PISTE1 // MAY15

PISTEissue one

2 // MAY15PISTE

PIS

TE

contents

42

THE EVOLUTION OF SKIING & SNOWBOARDINGWe take a look back at where skiing and snowboarding all started

36

RISE OF THE WINTER FESTIVALSnowbombing/Snowboxx/Rock the Pistes...it’s all about the winter festival

MERIBEL//PISTE’S PICK OF THE SEASONdiscover why this french resort is so popular amongst us brits

16

22

ART WITHIN THE ALPSWhere the mountains have become the new canvas for artists

LATEST NEWS 4ON THE CHAIRLIFT WITH... 6JARGON BUSTER 8HELMET DEBATE 26INTERNATIONAL SKI FEDERATION 28

MEET THE ROXY GIRLSWe introduce the girls who are making an impact both on and off the slopes

52

31

COUNTDOWN TO THE NEXT GAMES

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PISTE3 // MAY15

EDITOR

ellen.piste@outlook.com

Welcome to PISTE!

We are more than excited to bring you our first issue and introduce you to the

world of PISTE.

Being this our first ever issue we thought that an introduction to the publication was necessary. What makes PISTE dif-ferent to all the other ski magazines out there you might be asking? Well, we cel-ebrate the young ones and their inter-ests within the skiing and snowboard-ing world. We’re not going to bombard you with features about where to plan your next family holiday or how to get your five year-old snowboarding and what you and your family can get up to whilst in the mountains. Here at PISTE we want to educate our readers as well as entertain. We’ve looked into the or-igins of our sport and delved into the evolution of both skiing and boarding. Get excited with a look into the rise of the winter festival with our top picks of where you should go at least once in your life. Along with our pick of the sea-son, we introduce you to the legend that is Shane McConkey and the ROXY girls making an impact within the winter

sports world.

Along with our Boot Room, Gear Up guide and PISTE Playlist, we’ve packed our first issue with everything that’ll sure to get you excited for next season.

We want to hear from you if there’s any-thing you want more off or on the flip side anything you hate. This publication is all about you. We want to hear it for

the mad ones out there!

contents

BOOT ROOM, GEAR UP

12

PISTE’S PLAYLISTSWe create the perfect playlist for both on and off the slopes. And for when it’s time to sit back and relax we’ve put together some of our favourite ski films 54

48

SHANE McCONKEYThe legend that changed the skiing world. PISTE looks back at the life and death of one of the world’s iconic skiers

LES ALLUES, RHONE-ALPSWho needs a thousand words with images like these

32

4 // MAY15PISTE

LATEST NEWS

Industrial designer and constructor Michal Bonikow-ski has recently revealed a imaginative take on the snowmobile with a sleek and futuristic look that brings functionality, jaw-dropping aesthetics and distinctive lines to create a one-off a kind winter ride.

What makes the Snow Crawler concept different by the Polish designer is that it is fully enclosed, provid-ing ultimate protection from the harsh weather and guaranteeing top comfort for the driver. So far there is no plan for the Snow Crawler to be manufactured with the designer not considering price ranges in case the vehicle hits the market or not. At this point in time it’s just going to have to sit on Bonikowski’s screen and look pretty.

The Snow Crawler

Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), the charity behind the 2014’s Winter Paralympics success held their ParaS-nowBall last month in aid to raise funds and boost the charity’s profile. Put on with the help of British Ski and Snowboards sponsor Delancey, the event was the first of it’s kind for DSUK and chief executive, Fiona Young hopes will be one of more to come.

With the help of Pippa Middleton and some of the UK’s best athletes including Paralympians Ben Sneesby and Millie Knight, the ball raised over £40,000 whilst cele-brating the best of British winter sports.

Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK)

Before the 2014/15 season had even begun, predic-tions showed that there would be little snow. No-body expected that these forecasts would turn out to be such a nightmare for ski-goers. Many resorts, which are known for good snow, didn’t get the white stuff up until late December, early January.

Due to lack of snow, many resorts have had to shut shop early cutting short thousands of holidays. It’s not just lack of snow that put holidays on hold. Ski holidays within the French Alps were ruined when too much snowfall left everyone stranded in their cars and chalets for over 24 hours. A huge num-ber of skiers and snowboarders throughout many resorts were lucky to spend at least one day on the slopes

Worst Ski Season yet

PISTE5 // MAY15

LATEST NEWS

Selfies on the slope

Now we all love a good selfie, right? But this past year, people have been taking them to a whole new level of extreme. With the arrival of the selfie stick late last year, people have stepped their selfie game up. But now people have started to put their lives in danger to get the ultimate shot.

A British schoolboy, aged 14, fell 1,640 feet off a cliff edge and shockingly came out with just bumps and bruises. The boy from Leeds fell on the last day of a school trip to the Möltal Glacier in the Austrian Alps when the group stopped at the peak of Mount Scha-rek to take photos of themselves within the idyllic backdrop.This incident is the second-selfie related accident in a ski resort to be reported within the month after a 28-year old Australian survived a 1,000 foot fall after crossing the boundary line to get a shot with the perfect Alpine background in the Grand Targhee area in Wyoming.

The boy was quickly airlifted to hospital, 20 miles away, where he was said to suffer from severe shock and kept for observation.

A spokesperson for mountain rescue said: “It’s a mir-acle really. We strongly urge all visitors to keep away from the mountain edge.”

“And I can imagine he has got quite an interesting selfie to show off.”

An Australian skier who was buried alive and consid-ered dead in after getting caught up in an avalanche in a Swiss ski resort had to be rescued by his friends earlier this month. James Mort was skiing off piste with three friends in Les Crosets when they were caught in an avalanche. Fellow Australian, Daniel O’Sullivan and Leonard Ottensmeyer from Swit-zerland were able to stay on top of the snow whilst James became completely buried. The third friend, Andrew Sebesfi, took a different trial and was able to go seek help.

The terrifying ordeal was captured by Daniel’s GoPro head camera, once the avalanche had come to a stop; the friends looked around but were unable to see James. After getting out his shovel and probe to find his friend he noticed the end of a ski pole sticking out of the snow and frantically waving in the air.

His friends crawled their way over to the pole and began digging and were soon able to uncover a shak-en and shell-shocked James. It took almost an hour to dig the skier out with the help of two Swiss ski patrollers.

Vouched to never ski off piste again, the group has promised one another to “always practice conserva-tive decision-making when in the mountains, taking into account the local avalanche conditions.”

Australian down under

6 // MAY15PISTE

on the chairlift with...

Q: How did you get into ski Half-pipe?

I had a go in the halfpipe at Sheffield Ski Village when I was 14, and loved it. I used to BMX race and skied since I was 5 so I already learned the pump technique and edge control to get height out of the Halfpipe. The Dryslope Halfpipe was half the height of the ones on snow, it was a lot of fun but I picked up some bad habits because of this. As soon as I decided to train with U.S team coach Elana Chase in 2008 in Colorado, I learnt the biomechanics of the sport and then I really started to progress.

Q: What made you turn a hobby into a profession?

It happened naturally and as I got my name out there, I gained personal sponsorship deals which helped me travel internationally. When I graduated university in summer 2013 I decided to pour all my energy into skiing as I wanted to become an Olympian. Today we have more support which is all down to the GBParkandPipe team funded by UK sport, we can access coaching, strength and conditioning and Physio at competitions.

Q: Typical training session - what’s it like?

I wake up, foam roll then ski. In the afternoon I’ll hit the gym. I start off with mobility and a dynamic stretch warm up, then I’ll do a combination of strength, core, cardio, balance, rehab and plyometrics depending on the day of the week and time of the year. I do a lot of functional exercises such as Olympic lifts, which develop multiple muscle groups at once rather than using a machine which will only target one muscle group at a time.

Q: Worst injury? What is it like to come back from an injury?

I ruptured my left ACL and lateral meniscus in 2012, 4 months after the surgery i developed a misdiagnosed infection, which developed into septicaemia. I was in hospital for a week and lost the majority of the muscle on my left leg. At that point I was just happy enough to be alive. It took me 12 months to get back on skis and was a brutal physical and mental battle every day to overcome. When I got back on snow, I learnt to ski again and it was the best feeling I’ve ever had. My first World Cup back after the injury I broke my thumb in training but went onto qualifying for the Olympic team in a cast, I couldn’t hold my pole properly but was so determined I gave it everything I had. It was the last opportunity to qualify and i put it in the back of my mind and skied well, qualifying a few weeks before the Olympics. To overcome that makes me believe anything is possible.

