to Seth Morrison, rocker will be the main trend in ski design the next few years. In the October Powder issue Micah Abrams even stated that the current revolution in ski design (rocker shape and its variations) and the way it lets us ski are bigger improvements than twin-tips and fat skis ever were in the first place. Does Seth agree with this?

“No, I don’t agree since if skis didn’t get fatter or have twin tip then think about skiing on a skinny rocker ski with a straight tail. Doesn’t sound appealing if you ever skied what there is today. Funny coming from a guy that lives near the beach.”

So, wazzup this season, Seth Morrison?

As mentioned above, Seth Morrison skis 170 days a year, which means every second day on average. For example this autumn Seth has already skied many mountains while most of us are just planning ski service.

Seth trusts on Black Diamond’s SethPlaid Bandit Avalung backpack

Photo by Adam Clark

In his recent blog post Seth Morrison wrote about his trip to Las Lenas. People got sick in the plane and puked and so on, which doesn’t sound like much fun, but how does Seth find the skiing in Las Lenas during the northern hemisphere summer?

“It is one of the best places I have been in the Summer. Very technical mountain, lots of touring and fun night life.”

Seth Morrison doesn’t have a full plan for the season, but at least he will be seen filming with TGR in Alaska. Seth has been in a number of ski films, which are all good stuff, but one is always above others.

“Under the Influence by TGR is the best. It includes one of my best segments in years, and I had good conditions and great people to ski with. Fun times.”

Is the new film going to beat Under the Influence? Only time will show, but we hope so. Watching Seth Morrison charging the big mountains is always a good way to spend nights at home.

Seth Morrison is a professional big mountain skier who uses K2 ObSethed (189) skis and Full Tilt Seth Morrison Pro model ski boots. His sponsors include Oakley, K2, Fulltilt, Hestra, Black Diamond, Backcountry.com, Purl Wax, and Salomon for bindings. Seth has his own Pro Model of skis, boots, gloves, back pack and goggles. Seth Morrison is known from his interest in punk rock music, but he also enjoys listening to Bob Dylan, Tree, Metric, Vader, as an example.

My name is Kimmo Oivo and I am a skier. I was born with skis and I will ski until I close my eyes the last time. People know me as “Skipe”, which is my nickname. As a kid I was called “Kipe”, and one day I wrote my name on the wall of a barn. For some reason my brother added the letter “S” in front of it, so since then I’ve been called “Skipe”.

Photographer Petri Kovalainen

Back in the early 70s I saw pictures of skiing on television. I dreamed about the mountains even though as a “flat-lander” I had never seen them in real life. I don’t come from money, so after some continuous begging I got my first ski equipment in 1976. Before that I had had a kind of plastic skis. Soon I did my very first turns at the Ruka ski resort in northern Finland, where temperature can dive down to -40 Celsius degrees.

I was stoked.

My parents didn’t understand me and my new interest at all. They thought I must be wretched. I was interested in nothing else but skiing. All I wanted to do was ski. Every day.

So I quit school.

Instead of going to school I went skiing, but I had some bad luck: I broke my knee. But in the hospital, I decided to dedicate my life to skiing the next season, and so I did. At 19 years old I became a full-time skier. Naturally I had no money to burn, so I had to figure something else to keep me alive. I joined a ski school and started teaching skiing. Some people spend years in universities to finally become a teacher. I did it overnight.

Photographer Petri Kovalainen

The next 20 years I lived my life skiing and teaching skiing at resorts. Somewhere in the middle of that time period I got enough of ski schools, so I packed my stuff and moved to the Pyhä ski resort in Finland to find something new in my life, but soon I found myself ski-instructing in Pyhä. I could call myself a teacher, a pretty experienced “ski  teacher”.

Focusing on freeskiing

Back in the 90s, the freeride scene was a very small community of dedicated skiers, and the Pyhä ski resort was the “freeride mecca” in Finland. Together with all those hardcore skiers, we went to the backcountry, learned to climb rock walls and to use ice axes, and had a ton of fun.

Oh boy, those were the golden years pioneering. We skied moguls, learned sticking double flips, and truly enjoyed every single moment. One thing I never tried: ballet skiing. If you ever see me hassling on the dance floor, you can be sure that I am under the influence, with at least 3.5 thousandths of a percent of alcohol in my blood.

