First Flatiron Ski Descent March 1

Well put Cor. Those who say it ought to be easy have likely never been there, at least not in winter. They are wanting to pee on the parade but neglected to notice the head wind. If Skiing the Flats were so damn easy they would be regularly shredded. Wonder why they haven't been? You want to talk about style? It's the first time it has been done what style would you expect? It might be a good idea to hold back on the sour grapes until we can see some video.

I'm speaking on the mature state of our sport where due to better technology and 40 years of steep skiing most of all the respectable good routes have been done in Colorado and the Alps etc.

There are between 1000-3000 very good steep skiers living in Colorado. If you are in that club you will get respect from those who understand this niche area of the sport, you don't need to "rollerblade the roof of the superdome" or do anything really stupid to get respect.

The 1980s were a time we should learn from, when ski stunts reached an apex. A lot of good people and great skiers died doing things which didn't advance our sport.
The First Flatiron has all the worst features which kill skiers - dense waterfall ice hidden under powder, buried rock ridges and heavily textured rock which has crystals that catch edges. These "wildcards" kill the best of skiers and there is no skilled way to avoid some types of hidden features. If you ski down its just luck. We can all just hope that these features don't get us on an exposed route some day. Doug Combs, Hans Saari and others are not less of skiers than those still alive today just because hidden dangers or wildcard situations tripped them up. No one is immune from these type of hazards.

MikeWh wrote:I'm speaking on the mature state of our sport where due to better technology and 40 years of steep skiing most of all the respectable good routes have been done in Colorado and the Alps etc. At this point younger generations are scraping for some sense of identity or uniqueness. There are between 1000-3000 very good steep skiers living in Colorado. If you are in that club you will get respect from those who understand this niche area of the sport, you don't need to "rollerblade the roof of the superdome" or do anything really stupid to get respect. The 1980s were a time we should learn from, when ski stunts reached an apex. A lot of good people and great skiers died doing things which didn't advance our sport. The First Flatiron has all the worst features which kill skiers - dense waterfall ice hidden under powder, buried rock ridges and heavily textured rock which has crystals that catch edges. These "wildcards" kill the best of skiers and there is no skilled way to avoid some types of hidden features. If you ski down its just luck and not skill. We can all just hope that these features don't get us on an exposed route some day. Doug Combs, Hans Saari and others are not less of skiers than those still alive today just because hidden dangers or wildcard situations tripped them up. No one is immune from these type of hazards, so what does it prove to ski this type of face? Nothing. Other descents by Mr. Porzak of classic steep faces are awesome and do prove that he is a good skier, in the top 'club' of 1000 CO skiers, but this particular event is just a stunt which could have cost us taxpayers a lot for a rescue or recovery.

Maybe he just thought it would be fun and doesn't give two shits about your "respect" or "advancing the sport". I have news for you...most every skier and climber in the world isn't advancing the sport, they're just doing things they find fun and challenging. He did something rarely done, novel to him, had fun doing it, and did so without an undue amount of danger to himself or others. He has nothing to "prove" to you.

MikeWh wrote:but this particular event is just a stunt which could have cost us taxpayers a lot for a rescue or recovery.

It was done on top rope belay.... Was risking all that much...

Cor wrote:Jus'Sayin A fellow human being did something cool.

I think it' badass and wish I had done it. And I'd def use a rope too!! I means it's ROCK. No base just some fluff temporarily stuck to it. Not exactly great for turns.

csproul wrote: Maybe he just thought it would be fun and doesn't give two shits about your "respect" or "advancing the sport". I have news for you...most every skier and climber in the world isn't advancing the sport, they're just doing things they find fun and challenging. He something rarely done, novel to him, had fun doing it, and did so without an undue amount of danger to himself or others. He has nothing to "prove" to you.

Exactly. Funny how that seems to be lost on those who take themselves (and our stupid sport) too seriously...I think I heard a "fffffftttt" sound going over someones head as you wrote that.

Everything we outdoor adventure types do is a stunt at least to some others.
Who cares? This wasn't some inane stunt on an obnoxious show like JackAss.
He was doing something he'd wanted to do for himself for a long while. He didn't do it for you or me and I doubt he is encouraging Noobs to follow his lead.
This may have been the biggest bungle-fest of the year or it may be a way cool send.
He has acknowledged his style why not wait to see the footage before diminishing his adventure?

Video!! Show the video! Everyone is going to keep whining arguing until we see the unedited video!!! He offered, let's see it! Silence the critics.

