Saddle Sore: Big air over Maroon Creek Valley

It was a Saturday, and if one gets to the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC) early, one is fortunate to witness the cacophony of enthusiasm as various teams locate their coaches, eagerly await instructions, and take off up the ski lift directly adjacent to the clubhouse.

My mission for the day was to support my grandson, Cash, whose mother was busy encouraging his sister, Charli, on another part of the mountain. If you have more than one kid, being strung out between events is familiar to you, and besides, it gives an ol’ granddad an opportunity to participate.

It was a big day for Cash’s team (U12Devo): Big Air competition in the morning and then after lunch, a Rail Jam in front of the clubhouse. (Big Air I understand, as we used to eagerly participate in the gelandesprung contests over on the now defunct Willoughby jump hill.) But riding the rails, not so much. Education day for me.  

The morning is young, and as we reach the top of the Five Trees lift, Patrick Lyle, always the considerate coach, throws me a clue: “Be alert; the snow is rock hard and a little rugged.”

The boys easily navigate the rough stuff down the Stapleton Race Arena to the jump area without trouble. With me following, Patrick and I do the same right behind them, and now it’s time for them to get coached on their styles and to get some practice in before the competition. It’s impressive how these young hotshots know the drill — where to stop and wait, no one misses the gathering spot, what to expect; no one is a wise guy showing off. Well, no showing off until the competition starts. 

The “jump master,” Eric “Doughboy” Knight — one-time moguls champion for England and now in charge of the Freestyle program for AVSC — is busily getting the approach and the kickers ready for these air-loving kids.

Having arrived early, and the only obvious (grand) parent, I’m feeling a little out of place just standing around leaning on my poles, and the lay of the land is right before my eyes. How many times have I packed up the hill to practice running gates, or for another run at the gelande? How many times slipping the World Cup downhill course. Get with it, Ampa. You know the drill.  

Up the hill I go, studiously packing the soft snow on the approaches; get to the top, side-slip down, making the run-in as smooth as possible. Eric doesn’t yell at me, and I’m starting to feel like part of the team. Another worker, Jason De Carlo, sidles up to me, “You have a kid in this group?” he asks, and before you know it, we’re going through all the people we know up and down the valley, related to skiing and otherwise.  

Watching these young skiers do their practice runs gives me a new respect of how hard they are working on their skills. A clean 360 in the air, beautiful, and a perfect landing, or a not full 360 and a muffed landing, and back up the hill with gusto. Getting confident, a couple go for 540s. Incredible. Burning energy like crazy; it seems to come from an inexhaustible supply. And there’s Patrick, providing helpful advice to each one.

Coming up on the start time, a few parents begin to line the side. There’s Corey, watching for his son, Carson. Corey’s a great dad whom I first met several years ago when we accompanied Cash and Carson, as seven-year-olds, up the Bowl for their first time.   

Lunch at the Merry-Go Round and then down to the clubhouse for the rail jam. Spotting a couple of rails laid out, my first though is “Why not?” Quick way down. And then better sense takes over and I go around and park myself on a bench at the bottom, watching the boys work on their techniques.

It takes incredible balance to ride the rails on skis, no outside help, 360s, 180s and other stuff. Getting off the thing with a polished move takes skill, talent, and concentration. Counting the afternoon competition, those kids probably hit those rails at least 30 times, jogging back up the hill each time for another lap. That’s after the morning, sending big air over the Maroon Creek Valley.

Thank you, Cash, and the rest of your team and coaches for showing me a good day. If I was a kid, I’d want to be on your team.

Sleep came easy that night.

Tony Vagneur writes here on Saturdays and welcomes your comments at ajv@sopris.net.