Ask Me Anything: Mike Douglas

[mikedski]

Thanks for doing this Mike, so many questions!

Has focussing on the filming / creative aspects through Switchback & SFTV made you look at skiing in a different way? And do you think you get more out of skiing because of it or does nothing beat a day in the mountains with no cameras and no agenda?

What has been the best experience you’ve had through skiing?

How did you find filming for Snowman? What were the major challenges?

Episode of SFTV you are most proud of?

Looking back to when founded the New Canadian Airforce, what is the one aspect of freeskiing which has changed the most / surprised you the most? Have any of the changes disappointed you?

Fore sure, I'm thinking about a lot more than just shredding lines and doing tricks. Some days I'm happy we're just our skiing and other days I'm happy logging great shots.

Probably just meeting so many extraordinary people and getting to see the world.

Snowman was the most challenging project I've ever worked on. Telling a feature-length story was a huge challenge, the weather was a huge challenge, being in the film and directing it was awkward, and funding it wasn't easy either.

Tough to pick one, but any episode that affects people's lives in a positive way is a highlight. I would say the most inspiration came from The Freedom Chair.

1) Favorite Line you've skied on film (I like that ridge from Push/Pull)
2) Favorite Line you've skied off film


Thanks for helping keep skiing fun.

Thanks. Yeah, the line from Push was up there. Probably Mr Wiggles at Mica or the Backcountry freestyle line from one of the old PoorBoyz movies would be my favourites. Line off film... hmmm. I don't know.

What's the biggest huck you've ever hit?

What's the biggest huck you would hit today given a five foot base and two feet of fresh powder anywhere?

Probably about a 60 footer. I think it was the one that gave me the black eye in the old MSP movie. Either that or some of the stuff I used to hit when I was a teenager.

I'd probably still hit a 50 footer if everything was perfect.

Can you tell those kids to get t-shirts that fit and put their damn gloves back on?

Damn straight!

This X2. To add: Is Kaj just as funny and positive when the camera is off? Does he stink up the van on those trips through the Alps?

Yep, Kaj is awesome pretty much all the time. I just roomed with him in Japan a couple of weeks ago and I think our room was much less stinky than Cody Townsend's.

[TahoeJ]

Mike - what are some Freeski TV projects you've always wanted to do but just can't because of budget restraints?

[mikedski]

What does the ski industry need to do to get more hispanic people on skis?

Add a couple more Easter holidays. Whistler is packed with Mexicans every Easter.

i know your cool with 1080's, how bout 420's?

No 420 for me. I have no problem with it though. Unless my kid is reading this. Then I'll have a problem with it.

In MD's defence, I added that bit.

What did Salomon have to do on their end to build the 1080? Can you explain the back-and-forth with them on developing that ski? Was it a game-changer for them? And what was the experience like the first day you skied on them?

When you were the NCAF coach/leader, who was the hardest guy to manage? JF?

Does Anthony Boronowski still ski Whis at all?

It was a bit weird at the beginning. I had the designs but didn't want to hand them over until we had a signed contract. The first couple of protos were wack. Once we got together and talked design it came together really fast. Definitely a game changer. I've never heard the official sales numbers. I think they're too scared to let me know how much money they actually made on that ski. Salomon has been my best partner the whole way through my ski career. It hasn't always been a perfect relationship, but there is a mutual respect there. I've been with them for over 17 years.

Yeah, JF was probably the hardest guy to manage. What's really funny now is that he's a coach now for the Canadian Slopestyle Team. I see him a few times a year and always laugh at him because he's basically become me - which was his worst nightmare.

Anthony is living down in Socal right now and designing for Armada. He usually comes up a couple of times a year to ski.

[mikedski]

When you were disqualified from the skeleton race at the 2010 Olympics for removing your runner covers too late, did you just want to grab a NBC hot mic and scream out loud that the IOC could suck your ball sack?

You are the Canadian Mike Douglas, right?

Yes! I actually got a bunch of twitter followers around the 2010 Olympics who thought I was that dude. They must've thought I was such a slacker for just skiing and partying through the whole Olympics. The mechanic that works on my car in Whistler is named Mike Douglas too. Poor bastard!

Whistler or Blackcomb? No corporate mumbo jumbo answers either, everyone has a favourite.
Where is winter? Is this season a bust or will Feb/March deliver?
What is your summer activity of choice?
Nita/Alpha/Alta/Green?
Do you think W/B should run a tram/gondi/lift up the other side of town and open it up euro/Silverton style?

Keep up the great work MD. SFSTV is probably the only series I consistently watch.

Blackcomb (but I ski Whistler more)
Winter better get it's ass back here soon. I'm starting to get in biking shape.
Mtn Biking or surfing, but I'd prefer to do those things in the summer.
Alpha and Alta
No, I like the backcountry just the way it is.
Thanks!

