Outdoor Retailer - December 2020 - 40

Feature .03

The full field at Silk Road
Freeride, including the mayor
of Jyrgalan and his retinue

times I ate shit hard trying to hang onto a rope
on the back of a snow machine. Perhaps I can
claim no greater accomplishment during the
trip than riding one successfully all the way to
the viewing area.
Here, we were able to see the full glory of the
organization and professionalism of our hosts.
The event was expertly run. Flags marked the
start and end of the runs. There was a warming tent, lunches, snacks, and a PA system.
Radios were tested and ready. A paraglider
even came out to help photograph the course
and the skiers. At one point, the mayor and his
security retinue came up to enjoy the festivities, watch skiing, and get their photos taken
with Ahmet.
By the time we got to the actual competition, the field consisted of more than 40 skiers and riders from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
(a 12-hour taxi ride away), Turkey, Bosnia,
Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the
Netherlands, and the States. The event was
split into three categories: The men's division
included a beginner/intermediate and a professional class, and the five women who competed, representing four different nations,

40 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ December 2020

IN AFGHANISTAN, THERE WERE PLENTY OF SKIERS WHO,
EVEN WITHOUT ANY LIFT ACCESS, HAD MORE THAN
ENOUGH SKILL AND STEEZE TO RIVAL ANY CREW OF NORTH
AMERICAN RESORT OR BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS.
were all placed in one division.
The skiers and riders who finished on or
near to the podium would have had a similar chance at placing in any competition in
Europe or North America. A snowboarder
named Anton, a big bear of a man who was
always smiling and told a great story of riding
around in his car with an eagle in the passenger seat, rode so smoothly and with such
grace and style, I told him that watching him
ride was like listening to a Grateful Dead
song. " Who are the Grateful Dead, " he asked?
When I played him a few minutes of Jerry
Garcia and his friends, he replied, " Yes! This
is the music I have always heard in my head
when I ride! "
After the event closed, Ahmet explored the
urban ski scene in town-even skiing inside
of a zoo-and later joined the rest of us for

some backcountry touring with a few of our
new friends from the event. Kaz, an experienced local ski guide and mountaineer in
the region, was incredibly patient with us as
we carped about the snow. We complained
about everything-the facets, the challenge
of forecasting avalanches and traveling safely when it seemed like any slope could release at any time-and yet, Kaz seemed fine.
He smiled, shook his head, and let us argue
among ourselves about where we ought
to ski. He let us plod our way up and down
mountains, back and forth over couloirs he
had skied dozens of times until we found the
right slopes for us.
His skis were adapted for the snow:
Wide spoons up top that tapered down to
matchsticks at the end. A devout Muslim,
he had adapted his outdoor gear, primar-
Outdoor Retailer - December 2020

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