How the ski pros (and Fall Line crew) prep for winter
Ever wondered how the pros, the ski tech whizzes and the Fall Line crew get their ski legs in gear for the new season?
Wonder no more…
MARKUS EDER, pro skier
The kit I’m using….
I’m rocking some nice technical The North Face gear. For skis, I use three different models from the Völkl Revolt line; I use the 96 in the snowpark and the 121 for all the rest. Sometimes I’m on the 104 too, as it’s a super-fun playful ski for the in-between days.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Skiing is, and always will be, the best preparation for winter. No matter how ready I am, the first few times I’m always sore, which is normal since the muscles need to adapt to the specific motions again. Saying that, I’ve been climbing a lot, which great for body tension and healthy for the back. Skateboarding helps me with coordination and balance, and the many small but hard landings are a great stimulus for bones, ligaments and cartilage. Hiking and biking is also something I like to do to keep my endurance up to speed.
The trips I’m planning…
Most likely I’ll be staying in Europe for most of the winter, but I’m already excited to go back to Alaska with Victor de le Rue a second time to finish our project.
I’m also…
Getting hyped up by friends, because somebody is always somewhere having fun on snow, and I’m soaking in this season’s ski movies. I’d say what gets me the most fired up is simply the temperatures dropping as winter sets in.
What I want most from this season…
Have a good time and not take myself too seriously. Sure I’ve got a trick-list and a hit-list and a couple other big objectives (those are still a secret), but foremost it needs to be fun.
REINE BARKERED, pro skier
The kit I’m using…
I’m riding the Dynastar M-free for pretty much the whole season, plus Lange RS130 boots with a foam liner. I’m looking forward to some nice new gear from Giro and, of course, the new limited-edition Pure 00 kit from Elevenate Clothing that I developed together with the company.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Cardio and core have been my focus for some years now; I barely go to the gym anymore and do mostly body weight exercises, trying to get as good strength to weight ratio as possible. Through summer I did lots of mountain biking, and got back into running, as the time for training decreased a little bit with a little one in the house.
The trips I’m planning…
My winter plans are very much up in the air still; I’m taking lessons from last year when Europe had a bad snow year, so I will try to stay flexible for as long as possible to go where the good snow is. But the plan is to mostly ski Europe
I’m also…
As I retired from my competitive career last season, I really looking forward to working on the more creative side of skiing again. Photos and film and ultimately doing my own thing on YouTube, so look out for that on my channels! I also got elected to the Åre municipal council last September, so I do have some political obligations to look after throughout the year. Other than that it’s planning the schedule and hunting sponsors, as always.
What I want most from this season…
Just a good snow year and to get to do most of these trips together with the whole family. It’s a new chapter, so we are still trying to figure out how to make everything work, but as long as we are having a good time I will consider it a win.
INGRID BACKSTROM, pro skier
The kit I’m using….
I’m excited to wear my new The North Face Summit Series Verbier GTX Jacket and Bibs. I started wearing bibs a few years ago and they are a total game changer, once I figured out how to pee while keeping them on! This kit is super waterproof and breathable, perfect for deep winter hikes and snow.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
In summer I run, bike and hike near my home in Leavenworth, Washington, in the Cascade Mountain range. My favourite bike trail is called Rosie Boa, it’s steep and flowy, with a lot of banked turns and a few different ways to pedal up – either a steep road for sustained hard cardio, or a more meandering trail if I want to take it easier on the way up, and go a little longer at a lower heart rate. I also do some weight training in the fall, plus some stretching, mobility, and PT. It sounds like a lot, but I try to switch it up to keep it fun and interesting, and I know it will pay off later on down the road.
The trips I’m planning…
I always try to have a few trips that I put on the calendar and then keep the rest of it loose, to be able to try to chase snow. My best tip for a road trip is to set aside the time frame and pick a few potential spots, then make a last-minute decision depending on the forecast. It can be a scramble, but it keeps it exciting! I always want to go to British Columbia, and I’m hoping to visit a friend in Utah. It’s a major bonus if I make it to Europe, and I always try to make it to Alaska, too.
I’m also….
I get excited to watch ski movies with a story behind them; I love hearing how people got to where they are at and what makes them tick. I of course love checking out Fall Line and getting pumped, looking through my photos from last season and dreaming big.
