I guess the secret is out.
Last year marked the first ever Multiplicity event at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. It was dubbed as “the most underrated event at WSSF”—not many people knew what the show was all about, but those who curious enough to check it out were treated to an incredible event, packed with incredible mountain-inspired stories and presentations by some of the most fascinating people on earth (no joke).
Based on the crowd at last night’s second annual Multiplicity, presented by Mountain Life and Helly Hansen, it looks like the rest of Whistler has finally caught on.
Whistler host-of-everything Feet Banks emceed the evening, which marked the first of the “creative” events at WSSF. He led us through eight totally different, but equally inspiring, presentations, which can best be described as Ted Talks meets a Whistler talent show. Allow me to elaborate:
Don't Grow Old
Squamish-based JF Plouffe (personal training guru/human robot) presented a piece called “Fjords and Boards”, which included a video teaser of one of his latest adventures, an attempt to tackle some skiing and sailing in the Jervis Inlet. But the real takeaways from his presentation were the bits of philosophy he dropped throughout, reminding us that our lives are finite, and making the time to live a little is absolutely paramount. As he said, “Don’t grow old. Play often. Make it happen.”
That Time I Wrestled a Snake
Whistler photographer Andy Dittrich was up next: Andy has worked on wildlife shows with the Discovery Channel, and has encountered some unbelievable animals all over the world. He walked us through a slideshow of some of his coolest work, sharing the insane stories behind the shot. He, too, imparted some sage knowledge upon us, touching on the human impact on global ecologies, a topic that would be revisited later in the show.
Through Blake Jorgensen's Lens
Another Whistler photographer, Blake Jorgensen, followed. Though Mr. Jorgensen was in Alaska, he prepared a pre-recorded show narrating a series of photos he took on an adventure to Nepal. The pictures were remarkable, but his words were equally inspiring. He described his camera as a passport for exploration, forcing him to stop and look around, and to notice and recognize moments that are worth communicating. If you’re able to find a passion akin to Blake’s for photography, you’re doing something right.
What Happens in Siberia...
Ace Mackay Smith, yet another local legend, took us behind the scenes of ski film she helped shoot in the 90’s, “Siberia”, a classic Greg Stump movie. From the lost-in-translation moments to the sketchy snow/food/gear/everything to the footage of a vodka-fuelled party (make that 96% alcohol content vodka…), Ace’s show was the next best thing to being there in person.
Planes, Trains, River Rafts, Horseback, and More Crazy Vehicles
Will Stanhope of Squamish kicked off the second half of the show, with a charmingly awkward presentation of a climbing mission through the Patagonia. This guy is young, but a trad climber extraordinaire, and his Argentinian adventure made most trip expeditions look like a stay at an all-inclusive. By this point, I was starting to get the travel bug.
Changing Plans and Lives
Todd Lawson’s show kept pushing me right along that path. The Whistler-based editor of Mountain Life magazine told the story of a family vacation to the Philippines that took a radical turn when Typhoon Yolanda hit. The Lawson family headed to a badly affected area to provide help, and learned how resilient people can be, even in the face of disaster.
Swimming With the Humpbacks
The penultimate presentation was led by freediver Mandy-Rae Cruikshank, who explained what freediving was (thing snorkeling, but under water; or scuba diving without a tank). Mandy-Rae’s got a few stories under her belt, from holding more than a few world records to working on The Cove to diving with humpback whales.
The Best for Last
Finally, Wade Davis, National Geographic’s explorer-in-residence and one of the best storytellers I have ever seen, presented a show about other mountain cultures in this world (including some in our own backyards). This wasn’t about skiing and snowboarding: it was about understanding how other people live and the colossal—yet totally different—roles that mountains play in their respective cultures.
Wade’s show was a humbling wake-up call that highlighted some very dangerous norms in our society, like the way we treat land as a disposable resource. I will say this much: if you ever get the opportunity to hear Mr. Davis speak, TAKE IT.
So now I, along with the other 400+ people in attendance, am left with a burning sense of wanderlust, a desire to swim amongst humpback whales, and a renewed passion for protecting my local mountains. In other words: Multiplicity nailed it.
