"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

We sit on the edge of a natural snow bowl, legs hanging over the edge, maybe 15 meters deep. A big dirty step up jump rises from its bowels and carves its way up the wall. skier after skier hurl themselves at it at break neck speed with only a small margin making it over the crest. 

Two major issues are apparent; firstly the run in to get enough speed to clear the landing is now hundreds of meters away and ever growing, secondly, this jump has nasty compression... twice even. Compression is an expression describing the effect of a jump without a smooth transition. the result is a huge 'compression' on the skier, collapsing their legs or throwing them off balance. 

there in lies the conundrum: if you go fast enough to clear the jump, the compression is worse. most people spiraling off the lip or back slapping on the jump itself.

we don't mind. we're in the sun, there's beer, BBQ, music, good company and a fantastic, almost comedic, show unraveling in the bowl just below our swinging legs. i wont be jumping it, that's for sure; snowboards are struggling to get enough speed to clear it, and with my feeble few months of having skis strapped to my feet, that's not a likely option either. All the group have their own poor excuses.

He sits down beside us, plate full of BBQ food overflowing, sticks his drink into the snow and watches the carnage below: a handful of skiers have failed to make it and 2 snowboarders came close to a serious collision. he says little, eats his meal slowly, takes in a bit of sun. casually says "i'm going to clear that now" stands up, turns his back on his surprised friends and starts the long walk uphill to get speed.

(trekking the run in)

does he make it?---------------- of course he does

Juan Fransisco Bertona is the definition of the iron fist in the velvet glove. his capacity to charge is matched only by his humbleness for doing so. please enjoy a few photos of the nuclear engineer, yogi, big mountain free-skier, park rider, musical entrepreneur and philosopher.

you may as well, he sure as hell wont be boasting about it:

so what have i learnt from this kid? aside from humbleness, that if your going to do it, go all out..

 many things in life, particularly skiing are a mental battle first. any doubt leads to poor execution,
 and fortune favors the brave.
 i've already learnt so much. thankyou my friend

"What do you want to do Frank?"

-"I want to charge!"