A managing partner’s guide to great skiing
When Stewart Cameron isn’t heading up Hicksons Lawyers, he’s hankering for an opportunity to shred the powder – preferably in the US or Canada. He answers our Time Out Q&A.
Stewart Cameron is managing partner at Hicksons Lawyers (Newcastle and Sydney). He lives in Sydney.
Snowboarder or skier?
I’m definitely a skier. While snowboarding sounds good, the truth is it hurts too much at my age [60].
Cross-country or alpine?
Alpine, for sure. For me, the only time to go uphill on skis is in the back country, so I can ski down runs without crowds.
Deep powder snow in the back-country terrain at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, British Columbia, Canada. Getty Images
When and how did you get into skiing?
In my early 20s my girlfriend from university introduced me to it. An old uni friend then moved to Salt Lake City [in Utah, USA], which started my love of travelling to amazing mountains and pursuing snow-filled adventures – and by then I had a mortgage I could refinance to fund said adventures.
How often do you go skiing and where?
I take my family skiing in Australia each July during the school holidays, and I usually go overseas for a couple of weeks every year or so. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many ski hills throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and New Zealand – and Australia, of course.
How do you prepare physically for the snow season?
A lot of après! And a lot of specific training. Pete Walton at Be Athletic City is super good at getting you ski fit – even with a hip replacement and well-used knees. Before my most recent heli trip to Canada’s Skeena Mountains, he made me as strong and flexible as a 20-year-old – well, at least as much as I can remember about being 20.
Stewart Cameron on a heli-skiing trip out of Blue River in Canada.
How long do you give yourself to ramp up your fitness for skiing?
In true lawyerly fashion, I would say it depends. For a short social trip, a beer or two in the pubs with friends is enough to head out onto the slopes. For the heli trip, I’d say six months of dedication to improving strength and flexibility was required.
What is your favourite ski resort and why?
Jackson Hole in Wyoming in the United States and Revelstoke in British Columbia in Canada. Both resorts have amazing steep, big lines, with fun local cultures and ice hockey teams playing in old tin sheds.
What’s the typical length of your ski trips?
Usually two weeks, with the occasional longer trip when I can talk my stakeholders into more leave.
Cameron on a perfect day in the Skeena Mountains, British Columbia.
Most memorable skiing experience?
Hands down, heli-skiing. You’re in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature’s beauty, and when the chopper flies off, it’s just so quiet. Also, the ride up is almost as much fun as the ride down.
Ever been caught in a storm or avalanche?
Not an avalanche, although while at the Mike Wiegele Heli Skiing Resort at Blue River in British Columbia, I came close when we were in the middle of a “whoomp” (a Canadian term for when a large area of not-so-steep snow drops but doesn’t become a full avalanche). That was pretty frightening. Having said that, I do like riding in the trees during a storm, as there’s a sense of having the hill to yourself with heaps of great snow.
Heli-skiing at Revelstoke, British Columbia. Dan Stewart
Most like to go skiing with?
If my partner, Cindy Kirkby, is reading this, then her, of course. But otherwise our heli guide, Troy Thomas from Sweetlines Ski Guiding in Revelstoke.
Tips that helped you to become a better skier?
Definitely enrol in a good skier improvement program. Canadian Ski Quest out of Rossland in British Columbia were amazing and made sure we had plenty of fun while getting much better on the slopes.
Ever been scared on a mountain?
Absolutely. As I get older [Stewart is in his 60s], I seem to have wobblier knees. Looking over the edge of Corbet’s Couloir in Jackson is now scary. In British Columbia, some friends and I did our first day at Kicking Horse in a whiteout. We went back the next day and saw we had been just on top of some massive cliffs. Luckily, we turned left instead of right. If I’d turned right, I would have skied off the cliff.
Riding the steep, big lines at Revelstoke. AP
Have you suffered any serious injuries or catastrophes while skiing?
No, touch wood. I’ve been lucky. I broke my neck playing rugby at school, so face planting in powder on my recent Japan trip was not a good idea.
Favourite gear and outerwear brand?
This is an easy one: Arc’teryx. I like the older stuff that was made in Canada; it’s bulletproof.
Dislike anything about skiing?
Coming home. And Australian blue ice. I’m over skiing ice at Thredbo. I head straight to Kareela Hutte [restaurant] on those days.
How important is the après ski?
It had much greater significance a couple of decades ago, when Hicksons had an enviable reputation on [the annual lawyers’ ski and snowboard] LAWSKI weekends at the Keller Bar in Thredbo.
lifeandleisure@afr.com
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