In the City

I just got back from a whirl wind of a weekend. I left Gunnsion on Thursday and headed up to Denver. I met with some friends that night and woke up early the next morning to head to SIA, the ski and snowboard trade show at the Denver Convention center. Everyone was on fast pace business mode and it was a little intimidating to say the least. The guys with Colorado Freeskier pointed me in the right direction and I was on my way. I saw gear for next year which I am very excited about. I also made some awesome connections and I am ecstatic to see where thing will go from here. You will know what I mean in the next couple months. Friday night was a lot of fun watching the X-games at the Smith Optics cocktail party. A fun time and great people, many of whom I saw on Saturday again at SIA. This show was incredible. Larger than a city block, the show encompassed every company, big and small, related to the snow world.  

I drove back to Gunnison late last night and woke up this morning to do some back country skiing. I went up to Axtel for my first time with Dan Armstrong, another member of WSC Freeride team, and his friend Stu. We had an awesome day. I tried out these new wind breaking gloves from Level Gloves. They were perfect for skinning, light but warm. They also have a pretty unique "rocker" style. 

We were a little nervous about our line we scoped out, but it ended up being epic! We skied an awesome shoot out to a wide open bowl. Despite a little wind-blown snow we were able to make some fun turns in some pretty decent snow. 

Dan and Stu Excited for lunch

Crested Butte in the background

I am ready for a good nights rest to start the week of right but, I'm not looking forward to the week of studying. I can't wait to get back out on skis this coming weekend. 

Setting Into My Ways

Raised in Hood River Oregon, I grew up rocking out to "Hyper Active Music" on the drive up to Cooper Spur, Meadows, Timberline, and Skibowl resorts. The weekends were always something to look forward to and when I began racing again in high school the love for the mountains were stronger than ever. After 3 years of racing in the Pacific Northwest I knew I was ready for more exploration. 

A week after my 18th birthday I found myself in Gunnison Colorado, home of Western State College in the mountains at 7,703 ft. Just 30 minutes from Crested Butte and amazing backcountry, skiing can easily become a lifestyle.

Currently, I am a junior at Western State and I have just begun to explore the surroundings I now call home. Last winter I joined the first ever college freeride ski team. We travel to competitions in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah showing promising results on the World Freeskiing Tour. With a ski racing background, falling in love with the adrenaline rush of big mountain skiing has been a natural progression for me. 

This change has been so worth it. I have been able to experience this area in a way I could never have imagined; on skis.