Leah Evans

Do you think you have seen it all? I dare you to visit Utah. On my most recent trip I visited 5 national parks and had my breath taken away daily. Enjoy the redrock feast of images.

As wise woman in Northern BC introduced me to the term “The Valley provides”. I understood this phrase but it was only until this weekend I felt it.

I live in Revelstoke BC and this valley provides for me

Enclosed within the Monashee  and Selkirks Mountain ranges lives a community of people who love where they live.  Most have a lover named snow, that they rise early and stay late for and can’t stop talking about. Snow attracts people from all over giving the valley a transnational flare and movie star qualities.

This past weekend was the final hurrah to snows departure and I felt how this valley has provided me with the most amazing friends and playground.

As we skied down I realized how thankful I am for my life in this town.

The valley provides, don’t forget.

by Zoya Lynch

In the words of Molly Baker about the 20 under 20 camp: “Yesterday I followed a nine year old girl skiing off cliffs and had a group of teenage ladies showing me how big you had to go to do a real shifty! Thanks to Leah Evans and Girls Do Ski for the opportunity. Female freeskiing is going to soar to new heights with these ladies!”

3 short stories about the Gathering event at Red Mountain Resort

#1: I was met by a welcoming feeling, a feeling of knowing exactly where I was going. I warned my new friend “watch out for the cliff below” and he confidently replied “I will follow you”. Having only a few facts about my new friend including the fact that he was almost 60 and a former James bond stunt double, I was flabbergasted when I gazed back to see him gracefully sore off the cliff.

Turns out my new friend is the legendary John Eaves.

#2: “I’m going to ski down here and watch you ladies so I can give you each some feedback on your technique” I exclaimed to the young female freeskiers. I peered up the run only to see a small figure moving straight down the hill..straight. As my eye distinguished what was moving towards me I realized it was Erin Flood our youngest attendee straight linning the run. A huge smile formed on my face as I said “maybe you might want to make some turns next time??”

A moment from the 20 under 20. A free new camp for a new generation of female freeskiers under the age of 20.

#3: I sipped my glass of water, quickly as my foot padded the ground.  “Our next presenter is Rossland local Leah Evans” blarred from the stage. It was time, it was my time to share. I spoke with passion, clearly articulating my story and idea of planting a seed and watching it grow.

I had the pleasure of sharing my work within female skiing and how you can make change within your own community. 

Thanks to all the presenters:Ace Kvale, Blake Jorgensen,Bruno Long, Dave Heath, Francois Marseille Garrett Grove, Kris “Jaymo” Jamieson, John Eaves, John Falkiner,  Mark Gallup, Mark Shapiro, Peter Velisek,  Re Wikstrom, Scotty Carlson, Travis Robb for your dedication to your art.

The North will always hold a special place in my heart. It maybe the vast country side, the rawness of eating meat and veggies you farmed, or the enormous mountains that have never had ski tracks placed upon them.

I had the pleasure of traveling with some stand up US of A’ers for a Freeskier magazine article including: gypsy, professional skier Molly Baker, write it like it is Brigid Mander and female freeskiing photography icon Re Wikstrom.
Stop #1: Smithers BC
Brian Hall has created the first ever backcountry ski area with no lifts, Hankin Evelyn. He has spent countless hours making an accessible backcountry area, which has included employing out of work loggers to glad runs and local farmers to plow the roads.
Stop #2: Middle of nowhere,
The train chugged away and the conductor hollered “no seriously flag down a freighter train, and blow your whistle to keep the cougars away” and there we stood waiting for a ride to the permaculture Rocket Chicken Farm. Farmer Bill, Bilygoated us around the local mountains and his partner Lorie taught us about living off the grid.
Stop #3: The last day and our one-day in Shames was.. well….when… Molly and me lost our minds. We have claimed Shames as “the best slackountry resort in the center of the universe” From endless alpine lines, zero crowds, friendly locals and the first ever ski resort community co-op model this a place  on every skiers list. Molly and me have already been scheming how we are going to come back stay in a trappers cabin and dress in plaid.

To new friends,
mountains that I have yet to explore,
the hospitality of the north
and feeling like a tourist in my own Country..
The north I love you so.
Leah

MONDAY, Krygyzstan to Tronto to Calgary. Sleep for 6 hours. Drive to Revelstoke. Zoya Lynch Birthday.

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TUESDAY: I spy me in SKIER magazine. 2 page spread a la Jordan Manley at Great Canadian Heli skiing

WEDNESDAY: 25cms at Revelstoke Mountain Resort! All Highways closed, REVELstuck.

THURSDAY: My old friend from Sweden, Rebecka Eriksson invites me to shoot on my old turf (Red Mountain Resort) for the Swedish ski magazine Åka Skidor. Missed the ferry by 3 mins at 6:00am.

FRIDAY: Powder day at Red Mountain. Photographer Anna captures the goods while Erik write all about it.

Kyrgyzstan is not Kazakhstan. When I got a call in early December from filmmaker Anthony Bonello asking me if I would like to go on a ski trip to Kyrgyzstan I sheepishly asked if I could call him back because I had no idea where this Stan was located in the world. Now, after 17 days in Kyrgyzstan I can proudly say that this place is like no other location I’ve visited. The social landscape is comprised of people who look Mongolian, Chinese, Turkish and Russian all sharply dressed in fur and leather and adorned with gold teeth. The language is a mix of Kyrgyz and Russian, which creates a problem when ordering food and you usually default to charades and a bowl of borscht appears minutes later.

Unlike other ski trips I’ve valued our time in the cities as much as in the mountains mostly due to the fact that Kyrgyzstan only gained independence 10 years ago from the soviets the people are still trying to reconfigure national identity. There is no sign of “Americanization” with popular restaurant chains or clothing brands however; there is a presence of “Russianization”.

Our time in the Tien Shan Mountains  with 40 tribes backcountry was equally as educational as we dealt with a continental snow pack (much like the Rocky Mountains in Canada). With rocks underneath and powder sprinkled on top you had to be light on your feet and ensure you planned your escape zones on absolutely all terrain on any degree of slope. The challenge of the snowpack was meet by North Face athletes Izzy Lynch, Mike Hopkins and legendary guide Ptor Spricenieks.

Ryan Kopal, the director of 40 tribes backcountry has aligned himself with amazing local Krygyz people to make his vision of a yurt based ski touring operation come to life. From our driver Schumacher to the yurt boys Kaste and Onnibeck, he has created sustainable eco tourism in the region.

This was the best trip of my skiing life yet! THANKS to everyone: Lizzy, Michelle, Techy, Tony, Roddy, Rylar, Zeus and The North Face for making  so. 

Something happens at Girls Day Out, it’s almost unexplainable. As an organizer I create a framework for the weekend event consisting of skiing, coaching, lunches and a prize give away. I hire coaches who have accomplished things greater than themselves and continue to do so every season. These coach’s plant seeds within every attendee encouraging them to make the jump, honor themselves and believe that they can do it.

This weekend at Revelstoke Mountain Resort was no exception and I would like to thank everyone who made this event unexplainably unbelievable.

Girls Day Out – Revelstoke 2012 from Zoya Lynch on Vimeo.