Kicking Horse Magazine - Winter 2014

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Winter 2014

Ave Perry SHRED LIFE PIONEER HISTORY + TOWN OF GOLDEN REC SCHEDULE Timeless Stoke // Rad Zones : Ski the 7 // Parasledding // Hollywood Chatter // Gallery

240 km of Snowmobile Trails, 34 km of Nordic Ski Trails, 20 Backcountry Lodges, 5 World Class Resorts,

1 EPIC TRIP.

DAWN MOUNTAIN NORDIC CENTRE Located next to KHMR, Dawn Mountain Nordic Center offers 34 km of groomed classic and skate skiing trails.

Lessons, equipment rentals and day use chalet.

RATES FROM: $10 ADULTS, $5 CHILDREN INFO@GOLDENNORDICCLUB.CA | www.goldennordicclub.ca

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDERS SNOWMOBILE & ATV TOURS AND RENTALS Offers Extreme Backcountry and Family Snowmobile Tours, as well as Snowmobile, ATV, and Side by Side Rentals for everyone.

Our goal is to provide the ultimate BC backcountry adventure.

For everyone from beginner to advanced.

RATES FROM: $190 1.877.950.SLED(7533) or 1.250.439.8156 www.rockymountainriders.com

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CEDAR HOUSE RESTAURANT & CHALETS Seven luxurious, private chalets located on a 10 acre property just south of Golden. All of our chalets offer full amenities and PRIVATE HOT TUBS. We have parking for trailers! Pets are welcome.

RATES FROM: $180 1.250.290.0001 | www.cedarhousechalets.com

Join us for these special events February 14th & 15th - Snow King’s Masque Parade 15th - Helly Hansen Big Mountain Battle 16th - Huckleberry Loppet

March 14th - 16th - Wrangle the Chute 21st - 23rd - The Dogtooth Dash

Keep informed with the latest events in Golden this winter. www.TourismGolden.com/KH 1.800.622.GOLD @TourismGolden

/VisitGoldenBC

Tourism Golden

KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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12 AVE PERRY SHRED LIFE Husband, dad, employee, shredder

8 STOKE Timeless

16 PIONEER HISTORY What’s old may be new

Publishers Jessica and Tim Grey

GRAPHIC DESIGN Shane Gault, Tim Grey

ADVERTISING / DISTRIBUTION Copyright ©2014 Summit Communications All Rights Reserved. Printed in Canada.

sales@kickinghorsemagazine.com 250.290.0197

KICKING HORSE COUNTRY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

is defined as extending north to Mt. Columbia, south to the Howser Towers, east to Mt. Stephen and west to Mt. Sir Donald. The Town of Golden is smack dab in the middle of this amazing mountain paradise.

Patrick Garbutt, Tim Grey, Jordan Petrovics, Faith Dusevic

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Barrett, Dave Best, Jeff Curley, Ryan Creary, Patrick Garbutt,Tim Grey, Lucas Jmieff, Zoya Lynch

30 GALLERY 22 RAD ZONES: SKI THE 7

6 pictures that will inspire

A skier’s rite of passage

26 TONY KELLY GOES SLEDDING

24 OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

You never know who will show in Chatter

Quitting skiing is not an option

ONLINE VERSIONS AVAILABLE issuu.com/summitcommunications

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @KHmagazine

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

CONTENTS:

COVER:

Swiss Peaks at sunset Rogers Pass, BC. Ryan Creary photo

Ave Perry launching Pride Rock, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Lucasimagephoto.ca

Aaron Bernasconi rips an early season turn in Quartz Creek.

Tim Grey photo

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Timeless STOKE

he stoke is timeless. For at least as long as mankind has existed anyway. The same sensation that Cro-Magnon man had when he clubbed his first squirrel-meal to death can be got today, here in the mountains.

become creaky old double chairs, to immaculately polished 160-horsepower beasts and high-speed gondolas. And yet even now we see a resurgence of people using their own power to get after the stoke.

Sure, the stoke does ebb and flow with the seasons, as a winter’s snowfall varies or some commitment or another draws us away from our connection to the hills. A dry year or a heavy workload can temper our enthusiasm, or it can make each day that we get it good just a little more special.

Who can predict how we might interact with the mountains in the future? We’ve already seen flying skiers and flying snowmobiles. Perhaps someday we’ll be zooming around the peaks and clouds with personal jetpacks, giggling like a bunch of preteen girls at a Katy Perry backstage pass giveaway.