Q: If you had not chosen to go pro what would you be doing instead?

I’d probably take a career as a commercial airline pilot, so I’d still have a similar lifestyle which included travel whilst having days off to go on ski trips.

Q: What do you do in your downtime?

I’m getting into road cycling and during the summer in Park City I ride my mountain bike on the trails in the Mountains at 8,000ft it’s a killer workout. I also ride my penny board, hit the water ramps, trampoline, play volleyball and stay as active as I can.

james machon

PISTE7 // MAY15

Q: Who are your sporting inspirations?

I grew up watching the X Games on the Extreme channel when T-Hall was in his prime. Dumont for being in my opinion one of the greatest athletes in any sport. More recently Lyndsey Vonn for her dedication to overcome her second ACL injury. Torin Wallace who i skied with since he was 12 and watching how he has become one of the greatest Halfpipe skiers of our time. I can’t forget my roots at the Sheffield Ski Village, skiing all night long in the rain with friends and getting so stoked on new tricks. It was a combination of all those things that gave me inspiration I needed to get where I am today.

Q: How was it competing at the Sochi 2014 games?

I was in Russia for 3 weeks, the experience of the games was crazy. I was one of 52 athletes on TeamGB, a very small elite team compared with the summer games, which take over 500 athletes on TeamGB. I was able to get advice and meet some of the greatest names in British sport including Seb Coe, Jonathan Edwards and Princess Ann. It was cool to meet other athletes with the same goal but in different sports and hear their stories. The support from everyone on social media was over whelming and TeamGB’s hospitality and support was impressive.

Q: Any pre competition rituals/traditions?

When it competes to competitions, I’ve found that it pays off to be as organised as possible. Be prepared if you have any issues. I always carry a screw driver, spare break, physio tape, umbrella if it’s raining, warm clothes, goggle wipes, spare earphones, be as prepared as possible to eliminate any stress.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement so far?

In January this year I placed 8th in the World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria. It’s the first time I’ve cracked into the top 10 in the World, I skied my absolute best and was the most consistent in the competition landing all 3 runs, making it a huge performance. My parents were there too watch in the crowd whilst Rob Machon my brother was keeping sure I was on top of every single training run, to get me in that final. I trained repetitions of full runs improving every little detail, I counted landing 15 consecutive 1080’s in a row during training so when I was in the competition I was really confident, and it worked. Throughout all of this i would like to thank my sponsors Volkl skis, Wosskow Brown Solicitors, Dare2b clothing, Nordica boots, Snozone, UK Sport’

Q: What’s your ultimate goal?

My ultimate goal was to compete at an Olympic Games, and now I’ve done that I want to ski at the highest level for as long as possible.

Photo: James Machon

8 // MAY15PISTE

You might be reading this thinking; ‘’I know every word out there’’ but even we must admit, some we had never even heard of. So we’d thought we’d create a little dictionary for you so that you are fully equipped and in the know when talking about what everyone got up to on

the slopes that day.

JARGON BUSTER

APRES SKILiteral meaning, ‘after ski’ but we all know

that this refers to the nightly socially assault course, which is preferred by some

rather than skiing itself

AVIEAvalanche, obviously

A

BIFFBrief uphill fall and quick recovery

BIG AIRLeaving the ground for at least a couple of

seconds

BOMBINGRecklessly going downhill at high speed

BONOSkiing full speed into a tree

BROSFellow rippers and shredders out there

having fun

BUTT-DRAGGERBeginner snowboarder

BUTT-PLANT Falling flat on your arse, the way it should

be

B

CARVAHOLICSkier/boarder addicted to carving

CARVINGTurning with the dug-in edge of a ski or

board, producing a crisp, clean arc without skidding/side-slipping

CHAMPAGNE POWDERLight and feathery snow - the best kind

CHINESE DOWNHILLRaces where everyone starts together

CHOCOLATE CHIPSClusters of rocks poking out of the snow

CLAMPSBindings. Bindings you may ask? That’s

what connects your boot to your ski

CRUISINGMaking big turns at high speeds

CRUSTFrozen surface covering loose snow

C

EAGLE/SPREAD EAGLEAerial with your legs and arms spread

apart

EXTREMESki conditions that puts your life in

complete and utter danger

E

PISTE9 // MAY15

FACE-PLANTFalling face down - brutal but always a

laugh

FAKIESkiing/boarding backwards

FRESHIESFresh, untouched snow

F

G GAPERSSpectators who chose to stand in the most

ridiculous places on the piste ever

GNARLYChallenging conditions

GOODS/THE GOODSUntracked powder…’Show me the goods!’

GORILLA TURNUsing your whole body to turn

HINGEFalling downhill with force

HOHOHandstand on the apex of a half-pipe.

Confused as to what a half-pipe is? Literally half a pipe shape in the snow where

skiers/boarders are flipping and tricking all over the show

HOOKINGTo turn a ski uncontrollably

H

HUCKTo ski off a cliff - catching big air

K

L

KICKERA big hit to the body

KNUCKLE-DRAGGER A carving snowboarder

KODAK COURAGEThe act of foolishnessly skiing, inspired by

nearby photographers

M

LIFTIELift operators

LIFT LICKERSKids who can’t resist the urge of licking the

chairlift

LUNCH TRAYSnowboard

MANKYThat nasty stench you emit after a hard day

on the slopes

MILK RUNFirst ski of the day

MOGULThose bumps in the snow that are a right

pain to get round – guaranteed to butt-plant or face-plant

JARGON BUSTER

10 // MAY15PISTE

P PACKTo slam hard

PARKSnowboard terrain areas with hits and

half-pipes

PLANKERYour ski

POACHING skiing out of bounds

POOPINGSitting back on your skis like you’re on the

loo

POSINGWhat ski bunnies are all about; trying to

get noticed

POSSE The crew you ski/ride with

POW-POWFreshly fallen snow

POWDER PIGSkier/ride prone to wallowing in the deep

stuff

S

RAG DOLL When someone tumbles downhill usually

all limp and most likely unconscious

RIPPERAn impressive/accomplished skier

RUN RUBBISHPacks of boarders blocking the run

SCRAPERSBoarders who sit on their butts and scrape

their way downhill

SCREAMING STARFISHSomeone cartwheeling downhill whilst

screaming for their life

SHREDDERAn accomplished boarder

SICKExtreme/dangerous/insane

SITZMARKImpressions left by a fall

SKI BUMOne who lives to ski and avoids anything

that isn’t, i.e.. work

QQUIVER

One’s collection of skis - a different pair for every occasion, obviously

R

OOLLIE

Snowboarding pre-jump move

JARGON BUSTER

PISTE11 // MAY15

T

SKI BUNNYA novice female skier out who appears concerned with their looks rather than

hitting the slopes

SLAMTo crash or fall hard

SMACKTalking smack/bragging

SNOTISCLEFrozen nasal discharge…we all get it, no

need to be ashamed

SNOW SCUMThose who choose to ignore the

responsibility code…you know who you are

STACKTo land a jump

V

W

TEN EIGHTY-THREE - ONEEveryone should know this- ski school

code for lost child

TOILET TURNSSloppy turns made in pooping position

TRENCHDeeply-carved track of a ski/board

TRUSTAFARIANRich but ragged ski bum

VERMINGroups of boarders or skiers blocking

access to the lift lines

Y

Z

WEDGESnowplow position

WINTER THEME PARKA ski area that has become over-run

with snow toys…we’re looking at you ski schools

WHITE ROOMDeep, dry powder

YARD SALEA major fall in which the skier/boarder

loses their poles/skis/board/hats/gloves etc..resulting in a yard sale

ZIPPER LINEThe fastest route down a mogul field

JARGON BUSTER

12 // MAY15PISTE

gearup

ARC’TERYX WOMEN’S SCIMITAR GTX

PRO JACKET£480

HELLY HANSEN MEN’S LAZER JACKET

£280

ARC’TERYXWOMEN’S AZETTA GTX

PRO PANT£420

CASCO SP-3LIMITED PEACOCK

£1300

SALOMON UNISEX X TEND

£130

BOLLEUNISEX NOVA II

GOGGLE£79.99

SMITHUNISEX I/OGOGGLE£160

Now, there’s no point hitting the slopes with all the skill and expertise if you’re going to wear some beat-up onesies from the Eighties, is there? Don’t get us wrong, we do love a good technicolour onesie but it’s time to update your look. We’re not going to bombard you with all the latest trends and ‘must-haves’, we’re going to keep it simple and let you have a little browse at what some of the best snow sports brands have to offer from jackets and salopettes to boots and boards. You’ll be suited and booted in no time!

