A good ski tech can take the job seriously… but not too seriously. Mary Harlan (left) and Jewel Campbell getting the job done.
The first thing you should know about the Bench Girls — Roaring Fork Valley locals Jewel Campbell and Mary Harlan — is that they really like to geek out about binding jigs. The second thing to know is they often double-time mounting skis and thinking up catchy phrases for Bench Girls t-shirts. The third (maybe guessed by now?) is that they like to laugh. A lot. Whether working working on skis, talking about about skis, or logging miles to train for the upcoming Grand Traverse that they may or may not have a spot in, they seem to carry a light-hearted ski-enthused party with them wherever they go.
In the latest Totally Deep Podcast, Doug checks in with the Bench Girls for a mostly raucous, sometimes serious, always entertaining foray into the view of the ski touring from the ladies behind the tech bench at Cripple Creek Backcountry. They highlight each lady’s journey to the ski tech world, their favorite skis of late, why wide skis are fun, and how nordic skiing is good traverse training. There’s lots of banter, laughter and stoke. Oh, and stay tuned to the end to hear those t-shirt ideas…
Bench Girls’ key elements to Grand Traverse training: snacks, sunscreen, good views.
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Manasseh Franklin is a writer, editor and big fan of walking uphill. She has an MFA in creative nonfiction and environment and natural resources from the University of Wyoming and especially enjoys writing about glaciers. Find her other work in Alpinist, Adventure Journal, Rock and Ice, Aspen Sojourner, AFAR, Trail Runner and Western Confluence.
4 comments
These ladies slap. cheers for the authentic banter and quality hour of backcountry spraying. episodes like this are the heart and soul of TDP
Thoroughly enjoyed the episode! However, them’s some fighting’ words about splitboarding! Icy traverses? Miles of rolling trail? Lots of stream crossings? Sure, skiing is more “efficient.” But pointing downhill in 4”+ of soft snow? Nothing feels like a snowboard. Sometimes it’s all about the Strava times, and sometimes it’s not.
For three people who claim to come from snowboarding roots, I challenge you to ride pow on a split and say you didn’t love it! Do it in moderation and your fitness won’t even noticeably suffer. And yeah, check your screws the night before!
Some people just like to dunk on other people for whatever reason. My advice is to ignore these people as they do not add value to your life. If you are in the mountains and causing no ill impacts to anyone else then have fun however you get up or down.
Great episode! Nothing against pro skiers, but most of us aren’t…a pleasure to hear some “normal people” on TDP!
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