Feature drawing by Sierra Roberts.
Fraser McDougall is 23 years old, and I’m not jesting when I say this article is about him clocking life. Turns out I was nagging him for answers on his birthday, so consider this a public apology.
Fraser, a life dedicated to skiing is not a bad deal. How did skiing capture you, and what does it mean for you now?
“It’s not a bad deal at all but it takes over your life, I guess it’s something systemic to living in a small island in the middle of the pacific. The rarity of it all was the draw. Ski holidays came once in a blue moon growing up. I was the only one I knew in Wellington that wanted to ski all my life. It was a get away at first, but the pleasure of making turns in powder was the real kicker in the end. It’s something anyone can experience at any ability.”
Living the dream | Verbier, Swiss Alps. Photo credit: Yves Garneau
I had a wee scope of your blog, and it’s a bloody good read. I have to ask, do you actually write it yourself?
“Well I failed Level 2 English at school, and I thank god for spell check, but I do write them. I was terrible at it after leaving school but made it my challenge to get better. I really think it’s an important skill to have. I mostly keep my blog up to help improve those skills. It helps you try to document those moments that are indescribable into a tangible story or even a feeling. Those moments when you’re just about to drop into a competition line, when you’re watching the sun rise while on the ridge of a 3000m peak, or the isolation after the intensity of a ballzy line in the middle of the back country.”
If you want to feel super jealous about someone else’s life, check out http://frasermcdougall-freeskiing.blogspot.co.nz/
The northern winter saw you road tripping from San Fran through Tahoe, Salt Lake and Colorado, ending up in Jackson Hole. Roadies are pretty glorious until you’re four days in, dreaming of a proper shower, a better playlist, and some decent chat… Before we get to Jackson Hole, spin me a yarn; highlights, low-lights, a ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour’ story?
“Ahhh, but what happens on the road stays on the road, lets just say some money got spent in Nevada that I’ll never see it again. At least on a road trip you can leave the last town behind and start afresh with a new one. Jackson Hole accommodation wasn’t the oasis at the end of the road however, staying in a 4 man bunk room for 5 kiwi skiers got a little cramped. Our V8 suburban seemed to have more room, it was a definite low point to say goodbye to it 2 days after we arrived.”
The cupboard at the end of the road | Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Photo credit: Tom Brownlee
Jackson Hole, Wyoming seems almost mythical to most of us, and five weeks of your trip were spent there. What is it really like?
“Jackson Hole is a place where to be local you had to be born and bred, to be named as a local skier you need to be accepted into their core group, “The Jackson Hole Air Force”, and to ski with them, well even professionals are humbled by it. The people there ski because it’s an escape and you won’t find many of them willing to wait for a camera in lieu of fresh tracks. It’s a place that has lived up to every expectation. The best example of Jackson was a day that was puking with snow; we decided to hike from the Teton Pass beating the sunrise to the top. As we drove up we spotted people popping out of the trees, dressed for the cold covered in the fresh snow head to toe and a head-light to see in the dark, it was 6am and these guys had been to the top of the 2000ft hike and down already. I hadn’t even put on my boots… keen much.”
Fraser & Friends | Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Fast forwarding to this winter, right now you are in the middle of the World Heli Challenge in Wanaka. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems like the most epic competition to be involved in. I hear more about the flying than the riding most winters (rumour has it the pilots like to show off), what are the stand out moments for you?
Fraser at the World Heli Challenge 2013 | Photo credit: Neil Kerr neil@nzskier.com
“The Heli Challenge is all about the ‘heli porn’, the focus turned just as much on them as you – the athlete. The Wallace brothers and the Ewings have been flying for the heli challenge from the start, and in Wanaka their stories are legendary. It’s an added bonus that you get a rollercoaster ride to the top of your line by the best, but when it comes down to it, it’s all about the skiing (the heli’s and the isolation only upping the stakes). For outsiders who don’t know the competition it might seam crazy to be running a comp the way it’s run, but if you had a chance to ski AK style, with helicopters and some of the worlds best in your backyard, then it starts to become a whole lot clearer.”
