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Waiting for Sluffman

Chasing terrain with patience.

By

Spencer Dillon

Expectation management in the Alaska Range. Photo: Tyler Grundstrom

Expectation management in the Alaska Range. Photo: Tyler Grundstrom

I’ve heard the “Must be present to win” idea from a handful of big mountain skiers I look up to. Not big mountain like fast, but big mountain like big mountains. If you don’t step up to the plate, you can’t swing at the ball. Last fall, at a slideshow, Adam Fabrikant described the snow…

Responses

  1. Brody Leven

    I totally love this. Thanks for this contribution to contrast the endless words written about conditions.

    1. Spencer Dillon

      That’s kind, thanks. The condition talk does remind me in a sidelong way of the chamoniards’ hilariously heartfelt descriptions of terrain, which is maybe less pornographic and at least describes something that sticks around.

      1. Peter Vordenberg

        So, seems like it’s been a terrain heavy or terrain happy season so far. How has it been for you?

        1. Spencer Dillon

          Hey Pete,

          It has indeed been a terrain focused season. Thankfully the Sierra has plenty of that. Enjoying the focus that these sorts of conditions bring, though it does feel like I maybe summoned this season by publishing this in the fall.

          How’re you? enjoying the midday schedule?

          1. Peter Vordenberg

            For reasons beyond snow it has been a Brené Brown winter and I have not always lived up to the Brené Brown standard. But the beer has been especially cold.

  2. Peter Vordenberg

    Love this. The writing! What get’s you out, gets you out – terrain, conditions, peer pressure, dollar bills, whatever your carrot, I say go for it.

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