I have spent my life trying to perfect the turn, the air, the ollie and the slide. Only recently, I have realised that these are just tools to experience the mountain rather than the central pursuit. The joy of skiing is found in thrill and exploration.

Skiing is best when the line between control and chaos melts away and what is left is euphoric, dreamy, clouds, pillows, spring, bounce, harah!

I grew up skiing at Mt Buller. 24 years of riding Blue Bullet. 24 years of exploring the snow gums around Family Run. 24 years of wondering what is on the other side of Stirling. Dad used to say the Abominable Snowman lived on Stirling. I still think something lives on the back of every mountain, just now I have the means to ski tour and find out.

Buller continues to be a place of exploration for me. The snowpack deepens and thins, and thins some more. My skis grow fatter and now thinner. My backpack’s contents become less slalom guards or hoodies and more ice axe and skins. My skiing has moved from the intense focus of racing to the laissez-faire terrain park to now the mountain that demands both intense focus and flexibility.

Buller’s Chutes are expanded when you no longer label them 1, 2 and 3. They become a zone between Main Street and Fanny’s. I can’t wait to see new lines imagined as fresh eyes and the energy of competition invigorate Buller’s Chutes once again.

p.s.

Check out Sugarmountainfilm.com

other interests… gardening.