Freeride
Andrea Ferretti
Chris Davenport is definitely one of the top athletes active in the world of skiing, and the last season 2013/2014 it is a perfect example. Among his travels in Norway, Alaska, Hawaii and Italy, Chris became a partner of the manufacturer Kastle, began working on a new video project with Red Bull, "The Faces of Dav", and continued its Centennial Peaks Project, which plans to ski the mountains 100 high in Colorado.
Friday 4 July 2014 17 minutes reading time
On the phone:
Dav Hey, how are you? "Okay! I returned from Norway last weekend and I'm enjoying a few days at home, here in Aspen. Just now I was preparing the equipment to go to San Juan (mountains of Colorado) to make a couple of skiing. "
How the snow up there? "I think it's OK: it is June, so nothing fancy, but for fans there are still a lot ' descents to do. "
What have you done in the last two weeks? "I was in Norway, Svalbard, filming for the new series that I'm making with Red Bull, and it is was great. Really a beautiful journey, living on a sailboat and sailing through the fjords on the hunt for all those slopes to ski. You has also been very productive, we were a good group together with James Heim, Michelle Parker and Ingrid Backstrom. Definitely a nice company and fun that was added to that of photographers and camera crew. This is was my last trip of the season, although to tell the truth there never stops! In a couple of weeks I will be in Austria to test the skis, and in South America at the end of August. "
Tell us more about this in your new project with Red Bull, "The Faces of Dav" "This is an opportunity exceptional and I'm really excited. You one of those things that Red Bull puts on the table as partners and sponsors, allowing you to carry out large projects. When they contacted me last fall I immediately thought, "will be grandiose. " We thought of eight episodes that had some sort of plot rather than focusing only on the destinations and descents. The idea was to present all aspects of my life and career as a skier, since they are involved in different aspects of the sport and industry of skiing. The series is called "The faces of Dav" (The faces of Dav), and focuses on the different roles that I play in this environment, as a father, husband, owner of a company based in Aspen and mountain guide. There is Also we have an episode called "Legend" goes back 20 years reinventing some historical footage and retracing some of history's Freeski tappae. The series will transmitted from October, with a new episode every week for a total of eight episodes. You was the commitment that has absorbed most of my time this winter, but it is definitely worth the thought. I think it will really a success. "
You said earlier that you are getting ready to go to South Colorado and continue with your project Centennial Peaks. What is it and how is it going? "The goal of this project is Skiing all 100 mountains high in Colorado. At the moment I have skied the first 54 above 14,000 feet, and I'm working on the remaining 46 above 13,000 feet. Last spring I ski about 30, I remain so for 16 this season. Being so engaged with the project Red Bull and others, along with some weather problems, so far I have managed to make only 9. 7 and then I'll miss the next few days I will see to approach the target more possible. I was hoping to be able to finish this spring, but probably will not as well. Some of the peaks that are lacking in the area of ​​the Weminuche Wilderness, one of the most remote state Siverton between Durango and home to five of the peaks over 13,000 feet. I have already made an attempt in that area with photographer Ian Fohrman, which has produced some amazing shots. We collected three bankruptcies because of the weather and the difficulty really high, being able to get off only two of the mountains. We'll try again next winter or spring with a different strategy. Although these failures are an integral part of the project: required a lot of attention in the study phase to determine the logistics and understand how to access the peaks and then descend on slopes that for the most part have never been skied by anyone. "
What are the mountains that will remain? "Those who would like to take home in the next few days are two unnamed peaks of 13,811 and 13,822 feet, near Lake City. Then there the Rio Grand Pyramid which is located between Lake City and Creed, the Huerfano in the chain of the Sangre de Cristo, and then three peaks in the Weminuche which are the ones that I mentioned earlier: Pigeon and Turret Jagged, very challenging. This is all over. "
There is a mountain that for one reason or another you like most in this project? 'E' a good question. You a little ' as with the 14,000 feet, there are so many that it is hard to choose, but surely there are some that will remain in your heart and others who just want to forget. In some skiing is wonderful, in others depressing. There are some peaks that clearly stand out over the others, and I would say that there are three in Aspen Cathedral, Haegerman and Thunder Pyramid, of which I and Ted Mahon we made a first descent of the east facade absolute five years ago. You a descent of classic imposing, steep, tough and simply wonderful. Another descent that I will remember has long that in the Weminuche mountain Vestal Peak, on the south facade. Great skiing. Something really surprising is was then the Mount of the Holy Cross, a famous 14,000 feet near Vail, where we enjoyed great. These peaks I mentioned are just some of those who most I was struck, but there are many others. One of my last runs is Mount Adams was in the chain of the Sangre Cristo, on the side of Kit Carson and Crestone. I got out of the west facade and is was an adventure intense, long and challenging as well as fun. "
