Vanessa Aadland has been vagabonding her way around New Zealand this year. Embracing being a broke ski bum to the fullest extent of the law. This week she placed 4th overall at The North Face Freeski Open in Wanaka, NZ. Wanted to congratulate her for crushing it and thank her for being an inspiration to us all.

THANKS SURFACE!!!! Honored to be in the FAMILY

www.surfaceskis.com

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.

With the most stacked line up that the Freeskiing World Tour and The Freeride World Tour has ever seen, there was a lot of pressure going into the day. I had all my heroes in skiing lined up next to me at the start gate. With a fresh, extremely intense venue, I was feeling very excited and very nervous. This was my first time doing a visual only inspection but I was able to pick a fun line that fit my style and strengths. Plus, I was dropping 4th so I knew I was going to ski pow the whole way down!  I came out of the first chute hot and made some slashy pow turns in the sun. I saw my next feature and skied confidently towards it. As it came closer, without hesitating I lined up my take off and popped. Once I was air borne I realized the actual size of the cliff was much larger then I thought. I didn’t stomp it but I was stoked. It was a great take off and a soft landing. I wish I could go right back and hit it again. I skied pow the rest of the way down and gave all my friends hugs. I ended up 16th and honestly I’m still stoked! It was a beautiful fun day of skiing with my friends and heroes.

Thanks To Fatypus Skis for making me skis and a poster! (next years skis look SIIIICK!)

This week’s Team Update comes from down, but not out- Vanessa Aadland holding down the couch while recovering from an injury earlier this year. With original Seattle roots, Vanessa has made the move down the Utah to pursue her ski career. We had the chance to catch up with her recently and ask her some hard hitting questions.

Hey Vanessa, we hear you are currently laid up…how’s the recovery coming?

Recovery is going good! I’ve been staying on top of it with icing, heat and light massages with Arnica and Essential Oils. The first week was easy but I will admit, I did A LOT of sleeping. My roommates have been so helpful and understanding. I’ll definitely take this time to thank everyone who has sent me some love. I’ve been blown away with all the support my friends and family have given me. People I don’t even know have written me on Facebook to wish me the best and people I idolize have sent me tons of positivity and compassion! The mental challenges have definitely set in, but I have to say, I don’t regret anything! People like to tell me I’m crazy and maybe a bit reckless but I don’t look at it like that. I feel like most of my life I was shy and held back in so many ways. Ever since I moved from my home in Seattle, I think a switch in me flipped and now I’m really doing what I want. Yes, I have put my self through some tough ones ( I’ve broke my back already in 4 places just few years ago) BUT, I have learned and achieved SO much, therefor, I wouldn’t take anything back! I’ve had taken quite a bit of a roller coaster ride for sure, but I prefer that to a boring… ferris wheel or whatever, haha! I guess I’m digressing, but that’s what this down time will do to ya!

Where are you based out of during the winter?

UTAH!! I’ll always love the PNW but I feel more at home here then any where.

How was your trip down to South America this summer?

My trip to the South was short but super sweet! That was my third time skiing in SA but my first to Chile so it was fun to compare Argentina to Chile. Unfortunatly, it didn’t snow one flake while I was there but in all honesty, I had the time of my life! I met so many hilarious people, drank way too much pisco sour, and got 6th in the first stop of the FWT. Not bad for a two week trip!

What are your plans for this winter? Any big trips or contests coming up?

Well, one big goal besides shooting, is to film. I think it’s important to have edits and I have nothing… um, except for a POV of me wreaking my self! I’m also planning on competing in the FWT, especially Revelstoke and Kirkwood since I’ve never been!

If you could travel anywhere in the world to ski where would you head?

Haha I don’t think you realize what your asking me! Traveling is a huge passion of mine so there are tons of places I want to ski!!! I guess the top ones are Norway, Austria, Alaska, Japan, New Zealand, Nepal.

What else are you into right now?

I’ve really been into Hot yoga, blogging, hanging out with Baker my dog, and learning about the healthiest ways to live including nutrition, stretching, and reducing stress.

Want to thank some sponsors?

I am so thankful for all my sponsors, friends, family and roommates! It’s awesome to know they respect me as not just a skier but a person! Special shout out to FAT-YPUS SKIS for the exposure, RIME KNITS for always involving me, ALTA for introducing me to amazing people, and evo for staying updated and stoked on my adventures! Also to Joystick,Causwell, Smith, Skullcandy, Outdoor Technologies, and Isotonix! See ya’ll on the hill soon, much love!

Check em out at http://www.toastershades.com/

THE FAT-YPUS…I-ROCKS, A LOTTAS, E-MOTIONS, V-ROCKS

I recently joined the team of an awesome local outerwear company, Causwell. Here is my interview with Josh Bishop…

Along with an impressive resume of multiple ads and appearances in magazines, billboards, and local publications, Vanessa placed 6th at the first stop of the Freeskiing World Tour this summer in Chile. Aside from her media exposure, Vanessa absolutely rips and treats Alta/Snowbird as her personal terrain park.

photo by Jeremy Koons

1. I grew up skiing in Washington: Stevens Pass, Crystal, Mt. baker, and Alpental

2. How many apples have you consumed in your lifetime? psshhh! two a day, at least

3. Favorite Place to ski? Switzerland… Splügen and Lenzerheide

4. Favorite Terrain? steep pow

5. I hear you have a tattoo. Were is it and what does it say? 1 month after breaking my back skiing, my brothers and I got ski bum tattooed on our bums

6. Were you on time for work today? Only 3 hours late, not sure if I still work there

7. Favorite musical accompaniment: I’m really loving this pretty lights stuff.

8. Did you play high school sports: Track, XC, Basketball, and Cheerleading, for real.

9. Favorite food group: fruit!!!!

10. Name 5 things for which you have no time: TV, boys! shopping (except for ross dress for less) shaving…jk. I always want more time with my dog.