In our modern days as a species, our means to the stoke have cycled as well. Once, it was our own legs that carried us to the peaks. Then a progression of machines, from what have

But it really doesn’t matter. The mountains will always be here.

And as long as we are here to enjoy them, so will also be the stoke.

- Patrick Garbutt

The Wolf’s Den is situated in the heart of Golden B.C. and is proud to be a part of Golden’s finest family restaurant chain.

We love our town and we enjoy being ambassadors for this beautiful place we play, work and live in! As you will often hear us say…

Its just another day in paradise! Enjoy your stay!

Unrefined dining at its finest!

Open at 8:00 a.m.

250.344..7222

Open at 4:00 p.m.

250.344.3693 Open at 4:00 p.n. 250.344.9863

AVE PERRY SHRED LIFE Photo by Tim Grey

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BY TIM GREY

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HIS IS AN UNDERDOG STORY. It’s the tale of a working man, with a wife, two kids, a mortgage, a career and a passion. It’s a story of a guy who’s been pushing it hard on a snowboard for years, and only now, long after anyone would have bet on it, recognition is coming his way. This is the story of Ave Perry’s shred tenure, and its ending is still unwritten.

Photo by Tim Grey

“I’d like to do the Revelstoke comp,” he says in a softspoken kind of way as we chat about what’s next for him. It’s almost like he’s afraid to say it. Not because he’s afraid of competing at the top-tier World Freeride event, but because he knows it’s a long shot and it probably won’t happen. First, as few as 25 riders even get invited or qualify, leaving the chances of a relative ‘no-name’ with virtually no connections earning a wildcard berth remote. The second consideration is the expense. Who can say how much it would cost to go and compete, but we suspect it’s probably a $1000 trip.

That’s a prohibitive toll for a guy with 5,300km on an old sled and payments still owing from his spring trip

Photo by lucasimagephoto.ca

I stroll over one night to meet Ave in his selfconstructed ‘man-cave’, a 12’ x 14’ shed that he built this summer in the small pockets of time that working a regular job and raising two kids allows. Most people sit on the couch and watch TV in those brief moments of reprieve at the end of the day, but Ave put his tools back on, braved the mosquitos and built himself something.

It’s a work ethic that you can’t help but appreciate. The space is not big, but it’s more or less a perfect fit for his tools and his toys. You can tell it’s also a place of power for Ave. A place of refuge. A place where he can hang the souvenirs of adventures lived and a place to plan journeys yet to come.

STOMPING SINGLE AIRS IS ONE “THING, BUT A FREERIDE COMP

REQUIRES MULTIPLES OF THE SUBJECT AND IT’S SURPRISING, IN THE END, HOW FEW GUYS HAVE THE COMPLETE ABILITY PACKAGE THAT AVE DOES.

Photo by lucasimagephoto.ca

AVE PERRY SHRED LIFE

to Alaska, aside from all of life’s other costs. Ave, it would seem, must pick and choose which dreams to fulfill.

Of course that whole ‘no-name’ thing and Ave are slowly growing further apart. With regular web edits of his exploits on Biglines. com, a win at the Greg Todds NoBoard race, and a second place at the Flow World Freeride Championships in Alaska last spring, the star of this hobbyist, life-long snowboarder is rising. Ave is gathering momentum, and it makes me think that maybe he should double down and do everything he can to enter some competitions and get noticed. It’s a gamble on a possible career in the sport, but more than that, it’s a play to live the dream.

It’s a dream Ave has had for a long time, and one that still has a somewhat realistic chance of fruition. I’ve seen the competition in Revelstoke live several times, and I wouldn’t for a second fan the flame of a buddy who had no hope of competing at that level. For almost everyone it’s not a reality, but something makes me think

Perry Family L-R: Ave, Landon, Devun, Loretta Location: Catamount Chair KHMR Photo by Ave Perry

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that Ave has a chance. His best skill is his ability to land an air and ride away clean. He can do it because he’s fit, he’s tough, and he’s been stomping airs for a long time. The fact that he has years and years of big mountain experience from sno’mo’boarding around these parts, and he has KHMR as a training ground factors in huge as well. Stomping single airs is one thing, but a freeride comp requires multiples of the subject and it’s surprising, in the end, how few guys have the complete ability package that Ave does.

