Fat Biking: The New Kid on the Winter Activity Scene by Cindy Sleeman

Chris Ebbern

FERNIE FREESTYLE

I was a late bloomer getting into the ski industry as I played competitive hockey until I was 18. After hockey and finishing high school I packed my bags for the mountains and didn’t look back. I ended up in Jasper for two seasons before I made my way to Fernie in 1999-2000. From there I started spending the Canadian summers in Australia at Perisher and winters in Fernie where my ski/coaching career took off.

I got into competitive park skiing while in Australia and continued it over in North America. While in between comps I taught and coached skiing throughout BC. I was the 2001 Rip Curl Freeski Pro Overall Champion and competed in Planet X-Games and US Opens over my career in Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air and Rail Events. I did a few Big Mountain events as well when my schedule would allow.

In 2011 after my competitive days were behind me, I took over Fernie Freestyle for the first time and ran the club for five years before moving up to the Alberta Provincial Park and Pipe Team for another five years. While there I helped get multiple athletes to the National Team and in 2020 lead Team Canada to the Youth Olympics and helped take home the only gold medal for Canada in Halfpipe for those games. Now, with two young kids of my own, I’ve come back full circle to Fernie and was lucky enough to take over the club again two years ago as the Program Director/Head Coach.

I’m very lucky to get paid to do what I love and to see athletes reach their potential and achieve their dreams. Having an opportunity to ski and travel are the best parts of the job. The industry has changed in many ways from my competition days with much more education for coaches such as courses and facilities for athletes. It has become a year-round process to safely develop an athlete's skills, starting on the trampoline building all the way up to hitting World Cup jumps or ripping a World Cup Mogul course. Progression Air Bags have made a massive difference for athlete safety and development with clubs all over Canada and the world investing in them. One of Fernie Freestyle's main goals is to purchase and use one in the valley, both on snow and during the offseason to help develop local athletic talent and keep the costs as low as we can for families wanting to get into the sport.

In the future I see skiing growing as a sport with athletes having solid pathways to the top with the Olympics being the cream of the crop as well as IFSA Big Mountain world tour. My passion is helping our coaches and athletes achieve their goals and dreams in the valley and beyond.

Q. If I had to describe Fernie in one word, it would be…

A. Fun.

Q. The first thing I do on a powdery morning is…

A. Check the snow report with my coffee and convince my wife to watch the kids while I go skiing.

Q. Winter is a unique time in Fernie because…

A. The air is crisp and the snow is deep.

Q. What is one thing you recommend visitors try or do during their stay?

A. Winter, go skiing! Summer, go to the south country and hit the lake.

RECREATION

Adventure… probably what originally inspired our visit and have us planning our next before we’ve even left. For many, it’s part of what made us decide to call it home. What is so distinct in Fernie is the ease with which you can escape into the mountains. Trails are minutes from any doorstep. Epic skiing, whether lift, cat or self-accessed, just a quick drive from town. Because of this, we are able to stack our days. Ski in the morning, rejuvenate in the afternoon, wine and dine in the evening. You might even witness a chairlift meeting in action, because on a powder day, we try to work and play.