Looks like I missed a couple posts over the last couple weeks. So, to make it up to you guys, here is something on Jeremy McGhee. Jeremy was in a very bad motorbike accident in his early 20’s and has been in a wheelchair since. This was of course a big change in his life but he chose to still live the dream instead of letting himself down.
All right, it is already time for the second post of the week. Here is the trailer of the new documentary produced by ABC reporters Dan Barth and Chase Ogden. It is called “That Beautiful Moment” and is based on the human story and adventure of the Engineer Mountain ski BASE jump which was a 4 year project. Stay posted for the movie release sometime in Spring 2009!
We’re stoked that Matthias Giraud will be blogging here at Are You Living It… it’s fun to imagine the cool stuff he’s going to tell us about in the months to come. Ever get the feeling that someone has just barely begun an incredible career? Well, that’s how we feel about Matthias. The dude is going to blow some minds. That’s for sure. As a welcome, below is a re-broadcast of an interview we did with him a few months ago. Enjoy:
Well, another ski season behind me and a good one at that! I was fortunate enough to chase competitions and storms throughout Utah, Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Patagonia / Chile, California and Austria! Not bad for a winter huh? It was an exciting season full of highs and lows, twists and turns, disappointments and accomplishments! There were warm sunny days and twice as many miserably cold ones. Days of great helicopter rides and others spent waiting for weather to clear so we could fly. I had lots of days filled with solitude and reflection and others with big groups of my best friends. I was able to see some of the most beautiful mountain ranges I have ever seen, memories that will forever be with me. It’s hard to believe how quickly time flies, all the more reason to get out there and do more of the things you’re passionate about!!! I love big mountain skiing, that’s what I do, that’s who I am!!!
Would have known that there was something missing for the world to be right or he right in it and would have set forth to wander wherever it was needed for as long as it took until he came upon one and he would have known that that was what he sought and it would have been. -Cormac McCarthy
On Wednesday I had the privelage of volunteering at the Mount Shasta Nordic Center, instead of working at the office. We had a grade school bring about 50 kids for a day of Nordic lessons and touring. It was a treat to be involved in showing children a new way to have fun and exercise in the outdoors. Community volunteers helped lead stations with games that developed Nordic Skiing skills in a fun and approachable way. By lunch time, most of the kids were pretty comfortable on their skis and looked forward to their ski tour. Living your passion is not just about doing the things you love, but having the chance to share those things with others. Share Your Passion!
Being a backcountry guy for quite a few years now, I’m ashamed to say that Ive failed to ski some of the best terrain Shasta has to offer, and its only a 20 minute drive from my door step. Im speaking of Castle Lake which is a pristine high country lake with breathtaking views of Mt Shasta. In the summer its a popular swimming spot and in the winter ice fisherman drill holes in the ice and test their luck. The lake forms a big basin which holds tons of snow and Ive skied innumerable times. Its the back areas of the lake that I had yet to discover. 
photo by Chris Carr
Last week after checking the NOAA weather page, I saw that it was snowing hard up in Mt. Shasta. A couple quick phone calls later and I was set to film for two days with Focal Productions. Within the hour I was traveling north on hwy 395 inbound for Shasta by night fall. The following morning I met up with the Focal Production guys in the early twilight and an hour later we had arrived at our filming zone for the day.
After 39 hours of wheeling luggage and heavy ski bags through two planes, one city bus, one train and three countries, we finally arrived in Schruns Austria. Under a cloud of rain in the valley we hoped for new snow up high. The city of Schruns is like any mountain town in the world, small and filled with warm people. Within our first hour in the town an Austrian man named Clouse saw us lumbering up a hill with all of our gear, and offered us a ride to our guest house for the week. Something I though would never happen back in the states, a stranger offering a ride. But this is Austria.