SINNERCRYSTAL SKI

HELMET£130

SALOMONUNISEX X TENDSMALL£130

PISTE13 // MAY15

ROXY DAZED JACKET

£420

SALOMONMEN’S BRIGADE

£80

BERNWOMEN’S MUSE

£84

ANONUNISEX HAWKEYE

GOGGLE£94.99

THE NORTH FACEWOMEN’S SICKLINE

JACKET£280

OAKLEYMEN’S FLEET

PANT£125

POIVRE BLANCFAUX FUR

OVER-ALL£440

THE NORTH FACEMEN’S BANSKO

£175

OAKLEYUNISEX A FRAME

2.0 GOGGLE£120

14 // MAY15PISTE

boot room ATOMIC

HAWK 2.0£250

BURTONWOMEN’S LEXA

BINDING£190

NIKE SNOWBOARDING

WOMEN’S VAPEN X BOA

£190

ROSSIGNOLMEN’S

ALL TRACKPRO 100£280

TECNICACOCHISE 110

£309

UNIONMEN’S FACTORY

BINDING£219

ATOMICFFG 10

BINDING£100

SALOMONWOMEN’SZ10 TI B90

£100

K2WOMEN’SSPYRE 110£340

NIKEMEN’S

SNOWBOARDINGVAPEN X BOA

£190FISCHER

WOMEN’S HYBRIDW9 + VACUUM

£359

BURTONMEN’S MISSION

EST 2015£185

PISTE15 // MAY15

BURTONMEN’S ANTLER

£600

ATOMIC WOMEN’S

AFFINITY STORM£480

DYNASTARPOWERTRACK

FLUID£380

SCOTTX-PLOR£75

SALOMONWOMEN’S BOARD

OH YEAH£290

ATOMICBLACKEYE TI ARC

£540

ENDEAVORMEN’S LIVE

2015£365

ROXYSUGAR FOX

2015£319.99

SCOTTMJ WOMEN’S

£45

last run

16 // MAY15PISTE

PISTE17 // MAY15

MeribelLes Trois Vallees; the largest ski are in the world, and arguably the best ski resort within Europe. Made up of eight resorts, the Vallees offers some of the best slopes that the world has to offer, and what’s best about this breath-taking place… Méribel.

Discovered by a Scottish soldier, Peter Lindsay who was looking for a new site for winter sports away from your typical ski resorts found within Austria and Germany. This alpine village has been popular amongst ski-goers for over 70 years and over time has only got better. Evolving from a small mountain village to the largest within the valley, Méribel has rightly so been christened the largest and most attractive resort within the Alps. Made up of private chalets and larger apartment chalets, as well as boutiques and high-quality sports facilities, the village blends itself into the woodland

PISTE

pick of

the

season

surroundings, creating a real chalet atmosphere. Explore the village’s heritage by simply taking a wonder down the walking paths and chairlifts available for pedestrians. There you may stumble upon ancient alleyways leading you to chapels, baroque churches and communal ovens, giving you an insight into the heritage of this endlessly charming resort.

The resort itself, Méribel -Mottaret, can be found within the heart of the Les Trois Vallees, situated between neighbouring resorts Courchevel and Val Thorens - the best location possible. With a single ski pass, not only do you have instant access to 150km of pistes within the village, by a single chairlift you can jump from valley to valley, exploring 600km of the world’s most extraordinary ski area. What more could you possibly ask for?! It All Photography: ellen austin

18 // MAY15PISTE

and workies. It’s not just the slopes that draw people in; it’s the whole atmosphere. When you’re there, you feel carefree. The sun is shinning, the runs are the best that the world has to offer and the people simply love life.

A major contributing factor for seasonaires as to where to go is of course the après ski. Don’t kid yourself, you love the slopes but you live for the nightlife. As soon as it hits 4:30pm, it’s as though something takes over in the air and sends everyone into some sort of craze. Everyone rushes to the nearest bar and the party starts. An all-time fave amongst après-ski goers is the world famous, Le Rond Point aka ‘The Ronnie’. Situated directly below the first drop-off point of the Rhodos Lift, you can easily ski-in, prop your skis up and get the party started. With a newly refurbished decking and snack bar, this is the ultimate après-ski destination. Every night you can find a live band playing inside with workers,

students and even families dancing the night away. If it’s more of a club vibe you are looking for then O’Sullivans Den and Club is the place for you. Doors open at 10pm and stay open until four in the morning. A ‘quintessential’ part of Méribel’s nightlife, this underground club is where its at. Not only known for their events and great sounds, big time DJ’s often grace this hotspot with their presence.

Known for it’s luxurious catered chalets rather than budget hotels and accommodation, for instance, did you know that Méribel offers more chalets than any other Alpine resort? Méribel -Mottaret still offers a wide range of top-notch hotels. With only one five-star hotel, Hôtel Le Kaïla, you be looking at forking out a £158 per night, but with a ‘Nuxe’ spa with large swimming pool, six treatment rooms, sauna and remarkable ice fountain it could be somewhat worth it, if you’re a ski bunny that is… If you’re

not only offers some of the best runs and powder to test the abilities enthusiasts and thrill-seekers but also being predominantly made up of blue runs; this resort is ideal for families with areas for all levels of skiers and boarders.

God forbid you get bored of the slopes and fancy an off-day then you’re in luck. The resort offers many extra-curricular activities from relaxation days at one of their many spas on offer to finding your kicks off piste, from paragliding and flying to swimming and ice-skating at the famous Olympic sports complex. Méribel really does have it all.

For all you ski bums out there who are considering working a season and are yet to decide on where to go, Méribel is the place. It’s not just the go-to place for families and loved-up couples, this resort as well as neighbouring Courchevel and Val Thorens are just as popular amongst students

PISTE19 // MAY15

For more information visit Méribel Tourisme at meribel.net

working on a “budget” then Le Merilys is the one for you, at £70 per night, this B&B hotel, situated right next The Ronnie is perfect for a few nights away with friends, with good value for your money too.

What people love about this resort can’t be determined by one thing alone. It’s not just the slopes that makes people return to this endearing place. It’s the whole environment. It’s our pick of the season because it truly is one of the best resorts that we have been to and keep making our way back there every season. Yes, the resort is made up of mainly blue runs, but those are still some of the best runs you will find and those reds and blacks are sure to test not only your skills but also your nerves! The snow, the powder, the mountains, everything makes you fall in love with this place.

20 // MAY15PISTE

PISTE21 // MAY15

panoramic views

All Photography: ellen austin

22 // MAY15PISTE

ARTwithin the

Alps

PISTE23 // MAY15

All Photography: ellen austin

24 // MAY15PISTE

Art au SommetThe beginning of December last year saw the mountains become a canvas for the art world. From the heart of resort to the top of the track, Courchevel has partnered up with Bartoux Galleries once again to add even more beauty to the French Alps. The exhibition ‘Courchevel: l’Art au Sommet’ showcases the work of two major artists of contemporary art, Romero Britto and Richard Orlinksi. Four monumental sculptures can be admired on the runs whilst others can be discovered throughout ‘Courchevel 1850’. Both artists offer something impressively unique that offers a real artistic experience that can be admired by all.

Brazilian-born and Miami-made, Romero Britto has become an internationally renowned, iconic pop artist unlike any other artist out there. He is able to capture the attention of youthful spirits and educated art collectors alike through the use of vibrant colours, playful themes and hard-edged compositions.