The World Heli Challenge Venue 2012
Now, onto more important matters (not that we’re biased)… the TNF Freeski Open. You’re a bit of an NZ Open veteran, how many times have you competed?
“I first competed in 2005, I was an excitable young kid that just wanted to ski with the big guys. Everything seemed massive, I was usually the one to pick a different line no-one wanted to ski and just make it look fun. As an open ‘veteran’ it doesn’t really give you any advantage however, the sport is developing so fast it’s just a struggle to keep up with the trends.”
Fraser’s first published photo at age 16 | NZ Open venue in the background, Remarkables. Photo credit: NZ Skier, Issue 89
Competing on your home mountains must be pretty sweet, what’s the vibe like for the TNF Freeski Open in comparison to competitions overseas?
“I’ve competed in the finals for the US Freeskiing Open in Snowbird and in high level European comps. I’ve been laughed at trying to register for competitions in Europe at the age of 18 and treated as the outsider in others, it’s tough. Here in NZ though I like to think we ‘keep it real’, in the grand scheme of things we are just a bunch of athletes who choose to slide around on sticks, blasting down mountains, and it all started from small beginnings – just enjoying getting out there. It might be loser talk to some, but enjoying it and helping others out is what (to me) it was always about.”
Being on TNF must be a pretty good gig, what are they like as a sponsor? I hear you get to go backcountry whenever you want with your chums and they’ll give you all the heli time and videographers you want. What nice guys.
Heli trippin’ thanks to TNF with Points North Heli Ski | Cordova, Alaska
“Well although ‘all’ the heli time and videographers you want is a bit of an overstatement they are definitely ones who are keen to help out and look to give back to the sport. As a sponsor the fact that they are responsive to ideas for the bold and the new is awesome, and that’s where the heli time and videographers come in to it. I’ve explored the mountains in my own backyard all from this enthusiastic approach that The North Face bring to sponsorship, and they have made backcountry trips to Mt Cook and other far off peaks a yearly reality. Can’t really ask for much more.”
Camping, TNF style | Liebig Range, Canterbury. Photo credit: Mark Watson
Rumour has it all the girls chasing you was getting in the way of your skiing, so you kneed yourself in the face to get them off your back. Trouble is you accidentally made yourself more handsome in the process. How did that injury change your career?
“Haven’t actually been asked this by many people (especially in that context, ummm thanks). I guess for many who don’t know the back-story: I completely wrecked my face after impacting the ground airing a 50ft cliff and broke my jaw in 4 places, nose, cheekbone, and broke many teeth, the only thing holding my face together was one cheekbone. It really put things in perspective. I know people say that a lot, but I guess for truly organic moments of truth we first have to put ourselves through extreme moments of chaos (not sure but that’s probably some known quote). I was becoming a bit self-centered at that age, feeling invincible and being able to travel the world skiing – the crash flipped all that around. It makes you realize that sliding around on skis isn’t really that important to society as a whole, but you know why you do it – because no matter how big of an injury you encounter you just want to get back on the slopes for the escape and joy of it all.”
And somehow he can still give the thumbs up
Although you have had some big results in your career, it doesn’t seem like you are fazed by the FWT dream, and are just enjoy traveling the world skiing. When you compete is it just for the love of it?
“The FWT is a tough competition circuit, my thoughts are if you’re ready and your skiing is up to it, it will just come naturally. Just like the truth coming out through the chaos in a life-changing event, I believe the best skiing styles come out when you’re skiing to the limit. It’s a natural style where you’re not trying to look good and just skiing to keep on your feet and make the next turn. Pulling back and skiing a smart competition line hasn’t really been my forte, it’s first or last for me.”
Fraser, showing us how it’s done. | Verbier, Swiss Alps. Photo Credit: Yves Garneau
P.S. I enlisted Sierra to put down some sketches of Fraser for this article, the girl has serious talent. Here’s another for your enjoyment:
(that’s Fraser on the mask, FYI)
INTERVIEW BY NIKI PETERS
