Kicking Horse Resort in Golden, BC played host to several industry professionals this weekend at the launch of the new Big Mountain Centre: a program designed to teach riders how to survive and have fun in big mountain terrain. The goal of the centre is to integrate the techniques, mindset and factors needed for an aspiring big mountain rider to safely play in serious terrain. The curriculum, which is delivered in one, three, or five day camps covers all the aspects of shredding in the mountains; from terrain management, to weather observations, to avalanche training.
I like to think of the BMC as a ski school worth attending. For tourists who want to show up at Kicking Horse and ride it well, they need an educational product that is far from the traditional ski school. People don’t want to spend their time perfecting a turn on a groomer these days, they want to shred the terrain that intrigues them. For just about everyone, the terrain at Kicking Horse offers challenges but the consequences can be huge for mistakes made. The BMC offers people an opportunity to learn how to "shred the gnar" in a safe way with professionals that know the mountain.
“The basis of the whole program is respect for the mountain,” says BMC director Trevor Gavura, “we want to teach people how to have fun shredding this mountain safely… There’s basically nothing in the industry like this right now and I want thank everyone for showing their support today.”
The BMC is a unique product. Though it’s easy to see the need for something like it, you can’t just make one happen overnight. It takes sponsorship and support from the resort and mountain community in general.
“This is an exciting day for Kicking Horse Resort,” said Rusty Nobel, General Manager for the resort, “we are in an incredible time in the ski industry. It takes visionaries to make products like this happen. Look at the advancements in technologies in skiing over the last 15 years. Things are not the same. We feel we are on the forefront of what is happening with the trends in skiing with the BMC and it’s very exciting.”
The BMC is a neat way to get introduced to the trend of freeriding. I can see tourists and young people alike, who are thirsty to charge on the mountain, getting a lot out of a course at the BMC.
At the end of the weekend I did a short interview with some BMC clients Joel Brideau and Matthew Head from Calgary. These guys had signed up to spend the launch weekend hanging out and learning.
“This was a great opportunity to learn and progress as a rider,” said Matthew. “A lot of people are starting to go backcountry a lot and we know we need the training in order to feel safe out there. That’s why we signed up and we got more than we expected. Riding with Dave Downing was a big thrill,” said Joel.
Good luck to Trevor and the crew on this new product. I can see it being a hit.
FYI: Camps from the Big Mountain Centre can be booked by calling 250 439 5424 or visit www.kickinghorseresort.com
--written by Tim Grey
March 26, 2008
Found 8 comments.
1
by MtnHigh on Mar 29, 2008
As a local that is part of the mountain community here, i think this is a great idea and am happy to see initiative to educating punters, potentially saving lives and our good lines. I hate avoiding the slackcountry because of the idiots I know will be dropping in above me or making scary decisions I want no part in being around. The wallet should remain sacred to locals, but who is local anyway. Only those skiing those chutes before KHMR are true locals...I was happy to see the sketchy yellow rope in the wallet gone earlier this season, so being self sufficient I think filters more people out of there. No traversing should be included in these sessions. It is also nice to see an extreme company like redbull promote the need for people to learn about this stuff.
2
by fatboy on Mar 29, 2008
One last word in my defense, it's not so much that the resort has "shaped me well," as I'm sick of people without gear following me out into the slackcountry, dropping in above me or asking me where the goods are. I'm equally fed up with people perched on top of drops or below them or fucking with sensitive lines that slough to rock, or for example traverse below landing zones. I could care less about the mountain's pocket book, KH is full of dorks, and I see the BMC as a good filter. Nice chauvinism though, I'll get on the defense "faster than a girl," anytime someone purports to know something they clearly don't and writes like a gorilla with finger paint. The one thing I'll give you is that the video is slightly misleading to someone who doesn't know better.
3
by assnuts on Mar 28, 2008
thats all good Peakz, it was a great video, and back country shots do make things look way better. I'm just talking smack cause it's fun to stir things up a little!
4
by Peakz on Mar 27, 2008
I better wade in here, because I'm the most responsible. I regret if any one is mis-informed on the product of the BMC due to me (and Timmer) putting in shots from out of bounds. In my mind, those shots of the skiing were in there just to show some big mountain skiing, and it certainly wasn't to highlight the specific zone, which was out of bounds, but isn't that unlike what is inbounds. We only had 1 good day to shoot this story and we needed every shot we could get to round out the vid. In my defense, the story is for Biglines and it is not a promo vid paid for by the BMC. The story is about the BMC but also about the pros who gathered. We tagged along on an extra circular photo shoot just to get some filler. This is something that the pros were doing and we documented it.