So back in the late 80s and early 90s I got into this freeskiing thing, but the radical change actually happened during the season of 89-90 when I landed in Chamonix for the first time. It was January, but unfortunately snow conditions were poor. We spent a lot of time in bars, but seeing all those sharp mountain peaks, steep couloirs, huge glaciers and the massive Mont Blanc was an extraordinary experience. It started a flame inside of me. I was sold on mountain life.

Photographer Mikko Lampinen

During the next few years we went “Interrailing” (cheap train ticket deal for students in Europe) across France, and naturally we stopped to climb at Chamonix. Once we decided to reach the summit of Mont Blanc with my mate. We both were pretty much rookies at climbing, but we had a burning desire to see what’s behind Mont Blanc and how the world looks from up there. We didn’t have any kind of climbing boots, just regular “winter boots” people use in cities. We argued about who would have to carry the rope, and as result we decided to leave it.

Climbing the Glacier du Bosson without a rope doesn’t sound that good anymore, but I consider it my “university” to mountain life. “If there is no risk, there is no reward”, Bill Briggs has said, and we definitely had some risk and reward. And yes, the world looked pretty awesome from the top of Mont Blanc.

It is the burning flame that keeps me going

I wake up in the morning, open my eyes and look around. It’s me here and this is my place. I’m at home. I get up and make myself some coffee. I look out of the window and see my hometown Oulu. It is good to be here, but I must get going. I need to get on my skis. It is my desire, the burning flame inside me.

I get older, it is inevitable. Despite that fact I keep on skiing, because I feel like skiing. I’ve got that burning desire. It makes me happy.

Photographer Petri Kovalainen

I have no need to show up. I finish with my coffee and pack up my gear. I’m going to hit the road. There I feel free. My world is out there.

I have spent all my money on skiing, and I have never had a car loan or such. Sometimes I have had difficulties buying even food, but I never wanted to sign a loan. I moved away from home at the age of 18, and I have never received any money from that house, and I have never asked. I survive on my own, whatever happens.

I have had some role models in the past. Back in the early days Ingemar Stenmark was the man, although he was the only one in those times. Later on Glen Plake became my role model. It is interesting because today I ski with Glen. My role model has become my friend and that doesn’t always happen.

I have never worshipped anyone, but I must say Seth Morrison is the king. Just watch Seth boy skiing and you know what I mean. He is the master.

Stenmark, Plake and Morrison are all famous skiers, but there is one man I truly respect. Jani Johanssen has been my role model since I met him. I love his attitude and lifestyle. We have spent a lot of time together, killed the mountains and seen the world. It is always a lot of fun with Jani.

I have no desire to compete – I just want to enjoy my life

People have asked me if I am interested in race skiing. No, I was never interested in competing. I am too lazy. I did ski moguls very much, but I did it for fun. Skiing moguls was close to my heart, but I never had any intention to compete with my mates. By skiing the moguls I made many new friends, and that’s what I like.

Photographer Mikko Lampinen

I love life. Although I have also seen the hard part of life, I love every moment I am given. My list of accidents is so long that I can’t even remember them all. I have wrecked my body so much, but I keep on doing my thing. I have a positive mindset.

Back in the day doctors almost amputated my leg because of a bad infection. It was so close. I spent three weeks in a hospital taking very tough antibiotics and hoping I wouldn’t lose my leg. At the same time my father was dying of cancer in the next room.

I have learned not to stress the little things in life.

Ten years ago a doctor was analyzing my X-ray pictures. He asked his colleague, “Does this person walk?” I said, “Yeah, I also ski the backcountry.” Needles to say, the dude was amazed.

I have gone through 15 operations. I have become friends with nurses and doctors. Sometimes I hear young dudes complain that their knee hurt. They consider quitting their career. “What? Shut up and get back to the slopes”, I quietly think in my mind.

Some people make money off skiing, but I don’t. I just make enough money to keep myself alive, but I prioritize enjoyable life, good friendships and a roof above my head more than money. I never had a need to collect money.

A kind of turning point in my skiing was when Salomon (thanks to Petri Raatinen) started supporting me. I started receiving free equipment, which was a helluva important thing to me. By getting all that equipment I started to reach a totally new level in my skiing. Right now I am supported by K2 and Peak Performance. I also work with Full Tilt, Dakine, Primex Pharma, Pro-Tec and Spy. I like K2 very much because they respect skiers like me and they provide the best skis for us. I feel that finally I have the perfect tools to do my job.

