Chasing.Sage

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That first turn at the top of ‘Tunnel Vision’ chute at @Kicking Horse Mountain Resort was easily the most important and high consequence turn of her life and I’m proud of but not surprised to see her safely and calmly navigate this double black diamond no-fall zone. As we strapped into our snowboards and rode a heel edge track out CPR ridge I could see people migrate to the gondola windows as the cabs zipped by, likely wondering what a little 7 year old girl in a tutu was doing navigating the precarious ridge between the black diamond terrain that fell East into the morning light and the double black diamond terrain that fell West. But this little 7 year old has 7 years experience and we chose to descend through this cool double black diamond chute called ‘Tunnel Vision.’💃 This actually happened a few runs prior to us heading up Stairway to Heaven and doing the longer (and equally steep) Whitewall (see previous post) on the same day and to see her tick off a couple KHMR double black diamonds in a single day is super impressive. Runs like this aren’t just about snowboarding. It’s about descending safety by all means necessary. It’s about communication and trust building. It’s about working through fear and realizing the power of emotional regulation in high pressure moments. This is about celebrating the small moments and steps that eventually lead up to a completed picture and yes there’s even fun to be found in these sometimes daunting processes because if you’re not enjoying it and laughing at the end then why are you even doing it? People wonder where she gets her ‘I can do anything’ mentality and it continues to be bolstered in moments like this where her fear and caution are rightfully validated but not given complete control and with some support she’s able to step just beyond what she previously thought possible. These moments are empowering if conducted with respect and intentionality.❤️

It was tutu Tuesday and A. Sage decided to rock the super floof for the occasion! It’s hard to choose a favorite run at @RED Mountain Resort and with the continuation of the region wide ‘dry-January’ we spent our time exploring the amazing groomers and really loved the ‘Buffalo Ridge’ to ‘Main Run’ combination off of the summit of Granite mountain. It begins by riding a mildly steep and exposed ridge that falls away to the left and right with incredible views to the East stretching all the way to the snow capped Canadian Rockies that populating the horizon. Once you descend to the saddle you can drop into ‘main run’ on the skiers right and descent a wide open steep groomed black diamond catching the late morning sun and on full display to the motherlode chair. (Note: these trails have a black diamond rating) • • • Traverse carving is an approach I have her use on steep hard pack slopes. The idea is to get to the bottom with as little edge washing and slipping as possible and instead trying to focus on setting an edge and holding it on her descent across the slope until it’s time to carve back in the the other direction. This is a great exhibition of control and style and as she progresses she will begin shortening the length of the cross slope transition and elongate the descent during the turn and carve. It’s common practice for many snowboarders, including her to pick a faster straighter descent down a run like this and simply washing back and forth between heel edge and toe edge skids but there’s beauty in the control and edge set and eventual power that comes with a progression into carving. Anyways, if you’re at Red mountain definitely take a run out Buffalo Ridge, especially if it’s a powder day so you can drop Papoose bowl or one of the slides!

Look who fits in big sisters original ‘Stuckasaurus’ suit! 🙌 It’s been dumping in the PNW so despite a long travel day yesterday back from Colorado everyone was hyped to get up to the home mountain and ride some POW for the first time in a month! (With proper attire of course!😎)

The little stuffy in the backpack tho…🥹❤️ #snowboarding #Siblings

Tree wells are a deep snow hazard that everyone who rides in the trees should be aware of. They are created when an evergreen tree has an umbrella effect on the snowpack, creating a void under its branches that is often times deep, narrow and hidden. The biggest danger of tree wells presents itself when you lose balance nearby and topple into the tree well head first for the reason I detail in this video. ALWAYS ride with a partner(s) and keep visual and audible communication. This is one huge benefit of using a hands free communication system like @cardo_outdoor. I have fallen while riding with A.sage and been able to tell her “I’m okay but it going to take me a minute to dig out of the powder” but had it been a more serious situation I could have requested help. Ride within your ability in the trees to mitigate the chance you lose balance and fall towards a tree well. If you do end up in a tree well remain calm and try to assess the situation without a ton of movement to determine if it is something you think you can get yourself out of or if it would be best to wait for help. Immediately panicking will waste your energy and likely pull more snow down into the tree well, exacerbating your situation. Be informed, be safe and have fun!

