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Written by By Paul Raymore
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
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 Want to know what it’s like to spend a day at Squaw Valley skiing classic lines for the cameras like so many ski-movie stars of the past? Have you read “Squallywood” and always thought it would be amazing to ski some of the terrain described in the book with the guy who wrote it?
If either seems appealing, “Squallywood” author Robb Gaffney — a former pro skier and ski movie star — has the clinic for you.
This winter, Squaw Valley USA and Gaffney have teamed up for two ski-the-book clinics based on Gaffney’s 200-page guide to the difficult lines at Squaw. In the Squallywood Clinic’s inaugural season, Gaffney will lead two one-day clinics on Jan. 26 and March 8, 2008 (a third date may be added based on demand and conditions).
Through the clinics, Gaffney hopes to give participants a feel for what skiing in a photo/video shoot is like, while also leading a tour of Squaw’s famous terrain.
A film cameraman and photographer will join the group in the morning and share their experience working with various skier types, snow types, wind conditions, lighting and camera angles, after which the group members become the athletes and decide where to ski and shoot.
 “I’ve had the experience where you go out for a film or photo shoot, and you finish that day and you’re riding a high that lasts a few days,” Gaffney said. “It’s so cool to watch the group dynamic just escalate and escalate — where someone’s doing something above and beyond [their normal capabilities], so you might do something that you feel is above and beyond, and everyone is just kind of amping up on that kind of stuff. So I want to try to figure out exactly how to create that energy in the group.”
Skiers in the clinic will have the opportunity to assess their lines, communicate with everyone via radios, and fully experience the anticipation of getting the shot before calling out the classic “3, 2, 1, dropping.”
“We’ll capture a bunch of footage, and then the film and photo guys will go down to the bottom of the hill and edit a little movie together. And what we’re hoping is to take the clips people skied during the day and line them up with some old clips of someone skiing the exact same route that they skied,” Gaffney said. “So they’ll be able to watch themselves and then watch Scott Schmidt ski it or Glen Plake or something like that.”
After the morning film session is over, Gaffney plans to take participants on a tour of the mountain, showing off some of the toughest lines that Squaw’s got to offer — spots like the Eagle’s Nest, the Palisades, Silverado, Granite Chief Peak, etc.
“If people want to drop into the runs and they feel comfortable doing it, they’re welcome to do it,” he added.
Finally, the group will reconvene with the photographers to watch their movie and a slideshow from the morning, brag about lines skied, and revel in the Squallywood atmosphere a little bit longer.
The Squallywood Clinic
Dates: Jan. 26 & March 8, 2008 (with possibly another date added if there is interest)
To sign up: Call Squaw Valley’s Savannah Cowley at (530) 583-6985 or send an e-mail to
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Space is limited to seven or eight skiers. Robb Gaffney will hand-pick who gets in the clinics.
THE PLAYERS
Robb Gaffney, M.D.
Robb Gaffney, M.D. began studying the slopes of Squaw Valley when he was in college. He has been a featured skier in over 10 ski films including those of Matchstick Productions, Scott Gaffney Pictures and Omen Productions. He currently practices Psychiatry near the base of Squaw Valley. Anyone who has had the privilege of watching the doctor ski can attest to his remarkable ability to make the sketchiest, most unthinkable lines look as if they were put there for us to ski.
“Robb is the most talented, top level pro skier in the world that didn’t become a pro skier,” said professional ski icon Shane McConkey. “He has skied every possible line at Squaw many times, [Robb] knows the mountain better than anyone except maybe his brother. He’s not only a tremendous athlete, he also has an MD in psychiatry — so he’s smart too.”
Duane Kubischta
Squallywood Clinic cinematographer Duane Kubischta has been filming and producing ski movies for the last three years with the company that he founded in Lake Tahoe, Adventure Film Works. His 2006 release, “Hustle & Snow” was featured in many different film festivals including the Banff Mountain Film Fest and the Squaw Valley Winter Film Festival where it won the Squally Award. His 2007 release, “Weather We Change,” focuses on how global warming will effect skiing and what skiers can do to help with the impending crisis. More information can be found on his Web site, www.AdventureFilmWorks.com.
Jason Abraham
Jason Abraham, Squallywood Clinic photographer, began shooting skiing and snowboarding a few years ago. Despite being relatively new to the bustling photography scene at Squaw Valley, Abraham has taken some of the best Squaw photos in recent years. Abraham’s photos from the epic 2006 season are featured throughout the 2nd Edition of “Squallywood,” including the book’s cover shot. Jason Abraham has a photography business, Elevated Image Photography and his work can be viewed on his Web site, www.elevatedimg.com.
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