RYAN CRISP
MY TOP FIVE
Ski Club Rep and Whistler regular Ryan Crisp picks his favourite bucket list spots, from the Dolomites to Hokkaido’s Mount Asahi
1. Silverton, Colorado, USA Deep in Colorado’s snowiest and steepest mountains, the San Juans, lays North America’s version of La Grave: the notorious thrills before frills anti-resort of Silverton. No ski school, no grooming, no glitz, no glamour, no on-mountain dining, just one rickety double-seater and a converted old school bus as base of ops. Silverton is remote, caters for the expert-only market, and gladly rewards them with 400 inches of annual snowfall across an untamed Wild West ski experience. The bulk of Silverton’s season demands you hire a guide and be fully avy equipped. You can even add single heli-drops to spice up your day.
2.Lyngen Alps, Norway Ski touring here has been on my wintry bucket list for years now. Jagged mountains, untouched lines, long days and pristine fjords snaking off into the horizon. Don’t mind if I do! Determined to earn some elusive 2021 turns, I organised my own Lyngen voyage for early May, thinking it could be a post-lockdown ski-hack. No queues, no resort, just a group of like-minded pow-starved friends, but... well, we all know that didn’t happen. However, my gang and I are excited to embark on our epic Norse saga this spring. The trip rescheduled, we’re staying at Viking Cabins in the heart of the area and will explore with a guide, rental van, and the odd fishing trawler.
3.Dolomites, Italy Ever since falling in love with the ’90s cinema classic, Cliffhanger, the Dolomites have been firmly on my radar. Yep, an interesting fact about the Stallone action flick is that those glorious ranges aren’t the Rockies, they’re actually the Dolomites. As a photographer, they call me like a beacon, and fortunately they are also said to offer wonderful skiing. This area was another victim to the early ’21 Covid lockdown. Three weeks sampling these mountains was my first domino to fall: Val Gardena and the famous Sella Ronda circuit, followed by Cortina (all part of the Dolomiti Superski pass), before finishing off in Madonna di Campiglio.Aperol Spritz, pizza and pasta, fine wines and miles of fantastic cruising. What a glutton for punishment I am!
4. Asahidake, Hokkaido, Japan Twice now I’ve had a guide booked and a day set to ski the tallest mountain, the peak and heart of the snow-leaden magical island of Hokkaido: Mount Asahi. And twice I’ve helplessly watched the usually welcome thick clouds arrive from their journey across the Sea of Japan, only to offload their Japow bounty with enough fury to scupper my efforts. Known by the native Ainu as ‘the playground of the gods’, Asahidake is an active stratovolcano, just like the more iconic Mount Yōtei that looms over the Niseko United area. Part of the Ishikari Mountains, Asahidake is similar to Silverton: it’s more of an un-resort, boasting only one cable car. Similarly, this is somewhere to venture with a local guide and a willingness to earn your bottomless turns. A smokin’ hot mecca for pow-thirsty adventurers. I’ve been in the right place, but one day hope to be there at the right time.
5. Fernie, British Columbia, Canada If you asked me to close my eyes and picture the most postcard-perfect ski town possible, I think of Fernie. Idyllic. Charming. Yet… I’ve never stepped foot in this town. So perfect in my mind is Fernie, it actually inspired the unfortunate town in my first feature script, an action-packed horror, The 111. The skiing is said to boast some of the best in Canada. Located along British Columbia’s famed Powder Highway, Fernie receives vast amounts of champagne powder. Open bowls, spines, chutes and glades galore. Runs on Cedar Bowl, pow stashes in Morning Glory, and getting nice and spicy in Currie Bowl, as a regular Canadian skier, I often hear grand and alluring tales of these and many more famous descents. One day Fernie, one day…
Ryan deep in the powder… just how he likes it
RYAN CRISP FACTFILE
Ryan made his first turns… at the tender age of 11. Like many Brits, on a school trip (to Voss in Norway).
He is… a photographer, a qualified Canadian ski instructor, a self-proclaimed Whistler ski bum, and an aspiring screenwriter (with a particular penchant for horror!)
He passed the SCGB Leaders’ course... in 2012 and will be Repping
in Whistler this January and March-April.
His favourite après spot is… Merlin’s at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, especially when local band The Hairfarmers are rocking up a good time.
His après tipple of choice is… a Bloody Caesar followed by a visit with Burt Reynolds! Don’t ask.
His ski motto is… Children of Winter never grow old!
For more go to rdcrisp.com or SCGB’s Whistler Facebook page
