2020 Shreds

A photo story documenting my skiing adventures during the 2020 season - shred the gnar, baby!

Vail tour guide Sarah!

Skiing was one of my primary sources of joy during the long, cold, impossibly difficult winter of 2020. Looking forward to going out west, buying new skis, and knowing I could zip over to the hill after work for a few runs provided so much comfort when I was sad.

Every time I went out I'd bring my tiny red Canon Elf Powershot with the goal of capturing the joy that skiing brings me - from sunset drives to Afton, to whiteout chairlift rides, to selfies with the ones that make skiing so fun... I wanted to capture it all.

I picked my Canon Elf partially because the it's small, doesn't die in the cold (unlike my phone), and is indestructible (I've had that bad boy since MIDDLE SCHOOL), but also because I LOVE the look of these digital photographs. They're oversaturated, often blurry, but always nostalgic. Discovering that you can add a timestamp in corny orange font was a game changer too.

None of these images have any toning - from the beginning I shot with the mindset that what you see is what you get. This simple approach is unusual for me, but very freeing. I hope you enjoy looking these images as much as I enjoyed making them. See you on the hill!

Shaking the dust off the gear for the first time - not pictured: Bridget struggling for a good 20 minutes to get her frozen boots on

This story starts at Afton Alps

- the rinky dink ski hill about an hour from my house. It's connected to EPIC, so I was able to use the same pass there that I'd eventually use out west. The hill's nothing special (hello, Minnesota) but it gets the job done when you JUST wanna be out there. The first few times me and Bridget went were MUDDY more than anything, with only one or two small runs open, but we had to be there!! Not the best skiing, but great to see Bridget and prove our dedication to the sport. Check out the parking lot shot below - no snow in sight, yet there we were.

Took my gloves off for two seconds to get this shot on this chilly night and my hands got so cold they ached... called it a night after that

My sexy new skiiiiiiiis

The last 20 minutes of the drive to Afton is straight on a country road. It's one of my favorite drives because it's so serene - especially at dusk. Blasting music, warming up in the car, watching the sun go down - talk about food that filled my soul right up. EXACTLY what I needed.

onto ---> Colorado

The iconic bear paw at Winter Park - I cherish this view! Also cool: Joe literally HIKED there one summer on a backpacking trip. Talk about experiencing two completely different sides of one place...

First stop: Winter Park. We've been to this resort so much as a family - it's my dad's favorite and they have a phenomenal adaptive skiing program that Liza did a few times. Returning felt a little bit like going home. It was fun to revisit the lodge we stayed at with Z and see where she took her lessons - skiing as a family was something we all loved and it was a little sad to be there without her, but also a little healing to remember the times we had and carry on the tradition. BIG shoutout to NCSD for being awesome :)

Before this photo was taken: we forgot the keys, and a pass. We had to re-meet up with Mom and all our phones were dying... basically: we had a MILLION little hiccups before we were able to actually get started on day 1. In this photo we were FINALLY headed up and grateful to be on the mountain....

Nothing beats perusing the resort map over hot coffee to plan your day out

Dad stretching out before day 2 - skiing is tough on our bodies but we live for it.

Winter Park ---> Vail

This is where my dad and Joe split off. Dad headed back home, Joe headed to Montana for a ski trip with friends. Mom and I went to Vail, where we met up with my friends Sarah and Kylie.

Sarah was working as a teacher at a ski academy for the season and Kylie came from Denver. They made for GREAT ski buddies - Sarah was our phenomenal tour guide since she knew the mountain so well, and Kylie brought the full send energy that I love about her so much.

Post-shredding coffee: the best

Ritzy Vail

Build-your-own-charcuterie: small hotel room style

Snow AND a blue sky? Doesn't get much better than that amirite?

Most important thing:

~ t h e b e e r ~

Blue Moon with an orange has a special place in my heart

Beer that makes me "full sendy," as Sarah says

My favorite part of skiing: Going with people who are better than you so you're constantly challenged

Here's Kylie, totally wiped out during an epic tree run in the back bowl at Vail. Sarah took us on runs that were definitely outside our comfort zones - and it was so fun to send it and have no idea if we were going to eat it or not (we definitely did not go hungry). There was a decent layer of powder this day too, so we felt invincible out there - everything had a nice cushion for us.

These were some of my favorite runs of the whole ski season. I love dense trees that already have a semi-estabilished path through them. The sound of trees smacking against my helmet is music to my ears.

Ski pals Sarah and Kylie made the season soooo much fun

Last stop: Breckenridge

Mum and I headed to Breckenridge just us two for the last leg of the trip. Besides skiing, we enjoyed driving in the mountains, walking around and shopping in town, trying some great restaurants, and watching Golden Girls before bed (lol). It was great to have some one-on-one time with Mom before I moved to Texas for work. I love that woman!

View from the top of a run at Breckenridge

A windy but pleasant lunch spot

Skied right up to our hotel to end the day at Breckenridge - not bad!

Thankful for every moment spent on the hill this season, and hoping you have something that brings that level of joy to your life

Post-shredding coffee: the best

Ritzy Vail

Build-your-own-charcuterie: small hotel room style

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