 
Why I do what I do? That is a good question; one that can overwhelm you if you are not careful. So I try to keep it simple and remember that the answer is always fun. I really cant imagine it being much else.
You know how when you are a kid, everyone always asks you, what do you want to be when you grow up? My answer has always been the same, To SKI. So when I was twenty, I left Vermont for my life time dream of skiing out west and settled in Squaw Valley. As luck would have it, the winter of 82-83 was one of the biggest the Sierras have ever seen and here I thought it was just an average year for the west. I cant explain the impression that was left upon me after skiing power day after powder day, except to say that I am still here, 15 years later.
Yeah, yeah, pow, pow
Photo by Chaco Moeller |
One day when I was working at the shop (Squaw Valley Sport Shop) my friend Scott came in and we started to bullshit. Warren Miller was coming to Squaw Valley to shoot a segment for his upcoming film ( Snow Country) and Scott casually asked me if I wanted to ski along with him. I was pretty much blown away, but was able to get a yes out. This was a huge honor, one that proved to be much bigger than I ever imagined. The shoot went great and others soon followed. Before I knew it, I was thoroughly addicted to skiing new mountains, meeting new friends and experiencing different cultures. I loved the new lifestyle, but I didn't want skiing to be my job. Somehow, I had to figure out a way to keep the wonderful new lifestyle alive., but save my skiing for the soul.
I have always had a passion for photography. Watching the cameramen at work intrigued me enough to buy my own 16 mm camera, in hopes that it would be my around the world plane ticket. With lots of support from the likes of Warren Miller, Eric Perlman and the trust from my ski buddies I was able to shoot a lot of film. This is the only way to learn. My life has been like a big snow ball , constantly evolving in directions I never imagined. I now work full time for Mike Hatchett and Standard Films and it is great! Together we tour the globe in search of new horizons.
Squaw Valley, Tom playing at home
Photo by Chaco Moeller |
The best thing out of all of this was meeting Lizzie and starting a family. The love you can give and get back from your kids is just incredible . Everything else has become secondary. My family has given me the ultimate gift.. They have supported and shared in my dreams every step of the way.
See here how everything, leads up to this day, and it is just like any other day that has ever been . Hunter/Garcia
STATS: HEIGHT:58, WEIGHT: 150 lbs AGE: 36 yrs BIRTHPLACE: Montpelier, VT HOME: Squaw Valley MARITAL STATUS: wife, Lizzie, son Danny (age 9),daughter Leanore (AGE 3)
Tom with his 3 year old, Lenore |
HOBBIES: If it is fun!
SPORTS: Yes
SPONSORS: Yes, thankyou : Squaw Valley USA, Nordica/ Kastle, Asolo,Spy, The North Face, Scott, Obermeyer, Patagonia, Belfe, Post Card, Squaw Valeey Sport Shop and of course Heckler Brau
HOME MOUNTAIN: The one with snow
BEST SKI RUN IN THE WORLD: The never ending one.
WHERE IS THE MOST EXOTIC PLACE YOU HAVE EVER SKIED:: Antartica, Morroco, Yuzbekistan., Kamchatka....
The self built Day family home
in Squaw Valley |
DESCRIBE YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM SKI ADVENTURE: A never ending run with constant surprises and changing conditions. Of course, it would always be unpredictable because perfection would be boring. Dont forget the revolving door - it is constantly revealing friends along for the ride.
HISTORICAL INFLUENCES/IDOLS: Jean-Claude Killy, Pete Heuga, Stan Tomlinson, Joe Marillac, Stan Day & Jack Walsh
DESCRIBE THE MOST HORRENDOUS SKI EXPERIENCE YOU'VE EVER HAD: Here I was somewhere in Wrangle Mountains of Alaska stuck on the South side of town. The snow was as sun baked and rotten as I expected, and yet here I was , compliments of my barby camera angle. Yes, the slope slid, all the way down to bare rock and I was just plane lucky to be still standing. It took me forever to work my way down by foot ( all the snow was gone) and all the while I got to look at the perfect tracks the boys had left on the far facing slope.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF A PERFECT SKI DAY: Today!
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