Photographer Mikko Lampinen

I would like to point out that I don’t have sponsors, but rather partners. Nobody gives stuff for free, so it is always a matter of co-operation. A skier must do a lot of work in order to reach that situation, and once you reach it, you need to keep it by working together with your partners.

Life is wonderful, so live it

Can you say you have lived your life 100%? I can’t. I have done many things and seen the world, but I feel there is still so much to do. I want to keep on conquering the mountains.

One of the most extraordinary ski trips in my life was back in 2007. We spent two weeks in Svalbard which is located absolutely in the middle of nowhere. It was pretty exotic to ski carrying a rifle on your back because you never know when you will come face-to-face with a polar bear. Imagine yourself climbing to the summit and looking around 360 degrees. All you see is white. No people, no structures, nothing but snow. And may be a couple of polar bears… It is absolutely an experience you remember your whole life.

I know life can be hard, but I don’t give a shit. I survive, whatever happens. If I don’t, then I don’t. At least I did it all by myself, and I did what I wanted.

“Are we done with this interview? I got to continue working on my bathroom renovation. See you guys on the slopes!” says Skipe Oivo, one of the most experienced skiers in Finland.

Editor’s note: This story was written by Marko Pyhajarvi and it is based on our discussion with Skipe Oivo. Skipe is one of the coolest skiers on planet Earth.  He is a soul mate and a good friend. Keep on rocking buddy!

Click the link for more photographs by Petri Kovalainen. For more photographs by Mikko Lampinen send us a message and we’ll provide you his contact information.

Back in the early 2000 I had a chance to meet Petri Kovalainen, one of the most active ski photographers in Finland. We discussed nothing but ski photographing as both of us are enthusiastic about the topic. Only one of us is a pro though, which is not difficult to figure out. (hint: not me)

Petri Kovalainen – Highnose of Lauterbrunnen

After a long break I contacted Petri to talk about skiing and photographing once again. Ladies and gents, let me introduce to you: Petri Kovalainen – photographer, skier and a family man.

It all started with an old film Agfa..

“The very first time I touched a camera was back in 1970s when I was five years old. My grandma gave me an old Agfa with which I played for some time. Next time I came across photographing was in 1990s when my friends asked me to shoot pictures of their band. I also photographed skateboarding, which has helped me to find good angles.”

Petri Kovalainen is now 35 years old and does photographing for living. He lives in Finland with his wife Henni and two kids Kaius (4) and Mattias (1). Petri has photographed for over 10 years now and his work requires quite bit of traveling. What a dream job this man got.

Young Petri Kovalainen meets the mountains

Just like most of us, also Petri Kovalainen tried various jobs before starting his career as a professional photographer. In his twenties Petri found himself working as a bartender in the Pyha ski resort. He was a chef, but most often sold beer to drunken skiers. There was one reason for working in a ski resort – Petri wanted to learn to ski. He had started telemark skiing just a few months ago and wanted to progress, but selling beer didn’t help much. Something had to be done.

Paul Siljama – Courmayer

“I heard about La Grave from my friend Samu Ampuja who is the guy behind PowderFlower snowboards and skis. He told me about a small village in France that the masses hadn’t yet found. We arrived to La Grave in 1997, and during the first day we came across two other Finns, freeskiers Antti Kurola and Arto Majava. There we all (10+ people) lived in a 20 cubic meter apartment and enjoyed our lives. It was my first season in La Grave when I got really interested in ski photographing. First I shot some frames of the village, mountains and such with pretty average tools. Next season I came back with better equipment. “

Becoming a ski photographer was not in the plans

“It was not my intention to become a photographer, but maybe it was my destiny. My motives with photographing are not related to publishing pictures, but in order to make my living selling pictures is obligatory. The first time my pictures were published was back in 2000 in an article about Samu Ampuja in a Finnish snowboard magazine Slammer. Since those days I have been photographing with great passion. I have always had goals and I have worked hard to reach my goals. It is needed in order to progress as a photographer.”

The Body – a band

Petri Kovalainen became a full time professional photographer after shooting pictures for Red Bull, Nokia and Nike. He knows that by only photographing skiing most photographers cannot make living, although there are few exceptions, such as Tero Repo. Because of this Petri spends most of his time photographing various marketing campaigns, theater, bands and products.