How does this story end? Who knows? Hopefully with a happy marriage and an intriguing life experience raising children in the mountains around Golden. The bottom line is, Ave has everything he needs already without the spotlight. That may just have to be enough for him. Professional snowboarding may not be in Ave’s future, but it may not have seen the last of the Perry name.

Photos by Jeff Curley

AVE PERRY Age: 33 Years in Golden: 12 Red Seal Carpenter: Dogtooth Log & Timber Products Sponsors: Trapper Snowboards, Knightrider Racks, Higher Ground, Avalanche Safety Solutions

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n a battle between old and new, most people will side with new. They will choose what is fresh and innovative rather than overused and worn. The Pioneer Chair at KHMR is different; hitching a ride on this chair is not only a taste of history but you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Pioneer is from an era before cell phones, an era before powder skis, and from an era before you came to ski here. The chair is the first lift that brought skiing to life in Golden. Although it was not the first attempt at building a ski hill, it was the first time it stuck.

A committee of like-minded volunteers had been trying to bring skiing to Golden for a number of years, prospecting different areas such as the Beaverfoot, Quartz Creek and Black Water.

Ultimately, the Dogtooth Range was their choice. The committee made applications to the province for the property, and once that was approved, it was time to pick the perfect chairlift for the area.

They found that chairlift in Spokane, Washington. It was brand new and cost would be $1.2 million. The Town of Golden and Area A held a referendum to decide whether or not Golden would purchase the chair, now known as Pioneer, and it is clear to see what side the community supported.

The committee, once again, volunteered their time to survey what would soon be the Whitetooth Ski Area, and to figure out where to place the infrastructure for the lift. They hired professionals when needed, but many community volunteers made it a reality.

The original road to the resort was laid out by some of the people in the committee, and community contractors donated the equipment.

In 1986, Whitetooth Ski Area was opened, and it operated three days a week. The lift and most services on the hill were run by volunteers. It became a hub of activity; hosting races, jump competitions and creating a community of advanced skiers.

Locals would watch the snow fall during the week and line up on Friday, ready for first tracks.

Dave Best photo

HISTORY

A large reason why Whitetooth was a success was because, in the process of choosing an ideal location to open the ski hill, the committee had a vision in mind. They hoped that, in the future, a larger company would want to purchase the area to create a resort. That opportunity came in 1997, when Ballast Nedam came to town. The community held a referendum asking if they were in favour of selling; it passed with over 90 per cent in favour.

Locals knew the potential benefits that a new resort would bring to Golden.

Once Kicking Horse was opened in 2001, the old buildings that were once a ticket purchasing area and the old lodge were converted into offices or removed. A new lodge was built and two new lifts replaced the T-bar, but the Pioneer remained untouched.

It still served a purpose, and, although being surrounded by chairlifts that moved more people or went much higher, it is still appreciated 13 years after Kicking Horse first opened. The chairlift is the only part of old Whitetooth that remains untouched.

Pioneer chair remains an escape from the constant buzz of the gondola base Area. Surrounded by trees, the chair lift is in a quieter portion of the mountain with very little breeze. It’s the perfect area for winding down, or to experience a blast from the past. The Pioneer remains a symbol of what a community can accomplish if they believe in something enough to take a risk.

These days, the still chair is used when the base area is busy or it’s too windy to run the gondola. Skiers who venture there can expect a slow but relaxing ride. So pick a partner you like to talk with and head over to Pioneer. The chairlift is the history of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. It is the representation of where it all began, and where a vision can go. Pioneer is the old, but it is the reason for the new.

Pioneer is from an era before cell phones, an era before powder skis and from an era before you came to ski here.

- Faith Dusevic

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Higher Ground Mountain Sports is Golden BC’s only mountain store that promotes outdoor adventures and stocks a wide variety of skis, splitboards, climbing gear, tents, camping accessories, and quality ‘experienced’ goods for any adventure.

Sales

Service

Demos

420b 9th Ave N, Golden, BC 1-800-587-7980 Highergroundsports.ca

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner

101 Gould’s Island, 10th Ave., Golden, BC 250-344-2400 www.islandrestaurant.ca

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he Columbia Valley is home to many outdoor sports enthusiasts. Snowmobiling, skiing, paragliding and mountain biking are only a few of the activities that can be done in these mountains. About 23 years ago, Brisco resident Eric Oddy decided he wanted to add another activity to the list. The idea sparked when Oddy, an avid paraglider pilot and snowmobiler, launched his paraglider from the back of a snowmobile. Since that time, the wheels have been turning in his head and three years ago, he and another friend, Dale McKnight, started putting pen to paper.