Britto, himself states that ‘art is too important not to share’ which is one of the contributing factors that makes him so popular across the board. He evokes happiness and hope using a visual language of warmth, optimism and love that is simply relatable to all – his work throughout Courchevel is just this. With the lovers embracing one another - and one of our personal favourites - this installation perfectly exudes joy and hope, two of Britto’s favourite themes. Just looking at the two and the happiness that Britto has managed to capture and portray within the sculpture is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face, and rightly so be admired by all. Britto’s works are currently on display in more than 100 countries – proof of his global success.

The other artist being showcased is Richard Orlinski. After graduating from the Ecole Nationale d’Arts Plastiques, Orlinski decided to focus on sculptures through industrial materials with references to pop art. He firmly believes in

working in the here and now through industrial means to create works that challenge the way consumer society perceives the world. His sculptures found within the Les Trois Vallees does just that. His hard-hitting, cutting-edge howling wolf and bear sculptures have a real impact not only on the viewer but also within the surroundings. Which is something that Orlinski aspires to do – he explores the question of the impact in the public realm and on the public.

With these chosen two artists and their work, Courchevel and Bartoux Galleries have got it right. The juxtaposition of the bold colours and soft edges of Britto’s work to Orlinski’s monotone, hard-hitting sculptures have given the public something to really admire and appreciate. They add to fun-lovingness of the skiing and snowboarding world and make the mountains even more beautiful than what they are.

PISTE25 // MAY15

Left: Orlinski’s bear sculpture

Middle: Romero Britto’s Lovers statue within the

town of courchevelRight: Another of Orlinski’s

Bear sculpture’s

26 // MAY15PISTE

Photo: Gerry Kahrmann/PNG Files

PISTE27 // MAY15

December 2013 sent shockwaves throughout the sporting world when Formula One legend and skiing enthusiast Michael Schumacher was involved in a catastrophic accident that has left him fighting for his life. Schumacher suffered life-threatening head injuries when reportedly travelling at a speed of 50mph, hit a concealed rock catapulting him into the air and landing head-first on another rock in an off-piste area at Meribel in the French Alps. Even though the helmet split into two upon impact, the fact he was wearing a helmet saved the racing driver’s life - only adding to the much-discussed helmet debate…to wear or not to wear?

In the past the helmet debate used to have two clear opinions: some saying they need to feel the wind in their hair and let loose, against the ‘health and safety gone mad’ legislators. But since accidents and deaths from well-known celebrities such as Natasha Richardson and Schumacher have come into the limelight, opinions and trends alike have changed. A poll from a British newspaper undertaken at the end of 2014’s season found that 71 per cent of its skiing readers now wore helmets. Whereas two years previous, the poll found that just 39 per cent wore head protection; a major shift.

The immediate aftermath of Schumacher’s crash brought a mainstream adoption of wearing helmets on the slopes as well as a surge in helmet sales during the first week of 2014, showing that the helmet was the latest ‘must-have’ for the season.

What may be surprising to some are the ones who are keen to wear lids; the skiing youth. The poll undertaken by a British newspaper found that the youngens are the ones to put the lid on first and jump on the health and safety bandwagon. However, there is of course an underlining

The helmet debate continues...reason as to why young adults have decided to wear helmets - if you’re not wearing a lid you’re obviously not trying hard enough. Thrill chasers and adrenaline junkies alike are pushing the boundaries on their abilities; its common nowadays to see skiers and snowboarders doing flips and tricks with trails within the off-piste mountaintops where the fearless attempt the impossible. Without a helmet you’re just asking for it.

Not only are the youth taking necessary precautions, but it could also be said that they are keeping up with the latest trends within the slopes. There was once a time when your parents had to force you to put a lid on it making you feel like a total nerd and embarrassed to even leave the hotel – we’ve all been there! But now it would appear that skiers and snowboarders are proud to be seen with a helmet, especially if they’re equipped with the latest technologies and materials. You can now find helmets, such as the Salomon Quest and Anon Thompson, which have audio devices built within allowing you to create the perfect soundtrack whilst slaloming your way through the run. No longer do we also have to put up will dull and ugly looking helmets. Whatever takes your fancy; brands such as Giro, Atomic or Poc have the helmet for you. Whether its pink and matted like the Giro Discord or patterned and shiny like the Casco SP-3 Limited Peacock, the popularity of head protection has risen in recent years and so has the choice. Just like the rest of your gear, your lid can say a lot about you.

At the end of the day, it’s down to the person and their attitudes towards head protection. The only advice that we can offer those who doubt that wearing a helmet can actually prevent injury is ‘use your head’.

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international ski federation...

blessing or hindrance?

Back in January of this year, the International Ski Federation caused major controversy amongst the skiing and snowboarding world when they scheduled the World Championships to coincide with the X Games hosted by sports broadcaster ESPN which focuses purely on extreme sports.

The International Ski Federation or FIS, founded in 1924, is the world’s highest governing body for international skiing and snowboarding. They are the ones responsible for the Olympic disciplines of alpine, cross-country, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle and snowboarding, setting the international competition rules and scheduling of all events.

The Winter X Games takes place at the back end of January through to the beginning of February every year and hugely popular amongst professionals due to the games being a key stepping stone in getting freestyle ski and boarding to the masses. Athletes such as three-times X Games Ski Superpipe gold medal winner and 2014 World Champion, David Wise has stated that the FIS has “crossed the line” with this scheduling blunder.

Not many people seem to recognise the significance that the X Games has had upon the free-ski culture. Many professionals including Wise have said that without the games their professional status and career would be non-existent. Wise himself on his blog commented on how without the X Games he would “not be able to be doing what I am doing today”’

By scheduling the World Championships at the same time the Federation it is clear that they knew exactly when they would be and this has put doubts into my athletes minds, that whether of not the Federation is there to benefit the athletes and the sport or the Federation themselves. The sole purpose as to why athletes go to the Championships is to gain world

Photo: horizon festival

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championship status and/or to defend their titles but this year the FIS has made this impossible. The X Games has always been scheduled the weekend before the Super Bowl, when no football is broadcasted in the US and for the FIS to not even consider the clashing of events and re-scheduling so that athletes could attend both has resulted in athletes starting to question their motives.

This isn’t the first time that the FIS has had their motives questioned. In 2011, new equipment safety rules were put into place meant that skis for the 2012 Alpine World Cup season must not have a radius smaller than 40 meters, compared to the old regulations of a 27 meter radius. Meaning that the longer required skis will change technique and making the turns less aggressive, which is something that will change the whole sport of Alpine and Giant Slalom (GS). A shorter ski, especially for GS allows athletes to turn more aggressively and sharper.

Patrick Riml, the Alpine director of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association at the time showed his concern, stating, “The sport is really cool right now. It’s aggressive. It’s spectacular and we don’t feel like we should just give that away. Of course everyone wants it to be safe.”

But safety can’t just be put down to the equipment, especially in sports such as skiing and snowboarding. It’s the course, the snow, the contour of the hill, the weather… the list is endless. Scott Mathers, training director at Alf Engen Ski School in Utah, agrees that safety is

much more than the skis, “this thing is beyond understanding. I made a list of 20-odd reasons why this is a bad idea, and I had one on the positive side.”

It seems as though from these two examples that the FIS is somewhat out of touch with the sport. It may come across as though they aren’t thinking about the impact of their actions in terms of the athletes. They say that they want to prioritise efforts to promote widespread participation yet if they continue to bring in regulations that make this goal unachievable, then they will be getting nowhere and the efforts that have already been made to make skiing and snowboarding what they are have gone to waste. On the flip side, on their website they state that for the future, the sport “cannot and must not be solely focused on organising commercially successful competitions at the elite level.”

This latest mishap might just be the breaking point for the athletes and the sport. Outspoken American skier, Ted Ligety, has gone as far as saying ‘FIS’s tyranny has gone on long enough. It seems FIS is going out of their way to ruin the sport. FIS runs a dictatorship.” Only time will tell. Will the Federation buck up their ideas and start to take their members and athletes needs into consideration or will they just be oblivious to the repercussions of their actions and carry on doing whatever they feel is ‘necessary’.

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rowan cheshire

Q: How did you get into ski halfpipe?

I started skiing at the local dry slope and soon heard about freestyle and camps that I could attend. I went abroad on a camp to Saas fee when I was 12 and that’s when I first discovered the pipe.