And then everyone will keep arguing....

Austin Porzak wrote:Yes, I skied 3 60m pitches of it on belay and for good reason. Once I realized climbers were below me I anchored into a tree and waited for them to get to me. We actually chatted for a bit then they kept climbing and I kept skiing. It was kinda funny we had quite a few mutual friends. This was a really fun descent and pretty challenging. Images were shot by Daniel Sohner.

You the man!

Well played sir.

MikeWh wrote: If you ski down its just luck and not skill.

WTF??

Not only did they take a nice long piss in your cereal bowl, but a big steaming shit as well. STFU already.

Scott McMahon wrote: Not to take anything away from a rad run, but yeah this can't be more than 35ish degrees. Moving onto the direct to avoid the mando air on the left might go around 40ish to 45. STILL...sick and ballsy. No base doesn't give a lot of decision making opportunities.

Nah, it's closer to 60.
While the gully is indeed inset, it maintains the same inset for the length of the climb. Effectively, it is the same steepness as the rest of the rock, IE direct east face.
If it were 30deg, it would be a slot deep into the hillside below the summit by the top. But that is not the case. It rises on the same slope.
It just holds more snow because it is a trench that collects it, and gets less sun from the south.

I'm one of the climbers who was on Silk Road while Austin and company were descending.

I wanted to hate them for skiing on top of us, but they really did wait for us to get into good places so we could climb/ski around each other safely. A couple of them seemed pretty new to roped climbing(well skiing) but listened to all of our suggestions to avoid clusterfucks. They were clearly all badass skiers but I do hope a couple of them get a little more experience handling ropes before they do something like this again.

Skiing it was pretty nutty, and I think it is a bit of a gimmick that will grant them a little more press than they deserve. Climbing it is pretty silly too; the skiers didn't deserve to be there any less than the climbers, and they were pretty cordial about the whole thing.

Colin Simon wrote:I'm one of the climbers who was on Silk Road while Austin and company were descending. I wanted to hate them for skiing on top of us, but they really did wait for us to get into good places so we could climb/ski around each other safely. A couple of them seemed pretty new to roped climbing(well skiing) but listened to all of our suggestions to avoid clusterfucks. They were clearly all badass skiers but I do hope a couple of them get a little more experience handling ropes before they do something like this again. Skiing it was pretty nutty, and I think it is a bit of a gimmick that will grant them a little more press than they deserve. Climbing it is pretty silly too; the skiers didn't deserve to be there any less than the climbers, and they were pretty cordial about the whole thing.

you realize that this is the internet right dude? we can't be having that sort of reasoned and objective thinking

MikeWh wrote: this particular event is just a stunt which could have cost us taxpayers a lot for a rescue or recovery.

That ol' chestnut.

Good thing you don't do any dangerous activities like climbing and whatnot, am I right? It'd be irresponsible..

MikeWh wrote:you don't need to "rollerblade the roof of the superdome" or do anything really stupid to get respect.

but i want to....

Scott McMahon wrote: Not to take anything away from a rad run, but yeah this can't be more than 35ish degrees. Moving onto the direct to avoid the mando air on the left might go around 40ish to 45. STILL...sick and ballsy. No base doesn't give a lot of decision making opportunities.

CJC wrote:60 degrees? Having a hard time picturing where. Deetz? Nice job man way to get it done.

From a field geology class and climbing Silk Road yesterday...

The east faces of the Flatirons average around 50 degrees, and as this gully isn't inset (as Tony stated above), it will in general share this slope. On a smaller scale, it's full of small rollers and little "headwalls", so while you have some sections that are no more than 40 degrees, you have others that are 60 degrees.

The Blueprint Part Dank wrote: you realize that this is the internet right dude? we can't be having that sort of reasoned and objective thinking

Exactly. Sorry for making people think deeper than a ski film screenplay. This is no place for critical analysis of the route/conditions or wet blanket topics. I'll now join the young knobheads in a united cheer of awesome! and gnar! Show us the video!

MikeWH sounds like a fun guy. I bet he rips at Eldora...

At the geology outing, how long was the 60 degree section?

I have a hard time believing that it is more than just a roll. Not that it's not an impressive stunt, but angle inflation is very common and silly.

FYI, this is what 60 degrees looks like on the Landry Line on Pyramid.

And no, we didn't ski that. I'm definitely not that good.

where is the GoPro footage? Or it didn't happen.