SkiBro’s Post

Spring backcountry skiing at Tuckerman Ravine is a century-long tradition. Once exclusively a springtime phenomenon, climate change is starting to push the century-long tradition of skiing 'Tux' to winter. Learn the history behind one of the oldest, coldest parties in New England:

Skiing has a customer acquisition problem. Let me explain. Today, when you want to go skiing, you have two options: pay $200+ for a lift ticket or $1000+ for a season pass. Ski resorts are pushing people towards season passes like the Ikon pass or the Epic pass because it’s better for their short term bottom line. But it’s bad for the long term. If I’m a new skier, I’m probably not going to spend $1000+ on a season pass. I don’t even know if I like the sport or not! That’s a huge amount to spend. So my only other option is a $200+ lift ticket. Add on another $100 for rental. And don’t forget flights, lodging, and gas to drive to the mountain. That’s a HUGE amount for a beginner just to go one day. One single day. And guess what? Most beginners probably won’t spend that much to try out the sport. They’ll just never try it and spend it on something else, like a family vacation to Hawaii. Because of the high initial cost, skiing probably isn’t getting very many new people into the sport. And that’s a problem for the long term

“The skiing was terrible – there was powder everywhere!!” my 7-year-old niece exclaimed! I was confused – no skier says that! “What do you mean?” I probed. Let me provide some context – my niece has never skied powder. She’s an Ontario Skier and, trust me, Ontario skiing requires real skill – more often than not you’re navigating ice, slush, mud, even grass. Her mom turned to me and explained “she means slush.” If you haven’t had the privilege of experiencing Ontario Skiing, it’s a skiing experience like none other. It requires some grit, a willingness to embrace the various levels of ice (sheet ice, granule ice, and chucks of ice - all which you either can’t see or looks like snow), and patience with 5-minute chair-lift rides for 15 second descents. I agree, what I’ve just described doesn’t sound enjoyable, but you must be an Ontario Skier to understand the motivation to ski such terrain. In part, it’s mostly desperation to actually ski – our winters seem to be getting shorter and warmer, so if you don’t ski these conditions you won’t ski at all. But there’s also something strangely engaging and invigorating about it – there’s no room to get complacent, or time to be bored, or space to be in denial about the conditions.   It requires your full attention and focus!   When you ski Ontario, it’s a fully engaging experience.   So, if you haven’t already, why not try it out! This shot was taken at Glen Eden - the view is great, we deliberately angled the camera away from the mud to the left.    #Engagement #SkiingOntario #EffectiveLeadership Philippe Lafreniere

My capstone project should have been epic… but we failed. We designed a backcountry skiing ascender device—a portable gas-powered motor with a wheel to pull you up a fixed rope. It would have totally changed how we approached backcountry skiing. But we made one critical mistake: our wheel was too aggressive. The first time we tested it, the rope got completely bound up, and all the gears were destroyed. We never even got to test the device properly. The irony? The guy we were designing for already had a device that worked—and he was using it in the Crazy Mountains in Montana. Fast forward to today: I live in the Crazy Mountains, and I still wish I had one of those devices to get more ski laps in! Looking back, I realize life leaves clues. What seemed like a failed project back then now feels like a small part of a much bigger story. The connections between past experiences and where you end up are often clearer in hindsight. How did your capstone project turn out? Share your story.

Many of you know that my passionate hobby is Alpine Skiing, and among those fresh powder days we get in Lake Tahoe, teaching skiers of all levels is where I find satisfaction in showcasing the glory of mountain living. Often I am asked what teaching techniques work best on immediate to advanced skiers, and the truth is that there are many to apply depending on the terrain that day. In the attached article, consider how you might integrate these as part of your training for end-of-season improvements or to ready yourself for the next year. #snowpros #skiing #mountains

With the backcountry of the Lower 48 increasingly crowded (ski touring is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., second only to pickleball), the Tebay experience is wild skiing at its most pure. In a landscape where peaks remain unnamed, half the maps are wrong, and guidebooks have yet to be written, this rare adventure still feels like true exploration for all involved. For the elite-level pilots who double as accomplished alpinists, it’s a lifetime of new landscapes to discover and new landings to navigate. For the guides, it’s the ultimate challenge of on-site guiding in terra incognita. For the guests, it’s the first descents, usually unattainable for average skiers like me. In short, it’s an adventure that leaves those who’ve lived it suspecting they’ve transcended the boundaries of the normal. Read more about the world's only bush plane-accessed ski touring lodge, in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias, on my Forbes column.