In terms of the roped in line, that's got nothing to do with me. My gut tells me that it's not going to be a regular go-to zone for the BMC. I get the feeling the cliental for the BMC will be a lot less mountain savvy than Dave Downing.
I'm just on the hook for showing out of bounds footage in the context of the BMC product. And for the 5 people that recognized the zone I apologize: something I've done a lot of lately, for much the same reasons.
It all makes me think though about using backcountry imagery to promote a product that isn't in the backcountry. I realize I'm jaded to it because I myself have been the athlete for 3 local ski resorts' propaganda (KH, LL, and SSV) over the years and none of the shots have ever been in bounds. I guess because everyone else is doing it is not a good enough reason for me to do it.
Sometimes things are what they are and sometimes things are a metaphor. ..I'm just a reporter and most of us never get it right.
5
by bmcp on Mar 27, 2008
i think you missed the first/last part of my comment where I said the BMC is a good thing. On the defence faster than a girl eh! I know it's new, and reputations are hard to build and easy to destroy.. but relax a little. People who know what they are doing can handle shit that could easily slide(T2), there are ways to ride terrain like that, punters on the other hand... different story. so no, don't put words in my mouth. Would you take punters to a spot that could easily let go when they are on the slope? (even though you've told them what to do in case of a slide) you know they will freeze up and have no clue. i know you wouldn't.. but the video makes it look like you will. And yes "wow pros are sooo cool" thanks for reinforcing that fact.
Your teaching repelling? try somewhere thats not going to make the locals angry, but it is a good spot for that i guess. (no one wants to see joe calgary in there)
this is Maybe a case of false advertising? you should put the pros names on the clips and also put, "YOU WILL NO BE RIDING LIKE THIS". cause that video makes me wanna do what those guys are doing, and I kinda get the impression i will be if I come sign up.
Man you just made to many awsome points i don't think i can keep going here.. We'll done the resort has molded you well my son. you have defeated my smack talk.. the Dutch shall be proud.
Kevin, I'm not raging on you, I've done tons of stupid things when it's just MY ass on the line. Like dropping from the Peak of T2 to where you were skiing (back when we got enough snow to do that) and then getting caught in that slide and getting shredded up a little over those rocks.. so you learn how you learn best i guess.
6
by chump on Mar 27, 2008
Oooops.
I definately don't recommend hiking up there. I certainly wasn't with any clients while out of bounds. We just went out there after the hill closed for a few shots. We sure aren't telling anyone that that is safe behavior.
I think the BMC is strictly skiing inbounds right now anyhow. I don't know anything about that rappel line. Looks like fun, though.
my bad, kevin
7
by fatboy on Mar 27, 2008
As of yet this program has no component which brings people into the backcountry. The idea here is to prepare people before they go. That "punter" under the peak of T2 is Kevin Hjertaas, and though I don't know anything about you, I still know he's better than you -- and more knowledgeable. You've seen T2 slide? Congratulations, I've seen every face on the Dogtooth range slide. Guess I shouldn't go anywhere? This program is about bringing people into a place where they're informed enough not to make blanket decisions like "I've seen that slide, we should never go!" Or the -- all the more more frightening -- "I've never seen that slide, we should go!" You should go try that philosophy on the Clamb Shell right now and Darwin yourself an award. This past weekend was host to many pro skiers who were guest coaches, that's what you're seeing in the video, not guests themselves. They're demonstrating their skills -- that's what you do when you become a pro skier. And as far as bootpacking goes, I guess you've never been on a photo shoot or you'd know what that's about. You don't think the Dutch Wallet is a safe in bounds place to learn to repel? Feel free to enlighten on a better place. This is a skills building program, not "tote the tourist by the hand into the slackcountry." People are doing things and going places that are questionable for their skill level in bounds and out, all the time, that's the reality of where we've gotten in snowsports. Democratizing instruction for people who know what they want to do but previously haven't had training availlable to them is a good thing. Whether it's how to drop the lower diagonal or use your beacon. Kicking Horse is the perfect place to develop full freeriding skills, so get used to seeing people practising in bounds. One of them will likely be digging you out some day.
8
by assnuts on Mar 27, 2008
ok, i can't help it. First of all great video, and everyone who spoke is a great salesman.
now.. this is what I saw is going to happen there. They are going to take punters down under the peak of T2 (which I've seen slide a bunch..? maybe not this year cause it's beat like a 2 cent whore out there!) and also some dude is going to post hole up a T2 chute?? hahaha then the yellow rope and roots are to scary? so they need a climbing rope to get into the wallet!!? Bahahaha hahahaha (tears)
I kinda get the idea, big mountain lessons. Avi gear instruction is killer.
that was funny to me. sorry for being a dink!