What I want most from this season…
I’d love to do a ski trip with my family; it’s a lot of logistics and effort, but it’s always so fun to see my kids explore a new place and make fun memories with them.
CODY TOWNSEND, pro skier
The kit I’m using…
If I’m skiing on my Salomon Echo 106s, then it means I’m having a good time. I’ll be spending as much time as I can on them, along with my new Scrambler outerwear kit, S/Lab Summit MTN boots and MTN Pure bindings.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Through summer, lots of trail running around the Tahoe Basin, a bit of climbing and scrambling across the Sierra, and some biking on the roads, gravel and dirt straight from my house in Tahoe City.
The trips I’m planning…
To be honest, I would like to travel less this winter. Exploration of the backyard – which is the mountains around Tahoe, but for me stretches the entire length of the Sierra (400 miles) – is more of a priority. We often go far in search of adventure, but there is so much adventure to be had when you slow down, narrow your focus and realise how little of your own backyard mountains you actually know.
I’m also…
Hanging out with my son, watching my San Francisco 49ers, reading some books and starting to look at the long-term weather models while hoping for a big winter.
What I want most from this season…
To me, skiing is all about the variety of experiences and sensations that come with such a diverse sport. I don’t dream of just pow turns all winter– I relish days on hardpack, slush and wind board. So to me, as long as there is variety throughout the season, I know I’m gonna have a good time.
MICHELLE PARKER, pro skier
The kit I’m using…
The Peak Skis 104SC with the Salomon MTN binding and the Tecnica Zero G while hitting airs, and the Scarpa Quattro XT for light and fast touring days. I rock the Arc’teryx Sentinel jacket and bibs for outerwear, Rho merino wool baselayers, Darn Tough socks (always), Anon Opportunist shades for the way up and M4S goggles for the way down, with my Anon Merak helmet and Mammut avalanche beacon, shovel and probe to keep me safe.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
I filled my free time during summer with long days in the mountains climbing, running up hills and biking as much as I could. I watched the Tour de France a lot over the summer, so I spent a significant amount of time on my my road bike, motivated by the incredible athletes doing incredible things. Mostly though, I mountain biked. Then I get on the gym program; While my younger self thought that I could get away with all of the outdoor activities as ‘training’, I’ve come to realise that the gym is a requirement for me to feel strong.
The trips I’m planning…
Nothing is set in stone. I usually like to wait to see where the storms hit and see if I can get creative with it.
I’m also…
… just finished touring my latest project with Arc’teryx. This is the first time that I took on the role of Director. We pitched a project to Arc featuring snowboarders and skiers, all women with the theme of circularity. We had 137 unrepairable jackets re-purposed into a tent and the light storyline follows the tent throughout the winter in all of the locations that we filmed in.
What I want most from this season…
The answer has remained the same for my entire career: to have as much fun as possible.
SEAN MANLEY, Black Diamond Equipment UK sales manager
The kit I’m buying…
Being Black Diamond focused, the new Black Diamond Spark Gloves, Recon LT jacket and Helio 95 skis made up my shopping list, along with a new pair of do-everything ski boots, which is a VERY BIG decision! Not forgetting a new IPS avalanche beacon from Pieps. ISP stands for Interference Protection System and it truly is game-changing technology, meaning that your beacon is no longer affected by electronic devices like phones.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Running/jogging, mountain biking and hanging from a pull-up bar are all part of the summer fitness program, only counter balanced by the biscuits.
The trips I’m planning…
I’m looking forward to the SIGB Ski Test in La Clusaz in January, but a spring ski touring trip to the Dolomites with friends is high on the realistic wish-list for 2024.
I’m also…
Re-reading the ski boot reviews in Fall Line mag, and I’m always watching ski edits that the YouTube algorithms want me to watch. Plus following ski ambassadors like Iain Innes for inspiration.
What I want most from this season…
To ensure that my technical level of skiing doesn’t drop too much season-to-season to allow me to enjoy skiing with friends and not get too phased when the terrain gets more technical. This gets tougher as you get older and ski less, but you’ll often find me practicing the basics to help me keep my eye in. I’m also going to need to learn rope and abseil techniques to allow access into those Italian couloirs.
