Chasing.Sage

That first turn at the top of ‘Tunnel Vision’ chute at @Kicking Horse Mountain Resort was easily the most important and high consequence turn of her life and I’m proud of but not surprised to see her safely and calmly navigate this double black diamond no-fall zone. As we strapped into our snowboards and rode a heel edge track out CPR ridge I could see people migrate to the gondola windows as the cabs zipped by, likely wondering what a little 7 year old girl in a tutu was doing navigating the precarious ridge between the black diamond terrain that fell East into the morning light and the double black diamond terrain that fell West. But this little 7 year old has 7 years experience and we chose to descend through this cool double black diamond chute called ‘Tunnel Vision.’💃 This actually happened a few runs prior to us heading up Stairway to Heaven and doing the longer (and equally steep) Whitewall (see previous post) on the same day and to see her tick off a couple KHMR double black diamonds in a single day is super impressive. Runs like this aren’t just about snowboarding. It’s about descending safety by all means necessary. It’s about communication and trust building. It’s about working through fear and realizing the power of emotional regulation in high pressure moments. This is about celebrating the small moments and steps that eventually lead up to a completed picture and yes there’s even fun to be found in these sometimes daunting processes because if you’re not enjoying it and laughing at the end then why are you even doing it? People wonder where she gets her ‘I can do anything’ mentality and it continues to be bolstered in moments like this where her fear and caution are rightfully validated but not given complete control and with some support she’s able to step just beyond what she previously thought possible. These moments are empowering if conducted with respect and intentionality.❤️

Went heli-boarding, made a snow angel.👌 This moment was a great reminder that this little shredder is just 7 year old child. While dad has endless logistics spinning in his mind to make these experiences possible and safe and fun, she has the freedom to focus on the simple pleasures in life like snow angels on a mountain top 8,500’ above sea level (and then riding an entire mountain face of untouched powder but we’ll save that for another video!) I hope I’ve conveyed how amazing our time at @Purcell Lodge BC Backcountry has been but it’s worth mentioning this rather informal perk which is when conditions align, including a stable snowpack, low avalanche risk and clear skies there’s a chance you can catch a ‘heli-bump’ to a nearby location which once again became an experience of a lifetime for A.Sage and I.

I’m always down for some ‘adventure riding’ and this steep gully we found was the perfect moment to learn and practice her pivot turns that allow you to switch from heel edge to toe edge and back in tight spaces when getting back on your edge asap after a turn is important. When we get into adventure terrain like this I’ve found it helpful to simply lead with honesty and talk through the process out loud the good the bad and everything in-between! Good communication can transform a ‘sketchy’ experience into a fun trust building adventure!

Quick Look at this mornings commute to @Purcell Lodge BC Backcountry! I rarely edit quick reels and share on the fly but this epic is unfolding in spectacular fashion and the story is writing itself. If you need us we’ll be basing out of this epic lodge at 7,000’ in British Columbia, Canada for a while!

“Will you catch me?”🥹

Balance; it’s so simple but it’s so impactful. @REVBALANCE discount link in bio!

What a difference a couple months makes! 🏂 #4yearsold