The coolest thing about the trip was being able to ski with Rick Borkovic, a prime figure in the revival of using the telemark turn for backcountry skiing. In the 1960s and 1970s Rick was a ski patrolman and guide in Crested Butte, Colorado. With his nordic as well as alpine skiing expertise, in 1971 Rick (along with a few other Crested Butte locals) began experimenting with using nordic ski gear to make turns on steep alpine terrain. Rick’s group, along with concurrent nordic downhill experimentation in the Northeastern U.S. and in California, led to the modern free-heel skiing industry.
California
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Last of the Ski Bums is the highlight of all this. What a movie! Made in 1967 for only $12,000 and distributed as a feature film, this flick was to my generation what Blizzard of Ahhhs was to the current “freeride” crowd.
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Avalanche danger philosophy for alpinism and backcountry skiing is something to consider.
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