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A couple of trusty rock skis. Liam McGee

An Ode to Rock Skis

Nope, nope, nope. Too nice. There we go. A couple of core shots and no edge to speak of. Perfect. I pull a pair of beat-up Bent Chetlers from a mess of ski gear in my basement and toss them in the trunk before heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon.

I am a firm believer in a tools-not-jewels ethos. Sure, there’s something to be said for treating gear nicely. Mostly because it drastically increases the longevity of a product. However, I’m of the opinion that the best form of any gear is the beater state. You know that puffy that’s made up of more patches than face fabric? Or the old ski in the back of your closet that still slides fine?

A trusty beater lets the experience shine. Skiing is fun (duh). It’s more fun when you’re focused on skiing, not avoiding a compressed edge. On Sunday, Alta’s opening day looked more like the hill behind my Vermont childhood house in October than an area touting the greatest snow on earth. But, like that childhood hill, the experience is heightened by focusing on the actual experience: the speed, the wind, the nature. Sharing quality time with friends.

Thanks to an utmost lack of care if I damaged my skis, I happily skied bumps and grass and tore through exposed pebbles. Slowly, the sensation of locking in a turn and pressing through the tongue of my boot returned. We’re back, baby.

The touring rig is finally getting broken out this weekend for the first time since my September trip to South America, more for a conditions and fitness check-in than any actual skiing, given the complete lack of precipitation in the forecast. With that said, (I don’t want to jinx it but…) I’m pretty excited to head East for the holidays where there’s more snow, too.

—Liam

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