Meathead East Coast Skiing Adventure Movies & Films

You’re starring in both Meathead Films releases this year “Wanderland” and the Stowe Resort promo vid, “Stowked Again.” What do you think of that?

I am, shall I say" STOWKED” I really admire the Meathead guys and what they have done to showcase the East and all it has to offer the hardcore skier. I have worked with Warren Miller films, TGR and others and am now proud to be part of the Meathead Fraternity.

What do you do for work?

I own Eastern Painting and Refinishing Systems, Started in 1983; we are a high-end residential and commercial painting company. We employ between 8-10 painters and work year round on some of Stowe's most beautiful homes businesses. In the summer you will usually see my son Ryan and I painting lift towers at SMR. We use to travel painting anything high; from steeples to radio towers to ski lift towers. These days we stay closer to home. My wife Kristen and I also do a lot of ski and action sport modeling and have started a new clothing Rep business. We represent lines from Rossignol and a new line Machu Picchu which we are really excited about. We will start the show circuit soon. I stay pretty busy.

How do you balance your skiing time with your job and family?

To bed late up early is the program. I live by the motto work hard, play harder. Everything is a goal. In the winter I play harder, skiing almost everyday. In the summer I work harder often 12-16 hrs a day. I like having lots going on at all times. My wife is a flight attendant and can be away 2 to 3 days at a time. That’s when I become Mr. Mom with my 4-year-old Mack. Up at 5:30, shower, make breakfast, get Mack up, get dressed, eat, call my guys to make sure they know where they are working, load up the truck, stop at store for supplies, drop Mack at school, off to work. Pick up Mack at 5:00 home, dinner, bath, read, a few cartoons, get ready for tomorrow and do it all again. As a family we love to ski together on weekend afternoons. We hike and climb lots. We even have our own climbing wall at home. Tennis, bikes and on and on and on.

You’re a living legend in Stowe. What makes the mountain special to you?

I have had the opportunity to ski all over the world, and I choose Stowe because of the terrain that lies beyond. I know every aspect of the Mansfield region and know what to expect and respect. While I do spend much time in the Utah area every winter, I always look forward to coming back home to Stowe. The town and the people here are great. I went to school here for a little while as a kid and many of the folks I met back then are still here. Day in and day out you ride with people who rip on this hill, some real deal folks who have competed and coached on the highest levels of the sport, world class mountaineers, alpinists the list goes on. The word Legend should be saved for memorial purposes and I have a list of many. I am just another guy who likes to rip and has a great passion for skiing and Stowe. I thank God every day I am up there.

When we were filming over St. Patty’s day weekend you said that it was possibly the best snow you’d ever skied at Stowe. Do you still stand by that statement?

Yup! Top 10 of all time in my book and that includes top 5 at Alta/Bird, Jackson, Silverton, Las Lenas, Sugar Bowl, Number 7, 8, 9 was here in Stowe.

How many days a year do you think you’re either hiking or skiing on Mt. Mansfield?

One year I had close to 150 on Mansfield and over 200 for the season. Last year I got in 7 days in October and after a rough Nov/Dec. still managed 100 days plus.

You’re a solid dude. Do you do any fitness or training stuff for skiing?

I love rock climbing, and do a lot solo stuff. I also hike on the Mountain or Nebraska Valley 3-4 times a week. I will hit Hazelton and hell Brook at least a dozen times each a summer plus a few of my own hidden gems. A killer hiking day is Sterling trail up Big Spruce down Sterling pond trail up Hell Brook down the Long trail up Hazelton to the Nose. (Last week) Drove back down with friends. That’s a workout. I road bike in the evenings usually short 20-25 mile time trial style. Love tennis and some gym.

Who is your favorite person to ski with?

I ski solo most of the time but I always enjoy running into Dave Howard and his posse, these guys rip and its always a no holds bared free for all, last one to the bottom is a #%#* kind of stuff. Bumping into friends for a run or two always makes it fun, but I really like to keep moving (I do have to work) and stopping to chat is a no no, save it for the Den.

How often do you ski solo and what’s that like?

I love people, but love them more when they aren’t around. (Stole that from Eric Pheota) I ski solo most of the time. Powder morning forget it, powder afternoon I am usually far out and up high. It's a feeling of freedom and solitude. You make your own decisions and truly challenge yourself with the mountain. I love storm hiking and skiing. The colder and windier the better (less people). When the lifts are shut down, I'm up there getting killer blow in. I love skinning up in the early AM. You get to the top it is silent, the snow is still falling and I am ready to leave the first snow signature of the day. I love it. Stowked is a state of Euphoric anticipation; it's knowing the result before the action. It's waking up at 4:00 am to let the dog out. Turning on the flood light and seeing nothing but a wall of white falling from the sky. The car is gone, you can barely push the door open, and the dog disappears after the 3 steps. Come on!

Best place to grab a bite to eat and drink in Stowe after a powder day?

To many to list, but I'll try. Den at Mansfield after a epic weekend day. Matterhorn is a great place to check in with locals and get a killer sushi plate. Rusty Nail for late night (past my bedtime usually), but when I am going deep lookout! Cactus Cafe if you need that South of the Border fix is awesome and Rimrocks Tavern for beer and burger and local fish stories. I can’t leave out the Shed, micro brew and burgers and lots of locals. Some call it the Mountaint Road crawl. I prefer the Mountain Road attack!

Do you ever venture into the terrain park?

In the spring when it's soft the park can be real fun. I have always enjoyed speed over hang time at least on snow and speed in the terrain park can be a lethal mix. Damn, I get mailings from AARP these days, and the knees aren’t quite what they use to be, but I'm good for an old school 3, double spread or daffy.

Have you ever slid a rail?

Kind of, the end result was not pretty. I save that for my sons Will and Ryan, they kill it on the rails and in the park. My little guy Mack started hitting the low rail at little Spruce last year what a hoot.

What makes skiing Eastern trees difficult?

The best tree skiing is up high; the lines are tight because most are natural (as they should be). I call those gnarled, twisted dead spruce, "Green Mt. Cactus" you hit one of them and usually and you are going to give away your secret stash with a blood trail. Lower down you get into more of a mix of hardwood, which is more open in places. Little more speed Hardwood can be challenging. The key is knowing the area you are riding and connecting the lines non-stop top to bottom. That’s skiing a Eastern tree line. Stopping in the middle, sideslipping and repeated falling are not permitted. You will politely be asked to leave and not be invited back.