Its that time again: And this week’s athlete interview is legend Jon Johnston

We asked one of the longest running Two Plank athletes, Jon Johnston, about his bag of tricks and things he has picked up along the way. Be sure to check out Jon’s most recent art shredding the peaks around Pemberton BC in BECAUSE

•TP: When/where/how did you develop your passion for dominating snow?
JJ: Long ago in a galaxy far far away…
•TP: What’s the worst spill you’ve taken?
JJ: I try not to remember those things.
•TP: What’s the most impressive run you’ve crushed?
JJ: Beautiful Nightmare, Plinth Peak BC, 1st winter ascent and 1st descent. Then a few years later rode sleds around the back and skied it after a 45 min climb (instead of a terrifying 7 hour climb in the dark)
•TP: When you see snow, you think/feel…?
JJ: Good
•TP: Gear you swear by? What are the essentials?
JJ: ABS pack. Arctic Cat M1000 with goodies on it (190hp, climbs everything), Loki outerwear, Smith Optics and Helmets. 30m of 8mm rope, there really isn’t a safe way to enter a corniced line from the back without a rope.
•TP: Where is your favorite fresh powder location and why?
JJ: Pemberton BC. That’s all the detail I’m giving.
•TP: What is the best advice you can give to a person learning to ski?
JJ: Take an avalanche course. Then take another one.
•TP: What do you think are your biggest strengths as a skier? Weaknesses?
JJ: Strengths-Strong mountaineering background. Lots of expedition experience and time deep in the mountains. Intimate knowledge of the mountains around Pemberton, Good on a sled. Weaknesses-I know first hand what is at stake when things go sideways in the mountains and it is not pretty. Have lost so many friends by now that its starting to take the fun out of it. No good at flippy spinny shit.
•TP: What do you think are your biggest strengths as a human? Weaknesses?
JJ: Strengths-Extremely motivated, willing to suffer to attain a goal. Weaknesses-Getting old, back hurts, Getting harder to justify risks with a young son around, willing to suffer to attain a goal.
•TP: What is the best way to approach an epic run?
JJ: On a sled, before the sun comes up. If I’ve learned anything over the years its that the early bird gets the worm in this game.

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