Big Air!!!

I went to Snowbird with my friend Steve Wood. We had a great day of skiing. I don't know my way around Snowbird and everything was new to me. We got separated and I found myself at the top of this cliff in the Mineral Basin. I stared at it for about 15 mins trying to decide to try going off. Finally I did, and it was so fun I brought Steve back and tried it 2 more times. I can't say for sure, but this could be the biggest jump I've ever gone off. The angle of the camera is deceptive. If you look at the take off point and then the place I land, you can see that the drop was about 40'.

The first attempt I got pretty good air and controlled the landing well. My bindings gave out, but since that was not my fault I consider that a good landing.

The second attempt I went for a little more aggressively. I realized about halfway down that the landing was not going to be pretty, because I had begun to tilt to the left in the air. Too bad, because the video was a better angle and it was my last chance to try that day. However, as Jamie Pierre says, any landing that you ski away from is a good landing.

I have been reflecting on doing jumps like this. Steve is a really good skier in his own right, but he nearly dislocated his shoulder going off of a cat-track that day. He expressed his bewilderment that day that he gets injured off of a 2' drop while I can crash off of a 40' drop and ski away happy. I turn 30 this year and I wonder how long I can keep this up.

It is so much fun though. Once a cliff jump is big enough, there is this great moment in the air where you have a feeling of euphoric freedom. You actually have time to stop and appreciate what you are doing for a moment before you start thinking about coming back into contact with the ground. Man, maybe I can stay 29 for a few more years...

P.S. - See Jamie Pierre set the world record for cliff jumping, and see why he says any landing that you can walk away from is a good one. Use this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0SDQcm0VcU&NR=1