You did a D-Spin at 40. Are you planning a D-spin at 50? First hand info says your spending more time in the park these days...is this a comeback or is it your kids forcing you.

Is FIS killing freestyle?

I'd love to be able to D Spin at 50. Still need to get the 45 one done. Yes, my son is all about the park so my rail game is tight right now.

Would you ski North Korea if Kim Jung Un sent a personal invite?

We were close to doing a SFTV trip to North Korea last year. I think if everyone spent more time skiing the world would be a much better place.

Do you have plans to go to Japan this season

Yep, just got back from there last week.

Record breaking gondolas and large trams are easy and publicity rich targets for some crazy jihadist with a backpack full of explosives.

What will happen when terrorists finally come to the ski slopes?

Where having been? It already happened at Elbrus in Russia. Terrorists knocked down the gondola and shot a bunch of people back in 2010 (I think). We rode on that gondola exactly 1 year after it happened. Yikes!

How about a visit to Alpental when the snow gets good.

I'd love to. That's a fun hill.

[mikedski]

F/Marry/Kill : Lindsey Vonn, Julia Mancuso, Gary Busey

Have you ever attempted the Triple Lindy on skis?

Did the Devil plant dinosaur bones in the earth to mis lead us?

What sidearm holster is most appropriate for hunting wolves while ski mountaineering?

(Big Fan)

I think Julia Mancuso is a rad chick.
No
Oh, that's who did it.
We use our ski poles in Canada.

Daffy or spread eagle?


Coke or Pepsi?


Beatles or Rolling Stones?


Dogs or Cats?


10 powder days, or 50 non-powder days?


No shower for a month or no toilet paper for a week?


Fakie or switch?


French fries or pizza?


TGR or Epicski?

Daffy
Coke
Stones
Dogs
10 powder days
No shower for a month
Switch
French fries, then pizza, pizza, PIZZA!
TGR, duh!

Mike- I am threading from GTNP, WY the greatest place to ski, well maybe 2nd in your eyes.. Anyways, I tore my ACL in early August but was cleared by doctors to shred mid December. I have been riding well (droppin 20 footers and hitting jumps) and my knee just gets a bit sore from time to time.

How many folks do you know who ski with no surgery and no ACL and of course ski their brains out?
How long have they been doin it?
How many folks do you know who have had ACL Surgery and are still killin it?
Been feeling really down about my injury but tryin to keep my head up.. Thanks for reading and hopefully replying!
Think Snow,
A friend from the Tetons,
Billy

I know quite a few who have skied without an ACL, but I wouldn't recommend it for the long term. Most do it for less than a season. Almost everyone I know has had ACL surgery and all are still killing it. I would recommend getting it done sooner than later. If you didn't live in the Tetons I would say you should get it done right away, but that seems to be one of the places that's actually having a pretty good season. Good luck!

[mikedski]

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if ski films weren't exclusively about skiing pow. I mean, some of my favorite segments from older films were inbounds on average snow...even *gasp* moguls.
Any thoughts on this ^^ ?

True. Two of my favourite segments from this years films didn't have pow - MSP's resort shred segment and Candide's vid that just came out.

Mike - what are some Freeski TV projects you've always wanted to do but just can't because of budget restraints?

There have been a few exploratory heli missions that we could've done but we turned down because of the amount of budget required - Alaska, Turkey, Greece.

[mikedski]

Thanks for the questions! Hopefully winter finds it's way back to North America soon so we can all get back to doing what we love.

If you haven't seen the new episode of Salomon Freeski TV that just came out, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tGrA5aL2Zk

[bushman]

Mike, since it does not snow any more I'll dispense with the ski questions.
1. Maserati or Alfa?
2.single malt or bourbon?
3. bridge or implant?
4. blend or rye?
5. Labrador or mutt?
6. home school,public ed or private school?
Lastly I still have a mint pair of extra hot screams and a pair of 1080's I found on the side of the road, lets make a deal.

[teamdirt]

Class act all the way. Thanks for answering all of our questions!

[miahw2828]

Great read!

[SB]

MD is the awesomest!

[iscariot]

Dang! I forgot to ask him how he came up with his user name.

[WaistDeepGroomers]

Thanks mike so much for raining the time for the crew here. Cheers man!

[Below Zero]

My question was not answered!

[BmillsSkier]

Mike, since it does not snow any more I'll dispense with the ski questions.
1. Maserati or Alfa?
2.single malt or bourbon?
3. bridge or implant?
4. blend or rye?
5. Labrador or mutt?
6. home school,public ed or private school?
Lastly I still have a mint pair of extra hot screams and a pair of 1080's I found on the side of the road, lets make a deal.

I'll take a look at those 1080s if they're the 02/03s in a 181

[bushman]

Silver 171cm

[SKIORFORGETIT]

enjoyed this thread

thank you Mike