Q: What made you want to turn a hobby into a profession?

Just for the love of the sport. I started competing and really enjoyed it and it just escalated.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement so far?

Winning the World Cup in Calgary 2014 and qualifying for the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Q: What’s your ultimate goal?

To podium at the Olympics.

Q: Who are your sporting inspirations both inside and outside your sport and why?

Sarah Burke, because she really made a difference in the sport, especially female skiing. I watch quite a few extreme sports and take inspiration from all the successful athletes that do them.

Q: Typical training session – what’s it like?

I have a good crew with me when I travel so the training sessions are always really fun and great vibes. I learn better when I’m having fun!

Q: Worst injury? What’s it like to come back from an injury?

Probably my concussions would be the worst. They really mess with your head during and afterwards. Not a pleasant experience! It’s just finding the confidence to get back out there and usually it just takes time and the right mind set.

Q: If you had not chosen to go pro what would you be doing instead?

I’m not really sure... I’d probably be in uni studying some kind of arty subject.

Q: Any pre-competition rituals/traditions?

Just having my music playing and not watching the other athletes runs! A good stretch before always helps.

one to watch...

Photo: W Athletic

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Back in February, South Korea celebrated the three-year countdown to the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics with a series of events held throughout the host city of Pyeongchang.

The organising committee along with over 500 spectators honoured the milestone at Pyeongchang’s ski jumping centre and Olympic stadium site to mark the build-up to the games. Over 50,000 athletes from over 90 countries are set to compete in various disciplines from alpine skiing, snowboarding, luge and figure skating.

With Pyeongchang hosting, this makes them the second Asian city to do so. Japan, welcomed the Winter Olympics in 1972 and 1998, with South Korea hosting the Summer Olympics in 1988. Making South Korea, the eighth country to host both the Winter and Summer Games.

Winning the bid for the host city back in July 2011, the city selected by the International Olympic Committee beat the likes of Munich and Annecy. After losing their past two bids to Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014, it was third time’s a charm for Pyeongchang when they won 63 out of the possible 95 votes.

The games will take place over a two-week period starting February 9th, 2018 with the opening ceremony and all the action kick-starting February 10th with luge, speed skating and ice hockey, amongst other sports.

“Everyone involved in the games should consider themselves as a national representative and give their best,” Kim Jong, an official within South Korea’s sports ministry, said. “We are now at a critical point where the success of the games will be determined.”

Sochi 2014 was one of the most successful Winter Games; with the home nation taking home thirteen gold medals and 33 total top three finishes. From their opening ceremony to the closing, everything was spectacular - the locations, the performances and the athletes, truly something to be proud of. Pyeongchang has to pull out all the stops to top Sochi’s efforts.

We hate to say this but not only are we looking forward to the Games themselves but we are eagerly anticipating the opening ceremony. We don’t truly know what to expect because this is South Korea and anything could happen. But regardless of the outcome of the opening ceremony, cause let’s be honest, us spectators will be judging from the get-go. Obviously we’re here for the sport and the athletes but who doesn’t love a good fireworks display.

Pyeongchang 2018

The countdown has begun

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lesallues

Who needs words? Just let the images speak for themselves and take a look into our playground

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All Photography: ellen austin

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All Photography: ellen austin

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ski sun sound

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ski sun sound

THE RISE OF THE WINTER FESTIVAL

photo: andrew whitton

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For anyone who hasn’t got any clue and has been living under a rock for a few years then you’re probably thinking a winter festival? How absurd! You can’t possibly have a good time at a winter festival, and how it’s all about the summer festivals such as Benicassim or Hideout, where you can go on holiday, catch some rays, get pissed and enjoy the sounds of the world’s biggest artists.

Some may find it hard to believe, but winter festivals are pretty much the same, but better. Winter festivals you can combine two loves – snow sports and music; its where the mountains and music combine, “the concept is original and mix several passions” says press officer of Rock the Pistes, Clemence Chazeau. Just because you’re not in your favourite swimsuit and frolicking in the sea doesn’t mean you’re not going to have a good time. Wrapped up in you’re woolly hats and ski jacket, dressed the same as everyone else whilst enjoying some of the biggest names in music and surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful views…what’s not to like about that?

“everything is amplified by 100 per

cent”Over the past decade, winter festivals have become just as popular as summer festivals due to not just the nature of the whole experience but also thanks to the exposure that they are receiving. As skiing and boarding’s popularity continues to grow it would only seem fitting that they have something on offer, from cheaper ski holidays packages to the chance to

see international acts such as Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx and Skrillex, to name a few.

Unlike summer festivals, they are more than a festival. It’s not just ski and sound on offer. In the beginning, it was all about the acts and the snow. Yet over time festival directors have realised that it’s much more than this. They are a unique experience. “When you take a festival atmosphere and putting it in a unique location as a ski resort, everything is amplified by 100 per cent” says Snowboxx festival director, Oliver Senior. “There’s something about being in the mountains that turbo charges everyone’s senses of fun and adventure – when this is combined with music and festival activities, you’ve got something amazing.”

Just because these festivals take place within the mountains, doesn’t mean you have to be some sort of expert skier or boarder. The majority of festivals offer packages that include not just the wristband but accommodation, flights, ski passes, lessons, equipment hire, the lot. Everyone is catered for - you get to enjoy yourself throughout the day either learning for the first time to ski/board or just having fun with your posse from piste to piste, then as soon as 4:30pm hits, its party time.

From late afternoon onwards this is where the real partying starts. Like any other day, you start off with a little après-ski at some of the best hotspots the world has to offer. This year, Snowboxx has secured world-renowned après-ski destination, La Folie Douce within Les Trois Vallees as one of their sites. Described as “sweet madness” and “if you like to

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photo: horizon festival

photo: andrew whitton

party mid-afternoon on the slopes this is the place,” DJ’s, dancers, singers and musicians along with champagne showers has made this venue a must-see and the fact that Snowboxx will be hosting events here is one not to be missed.

So why are these festivals so much better than you’re bog-standard summer festival? Well, firstly you don’t have to be somewhat naked and body conscious whilst you rave the night away. You don’t have to make an effort, apart from when it comes down to the fancy dress element. You can 100 per cent guarantee that every festival will have a fancy dress event. World famous Snowbombing takes pride in their fancy dress event by dedicated a whole 24-hour period to the cause. In previous years themes have ranged from Superhero Road Trip to Space Odyssey Europahaus. This year sees the festival go “full beast mode” with their first theme of “Into the Wild”. Other festivals aren’t missing out on the action either; Snowboxx have also dedicated a whole day to the festivities with their very own disco fancy dress where sequins, glitter and spandex are more than welcome and anyone wearing head-to-toe spandex won’t look a touch out of place. Festival director, Senior says part of the festival’s goals is to “disrupt the norm, get people doing things they wouldn’t normally do!”

If raving the night away in the cold frosty air isn’t your cup of tea, fear not as it’s not just music that’s on offer. Altitude, the world’s number one alpine comedy festival might be just what you’re looking for. Taking place over the space of a week, Altitude Comedy Festival brings together some of the UK’s biggest

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photo: danny north

“it’s the magic of the setting”and upcoming comedians with the likes of headliners Bill Bailey, Sean Lock and Simon Evans, who are sure to provide the laughs and give you the funniest holiday you’ll probably ever have. Not to miss out on the action and keep the laughter levels flowing, this year Altitude has paired up with Fanski dress, a fancy dress company that’ll provide not just the animal print onesies but comical helmet covers that’ll guarantee you to make an impact on the mountain.

Finally what sets them apart is without a doubt is the setting. “Imagine a festival where the stage is at least 1500 metres up a snowy mountain” says Clemence Chazeau from Rock the Pistes, “what’s more, the stage is only built on the morning of the concert once it’s been dragged up a mountain by a huge piste basher.” It’s the magic of the setting; the majority of festivals from Horizon and The Brits to Altitude and Snowbombing have their stages at the

bottom of the piste with the mountains as the backdrop. It’s not just the festivalgoers and curators that love the setting either. Artists are just as much in awe as everyone else, describing their experiences as “pretty insane” and “nothing ordinary about the venues”. The venues themselves are pretty special - from silent and Artic discos to abandoned secret hotels and karaoke cabins. Yes, you read that correctly, chairlift cabins are transformed into your own little karaoke bubble whilst you’re transported to the venue. There truly is nothing like it.

