After seventy-five years Whitney Thurlow has kept his skis gliding down the slope, with a trail of people following right behind. After finishing his diploma, Whitney chased the snow from Canada to New Zealand, finding himself in the crossroads of his career path. After skiing twenty-five winters in a row, he went in search of his first summer job that could translate his mountain experience with a new kind of climate.
Whitney found IFMGA mountain guiding, gaining his certification after six years on the mountain. It is the highest qualified level of mountain guiding, allowing professionals to guide people through complex backcountry, navigating the dangerous, unpredictable environments of the snowy mountains. This level of skill comes with great responsibility and risk. Some people begin to wonder if ski season with this amount of danger has an expiry date?
For Whitney, his love of adventure complements the dynamic nature of the alpine mountains, and has become a lifestyle charged with energy and vitality.
“Find what it is that you like to do, then do that as well as you can.”
The thrill of getting up first thing in the morning to a mountain so uncertain, can begin to wear off over the years. The mental exercising is just as prominent as the cramping after a full day on the slopes, but for Whitney it’s about exercising kindness and patience with the possibilities of his day.
“Most people have a very goal oriented idea of skiing. They don’t get to ski as often as they like and when they do, they are super motivated to ski a particular mountain or run or learn a new skill. But when you ski as much and as long as I have, you look for pleasure in other places. I just like to share the experience, and skiing with clients is a different experience every day. I no longer have any desire to challenge myself as a skier, I simply point myself downhill and everything just takes care of itself. If conditions are good for going fast, I go as fast. If conditions say go slow, I go slow, but it doesn’t make much difference to me, I am just there for the joy of movement and the wonder of what is around the next corner.” – Whitney Thurlow
To afford so much comfortability on the mountain, Whitney has built his career across a rich scope of mountains, from Canada, to China, New Zealand and now Norway. His openness to diversity is one of the reasons why he continues to guide so successfully, equipping riders with a new lens each time they are on the mountain.
“Ski touring in Norway, no matter what the weather is, you always give it a go. Even if there is a raging storm going on, you put your boots on and head out into the blizzard. The expectation is that just maybe, it will work out to be a good day skiing. There is no shame in turning around, and sometimes the day can be quite short, but that can be a moral victory in itself, only the most worthy would have gone out into that weather!”
Sustainability is a necessity for ski guiding. Being able to decipher the balance of healthy adversity with respecting the boundaries of the mountain is one that has come with experience.
For the adrenalin go-getters, turning down an opportunity for extreme challenge is a lesson that is not always easy to follow through.
Within the Seiland islands of Norway, Whitney found Arctic Island Ski Guiding, a mountain that offers more than just its snow. He said connecting with local culture, rather than just passing through as a tourist has been an authentic experience that exceeds beyond the snow. It is a relationship that harmonises community with the land, and is one rich in history.
“This desire for true remoteness drew me to Finnmark, in the far north of the country. The coast there is a maze of mountainous islands and fjords, dotted with tiny villages.”
Whitney now spends his time guiding in Norway’s secluded mountains, guiding, fishing and learning a new way of life he can share with others.
“Beyond the incredible terrain and world-class skiing, it has been an absolute privilege to immerse myself in their daily life and learn firsthand about Sami traditions.”
Photo credits: Whitney Thurlow
