The last time I went snowboarding was early 2020 and as I flew out of Tokyo’s Haneda airport mid-February we could just make out a cruise liner docked in Yokohama harbour. It was the Diamond Princess. At the time no-one on our flight knew what was to come, that we’d not be flying for nearly 2 years, allowed to travel at all for much of it, and certainly not go snowboarding.
I’ve missed the feeling of sliding down a mountain on snow. It doesn’t always work, but I enjoy attempting to heed the advice of Charles De Mar (played by Curtis Armstrong) who famously uttered the following inspirational advice in the 1985 Savage Steve Holland film (starring John Cusack) ‘Better Off Dead’: “go that way, really fast, and if something gets in your way…turn”. It’s a basic tenet when strapped onto a plank of wood on a steep slope full of snow.
But that’s not all I enjoy about snowboarding. It also allows me to explore, and use the maps of mountains that act as critical guides to stop me falling off a cliff, avoiding moguls (not good on a snowboard!), or finding a warming hut to get the fingers and toes working again. And if you’ve ever been on a ski or snowboard adventure there’s a strong chance the map you were using was made by the legendary ski map artist James Niehues. They’re such beautiful maps, and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet James at his studio, and chat about maps on a couple of occasions over the past fifteen years or so. I’m a huge fan.
So imagine my excitement to discover a collaboration with Wagner Skis who are printing a number of his maps on to the top sheet of skis this season. These, undoubtedly are my maps of the week. Here’s the Telluride version.
These are beautiful skis and so well designed with the map extracts sitting at the tips, and not covered by the centrally located bindings. That’s the sort of attention to detail you expect from James’ maps. Except I have a problem. I don’t ski. I’ve never been on two planks of wood. This has undoubtedly saved me from a wallet emptying experience but I am jealous. And James did invite me to consider this a time for a new challenge.
I’m not sure I’m ready for that but the first time I see a pair of these on the slopes I’m sure I’ll change my mind. Or maybe I’ll just get a pair for the wall.
In related news, James has followed up on his magnificent recent book by announcing he is selling prints and auctioning original works from across his career, as a way of marking his retirement from painting ski trail maps. More opportunities to own some of his stellar work, though honestly, I’m looking forward to getting back on a mountain and picking up a free copy of the local map that bears his signature.
Thanks for all your wonderful work James, and happy (semi) retirement.