Just picture it now, you’re dancing in your ski boots, having snowball fights with the acts on stage, and to top it all off it’s snowing. “It’s an unbelievable experience being out in the snow and watching live music,” says Senior, “a strange euphoria where you forget that it’s a bit cold and you realise you are at the highest main stage in the world, and just how special that is.”

When asked how does one go about making each year different, Oliver replied, “You want to create something completely disruptive to the standard ski holiday”. He couldn’t have summed it up any better; completely disruptive. When you think of the mountains, you think serene, soothing and idyllic. Throw live music and hundreds of people into the mix and you’ve got certainly disrupted the environment and the norm.

So if you’re thinking about heading to a festival this summer why not save yourself for the winter and experience something new. You never know, you might just surprise yourself and come to have one of the best experiences in your life.

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our topfestivals

`A hedonistic snow party’ with over 100 international DJ’s at more than 30 parties set within the backdrop of Bansko, Bulgaria, Horizon really has is all, in terms of dance genres, that is. If it’s a rave scene you’re looking for then Horizon is for you. From house and techno to bass and garage, this festival represents a wide range of genres that sure to wet your appetite. If you like to stay ahead of the crowd this is the place to be.

The highly acclaimed and long-lasting BRITS is the original winter festival. Now in it’s 26th year, this weeklong festival attracts fanatics from beginning to expert for seven days of snow, music and partying heaven. Not only is there great music on offer, but also the BRITS hosts the annual British Snowboard and Freeski Championships bringing in some of the best UK boarders and skiers.

Probably one of the world’s most famous, Snowbombing hosts cutting edge performances from international DJ’s and bands from the likes of Skrillex, Fat Boy Slim and Basement Jaxx in some of the most unique venues the world has to offer. Home to Austria’s largest fancy dress street party along with artic discos, pool parties and mountain sport’s day, Snowbombing is in another league when it comes to festivals.

Moving from their original home of Andorra to see what the French Alps has to offer, Snowboxx is another one to look out for. With This weeklong festival combines main stage headliners from Jungle to 2ManyDJ’s with après ski terrace parties held at world renowned the Foile Douche along with karaoke cabins and fancy dress parties. An action packed week all round that you’ll sure to have a awesome time.

Unlike your ‘bog-standard’ festival, Altitude offers something completely different; comedy. Curated by comedian and avid snowboarder, Andrew Maxwell, Altitude is the one for you if you love to laugh out loud and enjoy some the UK’s best comedians. Previous headliners included Al Murray and John Bishop with Bill Bailey and Sean Lock taking centre stage at this year’s festival.

HORIZON

THE BRITS

SNOWBOMBING

SNOWBOXX

altitude

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photo: tripalong files

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We all love gliding our way down the run, with the cool air hitting our faces whilst looking out onto the breath-taking views, but does any of us actually know where skiing and snowboarding started?

Snow sports have become a real passion for Brits in recent years, with one million of us hitting the slopes last season alone. Not only has popularity surged within the UK, but throughout the world too; 16 million skiing and snowboarding fanatics participated in the sports last season throughout 80 countries worldwide. Wight growing popularity, enthusiasts no longer have to go to your typical resorts within the Alps and America; resorts are available in places you just wouldn’t believe skiing or snowboarding is possible. This past season new destinations within China, Cyprus, India and New Zealand to name a few have opened up, showing that snow sports popularity isn’t set to decline anytime soon.

We at PISTE have become curious about the origins and evolution of these beautiful sports and thought we would do some digging into the history of our beloved sport. One point in which we must share is that even with historians, there is confusion as to where it all began; Norway or China. But whoever thought of jumping on pieces of wood to get themselves from one place to another we salute you anyway, you geniuses!

Like we stated before, it is believed that skiing’s origins came from Northern Europe and Asia, with the first skiers believed to use skis from the bones of large animals. However, the skiing history from Northern Europe showed that wooden skis dated 5,000 years old were discovered in Norway, Finland and Sweden. The earliest evidence of skiing was found in Norway, where rock drawings – known as petroglyphs - of the ‘Bøla Man’, showing a man on skis with a pole in his hand was uncovered by chance in Steinkjer, Norway. Before the discovery of the ‘Bøla Man’, the ‘Rødøy Man’ found in Alstahaug with ten other carvings, depicts a man on skis. This carving in particular holds some significance as this was the inspiration behind the official pictogram of the XVII Olympic Winter Games held in Lillehammer in 1994.

photo: rock art of alta

photo: eloquence inc

photo: new schoolers

above: vintage wooden skisbelow: a group of women showing off their incredible skis

above: original drawings of the first skiers found within the rock of alta, norway

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Petroglyphs were also found within the Altay Mountains of north-western China, where archaeologists have found drawings showing men on skis. These drawings, just like those found in Norway show a man holding only one pole. You’re probably thinking, only one pole, right? Well, back then, having only one pole was all you needed, as it helped to pivot oneself down the run. Who would have thought it?

From ancient times, up until the 17th century the evolution of skiing is somewhat blurred as there seems to be no further records of skiing. From the 1700’s, the only preserved historical record is that of the use by the military.

During the 17th century, the baron of Valvasor documented skiing activities throughout Slovenia, and amongst these reports, the use of skis by the military was prominent. At that time skis were used by the military to help speed up their development and spread. Soldiers were capable of skiing between 80 and 100 km a day. Ski soldiers became an important part of the Norwegian army resulting in the permanent set up of army ski companies in Southern and Central Norway in 1747.

The army’s ski squad not only helped protect the country but left big impressions on young village boys. The Norwegian military often set up and took part in skiing competitions which offered cash prizes for the winners. This helped to not only as an incentive to its troops but played an important part in recruitment. What helped to determine whether or not someone was capable of being a military ski troop was their skiing proficiency. Those accepted had to use their own skis for training, which obviously meant that all troops were skiing on different types of skis, creating a broad range of abilities. The most common however, was the use of long skis and ‘Andor’ skis from Østerdalen. The ski troops, carried out various exercises from downhill in rough terrain to shooting at fixed targets and three kilometre cross-country skiing with full military backpack. As military skiing participation increased the first skiing regulations came into practice in 1733, which in turn lead to army companies being disbanded resulting in a major set back in many places.

The mid 1800’s saw a huge shift and turning point in skiing history. It all started within the cities of Norway, where industrial growth and technological developments meant people had more leisure time. The Norwegian countryside was more appreciated and was beginning to be used for recreational and outdoor activities. It wasn’t just the selected few would had access to the slopes, with the opening of the Holmenkollen line, creating a link between urban and rural life. Throughout this period ski clubs, cabin and competitions emerged. Around the same time on the other side of the world, amongst the gold fields of Sierra Nevada skis were used to ferry mail from Carson City, Nevada to Placerville, California.

Morgedal, Norway saw everything change within the skiing world. Here came the turning point in skiing, the creation of Telemark. Telemark, the combination of Alpine and Nordic skiing is the original and oldest form of skiing. Telemark skiers use Alpine skis with specially designed Nordic bindings that hold only the toe of the boot in places, allowing a ‘free heel’. One man who has been dubbed the pioneer of Telemarking is Sondre Norheim. Known as the father of modern skiing, Norheim has been praised for the invention of the equipment and techniques which led to modern skiing as we know it. Growing up in the farmlands of Norwegian Telemark, Nordheim created the ‘birch’ binding which allowed skiers to ski without the risk of losing their skis.

In 1870, Norheim introduced another invention, a short, curved more flexible ski crafted in order to allow easier turns in soft snow which became the prototype for all later ski production. After his creations, Nordheim himself went onto become the first winner of Norwegian downhill skiing competition in Christiania. Rightly so, with Norheim introduction of Telemark, Morgedal has for obvious reasons been named the ‘cradle of ski sports’ and in turn was the natural place for the lighting of the Olympic flame to kickstart the Winter Olympics at Lillehammer in 1994.

