The Fin
PNH, Chugach Mountains, Cordova, Alaska
Athlete: Kent Kreitler
Camera: Nikon F5
What makes it special: Simple form and line.
The story: "The beauty of skiing is expressed by the graceful mark each skier makes when cutting into the texture of the snowpack. Just as we are all unique individuals, so is the track we leave behind. The path we take through the vertical is our own. Its signature, how big, how wide, how long, how consistent, how irregular, is our own.
When Kreitler skied the fin on the outer shoulder of the Sphinx I held my breath. The line was so beautiful and steep. There was no room for error with a cliff at the bottom. Ski the top, make your marks, and then cut out before the cliff over 1000 feet down. Control and composure is the name of the game. One mistake, a fall, and it is all over. Kent skied it perfectly.
Looking back at the slope and the signature he left behind, I was moved by its contrast. Balanced, swooping consecutive curves contrasted against the sharp geometric lines of the Sphinx."
