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The Austin Ross Interview
Submitted by WhistlerBlackcomb on Mon, 2010-03-01 11:47
Interview by Amy McDermid. Full Name: Austin Francis Gordon Ross Who do you normally shred with? The crew at Glacier Creek picnic tables... Basically anyone who's ready to rally and on the same lap. When did you get your start skiing? I've skied as long as I can remember... Probably two years old or something. When did you switch from park skiing to big mountain? I think it's just been a natural progression. I've noticed that every year I ski my focus changes and I get new ideas of what I want to do. I can remember being like 13 and wanting to race so badly and then that phase passed. I think park skiing is cool and learning tricks is great but it just doesn't interest me as much as it used to.
Who have been your biggest influences in skiing? Seth, Ian Mac, Sage, Abma, Hojo, Dana, Kye, Callum, Zoya, Oli, Nick Spence.... I'm influenced daily by the people around me. The stoke's like a ball of energy we throw around hot potato style ya know? What was your worst injury? (I'm guessing 2 broken arms in the black park?) Yeah, that was a pretty rough 6 weeks. I don't know if there's a "worst" injury because anytime your hurt it sucks. I guess it's all about keeping the mind busy while the body heals and coming back with a fresh list of goals. Favorite lines on Whistler and Blackcomb? Well Whistler's the mountain I learned to ski on. There are sooo many great tree spots. I'd probably say Kyber's. Blackcomb's tough because there are lots of rad spots and it totally depends on the current conditions. DOA's been in the best consistent shape this season that I can remember so I'll go with that. Can you describe the gnarliest line you've ever skied? What are your travel plans for this winter? Next Winter?
What is your favorite peak?
Top 5 most important things in your backcountry backpack? 1. Transceiver 2. Shovel 3. Probe 4. Water/snack 5. Extra goggles/layer What countries would you still like to go skiing in? There are lots of places I'd like to ski. Google Earth is amazing for checking out potential skiing in zones all over the world. Austria, Italy, France, Alaska... The list goes on and on. Do you work in the summer to fund all your skiing? This summer I'll be coaching at Camp of Champions. After that it will be time to swing the hammer until skiing. What do you do to stay in shape in the summer? So many fun summer activities to do between here and my cabin on the Sunshine Coast. Mt biking, rope swing sessions, trampoline, water skiing, flick, skating the bowl, cliff jumping, running around in the woods chasing waterfalls... Did I hear somewhere that you maybe wanted to work at the GAP in the evenings to help fund skiing? Totally!! I've got this gift for folding clothes so I figure I'd put it to good use. Haven't made it by yet though, sorry! What was it like growing up in Whistler? Were you able to ski a lot while you went to school? I'm really grateful to have been raised in a place where the whole community shares a passion for the mountains. My parent's are both skiers and I was born into a extended family of people with a love of the outdoors. Missing school to go on ski trips wasn't a big deal, the teachers here are on the same page. Sled or no sled? No sled!! I like the idea of using a snowmobile as a tool to explore new zones but they're loud and expensive and I hear they aren't that great for the environment. For me the up is a balance to the down. I prefer ski touring, boot packing, scrambling bare handed or whatever it takes to get a peek over the edge of the next line. Ask me again this time next year and we'll see if I have a different answer.
Backcountry words of wisdom? Respect.
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