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El Palo: The Stick

J Dogg — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 22:27:29 -0400

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Story and Photos by Holly Walker

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," so the old proverb goes. The expression in Argentina: "De Tal palo tal astilla." Rough translation: "The sliver comes from the stick."

In the case of Argentinean big mountain freeskier, Huere Darquier, it couldn't be truer...

Lia Darquier (goes by Huere, that's Waaay-Raaay if you were wondering) was born in the town of San Carlos de Bariloche in the Patagonia region of Argentina. If you haven't had the chance to visit the 'Switzerland' of South America, you should. It is home to beautiful lakes, forests, awesome skiing, a charming town and lots of tasty chocolates.

The forth of five children, Huere was born into a family of skiers. Every member of her family has worked/works for the local ski resort Catedral Alta Patagonia. Her father, originally a successful graphic artist in Buenos Aires, moved from the big capital city to the countryside of Bariloche to raise his family. After years as a gondola technician during the Argentinean summer in Andorra, Manuel semi-retired. He continues to work at Catedral Alta Patagonia (Alta) in the ski rental shop and can help you pick out the right pair of skis before heading to your lesson with his ski instructor wife Lia. With over 30 years of experience as both a mother and ski instructor, she knows a thing or two about raising ripping skier kids.

Huere's eldest sister Delfina, a retired competitive big mountain skier, teaches skiing in Beaver Creek, Colorado. In 1997 and 1998 she was ranked 9^th on the World Tour and in 2000 she was declared the South American Freeskiing Champion. Huere's eldest brother Joaquin also teaches at Beaver Creek and with Delfina teaches Level 1 and 2 certification courses for the International Ski Instructors Association in Bariloche. 'Joaco' was famous back in 1994 when he was the cover boy for an English publication by the Daily Mail called 'Ski Magazine.'

Huere's elder brother Diego, like the rest of his siblings, was also a ski instructor in Andorra during the off-season before throwing in the name tag to raise his own family of future rippers. Huere's younger sister Lula continues to teach at Alta. Like Huere, during South American summers, she comes to Whistler to teach an array of Spanish speaking clients - from Dominican Republic to Mexico to Spain. Don't get me started on the cousins.

At the end of September this last year I had the opportunity to head down to Bariloche from Las Lenas and finish off an epic season by skiing corn in the sun at Catedral Alta Patagonia. After a 24 hour bus ride and three transfers later, non-other than, you guessed it, Huere Darquier picked me up to take me to her parents home. After 5 days of Argentinean hospitality and too many chocolate shops, I had a belly ache. However, I also discovered the importance of the families, the 'astillas' like the Darquiers, that make up the 'palo' that is Catedral Alta Patagonia.

DETAILS

The historic town of San Carlos de Bariloche is located in the heart of Patagonia. Bariloche is a year round tourist destination and popular for skiing and snowboarding at the local ski resort Catedral Alta Patagonia. Catedral Alta Patagonia opens for the season Saturday, June 17, 2006. For information on Bariloche and Catedral Alta Patagonia check out:

Resort Website
Argentina Tourism
SouthAmericaSki.com Travel Planning

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Holly Walker is sponsored by Dynastar/Look/Lange, Icebreaker, Smith, Giro and Gordini. In the off-season she enjoys playing wiffle golf and floating in her inner tube on Alta Lake.

Ryan Oakden Interview

J Dogg — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

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Name: Ryan Oakden
Sponsors: Smith, Sessions Outerwear, 4FRNT SKIS, CFR,
Grew up Skiing: in Fernie B.C.
Belgian Waffles or Belgian Beer: I love waffles and I love beer this decision should not be made they are equally enjoyable at the same time.
Blackcomb or Whistler: Blackcomb.
Skiing the Poop Chutes or shooting poo: Skiing the poopchutes is what I am doing today.
Potato guns or potato farming: I like pemberton and all but there is nothing like the smell of hairspray to get the blood flowing

So Ryan, you were an interior boy originally, what brought you out to Whistler? 80's night at Tommy's?
Totally, my man Seamus hooks me up at the front door.

