Being a champion means finding a way to be successful even through adversity. If it means standing on top of a double cliff line for an hour waiting for perfect light, that's exactly what Hugo Harrison is clearly willing to do. Today though, the clouds--like his luck for the last two seasons--are not cooperating and the 3 time World Freeskiing Champion opts to traverse out from the most aesthetic line on the whole feature.

Hugo has joined Eric Hjorliefson and Chris Rubens on a 12 day MSP film shoot at Sentry Mountain Lodge, a ski touring destination near Golden BC. It's the first film trip in 2 years for the athlete since being injured and he's not even sure if he should be here. Eric and Chris discovered this area the previous year and this is their 3rd trip back. Even though it's a touring zone it's a productive place to film and Chris and Eric thrive on this kind of terrain, with tight trees and hundreds of pillow drops into deep snow. Hugo maybe the odd man out with a lack of the wide open terrain for his trademark straight lining style. But the battle for Hugo on this trip is more than managing terrain and keeping up to Eric and Chris. His battle is internal. He's not at all sure if his body can ski at a pro level anymore and you can tell. 3 days of shooting into the trip and so far he's been tentative while Chris and Eric have been killing it.

After winning 3 IFSA world championships and launching a successful film career with a hard charging style that no one could ignore, the "man who never falls" did what we all feared would happen. He fell. While filming a segment for an MSP movie in Bella Coola, Hugo charged a line (previously named The Harrisson Hotel because he slayed it before) so fast that it was humanly impossible to hold on. The resulting crash not only ended his season but was the first in a series of injuries that would leave the athlete with a broken body that doctors told him would never perform again the way it had. Sponsors walked out on him and it seemed Hugo's career was in serious jeopardy. Champions, however, become champions by deifying the odds and by doing what others can't when it counts most. Intense rehab and determination have Hugo back in the game. Whether he can score on this trip, remains to be seen.


The sun has decided to come out again and the feature the guys are working is small in nature but enough flavor to keep us here all day. The action is slow as the athletes must skin-up and tour to the top for each shot. The cameramen stay amused through periods of standing around by smoking Drum and telling dirty jokes. Chris and Eric both have shots in the can but Hugo has been waiting for good light and probably hasn't gotten a shot all trip that will make the movie. Besides the double air that he has now abandoned, there is one nasty but obvious 30 footer left that all the athletes have talked about, probed and contemplated. It's tight and blind on the takeoff and the tranny is short and littered with obstacles. It's intimidating enough that no one has yet gone for it, but it is possible and everyone in the crew knows it. Everyone but Hugo that is, who is the only athlete left up top. Airs like this used to be his specialty and in his prime he probably wouldn't have thought twice about it. The facts are different now however, and Hugo hasn't landed an air like this in a good while. It will take precision and power to stomp this clean and the anxiety becomes tangible as Hugo pokes around at the entrance of it. Adding to the whole equation of the risk is the fact that we aren't close to medical assistance should someone need it. Assuming a heli could get in today we're several hours and possible a day away from medical support beyond what's in our guide's backpack.

"I'll do it," comes the call over the radio and the mood becomes heavy in an instant. Everyone watching knows this more than just one more air for Hugo. This is the litmus test of a career. If he lands and the pain is too much he or he hurts himself then it's another road to recovery. If he falls and screws the shot, then he will still be without a shot for the movie and left wondering if he can still do it. However, if he stomps it, well then maybe he there was never ever really an issue.

"Hugo in 30," rings out over the radio and the cameramen attach themselves to their eye pieces. "10 Seconds... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, dropping." Taking a collective deep breath, we watch a blue streak come into frame and then take flight. A split second later the impact is loud and all I can see is a cloud of smoke and a tree waving. Hugo busts out the bottom at full speed a moment later. Cheers erupt and the group howls with excitement and release. It takes another split second to realize all is well and a pain-free as an ecstatic Hugo screams, "Tabernac I'M BACK!"

"I didn't think I'd ever be able to do something like that again," says the champ as two years of worry slide off the his back in an avalanche of adrenaline. Everyone makes their way over to offer a high five and catch the post air download. In typical Hugo fashion, he recounts how his trajectory was slightly off after takeoff and explains the micro adjustments needed to miss the trees at the bottom. After the original impact he was catapulted left towards a tree, which was only half avoided by leaning and turning full speed on one leg. It's a classic Hugo air; made pretty by pure power.



Back at the lodge, spirits are high as we all reminisce on the day. We channel our emotions the best way we know how- with Red Bulls and vodkas. Tonight is about celebrating everything that's good when things go good. For Hugo, the passion that he has cautiously held back for the last two years, is finally flowing again and everyone is wondering where that will take him.

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Follow Up Interview: July 28, 2008

Peakz: Hey Hugo, how was the rest of the season?

Hugo: Really good. I got really lucky with the conditions everywhere I went. I stayed healthy and felt more and more confident as the season went on. After Sentry I went to Braelorn and it was decent. I mostly just stayed around Whistler to film and then went to AK in March.

Peakz: How was AK?

Hugo: The best I've ever had.

Peakz: It must feel good to get an injury free season in the bag?

It's very satisfying to know that I can still ski the way I used to. All year I was thinking that I could do it and I would try stuff and it would work out.

What have you learned through all the ups and downs?

Well, before I would try to risk too much. I realize that you have to be healthy to progress and so now I only do the lines that I'm stoked on, the lines I know I can do.

What can we expect from you next season?

Well, we'll have to see. I'm stoked to start things off where I left them this year. I'll be a lot more confident at the beginning of the season.

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FYI:

Photos thanks to Damien Cromwell.

Matchstick Productions: www.mspfilms.com

Sentry Mountain Lodge: www.goldenalpineholidays.com