Joey Smallwood
Intro: To whomever it may befall that must read this mad rant: I'll be as brief as possible, but please understand that, insignificant as these details may appear, they will go from minute to mighty on that bright shore we'll co-exist upon when I get to my main point.
Last winter I was living in Driggs, ID and in the depths of my sixth straight 120 day season (I AM 23) when I heard about the first ever New Mexican Extreme Championships in Taos. Being from Santa Fe, an often overlooked ski area just south of Taos, I was very eager to go and represent for my home at this new snowy rodeo. I sent my entry and set out on a long road trip out there.
I was skiing Snowmass when my friend gave me his coveted entry spot in the US Freeskiing Nationals in Snowbird, Utah. Being in the neighborhood, I cruised out there and was able to take fifth place on day one, which was the second stop on the North American Extreme Skiing Tour. This was worth some points for me. Then, one week later, I was in Taos where I finished fifth once again and enlodged myself into the tour, inspiring me to complete its remainder. I proceeded to Crested Butte, Snowmass, and Kirkwood. In the end I was able to place in the top fifteen at all but two stops.
Last season, I never really intended to do more than one competition. Now, Im hooked and determined to GET SERIOUS. As it stands right now, I am funding myself to do the entire world tour next season.
I AM DREADFULLY INSECURE AND DON'T WANT TO STAND ON A PODIUM WITHOUT ANY SKIS OR SHWAG OR SILLY HATS OR GOGGLES THIS SEASON...
All I wanna know is...
Who's coming with me?
C'mon... who's coming with me?
Biography: I grew up skiing at Santa Fe Ski Area, with very little formal training. Everybody asks me if I have history in mogul skiing, and the truth is I never competed at all until the BERTHOUD BADASS series of 2000, when I fell in love with competitive freeskiing.
At fifteen I was shipped away to boarding school in Aspen, where I first was able to ski on weekdays, going to school at night.
At sixteen, I was back in Santa Fe with my new Colorado training. After skiing with one of the guys, Igneous Skis shipped me a free pair of boards. That pair of boards spoke in a splintery tounge wild and masterful wisdom about the tao of the ski. It is to that ski I owe everything I know about snowriding. Well I suppose to both skis, although I was fonder of the left ski.
School eventually was scrapped altogether, as I dropped out of all formal education when I was seventeen and moved to Winter Park, CO. I had my first 120+ day season and learned how to compete at the family style BadAss comps. I decided to read a lot instead of going straight to college.
By nineteen I was sponsored by Piranha Energy Sports Drink and basically felt like I was a promising and progressing skier, but I lacked focus. The season ended dramatically, with me being arrested for skiing a permanently closed feature above the Cliff Lodge in Snowbird. Then, days later, I dislocated my neck 4.5mm on a ninety foot cliff above Hellgate in Alta (it was quite a week).
At this point, I was under house arrest as per my doctor's orders on my mother's couch in Albuquerque, NM. I decided that I had come very close to dying and vowed never to ski anything crazy again. By this point, I had ended three out of the previous four seasons in violent hospitalization involving cold hands, bumpy ambulance rides, and shiny needles. My insurers and I decided I shouldn't go back to hospitals again. I decided to take up hiking (seriously).
At twenty, I moved back to SANTA FE SKI AREA and worked in the parking lot, skiing low angle champagne powder and NOT jumping off any cliffs whatsoever. I somehow changed all perspective once again, a disorder to which I am profoundly prone, and I decided at the end of that year to do the US Extreme Championships (see "stories" page for more details). Coming from a mellow mood kinda year, I chose too easy of a line and didn't finish within the realm of my capabilities.
Finally, at twenty one I moved back to Utah, working and living in Alta. The season progressed me well and I entered into the US Freeskiing Nationals.
Last year I was twenty two and I finished ninth on the North American Big Mountain IFSA Circuit. I'm Pre-qualified for the world tour next season, and I intend to join the silly legion of those who do things that normal people haven't attempted yet. I need strong, dependable gear from strong and dependable people to come with me. I will be loyal to anybody who treats me well, and reciprocate any gracious generosity to all who help me follow my bliss.
Good Results: 5th place, 2005 New Mexican Extreme Skiing Championships (highest placing New Mexican)
5th place, 2005 NA tour second stop, Snowbird qualifier
15th place, 2005 Colorado Freeride Series Championships
33rd place, World Tour second stop, 2005 US Freeskiing Nationals, Snowbird
14th, Berthoud Badass, 2001
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Joey Smallwood skieurmalade@hotmail.com