I've seen you on more than a few epic ski days this winter, how's winter been treating you?
I have skied more powder days this year so far then the entire winter of 04/05.

Had any trips up to your pad in Bralorne yet this season? Or is that just your global warming retirment plan?
Definitely been up to the Lorne a lot this year the steak sandy at the claimjumper keeps me coming back.

And it looks like you've got a new sponsor, or just poached somebody's skis. Why the jump to 4Front, and how're those boards for shredding the gnar?
4FRNT is probably the best decision I have made in skiing. The skis that they are making are super solid and way out perform the othe crap brand I was skiing on before.

Last year you scored big with a killer segment in TGR's Soul Purpose, stomping those backflips like it was nobody's business. Any plans to hook up with those boyz again this year, or other film gigs?
Actually Jamie it was Tangerine Dream that I have a segment with. This year I am working to get as much done as possible and ski as many powder days as I can.

I'm such a retard. I put on the film premiere and can't even remember what it was called. Anwyho, any crazy goals for the rest of the season?
Well I just like to go with the flow and when i see something i like I do it I dont like to make Insane goals ecause you know what the say about the best laid plans.

If you had to choose between one epic, 60cm fluffy pow day on Blackcomb or an unlimited lifetime supply of Timbits, what would it be?
Sorry Tim but 60cm days come around once a life time. Squamish is like 45 minute drive with a Wendys and Tim Hortons. Timbits are really quite affordable.

If you could stick snow to any feature in the world and ski down it, what would it be?
I bet the pyramids in Egypt would have epic pillow lines for sure the pyramids.

Any shouts out?
All my friends around B.C. and my family, we live in the best place on earth. B.C.

For video segments and more studly Oakden photos by Bryn Hughes, Adam Clark, Wade Mckoy and others, check out www.ryanoakden.com

Christian Bjork Interview

J Dogg — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0400

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Photos by Martin Skogfalt & Johan Hellman

Name: Christian Bjork

Hometown: Lulea in the North of Sweden, where the sun never sets in summertime and the wild icebears wander the streets
Favourite Ski Area: Riksgransen in Sweden and La Grave in the Alps
Sponsors: Cross, Fischer, Weps and Sweet
Free-falling or free-balling: Hmm tricky question, but falling free is always nice
High heels or banana peels, whatever that means: I'm not that much into high heels.. hehe so let's go for the banana peels whatever that is.
Big mountains or big air: Big mountains of course. The bigger the better.

So tell us Christian, is there really such thing as the Swedish Bikini Team?
Of course there is. You've seen it in the movies so there must be one.. And all the girls are blond, have big breasts, are named Inga and speak English with a German accent.

Speaking of Swedish people, you've spent the last few winters in Engelberg, Switzerland? Do they have really good meatballs there, or why are Swedes the only people who spend a season there? Tell us what we are we all missing?
This was actually my first winter in Engelberg, but I liked it. The legendary king size meatballs of Engelberg are famous among the Swedes. The expensive meat as well. But we all came for the snow and die Spindle! And this year was truly good. There was big dumps all winter long. And this year they say was more crowded than before, but still the line-ups for the lifts where short. The terrain is nice, the vertical drop as well and of course there are tons of nice cliffs to launch from.

You're right, Engelberg had an insanely good winter last year and the ski movies and mags were all over it. Do you think it'll be crazy busy next winter? Do you care, or do you have some secret stashes lined up for next year?
I think it's gonna be crazy. Engelberg gets more and more popular. And I think that's gonna be noticed next year. But I don't care. I'm not gonna go back. At least for the season. I feel like trying something new. The system is kinda small and after a while it gets a little boring. But when I stop by for a short visit I have some secret lines to shred.

You've been doing well in some competitions in Europe, any plans to try the Freeskiing World Tour and come over to North America?
The comps in Europe this year I could have done better. I lost skies and took some crashes before I did well in the Swedish Championships which I won. I have plans to come over and do the comps but I'm not sure my knee is good until then. But if the knee is strong I'm definitely coming over to join the races.

