PSIA-AASI

4.14.2009

GWAP Wraps at Lake Placid

This is the final installment of our GWAP blog series. See our archives to read more about the show, and find out what happened behind the scenes.

Ahhh, Lake Placid . . . it conjures images of good old-fashioned winters, abundant lakes, Adirondack summer homes, old-school Olympic Games . . . maybe that horror movie about the man-eating crocodile. But we’ve forever altered those conceptions, for as soon as the Go With a Pro show airs, PSIA, AASI and GWAP will replace the man-eating crocodile as the primary focus of nostalgic recollections of upstate New York.

We have largely to thank for this the participation of Jeb Boyd (Alpine), Matt Boyd (Alpine) and Dave Lynch (Snowboard) of the PSIA-AASI Teams, without whom the production that will surely rival the aforementioned b-list horror flick would not have been possible.

A history lesson . . .

Okay, so enough with the monster-in-the-lake references. Our video shoot actually began prior to the talents’ arrival. It all started on a brisk (because what else would it be in Lake Placid?), partly-cloudy afternoon. As you may or may not know, Lake Placid is not super accessible. A significant, but pretty, drive is required to reach the region, which makes it all the more astounding that this tiny town and surrounding attractions were able to bring not one, but two Olympic Games to the area.

The first Lake Placid Games were held in 1932, and the town won a second bid to bring the Winter Games back in 1980. You can learn all about this at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics Museum, where we were fortunate enough to be able to film.

The museum, which is housed in the same building as the ice rink that is known for the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” is packed with artifacts from many Winter Games, with a special focus on those that were held in Lake Placid.

Olympic heritage is central to this small community, with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) having formed to manage the Olympic sites and facilities, including Whiteface Mountain, where we filmed the on-snow portion of this segment of the show.

The self-proclaimed “Winter Sports Capital of the World,” ORDA’s Olympic empire features training and recreational facilities,

many of which operate year-round, for competitive and leisure pursuits alike.

But we were here for winter and winter only, so it was really too bad that spring had already sprung. Our mild taste of an East Coast winter on that first day defrosted to reveal two days of unexpected sun and warmth.

Take one . . .
So there we were at the base of Whiteface, totally overdressed and scrambling to get equipment ready and cameras rolling so we could film before the ice turned to slush. We made the journey, after all, to capture skiing and riding in authentic East Coast conditions, so imagine our dismay to learn that glacial slopes had dwindled to runs of much more forgiving hardpack, which further melted to pleasant afternoon slush.

Alas, the show had to go on, so it was take one with Jeb and Matt who shared with us the finer points of skiing on ice. Luckily, their tactics were not offered in vain – we followed the shade across the mountain, finding slopes where ice had not yet given way to spring snow. Though few and far between, in the end we were able to count on a few runs at Whiteface to deliver the goods, and thus were able to get the scoop on East Coast style skiing.

Jeb reassured us that no matter what the surface was like, skiing could be fun if we practiced control and balance, using our Dynastar skis like a knife instead of a chopper, slicing with light pressure.

Matt, in keeping with the Olympic theme, shared some slalom tips, beginning with the fundamentals of the turn, and transitioning, with the help of some drills, to a much more dynamic series of turns.

Jeb and Matt also shared the importance of Go With a Pro, and provided a brief introduction to the Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors.

Take two . . .

Our efficiency having reached an all-time high, but probably more likely because of the tremendous talent of the Brothers Boyd, we wrapped up the entire alpine section of the shoot in just one day. Now it was Dave’s turn to go through an extreme test of patience, as we, in the manner of all legendary production teams, made outrageous demands.

Dave hiked, hiked again, and then hiked some more so we could get the perfect shot. In between takes he waited, and waited, and waited so we could set up equipment, take down and equipment and plot our next move.

Most people would have told us to take a hike, but not Dave. Not only was he totally patient and accommodating, but he also captivated us with his outstanding skills, covering everything from all-mountain riding to tactics for icy conditions. Basics to boardercross, Dave was exemplary in his demonstrations and explanations.

Despite less than ideal conditions, we were able to get every shot we came for, thanks to a little creativity and a lot of hard work on the part of Jeb, Matt and Dave . . . true professionals.

Closing credits . . .
And so, we’ve come to the end of the GWAP Tour. From the steeps of Squaw, to the parks of Park City, and finally the frosty (well, sort of) slopes of Whiteface, we’ve explored all the U.S. Winter Games sites, and the unique skiing and riding elements of each location.

But don’t fret . . . the television show is coming your way Winter 2009/2010. Stay tuned!

Photos from top to bottom: Olympic flags at Lake Placid Olympic Center, Olympic History Museum ski exhibit, Jeb Boyd and Matt Boyd riding the chairlift, Dave Lynch cruising the liftline.