Daron Rahlves: skiing's jack of all trades
It's a whole different world and i'm still learning. Learning every day.
For anyone who follows the FIS Ski World Cup, Daron Rahlves will undoubtedly be a familiar name and one that evokes memories of the resurgence of American skiing following years of under-whelming performances by Team USA. After a career spanning 12 World Cup victories and a World Championship gold, Rahlves retired from professional ski racing in 2006 and gradually made the transition to freeskiing. The American put his speed, strength and technical skill to excellent use and has, from year to year, become ever more impressive on the big mountain lines that define the sport of freeskiing. The first video below is a part of Teton Gravity Research's web series "Behind the Line", that explores unique moments from the 2012 ski flick "The Dream Factory" in greater depth. In the clip, fellow freeskiiers discuss the American's' evolution into freeskiing extraordinaire and Rahlves escapes from a spine-tingling brush with death.
And if the images in the clip above weren't quite enough to make you pine for winter once more, then I highly recommend two clips that Rahlves uploaded to his Facebook page in February. Both are short GoPro edits of what is, presumably, just another day in the life of a pro-skiier. You won't find any AK-style lines here, but if you're interested in a masterclass on how to use any and all terrain at hand, then these are the clips for you...
Daron has also recently become resort ambassador for Sugar Bowl resort in California. To check out what he has to say about the resort and about his own life in the mountains, watch this short promotional clip
To wrap up this short journey into the post-World Cup life of an international ski racing star, let's take a quick look back at Rahlves' downhill pedigree as he wins the legendary Hahnenkamm race, crusing at a leisurely 130km/h. All in a day's work for a skiier like Daron!
Just in case that wasn't enough, you can learn more about Rahlves' latest venture - a fusion of skiier cross and big mountain skiing called the Rahlves Banzai Tour - by clicking here.