And apart from the peaks that you were not able to achieve or complete, what were those most high degree of difficulty? "Some of those I mentioned earlier, such as Thunder Pyramid, which is very challenging. There is then Dallas Peak, a classic and one of the most difficult, near Telluride. And there to say that the Dallas area is not was still much frequented by skiers, although it is so close to the city. We have skied after a nice snowfall in one day from the blue sky, along with two local friends, Pete Gaston and Sean Sheahan. You was really a great day skiing powder on the west facade, with a perfect view on the chain of San Juan. Truly a moment to remember. Another major challenge is was the Teakettle Peak, which, in summer, is considered one of the 14,000 feet difficult to climb. We have dealt with perfect spring conditions that have allowed us to have fun great. Many, many highlights in this project, they are very motivated. Collects really the essence of my passion for skiing and the mountain: making new discoveries and conquer new peaks and descents. For me it is a little ' how to collect them. You That's what inspires me in my adventures, achieve the goals from time to time I ask myself. "
Tell us about Super Stars Camp in Portillo, Chile in the Andes "This year is The eleventh edition of the Camp and the fourteenth year in a row that I'm going to Portillo. It is a camp open to an audience of good skiers who want to improve, in which the first-class athletes accompany clients presenting to the secrets of freeskiing and the best materials. The coaches this year are Chris Anthony, Mike Douglas, Wendy Fisher, Jess McMillan and Jasse Hoffman, who is my point man for photography and media in general. All top-level athletes and all the great friends who like to spend time together. I'll be there throughout August, although the Camp lasts one week. Will take advantage to accompany some customers, spend a little ' time with my family that I will reach and introducing me to prepare to shoot new episodes for the Red Bull series in September. "
All athletes sponsored by GoPro, including yourself, you have just found in Hawaii for a retreat. Can you tell us what is success? "It is was a really nice experience. Were inspired by the model of Red Bull who always does this type of retreats and meetings, collecting some of the best athletes in the world from different sports: skiing, snowboarding, surfing, motorcycling and so away. There were riders like Nate Adams and Rodney Redder, Shaun White and Travis Rice, my roommate was a surfer Shane Dorian, and many others. Already just the fact of gathering so many athletes impressed us all, making me think of being part of something more larger than a simple sponsorhip. There were then a number of seminars in which we have explained in detail how best to use the cameras and how to intervene with editing that were really helpful. You was then an opportunity to experiment with a little ' Water sports and fun in the company of great people. Also as regards other skiers like Tom Wallisch present, Bobby Brown, Tanner Hall, Grete Eliassen, Kaya Turski, is was an opportunity to know each other a bit ' better. They are all people who are already I had this being in business, but who are involved in programs that are different from mine so I never really knew, until now. "
Tell us about another one of your sponsors, including six recently become a co-owner. What is succedento with Kastle? "I have invested in this company and is something very motivating for me. It is no longer just give input regarding the design of the products and the testing phase, now I'm really involved from start to finish. It is to invent ski right to their customers and make sure they have success in the market and help us grow. Being seated at the board and make important business decisions is a very unusual role for me, and I definitely still a lot to learn. But it is something I really wanted and where I want to commit now that he has created the opportunity. "
With all these travel plans you have left enough time to enjoy the summer in Aspen? "To tell the truth not quite what I'd like! I'm really enjoying these days of relaxation, cycling and walking out with my children. At the moment I am in the garage to prepare the skis because This weekend my boys more large output to make Mount Hood. So I'm always with her hands on skis! This morning I was then working on the design of the shirts for the Camp in Portillo. There is always something to do, and I'm happy, but sometimes I wish I had more free time. I'm planning to take a trip to Mexico with my wife next week to relax a bit '. Then I will go in Austri working Kastle skis at the end of the month, then come back for July here to enjoy some concerts and will be then in a short time to go to Portillo for the Camp. "
The original article in English is Donny O'' Neill and published at this link on Freeskier
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