The new sport of parasledding involves attaching a large paraglider to a snowmobile and together, taking flight. During the beginning stages, Oddy would get excited at even just lifting the snowmobile off of the snow. Now, he and his snowmobile have taken flights as long as 2km.

Oddy says that he has had “a lot of fun taking on this challenge and making it work”. His progress has been recorded at different levels all the way from small bunny hops on his personal YouTube channel, to being featured on the Discovery Channel, soaring Alain Sleigher photo Location: Chatter Creek

through the air at Chatter Creek. It seems as though Oddy’s new sport has attracted media from all directions; parasledding has been featured on the news, television shows, magazines and ski movies.

With all of the added hype, Oddy knows that others may want to test their abilities as well, but he throws out a warning.

“Be very careful, proceed with caution. I can’t say don’t take risks; I take risks every time I go out there.

Things can happen and then I have to figure out what to do with it.”

Oddy says that he has some surprises up his sleeve for parasledding and drops a hint that something, or someone, may be dropped off his airborne snowmobile in the future.

Keep an eye out for this one; it’s only getting bigger and better.

Eric Oddy’s original video can be viewed at youtube.com/ luraina77. View Discovery Channel’s April 11, 2013 video at watch.discoverychannel.ca - Faith Dusevic KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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Golden Recreation Facilities Menu A Venue for any event your taste desires Do you like to cook up sweetly served events?

Looking for a platter of options that will have your participants begging for more?

No matter what event venue you are looking for, Golden has a menu of recreational facilities that will give you a taste of success complimented with a side of small mountain town charm.

Facilities for special functions include:

Golden Civic Centre A community theater with an elegant twist of old and new!

Featuring a healthy sized grand hall, stage and bar capable of holding up to 300 of your closest friends.

Complimented with lower level board rooms you can book on the side or incorporate into your main event.

Available anytime

Keith King Memorial Park Sports Fields With four softball diamonds positioned in the traditional clover design, the fields are perfect for a multi-team event.

Two soccer fields can be used in a variety of formats.

Topped off with a respectably sized concession space, users can host a variety of spreads included licenced events.

In season from May – October

Mount 7 Rec Plex Originally constructed as a high school gym, this multi-use, hardwood floor facility can fill any special event appetite.

Ready for basketball, volleyball, badminton and more. Modify the venue to serve for smaller tradeshows, weddings and gatherings.

Make more room with a holding capacity of 700 people.

Available anytime

Golden Swimming Pool In Golden we serve up outdoor aquatics with pride. The pool is for anyone who enjoys being active in the sun.

With a team of friendly lifeguards we can cater all types of fun including private Birthday Parties and special events.

In season from May – August

Golden and District Arena & Lounge This community rink has all the fixings needed to host everything from that family fun birthday to a full scale tournament.

The facility is topped off with a lounge space which can be used to view the game or as a small gym for dry land training.

A popular space for social clubs and aerobic activities the lounge can booked for a variety of fun.

In the warmer seasons the facility dry floor can be booked for various events.

Ice is in season from August – March, Lounge is available anytime

Golden Recreation Programs Menu Get out and get active The Town of Golden offers up a great list of recreation programs that are open to all members of public.

Drop in to any of our great recreational facilities and find out more.

Golden Municipal Swimming Pool Make a big splash by learning how to swim or just enjoy being active in the water.

The Pool offers Red Cross Swimming Lessons, Private Swimming Lessons, Master Swim Development, Lifeguard Training Courses and AquaFit Session.

Bonus Red Cross Lessons and Aqua-fit offered in the fall & winter In season May – August Annually

Mount 7 Rec Plex Public Programs

Parent and Tot Play Come into the gym and enjoy this great social play atmosphere Wednesday 10:30am – 12pm September - June Winter Walking Stretch your legs and keep active while it’s cold outside Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1pm – 2pm November – March

Golden & District Arena

Parent & Tot Skate Tuesday & Friday 10am – 11am Public Skate Wednesdays 7pm – 8pm, Friday 12pm – 1:30pm, Saturday 5pm – 6:45pm and Sunday 4:30pm – 5:45pm Shinny Drop in Hockey Thursdays 8pm – 9pm Programs run October – March annually Drop in rates available for all Town run programs *All programs are subject to changes and rescheduling

If you are thirsty for more make sure to ask about our countless parks and public spaces including our timber frame pedestrian bridge and spirit square.

