Bjarne Salen - Filmer of "The Fifty" w/ Cody Townsend, Hardcore Ski Mountaineer, Adventurer, Philosopher

Episode #22

Brought to you by Alta & Scott Sports

My guest today is Bjarne Salen. Bjarne is best known for his talents behind the camera filming The Fifty Project with Cody Townsend where Bjarne documents Cody climbing and skiing the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America. This video series has been insanely popular with somewhere around 15-million views on the 35 or so videos they've already created thus far.

That part of Bjarne we already know a bit about. What was fascinating to me was learning about Bjarne's extensive ski mountaineering history all over the world including Chamonix, Patagonia, New Zealand, Alaska, all over North America, and more. Bjarne's skill, resilience, and ability to stay calm in the mountains is remarkable.

Bjarne was filming his close friend Andreas Franson when Andreas passed away in an avalanche with legendary freestyle skier JP Auclair deep in Chilean Patagonia in 2015. Like so many of us who dedicate our lives to the mountains, this was not the only close friend Bjarne has lost. Learning Bjarne's perspective on life, his willingness to confront drastic change head-on and his vicious passion for the mountains changed me, and hope it changes you.

Please enjoy!

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This episode is also brought to you by Alta :

Alta is an independent ski area where the soul of skiing continues to live on for 84 winters. Alta is a skier’s only mountain, celebrated for its frequent powder days, averaging 540” of snowfall each winter.

With an 84-year history, Alta is a place that is steeped in history and tradition. We’re not talking about your grandfathers or grandmothers mothbally ski sweater tradition. We’re talking about the birthplace of avalanche research in North America kind of tradition. Alta is a place where the five independent lodges still offer the tradition of family-style dinners and ski bars that generations of skiers have frequented.

Alta’s opening day is set for November 20th, conditions permitting. We will see you out there. And as Alta likes to say. Come for the skiing. Stay for the skiing.

This episode is brought to you by Scott Sports:

Technology, innovation and design is the name of the game and that’s exactly what SCOTT Sports is; It’s in their DNA. Skiing is about testing yourself – seeing the possibilities that you are presented with and pushing yourself to seize the greatest challenges. SCOTT Sports has the gear to help you do just that. To learn more check out scottsports.com and see what real innovation looks like.

Skip the lift lines this year and get in the backcountry! With all the new SCOTT winter essentials, you’re set to have a safe and fun time in the mountains. Check out their new product line at scottsports.com

Looking to test the boundaries but fearful of high-risk situations? SCOTT Sports knows the danger, that’s why they’ve developed the Patrol E1 Avalanche Backpack. It’s the ultimate freeskiing avalanche backpack, pushing the boundaries of innovation. The supercapacitor technology, along with exceptional design, results in one of the lightest electric airbag backpacks on the market to date! To learn more go to scottsports.com 

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