Scene - I'm out yesterday testing prototype skis for DPS & some PugSki gear on Palmer Glacier, Mt Hood ; starts in the single's line. I hop on the quad chair w 2 bubbly college racers & in the cattle herding a 4th skier slides over my tails getting lined up w us.
What ensued was the most impressive chairlift conversion in years.
"Hey, I'm really sorry for sliding over your gear...."
30 seconds of complete squealing by 2 college girls!!!!!!! OMG you're you're you're - more squealing. No I have to admit I feel really old at 41 cuz I have NO IDEA who this guy is. He's maybe 22 & outfitted in the Volkl/Marker/Dalbello package.
College girl: "can we get instagram, FB, twitter pictures & 1 I can text grandma?!!"
College girl 2 "wait grandmother texts?"
College girl "Gma unit is the bomb"
Pro "Sure"
College girl(s) squeal more
Pro "thanks, it's cool to be recognized."
College girl "so..... you're in a Red Bull face scarf, you're so set!!!"
Pro "I'm really fortunate"
College girl "No you're set, you have it all figured out!- I mean the world"
Pro "I wish"
College girl "Is Red Bull all you drink?! How many can you crush in a day?"
Pro "Red Bull is great for it's intended purpose."
College girl 2 "Like all day- shotgun outta bed?!"
Pro "Well, if you have a long drive, are helping a buddy move, getting ready for a competition- that's Red Bull time. If you need 2 Red Bulls to get out of bed or can't make coffee work anymore, you may need to speak to a physician or a nutritionist."
College girl "WHO TELLS YOU TO LIE LIKE THAT, IS THAT PART OF THE LEGAL DEAL?!"
Pro "No I just care for ppl"
College girl "You're out here coaching & making $$$?"
Pro "I'm out here to learn from better riders- I like teaching, but I'm not skilled as a coach needs to be."
College girl 2 "I bet you think we're not cool..."
College girl "so what do freeskiers think of racers!?"
Pro "I'm really impressed"
*mental note / not spoken - dear God, pls don't generalize these 2 as defining all technical skiers, yet this should be good!
College girl 2 "huh"
Pro "when did you wake up today?"
College girls "4:45 we ran, then some yoga, then organic veggie-protein-kale shake, then tuned gear, breakfast, studying & up to the mtn & on the hill for first chair at 7:00....."
Pro "See that's why you have it figured out & I'll be working for you in 5 years - I just woke up."
College girl "really?"
Pro "yea - you're disciplined, athletic & manage a University/Skier balance... are you with a camp?"
College girls butcher NCAA regulations about "team" training....
Pro "So by NCAA rule, you may not train with the benefits of your squad during the off-season, instead you organized tickets, a coach, travel, housing & getting up when I went to bed for 12 athletes from adversarial teams to be up here - now in this moment & manage to circumvent the NCAA penalties."
College girl 2 "How many skis do you travel with & do you love breaking skis? That's what makes you a free styler!!!"
Pro "I'm usually with 2 pairs of boards, they're really solid product & breaking skis is good for cheap stunts, but I've got a couple companies believing in me & I'm obligated to provide stoke & feedback on the gear. There's not much in blowing up."
College girl "woooow I need new skis EVERY year- my skied just die or the regulations change.... I should switch to slope style...."
Pro "This gear is awesome & the fact that someone trusts me with it......at a certain point freestylers have a few screws loose, but you have to wire yourself together if you have a hope of being anywhere in the 1%-ers of all the ppl who are good skiers out there that ppl want to sponsor."
Dead silence on the chair.
Pro "Have a great day & thanks for letting me take pictures with you."
As a Pro or skier with some sort sponsors/deal/ride/hook up for the the past 20+ years, I certainly learned a more in this lift ride about how to conduct dialogue beyond 2 decades in the tent or booth.
@Philpug has offered to help ID this skier & ensure that's the Volkl/Marker/Dalbello & Red Bull folk learn of this value of this individual.
