First Blast
No matter if you grew up in the Kootenays, moved here when you were a kid, or are visiting on vacation if you're a medium to little sized person, your first Blast is a fairly large deal. It's the run you build up to, staring back up to you as you creak on up the original double Summit Chair (God rest her soul). It's the run that intimates you, the steep rollover, the spectators, the lore. A rite of passage that represents your breakthrough to the other side. As a snow rider, you're legit now. If you can make your way down the Blast, well, you can challenge anything on the mountain. All gates are open, an entire new fantasyland of adventure at your doorstep.
As a dad, I remember taking my son up the Summit Chair and seeing a young shredder busting cautious but confident turns down the steep chute at the top. His dad was perched, well positioned for coaching, safety, and line of sight. The kid was linking some beauties. His butt almost touching the ground, his little legs quivering with intent. Pizza wedge to parallel, with barely a hesitation in between. Shredding. I felt a flurry of emotion and yelled down to the dad, "How old?" "Six," he replied. My little guy was just a year younger, his eyes transfixed on the pioneer. "I want to ski the Blast," he says. We incorporated a buildup plan to conquer the beast. The Blast would soon be his. I would later learn the kid of our Blast inspiration was none other than Whitewater freeski legend, Trace Cooke. His dad the equally radical, Dan Cooke.
I would go on to be the host a number of first Blasts. My kids, my friends' kids, and most recently, my partner's 8-year-old daughter. Over time I've developed a strategy to help the little ones 1) develop the confidence to commit to their first Blast, and 2) nail their first Blast without a catastrophic event, which, thankfully, I've yet to be a part. That's not to say, however, I haven't seen a few from the chair.
And on a beauty day last February, we slowly made our way down Whitewater's signature run, little Kaya making smart and strong mini snow plow turns from mogul shelf to mogul shelf, I couldn't help but feel honored to be part of the experience. It's one she'll never forget. Nor will I. For if you're a kid from the Kootenays, or even if you're visiting over Christmas vacation, or your family just moved here, there's something about taking on the steep under the chair ripper. The people up above cheering you on as you drop into the scary rollovers onto a run caked in history. For the very first time.
Photos brought to you by the talented Sean Armstrong and his army of Blast experts and up in coming Whitewater Legends.