The Art of Wake Shaping If you love to wake surf, water ski, wakeboard, or barefoot water ski, check out my latest column, "The Art of Wake Shaping," featured in the April 2024 issue of Boating magazine. Discover why the shape of your wake matters when it comes to maximizing your tow sports success and fun and learn how to utilize the features found on today's specialized ski and wake boats, as well as family boats, to create the perfect wake for your maximum enjoyment in your favorite tow sport.

🎿❄️ So, picture this: you've been eagerly anticipating your yearly skiing trip, counting down the days and finally, you arrive all set, fully dressed, skis on, and route planned. However, the weather is suggesting something else. As you step out onto the slopes, at the bottom of the chair lift, for your first day, you're greeted by challenging visibility (pictured above) and relentless snowfall. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼? Option one: You could quit while you are ahead and go straight for the warm embrace of the bar. Who doesn't love Après Skiing? Or head back to your hotel and enjoy a lazy day? Option two: You could give it a go. Hopefully, the weather improves and you may even be able to get above the clouds and enjoy some sun. Option three: You choose to embrace the challenge. Sure, the conditions might not be ideal, but this is your chance to push your skills to the limit and see what you're really made of. Of course, there is the health and safety consideration, however, if the chair lifts are still going then the resort has deemed it safe to ski using their safety procedure guidelines. Regardless of your choice, which you are free to make, your mindset plays a huge part in your decision-making process. Are you the type to back down at the first sign of adversity, or are you determined to rise to the occasion and conquer the mountain, no matter what? As the legendary skier Stein Eriksen once said, "Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads." Even when you can't see the terrain clearly, it's about learning to feel the snow beneath you and letting the mountain guide your movements. So, the choice is yours. Will you let the weather dictate your experience, or will you seize the opportunity to challenge yourself and make the most of every moment on the slopes? Let me know your thoughts below. 🏔️🚀

🎿 Took on the Slopes for the First Time! 🏔️ I did something I never thought I'd do: I went skiing for the very first time! As someone who's not particularly adept at sports involving speed or balance, this was a huge step out of my comfort zone. But you know what? It taught me some valuable lessons that I believe are applicable far beyond the slopes. Here are a few takeaways from my skiing adventure: Conquering Fear: Stepping onto those skis, I had to confront my fear head-on. I realized that sometimes, the biggest obstacle to trying something new is our own fear. Once I pushed past that initial hesitation, I found a whole new world of possibilities waiting for me. The Power of Focus: When you're zooming down a mountain, every ounce of your concentration is focused on the task at hand. I discovered that when I committed myself fully and concentrated like my life depended on it, the level of focus I achieved was truly remarkable. It's amazing what we can accomplish when we give our full attention to the task in front of us. Starting Small, Moving Forward: Skiing taught me the importance of starting small and gradually building up. Just like on the slopes, in life, it's okay to take things one step at a time. By starting with manageable challenges and steadily progressing, we can achieve things we never thought possible. Resilience and Perseverance: Let's face it: learning to ski involves a fair amount of falling down. But each time I stumbled, I learned to take a deep breath, gather my strength, and pick myself up again. It's okay to stumble and even rest for a moment before embarking on the next leg of the journey. The important thing is to keep moving forward, no matter how many times you fall. Overall, my first skiing experience was not just a thrilling adventure on the slopes, but also a valuable lesson in overcoming fear, staying focused, taking things one step at a time, and embracing resilience. #Skiing #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth