The Triple Comp went down at Treble Cone yesterday, with sunny blue skies, very entertaining skiing and some crazy people. The Triple Comp is a super fun, pretty low key comp that consists of 3 categories; Bank Slalom, Free ride Expression Session, and of course, Chinese Down hill. The Bank slalom was set up in a tight gully where it was hard to keep your speed. It was my first time racing in gates besides the Alta town series which my team and I did switch. The Expression Session was my favorite where there were plenty of rocks, wind lips and drops to play on. I threw a 180, a spread eagle and of course added some gnar points to my line by mooning the judges. Last but not least was the Chinese down hill. They lined up all the skiers at the top of “powder bowl” and had us take off one ski and place it 15ft in front of us. With a sudden “GO!” all 14 of us scrambled to our ski and raced down a sketchy, steep slope. Some how no one died. There was an after party at Mint Bar where I was awarded 1st place (I was the best, and only lady skier) I won a helmet, beanie, heaps of stickers, pow gloves and $500 to Base (a ski shop in Wanaka) NO BIG DEAL!
Big-mountain ripper and Surface Skis athlete, Vanessa Aadland, of Alta, UT, decided to hike up and descend Utah’s Superior earlier this month in nothing but what God gave her: her skin (and a beacon and pack, of course, for backcountry safety). This excursion was purely for fun and adventure, as well as a tribute to her freeskiing heroes.
Naturally, she posted the photo of her standing at the summit (as seen here) on Facebook and immediately received a torrent of comments about her body. It’s a difficult line to walk, she said; she wanted to encourage women to “go for it” and “keep up with the guys,” but she also sees the potential hypocrisy (i.e. women showing some skin to get ahead). Ultimately though, she accomplished a difficult (and chilly) goal at the top of Superior. Plus, she’s simply following in her hero’s footsteps: let us not forget that Shane McConkey was the original naked skier. And if anything, Vanessa closed the gap in the game of G.N.A.R. points with Dex Mills naked double back flip.
FS: Your most recent claim to ski industry fame was hiking up and skiing Superior (across valley from Snowbird Ski Resort) naked. Give us the dirt: How did that become a reality? Is this something you wanted to do for awhile? Who took the picture? What did it feel like to accomplish what some are saying is one of the most significant G.N.A.R. points feat of recent?
VA: Well first of all, I’m really happy I got the chance to ski Superior naked! I thought it was one of the most exhilarating, freeing things I’ve ever done. I’ve wanting to do it for a while and one random evening I convinced my twin brother Tony to go with me early the next day. When I was on the ridge and the wind was howling I didn’t really want to do it anymore but in honor of my friends and heros who have passed I bucked up and went for it. Two heroes in particular were Shane McConkey who lived and loved life to the max and Ryan Hawks who had a contagious passion for life. I’m so in love with the way they made life a good time, I only hope I can do as many fun and crazy things before I die! I definitely don’t think I’m nearly as “rad” or “gnar” as them and that’s why they are my heroes.
FS: The picture of you at the top of Superior—butt naked— received a lot of hits on Facebook, some comments supportive and some critical. Were you surprised by people’s reactions?
VA: I didn’t think too much about the consequences of putting the photo up on Facebook, I just did it and assumed people would get a laugh. I was shocked at how quickly the photo spread across the Internet (and the ski industry). Unofficial Networks, Teton Gravity Research, New Schoolers, She Jumps, The Ski Diva, Mountain Riders Alliance and Jackson Hole all posted about me, Red bull tweeted about it, and Scott Gaffney (co-creator of G.N.A.R. “Gaffney’s Numerical Assessment of Radness”) himself contacted me to give me props. That day Unofficial’s site got 7,000 views, a record for them by far and over 1,000 people shared the photo on their Facebook. I’ve seriously been doing non-stop interviews for the last few weeks.
But it’s true, once the photo hit the brutal forums of the ski industry, not everyone was as impressed. After reading forum after forum the direction of the comments had nothing to do with why I skied naked. When “just having some fun” turned into a debate about whether my figure was worthy of some Internet ski bro to “hit it” was frustrating to say the least. I don’t care much about that especially since there was waaaay more positive comments than negative. A ton of people wrote to me giving me props and saying “I don’t know you, but you’re my hero!” Another girl said “If that girl doesn’t have a nice ass, the whole social media/ski scene better hope to God that I never decide to ski something naked and post the pictures on the Internet!”
FS: You’re currently in New Zealand, what’s the scene like over there? What are your plans for their winter?
VA: I’ve been living in a small mountain town called Wanaka and it’s awesome! I had never been to NZ before and had heard only good things, so I decided to give it a go. So far, everyone is really cool and it’s been one big party while we wait for the snow. I’m living in town with four of the raddest girls from all over the world in a cute home we call “the doll house.” Lake Wanaka is so beautiful, when I’m running along the trails I feel like I’m in a movie. I just got a job at a kabob shop right in town on the lakefront. While here, I hope to ski in some big mountain comps, like the World Heli Challenge in August, one I’ve wanted to do for a few years now.
I would like to compete in the Subaru FWT stops in South America, but you can’t do it all. I’ve been going to SA the last few summers so I thought it would be cool to switch it up a bit.
FS: A little known fact about you: you’ve dropped (the infamous) Fat Bastard cliff at Jackson Hole. What was that experience like?
VA: Yea, I hit fat bastard three years ago. Fat-ypus, my first sponsor, payed for a team trip to Jackson. It was the last day of the trip and we hadn’t got anything done. I was pretty hungover, my binding was broken—so my boot was knocking around—and the snow wasn’t blower by any means. All the sudden the light kinda popped, and it was on. I had never heard of this famous cliff but, yeah, when I saw it I was pretty nervous. I hiked above it to check it out and next thing I knew I was counting down for take off. It’s still the biggest cliff I’ve ever hit. I would like to hit it again and go for the stomp.
FS: What do you say to ladies in the ski industry? What does it take? Any advice, or tips?
I’m glad you asked me this! Ladies, don’t let the critics in the industry get you down. People are going to hate, judge, and critique you no matter what, so stay true to your self and just have fun! While others spend their time hating on silly forums, go out and give it all you got. Don’t be afraid to fall, and don’t get embarrassed when you do. If you surround your self with people who support and love you, the importance of impressing everyone else dissipates.
Also, stay positive and determined. So many people have told me I’m so lucky, but I’ve seriously worked my ass off with sometimes up to three jobs, had injury after injury, done terrible in competitions but never gave up. I’ve slept on an endless amount of couches, sold everything and lost jobs, friends and heroes, but I NEVER stopped loving skiing. It’s not all cupcakes and smiles, but if you want it bad enough you’ll make it happen… and when you finally do, it feels so good. If I am lucky, then I’m lucky that the people in my life have taught me (and encouraged me) to do what I love, so in that sense I’m the most blessed girl ever!
And one last thing, DREAM BIG! Sounds cheesy, but before I had any recognition, I would constantly day dream about how awesome it would be to have sponsors from head to toe and have a poster of me skiing, then it happened.
I have been invited to the World Heli Challenge in New Zealand! This is a huge honor because only 50 skiers and boarders through out the world can compete in it! I need to raise $2000 to get in.
Check out this link to help me out!
www.sendvanessatowhc.blogspot.com
to learn more about the competition go to
www.worldhelichallenge.com
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