*I was not bashful, yet sort of lost taking the discussion apart to remember to ask his name - kinda made it cooler.
What ensued was the most impressive chairlift conversion in years.
"Hey, I'm really sorry for sliding over your gear...."
30 seconds of complete squealing by 2 college girls!!!!!!! OMG you're you're you're - more squealing. No I have to admit I feel really old at 41 cuz I have NO IDEA who this guy is. He's maybe 22 & outfitted in the Volkl/Marker/Dalbello package.
College girl: "can we get instagram, FB, twitter pictures & 1 I can text grandma?!!"
College girl 2 "wait grandmother texts?"
College girl "Gma unit is the bomb"
Pro "Sure"
College girl(s) squeal more
Pro "thanks, it's cool to be recognized."
College girl "so..... you're in a Red Bull face scarf, you're so set!!!"
Pro "I'm really fortunate"
College girl "No you're set, you have it all figured out!- I mean the world"
Pro "I wish"
College girl "Is Red Bull all you drink?! How many can you crush in a day?"
Pro "Red Bull is great for it's intended purpose."
College girl 2 "Like all day- shotgun outta bed?!"
Pro "Well, if you have a long drive, are helping a buddy move, getting ready for a competition- that's Red Bull time. If you need 2 Red Bulls to get out of bed or can't make coffee work anymore, you may need to speak to a physician or a nutritionist."
College girl "WHO TELLS YOU TO LIE LIKE THAT, IS THAT PART OF THE LEGAL DEAL?!"
Pro "No I just care for ppl"
College girl "You're out here coaching & making $$$?"
Pro "I'm out here to learn from better riders- I like teaching, but I'm not skilled as a coach needs to be."
College girl 2 "I bet you think we're not cool..."
College girl "so what do freeskiers think of racers!?"
Pro "I'm really impressed"
*mental note / not spoken - dear God, pls don't generalize these 2 as defining all technical skiers, yet this should be good!
College girl 2 "huh"
Pro "when did you wake up today?"
College girls "4:45 we ran, then some yoga, then organic veggie-protein-kale shake, then tuned gear, breakfast, studying & up to the mtn & on the hill for first chair at 7:00....."
Pro "See that's why you have it figured out & I'll be working for you in 5 years - I just woke up."
College girl "really?"
Pro "yea - you're disciplined, athletic & manage a University/Skier balance... are you with a camp?"
College girls butcher NCAA regulations about "team" training....
Pro "So by NCAA rule, you may not train with the benefits of your squad during the off-season, instead you organized tickets, a coach, travel, housing & getting up when I went to bed for 12 athletes from adversarial teams to be up here - now in this moment & manage to circumvent the NCAA penalties."
College girl 2 "How many skis do you travel with & do you love breaking skis? That's what makes you a free styler!!!"
Pro "I'm usually with 2 pairs of boards, they're really solid product & breaking skis is good for cheap stunts, but I've got a couple companies believing in me & I'm obligated to provide stoke & feedback on the gear. There's not much in blowing up."
College girl "woooow I need new skis EVERY year- my skied just die or the regulations change.... I should switch to slope style...."
Pro "This gear is awesome & the fact that someone trusts me with it......at a certain point freestylers have a few screws loose, but you have to wire yourself together if you have a hope of being anywhere in the 1%-ers of all the ppl who are good skiers out there that ppl want to sponsor."
Dead silence on the chair.
Pro "Have a great day & thanks for letting me take pictures with you."
As a Pro or skier with some sort sponsors/deal/ride/hook up for the the past 20+ years, I certainly learned a more in this lift ride about how to conduct dialogue beyond 2 decades in the tent or booth.
@Philpug has offered to help ID this skier & ensure that's the Volkl/Marker/Dalbello & Red Bull folk learn of this value of this individual.
*I was not bashful, yet sort of lost taking the discussion apart to remember to ask his name - kinda made it cooler.