Opening day at Whistler Blackcomb has been brought forward a week, timed perfectly to coincide with the national launch of Whistler scribe Leslie Anthony’s new book, White Planet. We caught up with Anthony between laps and radio interviews to ask the following probing questions.
Where could we find you this opening day?
Hiking. 1 minute of walking drops 90% of the crowd. 2 minutes etc… You do the math.
Can you explain how quirks of timing and coincidence define the White Planet? Is there a scientific explanation for such things?
The expression “White Planet, Small World” refers to the highly disseminate but very connected global ski community. The quirks of geology, weather and travel that create these connections are maybe scientific, but what keeps them vibrant are mostly shared human and community-/relationship-based things so I don’t know if there’s any scientific doctrine other than chaos theory (and the concept of attractors) that applies. Malcolm Gladwell’s ideas about the Tipping Point certainly apply to the style, equipment and other revolutions in skiing.
That’s very deep. I often think I need a PhD in biology to keep up with you. In Snakebit, you actually explain how snakes and snow are inter-related. When were you last attacked by a ‘snow-snake’?
Moments ago on Gunbarrels. It was a biggun’…
Are you running out of Gary Larson Far-Side-esque subcultures to mine for your creative work?
No! There’s no end to my obsession with other people’s obsessions (and, by association, my own). Right now I’m digging into Eastern Canada’s canoe culture. That book is due in December so it’s weird to be skiing then going back to work on a summertime subject. My next target, if I’m allowed, will be frisbee players.
