LEFT TO RIGHT • “When we were building my van, the Stealthy Marmot, this past fall, my friend Skye Walker and I collaborated on a painted mural that became the vinyl wrap for the van’s exterior. It has all the elements of the trip I was hoping to take for the Chasing AdVANture film.”— Chris Benchetler Photo: Jeff Fox “Chris Benchetler has been to New Zealand’s Treble Cone Ski Area many times, so when I showed up as a newbie I couldn’t believe the terrain and contrast between the dry valley bottoms and snow-filled alpine mountains. Luckily, Chris is able to stay excited no matter where he’s skiing, and he showed me his Treble Cone hit list.” Photo: Garrett Grove “I’M NOT TRYING TO GET DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THE FASTEST. IF I SEE A WIND LIP OVER TO THE LEFT, I’M GOING TO CUT ACROSS TO HIT IT.” —CHRIS BENCHETLER You have some good examples to follow, folks like Eric Pollard and Pep Fujas. It does change everything. I’m super aware of that, but it’s been so rad to watch them be such amazing fathers. They have such incredible little families, and I’m really stoked to join that tribe—stoked, and definitely a little nervous. Selfishly, I love our life right now—we’re very free and we get to travel a lot and do a lot. I don’t think kids have to change that, but I know it’s a new challenge and it’s not easy. It’s hard to say now what we’ll be doing, but hopefully we can still be traveling in the van and climbing and skiing and surfing. You travel a lot, but it seems like you really love to be back in the Sierras and among that community. Oh yeah, I’m hoping to be there forever. It’s super challeng-ing for people to find a career there unless you’re working for the ski resort. There are not a lot of job opportunities, but Kimmy and I have been lucky to be getting involved with some businesses in our community. We helped our friends open an organic bakery that’s doing very well, which is cool. We’ve found ways to stay plugged in and make things work if skiing and snowboarding fizzle out. This place has everything. The people are incredible, my closest friends are here, and I have deep ties to the com-munity through my parents and family history. I live in epic ski terrain, I live in incredible rock-climbing terrain. I’m 40 miles from the gate to Yosemite. Surf is six hours away. It’s the perfect place for the things that I hold dear. I’m in love. I got it all. 068 The Ski Journal
The Ski Journal Volume Eleven, Issue Four: Page 68
