Retro Sunday
One day back in 2009, I had nowhere to stay in Chamonix. Someone had mentioned an American guy with rooms. I asked a lift guy if he knew some cheap places. He gave me a phone number to Gary. I called and was welcomed. Took the bus to Argentière, walked with my stuff up there the same evening, and opened the door to Gary’s house.
The dinner was in its peak, laughters, great smell of food and wine and cheese on the table. His guests were some of my skibum heroes, whereof Glen Plake was one of them and Felix St Clair another. Gary and Anna welcomed me to join. It turned into a hilarious evening.
Next morning, Gary served breakfast and announced that it was time for “Retro Sunday”.Meaning skiing with only skis, boots and skiwear from the 70-80ies. Suddenly, some five, six people came dropping in and scrambled around Gary’s shed and closets. All of us looking for old-school skis, boots, poles, jackets, goggles and one-piece suits. I was handed a pair of 2.18 cm K2 skis with classic Salomon Equip bindings.I was in heaven. Skied all day with new friends, had a hilarious lunch at the Cremerie du Glacier and learned that Gary is not just any skibum – he’s a great host, chef, skier, musician, entertainer and artist. I filmed all day, I did interviews, we laughed a lot and got pretty tipsy there at Gary’s afterski performance. And the dinner, And the after-party. I picked up his quote “The older we get, the better we were” and the inner meaning of “slow dog noodles” and the idea of banning fat skies, carving skies and helmets on the mountain. Even met Fred Syversen, who had the world record in jumping cliffs – by accident. I could not avoid editing all of it into a film and stayed up all night and screened it to the house for breakfast. Not my best ever edit, being in that condition, but I am happy I finalized it. Here it is:
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