I’ve wanted to do a BN (butt naked) for a long time but I have to admit after seeing the movie Gnar, I was more inspired then ever. I originally wanted to dedicate a BN run to my hero’s who died doing what they love. I wanted to celebrate the beautiful lives of Shane McConkey and Ryan Hawks in my own way. Shane McConkey was always my hero but after seeing that movie I really got it. He knew how to have fun, A LOT of fun, and he did what he wanted, when he wanted. I love that. I didn’t want to just ski a quick groomer though, I was thinking Main Chute on Baldy or Superior.
I have to say I was shocked by all the attention I got. Both my brother and I didn’t really think it was THAT big of a deal… and if you knew my family, it’s really not. I wanted to do it because I thought it would be a fun rush and hoped that my lost loved ones would be watching and laughing. SO to the lovers, the haters, the people who know me and the people who don’t, I didn’t ski Superior naked so people could see how sexy or un-sexy my backside is, I just wanted to have a little fun… and trust me, I did.
Here’s how It went down….
My twin brother, Tony and I set our alarms for 4am on June first. Tony had to be downtown to work at 9 so we didn’t want to cut it too close. I wasn’t too worried about my BN until we reached the ridge where 40 mph winds were whipping! It was an icy, sketchy climb up and by the time we got to little superior we were running out of time. We had to drop there. It was really tricky getting my clothes off on a icy, windy knife edge ridge, but eventually I took my pants and lastly my coat off.
Being naked on a mountain was the weirdest, craziest feeling ever! I was yelling and laughing non stop, and I’d scream every time a strong gust would drill icicles onto my bare skin. About half way down I called my mom for the “pick up.” As we got further down it was much warmer and the snow got really creamy so I started letting go and skiing really fast! I was hollering and laughing and jumping off rolls in the snow. For the last part I had my arms in the air and waved to my mom who’s jaw was dropped. We skied up to her laughing and she said, “OH MY GOD! VANESSA!!!! YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL!! Hahaha!!!!
When I got home I uploaded a photo on face book and passed out for a few hours. When I woke up I already had tons of “likes” and comments! Instead of packing for New Zealand I spent the day with my family poring over comments and forums about me. By the end of the day 7,300 people viewed the photos on Unofficial’s website, 700 people posted the picture on their face book, 1,000 people visited my website, 30 people tweeted about me, including Red Bull! BUT, the best event of the day was when one of my all time favorite hero’s, Scott Gaffney himself (Shane McConkey’s best friend) sent me a message saying, “Shane is raising a beer to you today. Well played.”
Posted June 3rd, 2011. 7 comments
It’s may 9th and I’m curled up in my sheets watching in rain galore on SLC. Apparently it’s snowing up canyon piling on the our record breaking snow pack. Looking back at my season I immediately picture a roller coaster of events. Humm, whats new? My season was packed to the brim with unexpected road trips and hang overs, bear hugs and bad jokes, tremendous heart breaks and pain, an array of different couches and floors, hating being single, loving being single, down days and days the sun couldn’t be brighter. There was much lost and more gained and as usual, I am overwhelmingly grateful for every second of it.
I suppose my season started in August in Chile where I placed 6th in the first stop of the Freeskiing World Tour. Fall rolled around in SLC and winter didn’t want to wait dropping some epic storms opening Alta with an awesome base. It was only the 2nd day Alta was open I broke vertebrae T 11 attempting a back flip, hence the “tremendous heart break.” I spent only about 3 weeks on the couch, decided I wasn’t hurt anymore and stubbornly skied groomers until the comp in Revelstoke arrived. Pushing the trip on my self, thinking there was no way I would miss it, was reckless but welcome to bloody-minded me. I ended up being mostly a spectator at the event and got frost bite on most my toes.
As I struggled to get my strength and confidence back I skied lightly around Little Cottonwood Canyon. I met my now very good friend Nat Segal who started to push me off cliffs again. We then took a fun trip to Kirkwood where the ups and downs only got bigger. We both qualified but fell in semi finals where our friend Ryan Hawks also crashed. A day after Ryan was air lifted to a hospital he died. We were all stunned. I didn’t want to believe it for a long time but eventually it hit home and I felt squashed with the harshness of reality.
Powder week in Jackson Hole was a good get away from frustrations where I skied some great snow with close friends and confirmed with my self life is beautiful and good. Then came the Bird comp, every one’s favorite, where I placed 9th. EH, I’ll take it. At least my back wasn’t sore any more and my confidence was lifted. There was just one more comp to my season…ALASKA.
I finally made it up to Alaska, my dream for many years. Although the competition (World Extreme Skiing Championships) never happened I made the best of it, met some funny locals, went ice climbing, slept in random RV’s and snow caves and best of all, went blue bird, Heli skiing in blower Alaskan Pow!
To wrap my season up I switched ski companies from Fat-ypus Skis to Surface Skis. I had a great go with Fat-ypus, I only have positive things to say about that company. As my first sponsor ever they believed in me and encouraged me through my ridiculous amount of injuries, created a women’s ski (named after me) called the V-rock, gave me full page ad’s in Freeskier, and made an awesome poster of me and my ski. But all things come to an end and I’m stoked as ever to work with the fast growing ski company Surface. I’m loving the skis and feel more playful then ever on them.
After enjoying the spring slush and pow at Snowbird I’ve booked a 1 way ticket half way across the world to Wanaka, New Zealand, where I plan to spend their winter skiing, working, partying, surfing, bungee jumping, and whatever else those crazy Kiwis talk me in to. Then, who knows! I’ve always wanted to go deep water soloing in Thailand. Plans first, the rest will follow. Like they always do.
last day at Alta celebrating an Epic season!
http://unofficialnetworks.com/gnar/
EVERYONE AND THEIR GRANDMA SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE!
Posted January 22nd, 2011. Add a comment