It’s all about feelings

“Feelings. It’s all about providing various feelings to people. Either positive or negative, but feelings. I love it. It is the reason why I keep on looking at the world behind my camera. If my picture makes people talk, either in positive or negative manner, I feel I have succeeded. I enjoy getting into difficult situations and places, and the fun is to succeed in those situations.”

Ode Siivonen – Chamonix

Petri Kovalainen has no idols in photographing. He got some help from Finnish ski/surf photographer Timo Järvinen back in the day, but after that Petri has survived on his own.

“The world is full of great photographers. What is important is that people have recognized styles in photographing.”

Yet another day at the office..

Petri Kovalainen works with pro skiers and riders. He has shot pictures of Jarkko Henttonen, Ode Siivonen, Ane Enderud, Tyson Bolduc, Fred Syversen, Espen Fadnes, Paul Siljama, Skipe Oivo, and many others. During a typical “day at the office” Petri carries a Canon Mark 2 with three objectives (50 mm, 17-35 mm and 100-400 mm), and sometimes also an Elinchrome Ranger flash.

Ode Siivonen and Jani Johanssen – Tamok

“I think the best part of this work is just see everything working fine and get positive feelings after photographing sessions. My rule of thumb is that whenever I work in the mountains, it must feel good. Both photographer and rider must feel good instead of “working hard”. When co-operation works well and pictures are good, it makes both parties happy. One of my best moments is from Pica Glacier in Alaska in 2001. Early in the morning we hiked to one couloir with Jussi Räsänen, and during the first morning rays Jussi draw beautiful lines on my film.

Nowadays I don’t shoot pictures on film anymore, but couple of times I have tried it in order to record some special action. I have also tried larger format, such as Hasselblad 6×6 just to get some kicks.”

Back to the mountains, once again

Ski season has already started in Scandinavia, and for Petri Kovalainen it means preparing for the upcoming photographing trips. Petri’s plans are still a bit open, but in the end of this week he will shoot pictures in Lyngen, Norway together with K2 factory team riders Skipe Oivo and Jani Johanssen.

Tyson Bolduc – portrait

“I really would like to ski more, but as a family man I know my boundaries. I must accept most of the offers first, and then spend time with shooting pictures of skiers. Anyhow, I am looking forward to the ski season 2009/2010, because last season I spent two months in Chamonix, Tamok and Lyngen. Pretty good from a family man, eh? I felt like ‘back to my roots, perkele!’ (Finnish curse word).”

Petri Kovalainen – Professional Photographer

-    Has done photographing for 10+ years
-    Was one of the co-founders of the Finnish ski magazine “Loska”
-    Won Nissan Summer Outdoor Games 2009
-    Has joined New Generation exhibition
-    Contact Petri by sending email to petri@petrikovalainen.com

Check out Petri’s website at PetriKovalainen.Com.

Photo gallery by Petri Kovalainen

Onie Bolduc – Tamok

Jussi Korhonen – Tampere

DJ Rico Tubss

Fred Syversen – Chamonix

Ane Enderud – Tamok

Ane Enderud – Portrait

Remember to check Petri’s website at PetriKovalainen.Com!

“If there’s no risk, there’s no adventure“, says Bill Briggs who was the first to ski Grand Teton. Bill was later named as the father of backcountry skiing in United States.

“There’s nobody out there with signs, there’s no ropes, there’s no patrol men, there’s nobody taking care of you on the slopes. It’s not a ski area“, said Doug Coombs in ski movie Steep.

Extreme skiing is skiing performed on long, steep (typically from 45 to 60+ degrees, or grades of 100 to 170 percent) slopes in dangerous terrain, outside the ski area boundaries. The French coined the term ‘Le Ski Extreme’ in the 1970s. The first practitioners include Swiss skier Sylvain Saudan, who invented the “windshield wiper” turn in the mid-1960s and in 1967 made the first descents of slopes in the Swiss, French and Italian Alps that were previously considered impossible. Because of the extremely long, steep slopes, and dangerous terrain, single mistakes at the wrong moment by some extreme skiers have led to their deaths. [Wikipedia 2009]

Riding the legendary north face of l’Aiguille du Midi via Mallory-Porter

Homeboy team rider Jarkko Henttonen discovered Chamonix in the beginning of 1990s, and since those days he has ridden many of the classic extreme runs, such as the north face of l’Aiguille du Midi via Mallory-Porter couloir. Although Jarkko did Mallory some time ago already I wanted to hear more about preparing and riding probably one of the best known extreme route. Here’s my discussion with Jarkko.