If you want to learn more about various clubs,organized sports and other recreational opportunities check out the details from all our official recreation partners.

Visit: www.golden.ca E-mail rec.booking@golden.ca Call 250-344-2271 Ext 225

Ski

the

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zones

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kiing the 7 is a rite of passage for skiers and boarders in the area. This short piece of snow, that forms into Mount 7’s namesake number, at the peak of the mountain, in late June to early July, is the last of the winter’s snow to melt each spring.

Hiking to the top and riding this remaining patch of snow can mark a rider’s path from transient to verified local shredder.

But the peak wasn’t always the destination for skiing on Mount 7. Along the drive to the top, on what is now private property, is an area that was at one time a single-lift ski hill. The lift was in operation for about four years in the ‘50s with the help of volunteers who were simply looking for a place to ski. Although the skiers were passionate about Mount 7, none of the people involved in running the ski hill claimed to have ever thought to ski the 7 in the spring; clearly things have changed.

The 7 itself is only about 100 metres tall, which if you go slow, might take a minute to descend. But riding it is not without its thrills. The upper portion of the shape consists of an old ridgeline cornice, which drops away to loose shale directly below.

The vertical section is a deceptively steep and narrow patch of snow. Conditions can vary, but on a sunny afternoon you should be treated to a nice slushy ride. Take care not to carry too much speed at the bottom, as it wouldn’t be pleasant if you didn’t stop before the snow runs out! With so much rock exposed, understandably, it is not recommended that you bring new skis.

Despite the few risks associated with the late spring turns, it’s worth it.

Mount 7 has been skied for more than two decades with the first known recorded run by James Gudjonson in the late ‘80s. In the beginning, only a select few made the trip to the top to ski. As Golden’s ski population grew with the opening of Kicking Horse, so have the numbers of those skiing the 7. Now, more than one hundred people take to the slope each year; many of whom make the hike an annual event. A local boy named Sawyer skied the famed 7 at only five years old. His little brother, six-monthold Morgan, gave it a try the next year; strapped to the back of his father. The young boys have since ridden the 7 numerous times and if they keep it up, they may one day hold the record for skiing it the most number of times. As for the oldest known rider, Gordon Barlow skied the 7 at age 60.

The 7 has always been a feature of the mountain, since long before Golden existed on a map; it just took a few inspired riders to turn it into a local classic.

-Faith Dusevic

Dave Best photo

These days, like-minded individuals now flock to the mountain in late spring to begin the hike. From base-to-peak, Mount 7 is 2500 metres in elevation, but most people begin the hike at the launch pad parking lot. The more adventurous can drive a little further. The approach time varies depending on where the hike begins. Timing the hike is important; too early, and snow covers the road that goes past the launch pad and much of the trail to the top. Too late, and the 7 becomes narrow and interrupted by bare

shale halfway down its length.

Mount 7 By the Numbers 2500 - Height in meters of the summit 300 - length in feet of the run 60 - Age of oldest known skier 5 - Age of the youngest known skier 1 - Time in minutes to ski the seven All bottom photos by Amy Barrett

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Ryan Creary photo

“Getting back on skis was never not an option for me, skiing has always been such a central part of my life.�

QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION.

E

than Johnson is a well-known and respected local skier. His tracks are found around the world, but his career and life have had a strong focus on Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) since 2007. Last fall, his plan was to return to Kicking Horse again.

It was in November 2012, while catching some early season laps at Nakiska in Alberta, that Ethan suddenly lost vision in one of his eyes.

After completing a few tests, it was discovered that he had a tumour growing on his occipital lobe. The surgery was successful, but it was learned that the tumour was cancerous and Ethan began a 6 week stint of radiation and oral chemotherapy.

Although afraid, Ethan never lost sight of what he wished to do; make his girlfriend, Sonja, his wife and get back on skis. “Getting back on skis was never not an option for me, skiing has always been such a central part of my life. I can’t think of a single major life decision that hasn’t taken skiing into account. Returning to it was as natural as breathing, but just a bit more challenging.”