AMY MARWICK, FL ski tester
The kit I’m buying…
A Garmin watch. My current Suunto is well out of date… not even GPS. I’m an actual granny.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
In September I ran (well, hiked as fast as I could in the wake of two ultra-running friends) the UTMB route over five days. Safe to say everything hurt for four of those five days, but I came out the other end much fitter than I started!
The trips I’m planning…
We’ve got dreams of Canada or Japan, but we’ll have to see how the season goes. It’s always so busy. I’ll definitely try and get out more in Scotland this season too – weather permitting.
I’m also…
Watching the new Arc’teryx all-female ski film Nexus: One is Not Enough on repeat. And walking the dog, a lot.
What I want most from this season…
To get some more ski touring time and have some wild, cold, type-two fun. Bring it on!
Scott Dobson, Dynastar Commercial Agent
The kit I’m buying…
The new Lange Shadow 130 ski boots with the Dynastar M-Cross 88.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Cycling (I find running dull and it hurts my knees). Oh, and walking the dogs, if that counts?
The trips I’m planning…
I’ll be heading to the annual industry SIGB Ski Test in La Clusaz in January for sure, then Le Praz in April, then, depending on how things workout, end another trip to France somewhere in February.
I’m also…
Dreaming of lots of snow.
What I want most from this season…
Some good news from the tabloid press that there is lots of great snow and that the skiing is out of this world. But, in reality, it will be bad news because all the lower resorts are snowed in!
Martin Chester, FL Backcountry Editor
The kit I’m buying…
I’m hoping to get hold of some Blizzard Hustle 9s (after the La Clusaz Ski Test) to play on this winter. I’ve also got an exciting new Osprey pack to test, to see how they fair for multi-day touring packs.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Summer alpine guiding (up to 4,000m peaks) keeps up the base fitness. And building the ‘skinning specific’ leg fitness that road biking gives me.
The trips I’m planning…
As well as my guiding trips with regular client groups, I have loads of unusual trips in the pipeline. Starting off in Kazakhstan in December, I’m partnering with a local IFMGA guide to explore this exciting new area, for me. We still have some places available! I’m also teaming up with SailingTaxi in Norway to offer unusual sail and ski trips to less-frequented areas. That also includes some journeys, like starting in Bodo to explore Steigen; then sailing north (via some great skiing each day) to finish in Tromsø. The season will run until May again, finishing off by sailing up in the high arctic to Finnmark. I can’t wait!
I’m also…
Surfing the internet looking for obscure venues to go touring. I’ve been reading Slow Skiing and researching where we can enjoy green(er) ski touring.
What I want most from this season…
To see what the impact of the first El Niño winter will be, after these past few wacky seasons. Will it be a return to more normal and colder conditions? Or will global warming result in yet another wacky winter?
WARREN SMITH, Helly Hansen Ski Ambassador
The kit I’m buying…
I’ve got the Helly Hansen Elevation Infinity 3.0 jacket and pants for my spare outerwear when I’m not working for the Academy. I’ll also be using the Völkl Blaze 114 with a Duke PT 16 binding plus skins, so when I’m off-piste I can tour up to the less tracked-out areas. I’m looking forward to getting into the long-awaited Cabrio LV Free130 3D-Wrap Dalbello ski boots. As I write this, I’m just off to get them fitted here in Verbier’s Mountain Air shop. Exciting times!
The fitness I’ve been doing…
At 51, I’m always managing career-long injuries. So it’s a bit of a constant for me. I’ve been managing a knee and lumbar injury with specialists from the Fortius Clinic. I’ve been on the e-bike around the mountains of Verbier to keep the legs and joints on track.
The trips I’m planning…
After November skiing in Cervinia on the Zermatt glacier for the pre-winter Academy week, I’m in Verbier with clients and journalists for December and January. In February, I’m off to ski Japan with a journalist and meeting up with the Academy Powder Camps there. Then it’s back to Verbier. In between I’ll be visiting lots of other smaller resorts around the Valais looking for quieter areas and ‘secret stashes’ of powder.
I’m also…
I will be watching all the ski movies…
What I want most from this season…
Safety for everyone and hope that awareness is raised a bit more for the constant shifts in temperatures that make the snowpack always trickier to negotiate. Then, of course, as much powder as I can possibly get in among!
