I am truly honored to be part of this project and team and look forward to our continual progression!
Today Telemark Skier Magazine announces the formation of TSM Crew, a first-of-its-kind athlete/content creation team.
While traveling throughout North America for the upcoming TSM film Loyalty, Crew athletes weren’t just skiing for the camera; they were writing, shooting and researching for magazine and online projects and hosting the TSM Demo and Movie Tour.
“We carefully selected these athletes based not only on their on-hill talent and industry cred, but also their abilities to edit video, shoot photos and write,” says TSM Editor Josh Madsen. “Our target demographic at Telemark Skier really identifies with pro athlete culture, so we wanted our pros to back up their on-camera performance with thoughtful material.”
Telemark Skier Magazine is the only dedicated source for all things telemark in all mediums: Film, print and online. With a talented and motivated team of athletes, TSM will have continual updates throughout the season to help passionate telemark skiers keep their stoke high. Check out Loyalty and the TSM Gear Guide dropping this fall, and be sure to keep up with everything on telemarkskier.com, and on Facebook facebook.com/telemarkskiermagazine.com
Crew athlete Alex Paul breaking new ground at Breckenridge for TSM’s new film Loyalty p: Kjell Ellefson
The new Telemark Skier Magazine recruits include:
J.T. Robinson – J.T. is a jack-of-all-trades, who can throw Lincoln Loops off of 40-foot cliff one day and the next he’ll be behind the camera directing a video shoot.
Weston Deutschlander – Weston’s standout segments in the last two TSM productions have cemented his spot as one of the best up-and-coming freeheelers on the planet.
Kjell Ellefson – Kjell is an exceptional photographer who moonlights as a college student in Boulder Colorado.
Shaun Raskin – Shaun is known for going bigger than all the guys, whether it’s in big mountain competitions or in front of the lens.
Alex Paul –Alex is a multitalented freeheeler who has appeared in films from Sweetgrass Productions and in the pages Telemark Skier Magazine.
Posted 8 months, 1 week ago. Add a comment
So it has been quite a while since I last posted on this thing and much has happened…
The long and Windy Road to Recovery (aka little cottonwood)
Last I wrote I was well on my way to diving into teaching AIARE Avalanche courses through White Pine Touring, I was looking to Shadow some backcountry ski guiding companies in the Wasatch, and I was just about to sign a contract with Telemark Skier Magazine.
Well, as life often does… I got thrown for a BIG loop and many lessons to follow.
While doing some soul skiing up at Alta with Weston D. I tore my ACL.
No, it wasn’t that simple, but it was that strait forward. Before you ask- No I was not hucking my meat or skiing some spectacular line, I was simply enjoying the first significant storm after our January dry spell. We had about 15″ of fresh, slightly wind affected snow on top of a sun/rain crust. I simply hit the icy layer underneath and sat back, giving a bit of a butt check, when I stood up POP!
Madsen and Weston D. hanging out post surgery
That was the end of my season. It took about two weeks until my denial and that of my physical therapists broke down and we decided I should go in for an MRI. Of course the outcome showed a full tear of my ACL, with surgery and the inevitable end of ski season being the outcome.
It has been exactly one moth since surgery and I have been on a wild journey of sorts. I am not going to dive into the dark places I have gone or the emotional roller coaster that has been the product of a super athletic and physical being, being kept from the only form of meditation and emotional outlet they have ever known, but I will say it has been a struggle, one that I was not really prepared for, but I guess no one ever really is.
Behind the Lense
Since tearing my knee I have managed to do a few cool trips. I went and supported the Telemark Freeskiing National at Alpine Meadows. There, I was able to catch up with a bunch of my friends that I only really get to see when competing. It was actually a really cool experience getting to go to the comp, cheer on all my friends, film a bit for Telemark Skier Magazine, and have a place in the community even though I was on the sidelines (which has never really been my favorite position).
Lunch fest at the ski test
Last week after being cleared from using crutches I headed up to the Telemark Skier Magazine Ski Test in Powder Mountain. Of course I was not able to partake in the physical test, but after expressing my need and desire to stay as connected to the goings on of the industry to Josh Madsen ( friend and editor of TSM) we decided that I would head-up the writing of the 2012 Gear Review. This meant I would take notes at each nights debrief, compile all test sheets, and create an incredible list of the most tantalizing gear you must have! It was a super fun four days of obligatory libations being funneled through a plastic flamingo lawn ornament, AKA the BeerMingo accompanied with great new faces and tons of laughs not to mention a bunch of skis, binding, and boots that I am drooling to get on next season.
Weston D. filing out his test sheets
Tony Gill feeling the affects of a late night and an early morning
The Crew
Madsen and Cody Smith Pondering life
BEERMINGO!!!!
What's a Tele gathering without some dirt musicians. Alex, Zeph, and Madsen getting after it!
Alex scerinading the crowd
Again, being in the periphery has been a challenge, but through a hopefully increasing sense of clarity I have found that if I truly love this sport, then I just have to push a bit harder to make my physical inactivity disappear behind my motivation and drive to continue being relevant through other means.
There are so many lessons and realizations that I have had through all of this. That is not to say that I have become enlightened though it, more like dumbfounded by my own habitual behavior that now doesn’t work. I have gained a new awareness, that I have to learn some new tools, because the old tricks don’t work so well when trying to bend with the braided lattice that is life. So I am on another sojourn and I am sure lessons will continue to trip me along my path, but with each stumble I will gain more balance and continue to gain strength and perspective.
Huge thanks to all my friends, family and sponsors who have been so supportive!
Photo: Re Wikstrom
Posted 10 months, 1 week ago. Add a comment