During radiation and through the various tasks Ethan endured, he often went to his “happy place” by imagining lines he had skied in the past to keep calm. He also focused on two important dates; February 25, his wedding day, and March 17, the first day he would be back on skis. “Obviously I wanted to make this return at KHMR! The motivator for making KHMR my first day back, it’s still home. The community in Golden and at [the resort] have been so incredibly supportive to Sonja and I through this ordeal. The sense of community is amazing; there really is no better ski community in the world. Plus, Kicking Horse is my favorite place on the entire planet and I wanted to shred with my boys!”

Those ‘boys’ Ethan refers to are the countless friends he has made at KHMR. The Gentlemen’s Leisure Club of Golden, Kicking Horse Mountain School and KHMR former CEO, Steve Paccagnan, were all huge supports for Ethan. The emotional support and the fundraising these friends, alongside Ethan and Sonja’s families, did, ensured that the only thing Ethan needed to worry about was his recovery.

Currently, Ethan is undergoing intense chemotherapy once a month and dealing with the new struggles that have entered his life. The flooding in Canmore last July destroyed Ethan and Sonja’s home and Ethan has been dealing with a mysterious loss of vision since May. When asked what his next steps are, Ethan explains that “that question looms even bigger in my mind now. With my loss of vision, at this moment, I will not be able to ski unguided. I am looking forward to the challenge for sure as I know I can adapt and make it work”. Ethan spent the summer with a group called Whistler Adaptive; he learned how to ride a downhill bike while blind with help from his brother. “I am looking into adaptive programs for the winter and figuring out a way to ski as much as possible.”

He also has a new goal for the winter. “Even though I haven’t competed in a freeride competition in years, and have no illusion about doing well, I’d really like to enter one this winter again, even if I have to do it with a guide.”

– Faith Dusevic

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Overcoming Adversity

CHATTERWOOD

AN L.A. FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER GOES SLEDDING IN CHATTER CREEK PHOTOS AND WORDS BY TIM GREY

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ony Kelly is one of the most sought-after fashion and lifestyle photographers in the world. Only I didn’t know it until I stumbled across a web feature about him on Sneakhype.com. His work, for some of the biggest brands on the globe, is attention grabbing on a rarely-matched level. Sure, the fact that he shoots scantily clad women helps to get noticed, but beyond that, Tony’s style is instantly recognizable and always includes some clever twist to hook an inquiring mind.

The web feature interested me because I was working on producing a fashion-inspired gear feature for Mountain Sledder Magazine, and kept returning to Tony’s imagery for ideas.

I wanted the feature to stand out in a way that Tony’s work did, and so I decided to throw a Hail Mary and sent the Los Angeles-based photographer an E-mail through his website.

It was a whim that I quickly forgot about in a busy life. But a few days later, my phone rang and to my surprise, it was Tony himself. He said that his assistant usually handles his work-related

E-mails, but he was personally curious about the snowmobiling scene and wanted to know more about what we were up to. Our conversation quickly revealed that my project was well beneath his realm professionally, but what kept us talking was his love of the mountains. As an Irishman, formerly working as the Senior Photographer for the now defunct News of the World paper in London, Tony used to frequent the French Alps on weekend trips to get out of the city. He kept remarking at the coincidence of talking about the mountains because he was free that weekend and had been considering going snowboarding for the first time in several years in Tahoe. Without much of a thought I mentioned that we were going snowmobiling for three days that weekend and if he wanted to come, I’d show him around. I didn’t really think he would accept my offer.

We E-mailed and texted back and forth a couple more times, and

after explaining the idea of a sled trip to Chatter Creek’s lodge, Tony was hooked on the idea. He liked what he saw on Chatter’s website and mentioned that he was always looking for potential locations for upcoming shoots. I assured him that Chatter’s lodge drips with

Recent TK Covers KICKING HORSE MAGAZINE

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authenticity and he should check it out. By mid-week, I was scrambling to secure the proper logistics: sled, accommodations, and riding crew.

