The Q&A – Simon Dawes Blondel

July 19th, 2010

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Simon Dawes Blondel rappelling on a big mountain ski trip. Image – courtesy Simon Dawes Blondel

Chillfactor Ski Mag

Aussie Big Mountain Skier and Liberty Team Rider Simon Dawes Blondel, doyen of the Australian freeride scene.

Name: Simon Dawes Blondel
Age: 30
Home town: Northern Beaches Sydney
Home resort: Perisher

I got into skiing because: My parents loved the mountains and were keen skiers. They started taking me down when I was about 2 years old and I was given my first pair of skis the year after. We moved from Sydney to Jindabyne in 1994 and that’s when my passion for the sport grew.

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Liberty Team Rider Simon Dawes Blondel

The highlights of my career thus far: I’m just proud to have been part of the freestyle/freeride movement in the 90’s and to still be able to travel the world skiing at a level that gets me super amped and sometimes very nervous.

I like big mountain skiing because: It’s adventurous, challenging, nerve racking. There are so many risks that you have to be prepared for. It’s about being free on these massive mountains and the solitude you find when you’ve hiked for four hours. There’s not a sound or person to disturb you.

What you need to get into big mountain skiing is: Equipment. Avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe and the knowledge on how to use them quickly and efficiently. Ski with someone who has a lot of experience in big mountain skiing and you will learn all about the mountains a lot quicker. Wider longer skis, you may have to outrun something that is chasing you down the hill.

The scariest place I’ve been on skis is: Front Valley in school holidays.

The skiing challenges still on my bucket list are: I would love to ski Alaska. The mountains and scenery are purely amazing. To keep skiing till I can’t ski no more.

If I was making my ideal ski movie it would be like: My good mates and I skiing all over the world in remote places where not many people, if any, have ever skied. Sucking on cigars sipping fine whiskey.
When the snow’s not great you’ll find me: Watching the weather reports.

I’ve joined the Liberty team because: I’ve been part of the Liberty team for the last four years, while I was based in France. Now I’m a team rider and the importer in Australia. Liberty have a fantastic award winning product, are innovative and design focused. Their goal is simple, to produce the best all mountain skis on the market – and they are. The team we have in Australia is super strong with the likes of Andrea Berchtold and Boen Ferguson, I’m humbled to part of this amazing team and company.

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The search for perfect lines requires some effort. Image:: Courtesy Simon Dawes Blondel

The 1 year and 5 year plan for Liberty Skis Australia is: Year 1. To communicate Liberty Skis’ core ideals to the Australian industry, a high performance, high quality all mountain twin tip that treads lightly on the planet. Liberty skis are not your standard soft noodle everyday twin tip, they are redefining the versatility and performance of all mountain skis. Liberty are a high performance stiff underfoot all mountain ski, and if you’re not careful, they will throw you down the run so fast and hard, you’d think you’re on a GS ski.
5 Year plan. To be established as Australia’s premier all mountain ski company giving people the chance to ski our high performance, innovative, eco friendly and product driven brand of skis. We want people to ski on the best technology available, enhancing the skiing experience for all skiers seeking liberty on the mountain.

You should choose Liberty skis because: Liberty Skis are designed with two key visions in mind. The first, to produce the best all mountain skis available, driven by performance and using the highest quality materials available. 12 international awards for their 2010 range of skis is a testament to this. The second, to do so in an environmentally friendly way. Many companies advertise their green credentials, Liberty don’t, they speak through action, recently recognised by the SIA in America as a leader in the industry for reducing their carbon footprint. Their goal, to leave the mountains and snow as they have enjoyed it for generations to come. High quality, performance driven all mountain skis that tread lightly on the planet, why wouldn’t you ski Liberty?

Want to know more about Liberty Skis? Chillfactor put them through their paces, read about it here.

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