JONNY RICHARDS, FL Editor-at-large
The kit I’m buying…
I’m still an addict. Who still has masses of kit, but somehow still can’t say no to treats like The North Face Brigandine jacket I’m currently tracking on eBay. Oh yes, those of you with excellent memories will note that I was doing exactly this a year ago! With the same jacket! But like all the best pursuits (and relationships) it’s complicated. And let’s just say the owner of this Futurelight and fabulous jacket is still asking far too much. Yet once this £720 list-price beauty, that’s new (but getting older by the day) hits the £200s rather than mid-£300s, it shall be mine, oh yes!
The fitness I’m doing…
My legs ache. I fall asleep in the bath. Through summer and autumn, most days I’m running outdoor music events or preparing for them or cleaning up after them, and walking miles and miles in the process. It’s actually pretty perfect ski training, while the way we shift/strip marquees and staging is all lower body, just like wading through powder.
The trips I’m planning…
Japan.Japan. Japan. It’s been too long. I was there in 2020, 2019, 2018,2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 – you get the picture! Bullet train, lots of resorts, finish in Niseko, here we come. But God, flights are looking expensive.
I’m also…
Just like last season, trying to embrace getting older, and, er, slowing down a little. Less charging, as 50 years on earth gets close, more enjoyment. Maybe even a mid-afternoon beer appeals. But then it will start snowing and you know, I’ll still be hammering it, until last bell.
What I want most from this season…
To see my best long-lost Japanese ski pal (hello Trav!). And everyone to keep safe; the more time you spend in the mountains, the more you realise it’s far from a given.
Rich Evans, FL Sales Manager
The kit I’m buying…
Practically speaking, I should probably get a new helmet. Less boring, more fun… maybe some new all-mountain skis, but I really, really love my Mantras (even if they are years old), so I’m reluctant to change them, but maybe this is the year.
The fitness I’ve been doing…
All the usual in the home gym (that’s actually just a converted garage)– sweat and pain on the Watt bike, lunges, squats and lots of core work as I try to get ski fit and manage my various injuries.
The trips I’m planning…
I will be spending some time in Les Carroz with my wife, then the SIGB Ski Test in La Clusaz with Fall Line, looking at a boys’ trip with some off-piste (hopefully) somewhere in March, and a few days with my sisters in Morzine nearer Easter. Fall Line boss, if you’re reading this, remember I need to spend this much time skiing to do my job well!
I’m also…
Watching Beauty Full Send, a Legs of Steel short film on repeat – I’m a little addicted, what a great film to prove that we don’t need bottomless powder to have fun on skis. If I’m realistic, this is where most of my skiing will be done this year (on the piste) and hopefully with as much joy and as many smiles (and a lot less talent!) as these guys in this film have.
What I want most from this season…
Some epic powder days would be good. But overall lots of fun and laughs with mates, and an injury-free season.
Al Morgan, FL Gear Editor
The kit I’m buying…
Not only do I get to help you fantastic FL readers choose the best kit, I’m also going to be touring in Scotland. Weight is a consideration, so I’ve got a lighter weight touring harness, crampons and axe. I can’t wait to trot uphill like a mountain goat. Even though I love touring, I find I become a better skier when I spend time on dedicated piste skis. Check out this season’s Gear Guide to see the phenomenal new piste skis coming out this season!
The fitness I’ve been doing…
I’m fortunate to train in various sports, but my balance has needed some work. Over the late winter and summer I’ve got into hydro foiling (think of surfing, with a foil, like a plane wing, attached to a mast on the bottom of your board). You’re working with balance fore, aft, side-to-side and managing vertical height, too.
The trips I’m planning…
Last winter I got to skin up Cairngorm with Finlay Mickel (an Olympic-level Downhill and Super G skier and commentator on Eurosport) with only the moonlight guiding our way up and back down, which was a first for me. I’ll beheading back in March, so I’m hoping for similar Highland antics this season. Last season was another first, in that I’d not been to La Clusaz, France, and I was there for the annual trade Ski Test. It looks like we’re headed back this coming January, and I am over-the-top excited to get to spend five days skiing with the Fall Line crew in this incredible location.