Another day riding with our daughter means another day blown away by her stoke for snowboarding and the vibe she brings to each day. ❤️ It’s no secret that we love riding pow but many people don’t understand just how hard it is to snowboard in powder and it’s even more difficult in the trees but that’s where the secret stashes are found days after the main slopes are skied out and groomed over and it’s one of our favorite places to spend our time riding sideways.

Went heli-boarding, made a snow angel.👌 This moment was a great reminder that this little shredder is just 7 year old child. While dad has endless logistics spinning in his mind to make these experiences possible and safe and fun, she has the freedom to focus on the simple pleasures in life like snow angels on a mountain top 8,500’ above sea level (and then riding an entire mountain face of untouched powder but we’ll save that for another video!) I hope I’ve conveyed how amazing our time at @Purcell Lodge BC Backcountry has been but it’s worth mentioning this rather informal perk which is when conditions align, including a stable snowpack, low avalanche risk and clear skies there’s a chance you can catch a ‘heli-bump’ to a nearby location which once again became an experience of a lifetime for A.Sage and I.

“If you hit it, I’ll hit it, ‘kay?” 🥹 It is pretty wild to see Torin decide to send his first box and Aubrin to step up to board slides for the first time ever. I have a feeling these two are going to enjoy many years of pushing each other’s progress. And shout out to terrain park homie, Arno for taking a second to let a fellow dad know he’s seen!🤙👊

I’m always down for some ‘adventure riding’ and this steep gully we found was the perfect moment to learn and practice her pivot turns that allow you to switch from heel edge to toe edge and back in tight spaces when getting back on your edge asap after a turn is important. When we get into adventure terrain like this I’ve found it helpful to simply lead with honesty and talk through the process out loud the good the bad and everything in-between! Good communication can transform a ‘sketchy’ experience into a fun trust building adventure!

Quick Look at this mornings commute to @Purcell Lodge BC Backcountry! I rarely edit quick reels and share on the fly but this epic is unfolding in spectacular fashion and the story is writing itself. If you need us we’ll be basing out of this epic lodge at 7,000’ in British Columbia, Canada for a while!

And just like that the Powdersaurus becomes a Stuckasaurus. We all have a friend like this right!? Actually, it’s me, I’m that friend. 😂 #POWDAHday #4yearsold

“Will you catch me?”🥹

We attached a microphone to our four year old daughter to get a glimpse into her thought process while snowboarding and the rest is history! #ThreeYearAnniversary Three years since I almost didn’t post this video. Three years since our lives changed overnight. Three years since this cultivated a global community and we’re forever grateful to be a small positive part of your day. Happy ‘Stuckasaurus’ day! Can I get a WeeWoo!? 🫶

“Raising an Olympian.” Nothing could be further from the truth. I understand that this is usually meant as a compliment, and we certainly appreciate the support and kindness but the societal mentality that if young kids are good at something, it should be focused on and exploited to its grandest potential is problematic and I think there’s an important conversation to be had around high level competition and applying those expectations on young children. Our journey is not about grooming a child competitor. We snowboard for the love of the activity and the time spent together with no larger goal or motivation in mind. I don’t agree with narrowing a child’s focus to one activity with hopes that they excel, and yet it is almost a requirement to pursue high level competition like the Olympics and any parent pushing that goal on kids this young (outwardly or candidly) is doing them an incredible disservice. Childhood only happens once and it is the most developmentally important and crucial years of their lives so we must celebrate it in the present rather than using it as a training grounds to pursue their parents goals. Our daughter is 7 and LOVES snowboarding and it is some of the best and most present time that we get to spend together but you know what else our daughter loves to do? Hang out with her friends, make-believe play using her incredible imagination, extensive arts and crafts, pretending to be animals, building forts, swimming, doing science experiments, walks around the neighborhood, splashing in puddles, forest school… she loves being a kid and I can’t imagine making her choose between all of the things she loves to do or pushing to train for a singular goal she cant even fully comprehend. A childhood should not be compromised in a pursuit of singular excellence. At the end of the day I’m not necessarily anti-Olympics, I’m just very pro-childhood. It’s also not really my choice though and we’ll always support her endeavors and decisions.❤️

I love snowboarding with these kids and there’s never a dull moment when trying to follow and keep tabs on a 4 and 7 year old on the mountain! Here’s 3 minutes of miscellaneous mic’d up moments from the last month that haven’t made it into any other videos! What is your favorite line!?