Early Season Maiden111 Voyage - Chasing November Powder In Idaho With Amy David

Icelantic's Amy David tells us about her first powder days of the season on the new Maiden 111.

(Above Photo By: Lisa Mackenzie)

"November is the time of year we return to winter. Although it happens every year, each time feels like a new “Maiden voyage” into the ski season. The anticipation for the first skiable snowfall builds, and the first round of powder turns transmits a deep energy throughout the ski community. My first turns of the season commenced on the summit of Galena Pass adjacent to Sun Valley, Idaho. The name of the game was low-angle wiggles through dry, cold, new snow, and refreshing the snow-safety analyzing skills. At the summit of each lap, we took in the views of the Sawtooth range to the north, the White Clouds to the east, Boulder and Smoky mountains descending south. This gentle and safe warm up on early season snow is a perfect place to spark dreams of ambitious backcountry missions in the distant peaks as the winter progresses.

(Above Photo By: Jeremy Lato)

The Maiden women-specific freeride ski with a fly-weight core (which I love for the uphill travel!), has rockered tip and tail with 2mm camber underfoot, and is the optimal size for being playful, surfy and fun on the downhill. If I could only ride one ski for all types of skiing I love, it would be the Maiden111 every day backcountry or resort shredding!

(Above Photo By: Emily Tidwel)

The theme of the top sheet design this season for the Icelantic freeride skis is “exploration” each ski features a different mode of exploration from air, space, water, land, and for the women’s ski, it’s intrinsic. The design of the Maiden is a Sri Yantra. According the directory of ancient symbols, “This symbol is composed of nine interlocking triangles that radiate outwards from the center or bindu point. This central point is considered the meeting place or junction between the physical world and the spiritual world or the unmanifest source. Of the nine triangles, four point to the sky and is believed to be symbols for Shiva (the masculine), while the five pointing downwards represent Shakti (or the feminine). Because of this, the Sri Yantra is believed to be a strong symbol for the union of the masculine and the feminine divine. The word ‘yantra’ means ‘instrument’ and this is exactly what this symbol is: an instrument or powerful tool for intense meditation, prayer or concentration to allow one to achieve a higher level of consciousness. The Sri Yantra acts as a focusing point, with an inner and outer doorway that can lead one to commune with different deities through various levels or force centers in the universe.”

(Photos By: Sofia DeWolf)

 Ski touring is very meditative for me. The experience of skiing connects me to my self on meaningful level while simultaneously connecting me to the symbiotic environments of the external world and landscapes. ,Having a top sheet design that inspires introspection on the hike up takes the experience to a deeper level while returning to nature. Not to mention. . . these skis rip!!Words 

 (Above Photo By: Jeremy Lato)

Words By: Amy David