A weekly column by Chris Casula (a real dude).
I wanted to be a Space Cadet. I didn’t know what the day-to-day responsibilities of a Space Cadet looked like per se, but I was pretty sure that they wore helmets and carried ray guns. A year or so later, I was drawing pictures of myself in a wetsuit wielding a spear- gun; I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. I knew even less about what they actually did. At first glance, these two potential career paths appear to be fairly dissimilar. It’s taken me roughly 15 years—rife with endless soul-searching and self-help books—to understand that I haven’t ever really wanted to do anything other than wear a stylish (albeit functional) outfit while risking my life. I suppose then that, in retrospect, my next two life-plans weren’t all that surprising.
A happen chance late night viewing of the 1993 seminal classic Aspen Extreme on HBO changed everything. From the first slow-mo sequence (of the roughly 476) featuring neon ski apparel, Bob Seger, and double helicopters, I knew that I’d end up in some western ski town where I’d chase around some guarded and jaded woman who wore wool headbands*. Some of that has come to pass. What I didn’t know then is that before I got there, I’d end up in some project alley chasing around dope.
This is the story about how those two things bumped into one another. This is the story about how each of those two things almost killed me. But mostly, this is the story of how skiing saved my life.
*NOTE: This dream was momentarily eclipsed after a happen chance late night viewing of Airborne on HBO
I think everyone who reads this must watch the Aspen Extreme Trailer. See below!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn5Q_fjvKVQ
Nice post, Casula. Keep writing and keep skiing, son. Oh, and Go Phils! Ironic that they’re in your neck o the woods this weekend. Sorta.
UR
Looking forward to Fridays more than usual. Be proud of this.
Nice lemonade. Go get em, bro.
i will be reading, chris!
Looking forward To more casual Fridays.. I hate that u r already on the slopes.. Aspen extreme, great film!!!!!
[...] a backwards Columbia baseball hat instead of a beanie thanks to Mr. Dexter Rutecki from a certain film, and skiing in jeans more often than not. My dad bought me a pair of purple 157cm Atomics with [...]
Very impressive, Chris. You’ve got a real talent for writing. Best of luck from Bully.
So since I have assigned you so much reading I felt like I could go back to the beginning of your column. I suppose I should have known by the number “7″ by the latest one it wouldn’t take that long, but I laughed, I cried, but I must say Uncle Rob’s comments are my favorite.