Chris Rubens

Name: Chris Rubens
Date of Birth: September 11th 1984
Hometown: Revelstoke
Websites:  http://chrisrskibum.wordpress.com 
                   www.cheekybeaverchalet.com

Years skiing: 22

 

Sponsors: Kask, Salomon, Fresh, Smith, Revelstoke Mountain Resort

 

Favourite Kask Beanie: Samurai Sun

Achievements/ movies / comp results / other proud moments:

 

- Sherpas Cinema “All.I.Can” , Salomon Freeski TV, MSP’s “In Deep”, “Claim”, “Seven Sunny Days, “Push/Pull”

Favorite areas or descents:

 

- I have had my fair share of fun in and around Whistler but I have to say there is no place like home.

Describe your skiing background:

- Started skiing in Calgary, Alberta at five, joined the Sunshine Ski Club the next year. I continued racing until I was 16 when I quit racing and joined the Rocky Mountain Freeriders. Skiing with the likes of Kevin Hjertaas, Colin Puskas and the Hjorleifson brothers. The next winter I got a sponsorship through Fresh sports who hooked me up with my current sponsors, moved to Canmore and started ski bumming full time.

What was your big breakthrough or defining moment in skiing?

- The breakthrough is filming with MSP for “Push/Pull” with out a doubt.

The most defining moment by far was being apart of “All.I.Can”.

Describe a skiing experience when things got out of hand:

- Abma and I had quite the morning in Alaska a couple of years back. With more than a couple of down days we came out of the gates firing. Abma went for an amazing tumble losing both his skis, I almost got swept of a 60’ cliff in an avalanche. I met Abma at the bottom, lent him a ski and we one ski skied to the heli with our tails between our legs.

What are you up to when you’re not skiing?

 

- Carpenter in Revelstoke in the summer

 

Any training advice or suggestions?

 

- Ski fast take chances, stretching helps alot too.

 

Who or what inspires you?

- Mountains and the community of people that live in them.

How do you see skiing evolving in the next five years?

 

- Powder eights, I will be getting old then.

Do you have any vices that you would like to share?

 

- Shorter poles will make you ski better.

What are your future plans or goals in skiing?

- Continue to film with both the Sherpas and SFTV, combined with skiing as much powder snow as possible.

 

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My life started about as far away from the snow as you can possibly imagine. I was born in Sydney Australia on September 11th 1984. My parents are from Scotland and spent much of their life traveling the world before kids. I spent the first five years of my life growing up on the beaches and in the water until my dad got a job in Calgary, Alberta, Canada! My parents shipped our family over to Calgary and we began a new life in the snow and mountains surrounding the city. My parents put my sister and I into ski racing right away and the love for skiing and snow quickly grew. From then until I was 16 years old my life revolved around skiing and racing. I spent every possible moment avoiding school and skiing as much as possible. When things didn’t work out in ski racing, I switched my focus in life to skiing as much powder as possible. The decision was an obvious one as I grew up shredding around the mountains. I joined the Rocky Mountain Freeriders and under the guidance of Guy Mowbry, Kevin Hjertaas and  Eric Hjoleifson, I leapt into the freeski world. I got hooked up with a new freeride store in Calgary called Fresh. The owner Steve Saranchuk helped me acquire the sponsors that I have today. At the time I didn’t think much about a ski career and just wanted to ski as much as possible, getting free gear made this more of a reality. I graduated from high school and quickly made the move to the mountain town of Canmore. Over the years I spent my time skiing as much as possible, filming some segments and shooting lots of photos. Every year my sponsorship grew and with it came new possibilities. After a couple of years I got a big break and had the opportunity to film with Matchstick Productions, the trip worked out and I dedicated the next four winters to filming a segment with them. This program took me all over the globe filming some of the coolest, funnest terrain I have ever seen. Much of this time was spent skiing with my best friend Eric Hjorleifson, skiing around the world with your best friend, that is what dreams are made of. After four years of filming with the same company I was ready for a change. This year I am dedicating myself to filming for the Rocky Mountain Sherpas new movie “All I Can” and doing whatever comes my way. After having a fairly confined schedule for the last few years, it is a breathe of fresh air to do what I want when I want. I get to live a dream life of skiing around the world, with great people, skiing powder and jumping off cliffs. I could have never dreamed of a better life. During this time I made the move to Revelstoke in the endless search for perfect powder. In Revelstoke I have recently started a Bed and Breakfast called the Cheeky Beaver Chalet and am firmly calling it home for now. In the summer I work as a carpenter, in the winter I continue to pursue my ski career by filming and skiing as many rad lines as I can during the winter. Thank you to all my sponsors and everyone that helps me make my life a reality.