I’m also…
The Faction flick, Abstract, has got me excited, and I loved Arc’teryx’s Nexus too. This all-female movie has to-be-expected amazing cinematography, but I just love how beautifully relatable the people and much of the skiing is.
What I want most from this season…
Memorable experiences with incredible people in beautiful places. I don’t fixate on powder or piste, going fast or taking drops. I’ve always loved the mountains, and the time I get to spend in them is priceless.
MARK BRIGHAM, Director for Ellis Brigham
The kit I’m buying…
New ski boots! My poor Head Edges have seen better days and are now good for cruisey days with the kids, but can’t take anything more (question is, can I?).
The fitness I’ve been doing…
I try to mix it up and do circuits andc ardio – maybe longer runs in the weeks leading up to a trip, along with kettle bell squats, which are especially good.
The trips I’m planning…
I start every winter with the hope of squeezing in a cheeky weekender or two with mates, maybe hiring a guide and getting some touring miles in. But right now the only thing confirmed is a week in Morzine at Easter with family plus sisters and grandparents – it was one of the best holidays ever lasty ear watching my kids ski for the first time. Fingers crossed for snow in Scotland, as I’m so keen to get back up there. Also, a small group of us in the Bristol shop have talked about ‘Skiing Brecon’ for the last few winters and this could be the year.
I’m also…
Am I the only one who keeps Fall Line copies from previous seasons to re-read multiple times? Movies on my watch-list include Faction’s new film Abstract, and Warren Miller’s All Time, while TGR will deliver an epic with Legend Has It. I’ll be first to watch anything by the Legs Of Steel crew, too.
What I want most from this season…
Ski trips now are all about family time and my kids, so to see them continue to improve and enjoy the snow is a privilege.
KATIE BAMBER, FL contributor
The kit I’m buying…
Top on my winter wish-list is a pair of touring skis, so I can be ready to roll whenever, wherever the snow looks good. After the last few snowy springs in the Alps, I’ve got April-May in my sights for a month in the mountains, so I want to be ready to set off and skin whenever the snow’s in (or after lifts are shut).
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Training for a 10k sea swim in autumn, plus a recent interest to Muay Thai, means my fitness is okay (down at 0m in altitude), but as for ski legs – well, they’re not winter ready. I’ll be upping the jump squats, perhaps on top of a local hill for added elevation, and hoping to get my hands on those wish-list touring skis early season and heading to wherever there’s snow.
The trips I’m planning…
To keep it flexible to see where the snow’s at. But a hopeful in the pipeline is a group trip to the Dolomites. I’m reckoning the scenery and food will keep everyone happy, with a night or two in easy-access, semi-luxury huts to up the ante and experience that famous alpenglow. Somewhere that probably transcends snow trends and is my ultimate bucket-list destination is the Himalayas. Perhaps this’ll be the year.
I’m also…
Wondering where to spend spring in the mountains.
What I want most from this season…
A decent snow year in Europe, so we can lay off the doom and gloom for a second.
CHRIS BISHOP, Marketing Manager for Rossignol and Vango
The kit I’m buying…
The Rossignol Essential ski – game-changing for both winter sports and the outdoor industry as a whole. It’s seven times more recyclable than a traditional ski, without sacrificing any performance. Something we all need to be on board with if we want to keep exploring the great outdoors for decades to come. I’m also eyeing up the new Bollé Mute helmet (MIPS version for sure) and the new Eco Torus goggles (48% bio based frame).
The fitness I’ve been doing…
Plenty of time spent out on the bike. I’m lucky enough to have Aberfoyle (Gravelfoyle!) and some incredible gravel riding on the doorstep. We’ve also been pretty lucky with the weather this season, so there’s been plenty of warmer and drier rides, which always helps with the motivation.
The trips I’m planning…
I’m taking a trip in 2024 back to my old home city of Vancouver to see friends, and spending time up at Whistler.
I’m also…
Racking up the reading list and ticking off a few more classic books that have been on my must-reads for a while. I’m also taking more time out to explore Scotland, spending time camping and ticking off as many Scottish islands as I can.
What I want most from this season…
Good weather and good snow conditions, enjoyed with good people.