As skiing became more commercialised with more and more ski resorts, Telemark skiing failed to catch on. Come the 1950’s Telemarking was

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above: Evolution of snowboards on display in the Brighton Lodge, Utah.. Snowboardings past and future

photo: smart entertaining

country skiing at the 1932 games at Lake Placid. The Giant Slalom contest was formed with the combination of Telemark and Alpine skiing at the 1952 Oslo Winter Games. Throughout time, our sport has developed a substantial amount; from 1924, where there was only three skiing-based sports; cross-country, nordic combined and ski jumping, to today where there is seven skiing and snowboarding sports all made up of ten plus events each. Truly taking centre-stage of the Winter Olympics.

The origin of snowboarding, which may come as a surprise to some lies within surfing, skateboarding and skiing. Unlike skiing, it is somewhat difficult to say who the clear pioneer of the sport is, but the history shows that it was around the 1950’s in which the sport became popular. It is said that snowboarding was created by a few surf and skate enthusiasts who made their own boards to try and take on a new terrain - the snow. As with any new contraption, especially snowboards and the novelty of it all, this led to many broken broads and bones.

The first snowboard that hit the market was during the 1960’s in the form of the Sherman Poppen Snurfer. A crossover between plywood and a skateboard deck, the surfer (board) had

on the verge of becoming a forgotten treasure. Thankfully, the Eighties saw its revival and in turn allowing us to become infatuated watching skiers fabulously ‘dance’ their way down the piste and wanting to be just like the people on the screen.

Today, Telemark isn’t as popular as it once used to be; practised by a handful of enthusiasts all over the world, committed to the ‘ultimate combination of elegance and raging speed’.

Before skiing was a sport, skiing was just was just seen as an important means of transportation. Yet, as more daredevils took to the sport and the introduction of organised slalom races came about in Europe during the 1920’s, the first world championships were organised in 1931. Throughout the 1930’s the popularity surged as Americans caught on and popularity amongst Europe somewhat snowballed.

Thanks to increased participation and popularity this led to Alpine skiing making its Olympic debut at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games with a men’s and women’s combined, featuring a downhill and two slalom runs. It wasn’t just Alpine that made its Olympic debut; the 1924 Winter Games held in Chamonix, France saw skiing make its debut, followed shortly by cross

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Left: Vintage Ad for the snurfer - the original snowboard

Below: a collection of The original snowboard throughout the years

photo: northernexpress

rope attached to the front tip which allowed the rider some control, with steel tacks poking through the upper deck helped to keep the rider in place. Obviously over time, boarders dropped the rope - clearly this wasn’t challenging enough for all you boarders out there and it kinda, if you think about it, is just a sledge that you stand on.

During the experimental stages, snowboarding was only practiced by a few brave souls that rode their own contraptions and consequently led to being shunned from the slopes. Not ones to back down, the boarders created their own trails and led to the creation of ‘off-piste’.

Boarding became more popular within the seventies and eighties thanks to the likes of Dimitrij Milovich who was frustrated with not only just the boards designs but being turned away from ski resort managers who said that boarders weren’t covered by insurance. Taking matters into his own hands, Milovich contacted said insurers, Petit-Morey and Kendall to find that in fact they were covered to be on the mountain. From that point on everything changed.

Milovich as well as designers, Tom Sims, Mike Olson - who later found Gnu Snowboards - and

Jake Carpenter Burton began to design and manufacture snowboards in 1977. Since this pivotal year and the acceptance of snowboarding, designs became more standardised and the focus shifted from board shape to finding the best bindings and design.

So, there you have it, an interesting and educational trip down memory lane. We have to say, that we definitely learnt a lot. No longer can we all pretend that we know our beloved skiing/boarding roots. You can hit the slopes and be in-the-know of the sports origins and those who helped make the sports what they are today. Both skiing and snowboarding has come a long way, and we are thankful to those who helped pave the way for the sport. Here’s to making even more great history.

Photo: Teton Gravity

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photo: channel nonfiction

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Shane McConkey

Innovator, icon, hero. Shane McConkey, the most badass person on the face of the Earth. Considered to be the game changer of the sport. Changing the whole concept of skiing; from the shape of our skis to how we tackle powder. He was playful, a prankster and a practical jackass. Everyone’s Superman. From powder skiing and naked jumps to his final love of ski-BASE jumping. As his obsession and the thrill of BASE-jumping grew so did the risk and with one jump everything changed.

Shane McConkey died at the age of 39 whilst performing a standard jump in the Italian Dolomites back in 2009. Along with a four-man film crew for Matchstick Productions and his ski-BASE jumper partner, J.T Holmes everything was set to be another successful trip. But when his skis failed to release sending him into a spin and not enough time to deploy his parachute, the trip was cut short in the most devastating way.Spending his early years in Whistler, British Columbia, McConkey had the mountains in his blood. His mother, Glenn had eight National Master’s titles under her belt and his father, Jim

considered one of the best international skiers and the father of extreme skiing was the head of the Whistler Ski School.

At the age of three his parents divorced and McConkey moved to California with his mother. Starting racing at the age of seven with Squaw Valley at the weekends he was a natural. He skied with the Squaw Valley up until he left for high school, where he joined the Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy - the placed to go if you wanted to join the U.S Ski Team. Eventually making his way onto the junior program, McConkey’s future was set. He was going to join the ski team and have Olympic success. Being too small, McConkey was dropped from the program and his hopes of ever joining the team were cut short. His mother, speaking at his memorial said “Shane became what he was in part because he got dumped from his dream, and he had to create another dream for himself.”

After being dropped for the team, Shane quit racing and eventually dropped out of the University of Colorado at the age of 20. Leaving in

the guy that does it all...

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photo: moonshine ink

photo: powder chasers

McConkey’s alter-ego, ‘Saucer Boy’

McConkey’ and his MSP film crew

“you gotta do what you gotta do to have

fun”

his friends shed for free, he skied during the day and delivered pizzas by night until eventually making his way onto some Pro Mogul Tour events. Just like his Olympic hopes, his mogul career was also short-lived. During a race, McConkey was disqualified due to crossing the boundary line and performing an unsanctioned backflip. After finishing the race he made his way back up to the starting point and told everyone to “watch this”. He made his way down the course butt-naked with his photo of his nude spread eagle became a classic and earned him a lifetime ban from Vail’s resort. From that point on he vouched to never set foot at Vail again.

The place to “put up or shut up” in McConkey’s eyes was the Squaw Valley. This was the place to go and challenge yourself and make an impression. McConkey did just that. Everyone was all about technicality with tight and short turns and skinny-skis. But when

Shane hit the slopes everything changed. With a different mentality, he was back-flipping his way off cliffs, with fast turns and incredible stunts, anything to make great video.

photo: graeme murray

Whilst at Squaw Valley, Shane was introduced to Scott Gaffney, a filmmaker who was soon to be working with MSP. The first time he saw Shane ski he was “blown away.” From that point on, the foundations of MSP and McConkey’s partnership was made. He was determined to have a career in skiing, yet outside mogul and racing, pure skiing profession was unheard of. His backflip at Vail made him famous and changed the future of not just his career but also the sport. “I’m

Shane McConkey and I’m here to entertain you.” His skill and ability along with his energetic personality captivated audiences in more than two-dozen films. A practical joker with a teenager sense of humour that tended towards nudity, practical jokes and farts, McConkey was a natural. The creation of his on-screen alter ego, “Saucer Boy’ a whiskey drinking, neon-clad hipster came to light in 1997.

It wasn’t just all about fun and games for McConkey. Beneath his laddish ways was a serious and motivated athlete who wanted to change the concept of his sport. A driving and innovative force within the industry, McConkey felt that the skis that he was using for powder skiing just weren’t up to scratch. Before he stepped in, powder skis were convex in design. Shane re-invented the powder ski. He created the reverse-camber, rocker, and reverse-sidecut powder ski.

PISTE51 // MAY15

Instead of being convex this new design created a concave effect allowing skiers to float over the powder rather than plough through allowing riders to ski big mountain lines faster.

In 2002, his sponsor, Volant, took the risk and introduced the Spatula, to the industry. Criticised for looking too much like a water-ski, the reaction was not the one McConkey and Volant was hoping for. It would take another couple years until his concept was truly taken seriously. It was exactly that that gave him the inspiration to come up with this new design. Shane mounted water skis with ski bindings and hit the slopes. “Powder is more like water, that it is like snow!”