Tony pointed out that he was busy as well, but that he would catch a red-eye flight from LA to Calgary on Friday night. What he didn’t tell me, until later, was that on Friday morning there were 14 people waiting for him when he arrived at his studio to shoot the November 2013 cover of Playboy magazine. That’s just normal life for TK. The lure of the mountains pulses through the hearts of a wide variety of people, and despite our drastically different lives, Tony and I clearly shared a love of the mountains. My disbelief about the whole affair was not suspended until Tony showed up in my driveway in a rental car Saturday morning. It hit me again that I really knew nothing about this guy except that he is good at what he does and seems to live some sort of jet-set celebrity lifestyle. Realizing this late in the week, I had, in a moment of panic, sent out a blunt, preemptive E-mail to him outlining: what expenses to expect, a no hard drugs policy, a clarification of my sexual orientation (we were sharing a room) and so-forth. But every time we talked, I was reassured that everything was fine. I learned he had been a war correspondent in Somalia and I figured if he could handle that, he could handle a weekend with us.

When Tony showed up, my truck was packed with two sleds and enough gear to outfit him for anything he didn’t have. Within 15 minutes of arriving he was in my truck and we were en route to Chatter. Our first stop was to rendezvous with the two other sledding partners I had coerced into joining us on the trip: Pat Garbutt and Ryan Johannesen.

The problem with being a decent sledder is that you lose perspective on what it’s like to be a bad one. It’s amazing what you take for granted when you do something a lot. So while in his own element, Tony Kelly

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is the master of his domain; not far down the trail head, we could see that riding a snowmobile was most definitely beyond his realm of expertise. It was a juxtaposition that made the weekend interesting.

We managed to make it to the Chatter Creek lodge without too much delay, and after checking in, we took Tony out for his first real taste of sledding in the mountains. Technically things should have been easy for him. Although Chatter’s cat ski operation had finished for the season, most of the cat roads were still visible in the snow and zooming around on them should have been a cinch. Yet things proved a little more difficult for him than we had anticipated. Saturday was

WHAT FOLLOWED ON SATURDAY WAS ONE OF MOST LEGENDARY PERFORMANCES I’VE EVER SEEN ON A SNOWMOBILE.

trial by fire for Tony. We helped him as much as we could but we also didn’t give him much sympathy for his lack of experience. In retrospect, it’s pretty hilarious what we tried to make him do. Here was a guy who hadn’t even been in the mountains in a couple of years, and never on a snowmobile, and we put him on a sled in some of the most amazing snowmobiling terrain there is, and said ‘follow us!’

It’s no wonder he was worked by the end of the day.

Tony was a good sport but I could tell he was wondering what on earth he had gotten himself into by being in the mountains with us. But any night at Chatter Lodge is worth the trip there, and after a few drinks and some competitive pool and darts he was back in his element, having a grand time and keeping us entertained with wild stories from a crazy life. Our fortunes turned better yet when Chatter part-owner, Dale McKnight, paid us a visit in the games room. After hashing out plans for the next day, it was decided that Dale would join us for a tour to help Tony get around.

What followed on Saturday was one of most legendary performances I’ve ever seen on a snowmobile. While Tony did have his own sled, anywhere we went on Sunday that involved a technical climb or manoeuver that Tony couldn’t manage on his own, Dale doubled Tony on his sled. Our crew would then figure a way to shuttle Tony’s sled up to him. This was made more impressive considering that Dale McKnight is not a small man. In fact he’s huge. And Tony, while more slim than Dale, is still 6’2” and by no means small. I’ve never seen a sled so overworked. Dale squirrel-tandemed Tony several times, meaning that Tony sat up front while Dale rode standing behind, leaning overtop of him on the sled. This is a position that tends to lift the skis off the ground excessively, making it more difficult to control, which seemingly posed no issue for Dale. It was hilarious to watch these two operate. Dale had Tony’s complete trust and the two got better and better throughout the day.

Having Dale lead us around his own stomping grounds was an absolute thrill. We roamed further with Dale guiding us and assisting Tony than our experienced group would have done even on our own without Tony. Dale lead us to the far reaches of their terrain, showcasing some of Chatter’s many stashes, including a tour of a massive ice cave, and gave Tony the mountain sledding experience that he’d dreamed of, prompting him to claim it the best day of his life!

By the time I said good-bye to Tony it felt like we’d known each other for years. He had come a long way in a short time, adding mountain sledding to his life’s experience, in large part thanks to Dale.

It was a weekend different that the usual and who knows where it will lead. I hope I get to see Tony again sometime soon, anyone lucky enough to experience Chatter Creek is bound to be back.

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Ryan Johannesen Quartz Creek Dave Best photo 30

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