Doug Stenclik: Entering The Backcountry, The Gear and The Tips

4 snips

Dec 1, 2020

Doug Stenclik, founder of Cripple Creek Backcountry, shares insights on the booming backcountry skiing scene. He discusses the critical importance of avalanche education and the right mindset for safety. With relaxed uphill policies at ski resorts, skiers can hone their skills before venturing into the backcountry. Doug also highlights the spike in gear sales during the pandemic and his predictions for the upcoming season. He emphasizes enjoying the uphill journey while choosing the right setup for both resort and touring skis.

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INSIGHT

Start Simple Before Avalanche Risk

Backcountry skiing doesn't require immediate exposure to life-or-death avalanche terrain when learning the sport.
Doug Stenslick argues beginners should first learn gear and technique before tackling high-risk slopes.

ADVICE

Practice Uphill Skills At Resorts

Use resort uphill policies to practice technical skills like kick turns and using gear in a controlled environment.
Take advantage of friendly resort policies to gain confidence before venturing into unpatrolled backcountry.

ADVICE

Train On The Worst Snow

Seek out bad, skied-out snow at the resort to practice committing turns and technical control.
Drill jump turns on steep but safe slopes to reduce hesitation in bigger mountains.

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Doug Stenclik opened his Cripple Creek Backcountry shop in Carbondale in 2012 with a premonition that uphill skiing was about to explode. It did, and how he's got three shops in Colorado and an online site that ranks among the top sellers of all backcountry and ski touring equipment.

Doug's vision began with a distinct belief that skiers should not be making life-and-death decisions while they are learning a new sport. His take is that backcountry skiing done right can be just as safe as skiing a resort. It's all about making the right decisions early. Liberal uphill policies at a growing number of ski resorts has enabled uphill skiing to thrive.

And that's good as we head into the great unknown for the coming season. Doug saw sales at his Cripple Creek shops and website explode after resorts suddenly closed in mid-March. Could that be a clue of what we can expect for the upcoming ski season?

Listen in as Doug riffs on the "out of order" alignment in backcountry skiing and avalanche education, how resorts embracing uphill is fostering the backcountry movement, how resort skiing can help your backcountry turns, the right ski for the right day and what he sees ahead as a ski season unlike any other unfolds.

4:30 — Avalanche education, it's talked about out of order. Risk of life should not be your first concern when you are learning how to kickstep.

6:10 - Resort uphill policies are enabling the transition from touring to backcountry.

10:30 — "Find the worst snow possible." Tips for honing backcountry skills while skiing off chairlifts.

13:20 — Is the boom in backcountry ski equipment sales in late March an indication of what's to come?

18:00 — Trail running shoes, home gym equipment and bikes are hot commodities in the pandemic summer. Could uphill skis join that list this winter?

20:30 — Don't necessarily think of touring as a better way to ski. "Think of it as a better way to hike in the winter and get outside and exercise in the winter."

22:50 — Cripple Creek encourages all buyers to sit for a virtual consultation when buying an uphill kit.

24:10 — Light is right. "Know that you will eventually go lighter … 90% of the time you are going uphill."

27:00 — Industry rollercoaster trends push the single-tool quiver but best bet it to have a resort ski and a backcountry ski.

31:10 — Best advice: Enjoy the whole day, the uphill and downhill as one journey in the mountains.