I was sitting around trying to figure out how I was going to get someone to do something crazy for the camera for this week’s, Line of the Week. As we all know the conditions sort of…well…suck! I felt bad calling up my buddies and trying to get them bomb something or huck their meat in the rock hard, icy, boiler plate conditions Tahoe has found itself in over the last few weeks. Not to mention I really didn’t want to see anyone get hurt, especially in the name of ski porn!
My alarm went off, I packed up my skis and went to load up the car but the car wasn’t there. I forgot to mention to my lady that I would be needing it this past Sunday as my car does not exist. So, in perfect pro photographer fashion I threw my skis on my pack, put on my boots on Dollar Hill and hitched it with all my camera and ski gear to Alpine Meadows. As it turns out there were over forty cuckoo riders ready to race the frigorific conditions in the 2011 Rahlves’ Bonzai Tour.
The icy glare reflecting off the surface of Alpine’s peaks was ridiculous. I didn’t even want to ski. The next thing I know I am sliding down Beaver Bowl in an attempt to find an angle. The various riders in groups of four were chattering, jarring and rattling down the race course. I actually feared for their safety. Every so often someone would loose an edge and while the other competitors and photographers “oooh’d”, “aah’d” and held their breath the rider would tumble uncontrollably down the slope. Goggles, skis. poles, helmet cams, you name it were scattered all over the course. It had the vibe of an organized Chinese downhill. Despite the carnage a handful of the riders emerged from the smoke and skied like pro’s. You got to give it up for anyone who loves skiing enough to rock it in those conditions!
The Line of the Week
Words and photos by Ryan Salm
Beaver Bowl Bonzai
Location – Alpine Meadows
The Line of the Week will be a weekly photo piece by Ryan Salm featuring some of Tahoe’s finest skiers skiing whatever we deem rad. We will be using the term “Line” loosely to describe anything resembling chutes, big airs, pointers or any general madness. For more of Ryan’s work check outwww.ryansalmphotography.com or http://ryansalmphotography.photoshelter.com/
