Conor Davis

Two weeks, two comps, and 3000 miles later, I’m finically back home in Sun Valley, Idaho. It all started with the Subaru U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships in Crested Butte, Colorado. In typical ski bum style, North Parker, Bryce Newcomb, and I all mobbed over to the Comp in my mothers Big Blue Van. We were greeted with a much need blanked of fresh snow, followed by an amazing blue bird sunny weekend. With these ideal conditions I had the most fun I’ve ever had at Crested Butte. North kept his Jr. title for the second year in a row, and Bryce and I both fell which caused us to place further back than what we wanted(I ended up in 36th). I also skied the most burly line I think I have ever skies and aired a 50-footer at the bottom of the Dead End Chute. I got to meet lots of the alpine athletes and make friends outside of the SV-Possy. Then we were on the road again headed back to Sun Valley. After I dropped Bryce and North off, I only had time to Unpack, do laundry, Repack and get some food, before I was on the road again headed to California for the first extreme Telemark comp at Alpine Meadows.

The Alpine Comp was another great competition, and it felt good to be back in the company of so many rippin’ Telemark Skiers. The First day I skied well but I had an unfortunate bobble upon landing the bottom cliff out of the “Key Hole,” but I redeemed my self second run, with the highest total run score for the whole comp, which put me into 3rd place, right behind Jake Sakson, and JT Robinson. The next day in the Finals I was hoping to bypass JT and Jake by skiing the “money-line” faster and better than I had done the day before. I ended up being too aggressive and I lost my balance as I dropped into the keyhole and I fell in the “NO-FALL Zone.” Obviously my scores suffered, but I with the great run the day before, I was able to pull off a 8th place finish.

Now it feel like have time to breath, but im back to training, Crested Butte is coming up in a few weeks…
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Besides the cliché half-binding/half-brained hippy statement: “because the turn looks and feels so sweet dude,” I telemark because it is a key to unlock the hidden treasures of the mountains and because it allows access the backcountry. Telemarking allows me to enjoy mountains, and express myself better than I could do with tradition alpine skiing. “Then why don’t you just A.T.” you might ask? We all know that A.T. means “Almost Telemark.” I feel that A.T. doesn’t allow the seamless and fluid movement through the mountains, that telemarking does. I believe that A.T. is a great way for beginners to experience touring, but why not loose that clunky heelpiece?

To me, telemarking is like using handwritten calligraphy instead of type: it’s more technically challenging, it boasts additional style, and it contains an individual flair unique to each artisan… Plus it just looks cooler. Duh!!!

Haig Glacier

2009-2010 Competition Highlights:

Competed in 6 freeskiing comps (3 of which were alpine comps I did on my tele-gear)
6^th at Alpine Meadows Big Mtn Telemark Comp
5^th at the Telemark Extreme Freeskiing Nationals in Crested Butte (fell in super-final was in 2nd)
7^th at the Telepalooza World Extreme Comp
Tough Guy Award at the World Comp
-In Telemark Skiing Mag’s movie

2008-2009 Competition Highlights:

1st big air category of all terrain Comp Sun Valley Tele
1st Overall Sun Valley Tele All Terrain
Highest Ranked Telemark skier: Canadian Freeskiing Open
36th Crested Butte Freeskiing Championships: Subaru Freeskiing tour (best on Telemark)
Highest Scoring Run: Alpine Meadows Free-heal open
8th place Alpine Meadows (fell in super final)
10th National Extreme Telemark Championships

Other Life Highlights 2008-2009

-As far as I know I invented a new tele-surf technique (video coming as soon as the snow falls)
-127 days skied, at 14 different resorts in the US and Canada, and 20 days of amazing back country touring.
-expanded my bag of tricks with: Back Flips, 720′s, Lincoln Loops and others inverts.
-Biggest air I’ve ever hit: 50ft ish from takeoff to landing… stuck it

2007-2008 Season Competition Highlights

-1st Bob Marley day big air telemark comp.
-7th Extreme Freeskiing telemark world championships– Alyeska resort AK
-9th Canadian Freeskiing open– Red Mtn. BC (alpine comp i did on my tele’s)
-10th US Extreme Freeskiing telemark nationals–Crested Butte CO
-lots of top results in the mens elite class for the Sun Valley Telemark Series

Other Life Highlights 2007-2008
-two week yurt ski trip in the Sawtooth Mountains “Boulder Yurt” with friends

-148 days skied (37 in backcountry)

-Three week trip to Moab, for river rafting, Climbing, and Mountain Biking

-Graduated High School!!! (and i even gave a speech)