That sucks about hurting your knee this spring. Have you turned into a beer guzzling couch potato, or a Rocky look-alike getting ready for the next fight with 'Chariots of Fire' playing in the background?
I've been transformed to the Rocky look-alike. My motivation for next winter is high and I want to comeback stronger than before to shred the lines I didn't do this past season. But ofcourse summer in Sweden means alot of beers and partying. Here in the north we celebrate the never-setting sun by drinking to its honor all summer long.

Any big plans/goals for next winter?
Have a strong knee, ski more than last year, have fun doing it, do some comps, hopefully in North America too.

If we want to see you strut your stuff on snow, where can we look? Any upcoming parts in Swedish ski flicks?
You can check my homepage: www.crillebjork.se
To see a little of my skiing you can check the movie from the Swedish Championships at www.freeride.nu/content/641/
I haven't done any filming for any Swedish company yet. Would be fun to do this winter ofcourse. I was suppose to go on roadtrip before I broke my knee. But the crash ruined it all. Bad knee! This late Autumm it will come a short film in Swedish TV from past season, filmed by a friend of mine with me and my friends

Last but not least, why do Swedish guys always have long hair? Does it make you ski faster or does it have something to do with Swedish girls?
It's all about the hair. The longer the hair, the better the skier.. And of cour

se the girls likes it.

Anyone to thank?
My family and my sponsor. Would be harder to all the funny things I do without them. I must thank my grandpa, my hero. He's a really tough old guy!

Martin Skogfalt Photo

Chris Eby Interview

J Dogg — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500

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Name: Chris Eby
Hometown: Pemberton B.C.
Sponsors: Head/Tyrolia, Columbia, Kombi, Smith, Giro, CFR
Least favourite music artist: Vanilla Ice

Skill Testing Question - What do you have in common with 3 of the other athletes profiled on Doglotion.com?
We all ski!
Well, I was thinkin' that 3 of them went to the same high-school as you. What an insestuous magazine eh.

So you've been one of the big boys in big mountain skiing in Canada for a while now. But unlike a lot of the big guns you're actually from the west coast. So what kind of ski background do you have? Racin' like the Ontarions, bumps like Quebecers, or maybe granola eating hippy parents raising you on cross country skis?
My background is just strait up freeskiing. Powder piggin and solo rippin are my roots. I've also got my twinky level 3.

I've seen you on the ski hill like twice a year max? What are you up to on the other days? Sledding? Yodeling in the mountains?
Funny that cause I never see you either. I'm on the hill all the time but try to ski solo or in small groups. I spend about half the season in the backcountry and traveling.

You're known as more of a big mountian skier, but I've seen shots of you railsliding over man-eating crevasses. Are you batting for both teams?
I guess I am a bit of a switch hitter. Skiing that is.

And you coach for Camp of Champions in the summer, awesome gig or what? Do you get to teach kids how to shred while honing your own skills at the same time, or is it all about paintballs and picnics?
I focus on coaching the kids but learning new tricks is all apart of it. Working for COC rocks!!

What plans do you have for the coming winter? Any big trips lined up, or goals to shoot for?
My goals are to keep progressing and as for big trips they are usually spur of the moment. I go to Europe almost every year when it starts storming. My main focus will be filming with Team 13 and I'll probably do a few comps.

I gotta ask, what was it like autographing your posters at those film premiers we went to in the fall? The chicks must have digged it. Any funny encounters with anyone?
The hardest part is coming up with new things to write. After two or three hundred posters you start to run out of things to say. But ya, chicks totally dig it!

Would you rather spend a day skiing waste deep powder in alaska on snowlerblades, or a day in the coolest superpark ever... on a monoski?
Well they would both kinda suck but I have monoboarded in a park before so I guess I would take snowlerblades in Alaska just to try something new!

Any thanks?... Family, Vancouver crew and my sponsors! P.S. Photos by Blake Jorgenson.