Jarkko, how would you first of all define the term “classic extreme ski descent”?

Extreme descent is a ski route which is big, steep and hazardous. Extreme skiing is a game that was developed in Chamonix over the past century. Chamonix, as we all know, is the birth place of mountaineering and it was just natural that folks who were climbing all over mountains started to ski all over mountains as well. In 30s and 40s some of the pioneers of the sport skied in pretty funny places, especially considering the gear they had. The sport stared to develop faster after the WW II when modern ski gear came out, and modern extreme skiing started in the end of the 1960s when Sylvan Saudan started to explore steep faces and couloirs in the Aiguilles du Chamonix and other big peaks in the Massif du Mont Blanc. Or so the story goes, at least.

The definition of extreme skiing, or snowboarding, if that is your sport, is that if you fall, or even loose control, you can expect to die sometime very soon. This happens because the slope you are riding is so steep that you won´t be able to regain control and you´ll fall all the way down to the bottom of the slope, hitting rocks and falling over rock or ice cliffs or whatever may be on your way. Basically you are tumbling down for a long time like a rag doll, not being able to do a thing to save your sorry ass.

Classic descent, in turn, is a ski route that has usually been opened up sometime ago, say in 60s, 70s or in some cases in the 80s, and that has some qualities that make it desirable. What I mean is that the route must have somehow aesthetic, historical or other such  value that lures people to it.

How did you come up with the idea of riding the north face of l’Aiguille du Midi via Mallory-Porter?

Someone, likely my friend Marko Virtanen, showed it to me. Check it out, that´s Mallory there! And like most everybody at first I didn´t even see where it was. I was like, where? This was in the beginning of 90s, I think in 1992.

The first ski descent of the route was done in 1977, I think, and with snowboards, which was still pretty new then, in 89 0r 90. The route had bit of aura on it back then. If you had done it, you were elite, pure and simple. I´d say that despite some trends and changes in attitudes that is still true. It´s a test-piece.

Next year, in 93, I was getting into extreme riding a little bit, and kinda started looking at Mallory, too. That kinda stuff was solely domain of french extreme athletes back then, and I wondered if I´d ever be good enough. I mean, I come from Finland, and how much tradition we have in that kinda stuff? To start with we don´t even have that kinda stuff in Finland, nothing like it, our highest so called mountain is like, what, less than 1300 m and about as flat as the earth was during the middle age. Our country is like a pancake. Anyways, that year a late friend of mine, Jukka Sistonen, skied it with another late friend, Alain Moroni, a french mountain guide and a pioneer of extreme snowboarding, and another frenchie, David Ravanel, a skier and a mountain guide whom I´ve only met a couple of times. I realized that this kinda stuff is also possible for flatlanders,  and from then on I really wanted to do it.

By the way, during 93-95 or even bit later, there was some kind of a change going on in attitudes. I´d say that´s when freeride started to develop big time, and that had an effect on a lot of things that were happening up in the mountains. New school freestyle skiing started to develop then, and similar thing happened in freeride, too. It´s going to be interesting to see what happens now that the two are really starting to merge, with guys like Travis Rice and the likes really getting into back-country freeriding…

How and how long did you prepare for this endeavor?

Quite a while. From the day I realized it´s there and I can do it, it took me about 8 years to actually make the descent. Either it was in condition and I wasn´t or I wasn´t there, or if I was good to go, the route wasn´t. Gotta be patient. If I had been in Chamonix all the time, probably I would have made it much earlier. I almost did it in 95, but missed my chance by about an hour or two.

Could you tell us about that day? How were the snow conditions, how did you feel?

I rode it with Antti Kurola, the day before Verbier Xtreme in 2001, in the beginning of April. I don´t remember anymore who it was but anyways somebody told me that it had been skied and that it is in condition. I´d been in Verbier for about 10 days or something, waiting for the Xtreme to take place, it was delayed due to weather and snow conditions, and was planning to go back home to Finland right after the contest, and since I had nothing better to do, I decided to go have a look.

So, we woke up in Verbier around 4 o´clock in the morning, drove to Chamonix, bought the lift passes to Aiguille du Midi, took the tram up and had a good look at the face from the mid-station. It looked good enough and we went up with the second lift and had a good look at the route from the lift, as well as from the top station. Even from closer it look kinda ok, so we decided to ride it.

