Wednesday, April 19

Interview with Scott Gaffney

By Aaron Martin

"Scott Gaffney scratches his head..."

I was walking through the parking lot yesterday and caught up with one of the few real skiers that is also behind the camera. Here's what he had to say to EXPN. Hey there Mr. Gaffney, how goes it?
It goes very well, very well.

I was trying to figure out how we met, do you know?
I don't know. I remember the first time I saw you. You and Kevin Andrews were skiing the fingers. But I'm not sure where we met.

Just a Tahoe thing maybe.
Yup. That's the one.

Today seemed like a damn good day to me, but I didn't see many people out -April corn and all. What's up with that?
I don't know. I guess people just lose the will and desire to be out there this time of year. But its still good out there. I had fun. You had fun.

Just skiing like today brings me to something. Most people know you for your cinematography exploits, they don't really know you as a skier, but that is what you are. Yup.

How long have you been at it?
Well I'm 31 now, I've been skiing since I was threethat's twenty-eight years.

Where did it all start out?
I grew up at a place called Big Tupper in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. From there moved to Canton, then to Colorado after college, then here Squaw.

So in twenty-eight years, have you picked up any heroes along the way? Anyone stand out?
Oh without a question it's Schmit. He's the one who started it all for me. And Stump too in the sense that he guided me to do what I wanted to do. But Schmit was the God for me for a long time.

Have you seen him recently?
Yea, about a week and half ago. Didn't ski with him but went out and had a drink anyway.

Always the forefather of the movement.
Yup. Definitely.

You've got this reputation for always, always going skiing. Is there anyone who skis more than you?
I'm sure there are. I don't know if I don't go out for a day, I feel like I'm doing something wrong. If I'm around snow, I have to be out there. Because if you aren't, you have no idea what's its going to be like. If it sucks, if its boring, just go out for a couple of hours.

How many days a year do you think you get usually?
It depends on how hurt I get. (laughs) But I think about 160 days would be a good average.

I've heard rumors that you keep a "run diary" of everything you ski. Everything in a day.
Where'd you here that some ski magazine? (Laughs) No, I do. On my calendar, I just write down all the good lines I did in the day, who I skied with, whatever. That way, when I flip through it later I can remember every day.

Do you remember your last big powder day?
What did the diary look like?
I probably filled it right up. In the smallest print possible. Fingers three times, blah, blah, like that.

Now lets change gears. Let me ask you something more abstract. Where do you see the soul of this sport these days? Do you see it?
That's a tough one. I don't see a lot of it, but I just think of the backcountry. Obviously you are going to associate soul with the backcountry, with remote, unknown areas. I think of this trip we did to Nepal. That was soul, spiritual too in a sense. Like that.

When I lived in Colorado I was probably more of a soul skier, hiking by myself whatever, than I am right now. Right now I'm getting younger in a way because of where I am at, playing and hucking a bit more. I want to push my body a bit harder while I still can. And then I will probably go right back to a more backcountry soul kind of thing.

People might have an idea of what it feels like to be a ski filmmaker. But from your side how does it look? What does it take to make it happen?
I live just as normal as a life as anyone. I'm not what most of that is probably about. It all just comes down to the business side and sticking with it. It's the easiest life in the world, but it is still a job filming everyday, whatever.

But in terms of making it succeed. It just comes down to being business oriented. Getting it all done. Getting it out there. Like, my movies have been very well received but hardly anyone has seen them just because I don't have the business drive. And I will be the first one to admit that. I always get haggled by my friends for not pushing hard enough, but it all works out. I haven't made a whole lot of money, but I play every day, and I'm super content.

So how many films have you done now?
I did one my first year out of college Adreneline Descents, then Edge of Existence 92-93, Walls of Freedom 94-94, Breathe 96-97, I worked for Steve Winter in Sick Sense and then I did 1999, my film again, and then Matchstick again this year.

Who have you enjoyed shooting the most over the years as far as skiers?
My brother for one, just because we connect so well and Shane McConkey because we connect too. I point out lines and he likes them; and we hang out a lot because we live together. I know what he is capable of, he knows what I can do. We think the same.

So these days what's firing you? Photography, film, or just skiing itself.
Skiing itself for sure. That's why I do what I do. Just being able to play everyday. The toughest thing is that at some point I want to get more of a professional career going, family, the whole bit. But in terms of getting a real job that will provide enough money to make it all comfortable...I can't stop playing to give myself a chance to make that money. Like every day, I'm thinking, "god! I have it good right now", you know? I don't want to ski bum forever but (laughs) I still want to keep ski bumming right now!

Do you want to do a full blown, blatant plug for the new flick now?
The new flick? Matchstick productions flick? All I can say is that it's going to be a bit of a different one this year. That's why they brought me on...

What's it called?
Right now its called Global Storming 2, but no one is really stoked on the name; it might change. I'm going to make a push for it anyway. Any new film will be fresh and have good images, but this one will have sort of a real feel to it. Its due out in September.

Oh and I almost forgot and I'm not even a stoner. I'm also doing a film we are calling There's something about McConkey. Its about Shane and how skiing has changed during his career, the progression of it all. But I guarantee you it will be the most ridiculous, stupid film of the year. Count on that. It's going to be fun. There's good skiing too. Shane is a pretty good skier too.

Nice one. Any messages to the kids?
For the kids? Well (laughs) yeah. Learn how to ski before you go play in the park all the time! I watch these kids wobble in between jumps barely making the lip, land, wobble some more in the flats and then pull a rodeo 540. But I guess as long as it stays fun, it all works.

What are you doing tomorrow?
I'm going back up to Squaw. Ski some lines. Ride in the park a bit.

Wanna go play?
Yea! Sure.

Well, all right then.