In 2006, after much development and a change in sponsorship, the K2 Pontoon hit the market. Fast-forward to today and nearly every ski manufacturer has a similar model within their line-up. He saw things other people didn’t. “Fat skis aren’t just for fat guys anymore” McConkey said at the time.

Always looking to challenge himself, McConkey ventured from the slopes to the skies. In 1995, Shane became hooked on skydiving. The thrill and freedom of jumping out into the open air ignited a new passion; a passion that Shane was going to explore until his last days. Parachuting his way off cliffs, bridges and mountains, for more than a decade Shane was considered an avid and one of the most innovative BASE-jumpers in the world. Mentored by Frank Gambalie, one of the world’s top BASE jumpers, McConkey executed his first jump in 1996

and from that point on he was hooked. An ideal partnership; Gambalie and McConkey were just as daring as each other. Always looking to find the next best jump and perform daring aerial manoeuvres there was no stopping these two. Deaths within BASE-jumping were unheard at the time because it was so new and the handful of people who were practicing the sport was deemed experts.

When news of Gambalie’s death surfaced, everyone within the industry was in a state of utter shock and disbelief. Gambalie drowned whilst trying to escape park rangers of Yosemite Valley after successfully landing an illegal jump of the summit of El Captain. Although, McConkey was saddened from his partner and mentors death, this did not stop him from carrying on with his latest passion.

Always looking to push the limits Shane, along with his new partner, professional skier JT Holmes, ski-BASE jumping was next. Inspired by one of the greatest ski scenes from James Bond’s, The Spy Who Loved Me, Shane wanted to take the skiing-parachuting stunt to a whole new level. With their first ski-BASE jump from the 400-foot cliff edge of Lover’s Leap, South Lake Tahoe under their belt and more than 700 jumps later; McConkey had found a new love. Skiing the best off-piste runs in the world whilst back flipping and flying off mountain edges, combining his two greatest passions until his last days alive, Shane did what he loved. “You gotta do what you gotta do to have fun.” When news of his death surfaced, many people were quick to

criticise his actions and the life he lead. Reviews ranged from how could he leave his wife and child on a daily basis and put his life in constant danger? Both his family and friends wanted to prove he wasn’t just an adrenaline junky goofballing around all the time. They wanted to show how much work, time and dedication he put into everything he did. He was an innovator and icon within many sports and you don’t gain that title by messing about all the time. It may come across to the viewers that all he did was have a good time but he one hundred per cent put the hard work in.

Always taught to believe you can do anything you want to, McConkey lived everyday to the fullest. The turn of the millennium saw McConkey settle down when he met his true love, Sherry. The two wed May 2004, on a Thai beach and a year later arrived their daughter, Ayla. Life was complete and full of special moments for Shane. No matter how regarding his ventures and achievements were, being a husband and father was most fulfilling and what made him truly happy.

With the release of ‘McConkey’ at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013, the world got to see the legendary big mountain skier in a whole new light. He never thought that he would die and when he did he didn’t want everyone to sit around and mourn his death. He wanted his loved ones to carry on his memories and enjoy everyday of their lives.

52 // MAY15PISTE

MEET THE ROXY

GIRLS

Torah Bright

aimee fullerlena stoffelkatie ormerod

dara howellrobin van gyn

PISTE53 // MAY15

Not many people associate the brand

ROXY with snow sports due to them being a

swimwear brand with They themselves even say that they “inspire

girls to dream big and have fun in and out the water.” Initially

the brand was founded within the water yet as the turn of the millennium came so did an exciting and electric evolution

at the brand. In 2003, the brand introduced

a full line of snowboards and with that their pro-team

was created.

Meet the latest bunch of ROXY Girls

Torah Bright

A snow lover since birth and Olympic champion has been a part of the ROXY

team since 1999. Bright started

skiing at the tender age of two and by twelve had hit the

snowboarding scene. Since going pro,

Bright has dominated competitions around the world from FIS World Cup and the Winter X Games to

the Winter Olympics with gold and silver medals in the women’s

Half Pipe. 2014 saw Torah be the first and only person in

the world to qualify and compete in three snowboard events at the Winter Olympics. She truly does exist in her own category

and shows no sign of stopping.

Dara Howell

Starting off as a successful

competitive figure skater, at fifteen she set her sights on a

new challenge. After coming across an image of legendary

Sarah Burke her course changed. A natural on freeskis

and on the piste Howell quickly

landed herself at the top of podiums

throughout the world. After a

mere three years of competitive skiing, Howell

has accumulated countless podium

finishes with Olympic Gold in Slopestyle

at Sochi 2014. Howell has an exciting

future ahead with no stopping her.

Robin Van Gyn

“A true snowboard missionary”, this British

Columbian native is a backcountry

powerhouse on North and South America’s

steepest peaks. A backcountry regular, Van Gyn started her

career at the age of sixteen within

the parks, yet as her professional career

developed so did her love for the big mountain terrain.

The last few years, Robin has dedicated her time to a full-

on filming campaign, featuring and filming over five video parts.

“What I love most about snowboarding

is to be able to create whatever I want

from the mountain; it really is a blank

canvas.”

Aimee Fuller

One of England’s most exciting

snowboarder, Aimee took to the board

at the age of twelve after moving to the

United States and never looked back.

Riding every weekend, Fuller entered her

first contest and was officially hooked. Spotted by ROXY’s

own Erin Comstock at summer camp, she joined the UK’s ROXY team later joining

the European Future team. Her “wild style and technical skills” has made her one to

watch and gained her place within Team GB

for the 2014 Winter Olympics in women’s

Slopestyle. She has an exciting future ahead

of her.

Katie Ormerod

Another English rider that we should all be paying attention to. Ormerod is just

sixteen years of age and has already made

an impact amongst the boarding world. 2014 saw Katie be the

first female to land a backside double cork

180 and a straight double backflip on a park kicker. Did we mention these

are men’s slopestyle tricks? One of the most gifted stars of the ROXY Future

team she is the envy of many older riders and is only set to get

bigger and better.

Lena Stoffel

This Austrian is know for her all round ability is at home on rails, landing

big jumps or within the backcountry.

With parents as ski instructors, this skier

has the mountains within her blood. After joining the German Alpine ski

team she later found her love for freestyle

skiing. Besides from competing in

slopestyle, she spends her time shooting

and filming, as well as creating waves in

the water. A true ROXY ambassador of snow

and surf.

Photos: ROXY

54 // MAY15PISTE

PISTES Playlist

PISTE editors reveal what’s on their iPod’s when they’re both on and off the slopes. Have a listen and see if you get that nostalgic feeling we do when we

listen back to these tracks

black skinhead - kanye west • younger (kygo remix) - seinabo sey • i can’t stop - flux pavillion • on a ragga tip - sl2 • nobody to love - sigma • old thing back (matoma Remix) - Notorious B.I.G • ooh la la - the wise guys • king - years & years • i need - maverick sabre • high - lighthouse

family • tubthumping - chumbawamba • crystal balling - jackie onassis • here comes the hotstepper - ini kamoze • feelings for rosa - cassius x outkast • won’t look back (boehm

remix - benjamin francis leftwich • good day - nappy roots

PISTE55 // MAY15

We don’t just want you to be listening to the best tracks whilst making tracks; we here at PISTE feel that you should have a little bit of the action at home. We’ve put together some of the best skiing/boarding films out there that we

feel you must have within your movie collection or at least watch.

MCCONKEY

legendary and educational. A look

into the life and death of one of the

world’s greatest skiers

CHALET GIRL

guilty pleasure and classic chic flick

full of cringey moments, snow and ed westwick. what more

could you want?

FROZEN

no, not that Disney musical, the one

where they get stuck on the chairlift and well you see where

we’re going here

ASPEN EXTREME

your typical love story but with skis

and a mountain back-drop watch out for a cameo from the one and only Martin Kemp

VERTICAL LIMIT

if you haven’t seen this, then shame on

you! Even though it’s more of a climbing film, it’s still one

top-notch, nail-biting thriller

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

now we know this isn’t a skiing/

boarding film but it’s wes anderson at his best and there is a cracking ski scene

within

56 // MAY15PISTE