We did not drop in from the entrance of the icy tunnel, which would have been better. The top was icy, so we opted to traverse to the ridge from top of Eperon Frendo. It was pretty cool feeling to drop in, after such a long wait. I mean, eight years is quite a long wait.

I went first and Antti came after me. We were both pretty stoked. Antti likes his big lines, he is or at least was into skiing steeps.

The traverse was ok, but the snow on the ridge was sorta hardish. Antti made the first turn and we just laughed. Whoa, here we go! Nowadays Mallory is ridden constantly if the conditions are good, but back then it was still sort of a big deal to do it, and definitely it was a big deal for us, especially for me.

Some guys have done it in like 15 minutes or something, but we wanted to take it easy and enjoy the ambiance… So, we took our time, I think it took us about 2 hours or something to go from the top to the bottom of the face.

The kinda has five or six different sections. First it goes down this broad ridge, which is mostly snow up high, then lower down it has big rocks sticking out of the snow all over. The top part was in sorta bad condition, it was not icy but the snow was quite hard so we had to take it easy. Lower down on the ridge, in this kinda shallow bowl thing it was better and we could relax a bit. Then you drop into this quite steep couloir that is above some gnarly drops. The snow was good there, so it was pretty ok doing that bit. Then you enter this sorta big diagonal ramp with at least partial double fall line with pretty big exposure above cliffs. It was bigger than it looks, so you don´t really feel the exposure that bad if you don´t go to the edge. I of course went, especially at the bottom of it I had to go look over the edge. I reckon I made my most precise turn ever there. Then you traverse to this patch of snow that is pretty damn steep, and really exposed. It was hard making turns there, the snow was bit weird. Stable and solid, sure, but not too smooth, it felt kinda grippy. From there you traverse on this little ramp to a spot from where you make a I think about 25-30 meter rappel to this steepish ramp. Once you are there, you should be fine. The ramps leads into a couloir, which opens up underneath the face. The whole thing is about 1000 m high, I´d say most of the way it´s most definitely at least 40-45 degrees steep, with long sections of about 50 degree incline and the steepest parts are about 55 degrees. It´s a radical route to ride, for sure, and the guys who opened it up in 1977 must have been super fucking stoked to do it. I mean, it´s right there, underneath the lift, and because of this, it´s unique. No other place in the world like this.

What were the highlights of riding Mallory-Porter?

The whole thing. First waiting for years and then one day waking up in Verbier, driving to Chamonix, going up, riding down, driving back… The whole thing was just such a fun thing to do.

Maybe the funniest thing was when we were about to do the rappel, and decided to call to Arto Majava, our buddy, who for sure would have wanted to be with us, but was back home instead. It was sorta early in the morning so we woke him up. I asked him how he is, he said ok, then he asked what we are up to, and I told him, trying to be as casual as possible, that we are on Mallory, about to do the rap, and then there was just a very long silence on the other end of the line.

How difficult is it to ride this classic off-piste run? To what would you compare it?

I wouldn´t really call it an off-piste run. Off-piste run is something way easier. Anyways, it is quite difficult. Not out of this world, though. I mean, I´ve done it, so more or less anybody can do if they really want it enough. And as I said, guys have done it in like 15 minutes, and if it is on, people do it a lot, it´s a mogulfield on the best, or the worst days.

As I described, it has some rather steep sections, and it is exposed all the way. In some places I´d say it is very exposed: you are riding above huge cliffs, and it feels really airy. I´d say it falls into extreme descent category, and if you do fall you have a pretty big risk to die. Then again, I´m quite sure somebody has fallen, or at least slipped there and not died, but in some sections I´d say it´s guaranteed death if you loose control, start sliding and cannot stop.

I wouldn´t compare it to normal riding at all. In some respect this kind of riding is closer to free solo climbing than anything else. Mallory is not particularly difficult extreme descent, but still, scary and difficult enough.

Would you do it again?

I would, if it´s in good condition and I´m in good condition, too. Right now I´m not.

What would you like to say to those who are planning to ride Mallory-Porter?

For those who are actually really planning it: have a great time when you get to go, it´s an awesome route! For those are thinking about it: make 100% sure you are ready for it. It´s really not a place where you go find out whether or not you are able to do what needs to be done. Test yourself somewhere else.