By Phillip Andrews
updated
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 01:10 PM
I don't think I've ever seen Jeff Daubney not smiling.
Since beginning these articles a few months ago, I've been
searching for a common denominator between each of the profiles of
the people we've covered. I've found that every person has both an
inherent drive to work hard, as well as a willingness to sacrifice
what they must to be able to spend much of their time outside on
the hill. This seems to bring about a toothy, genuine, easy-going
smile. Jeff Daubney, or "Daubs," has one of the best grins
going.
Daubney, 37, is only a few months away from marrying the love of
his life, Kate Nolte, a former third grade teacher from Darien, CT,
whom he met while working at a bikini boot camp in the summer of
2008.
As if that's not enough to keep a smile on his face, Jeff has also
skied over 1200 days in the last ten years, started his own fitness
company called Vermont Personal Training, and begun raising organic
chickens at his home in Ludlow.
He consistently on the move, going about the same pace in his
personal life as the professional free skiers he has trained and
competed with over the years. Despite his demanding workload and
desire to get out and ride at top speed, Daubney manages to
maintain a quiet and composed demeanor while still loaded with an
abundance of excited energy.
On an unseasonably warm afternoon in late January, Jeff Daubney
and I meet to talk and take some end-of-the-day runs down the hill.
Since writing for the mountain times I've been lucky enough to
chase some fun loving maniacs down the slopes, all the while trying
to keep them in my camera's view finder and snap some photos of
them doing what they love. Following Daubney down the hill is like
chasing a dolphin through the water. Daubs moves with a fluidity
that comes from years and years of dedicated practice. It's that
smoothness and speed as well as an effective and exhilarating line
that separates professional freeskiing from other winter events
such as freestyle skiing or grand slalom or other strict racing
disciplines.
Since its early start in the late 90's freeskiing has grown to
produce two competitive tours, the US freeskiing tour and the
Subaru freeskiing world tour.
Jeff Daubney has trained and skied with many of the pioneers of the
sport. He was affected by the sad news of freestyle skier Sarah
Burke recent death. Daubney spoke to the heart of every snow loving
individual that ever thought themselves "a goner" after a bad fall
or near death experience, when he said, "skiing and snowboarding
are not just individual sports. Sure, we are out there competing on
our own, against each other, but it is the community together, that
defines us as individuals. When Sarah (Burke) passed, I went online
to her foundation to donate some money, in a very small amount of
time they had raised over $250,000. That really showed to me that
we are part of a much larger community even when you out there by
yourself."
The love of freeskiing and the community it brings together is what
first made this native of Troy, NY move to the Killington region.
It was the winter of 2000. A group of friends had pooled their
money together and bought a house in Ludlow with the intentions of
doing nothing but ski. Before long Daubney had earned himself a
spot on the freeskiing world tour as well as the US tour, rubbing
shoulders and skiing alongside some of the world greatest skiers, a
fulfillment of a long-time goal but also a humbling
experience.
"I remember when I took my first run at Alta, UT, I thought I was
just gonna be able to jump 50' cliffs all day, I followed Jamie
Pierre (who tragically passed in an avalanche in November of 2011)
down a line, and I quickly realized the difference between a very
good skier and someone who is a true pro skier. The durability and
the drive to be out there every day, when the cameras aren't on,
the work ethic and the physical strength required to be at that
level are mind boggling."
A list of injuries eventually forced Daubney to leave the tour and
focus on fitness, nutrition and personal health, he returned to
Killington, and now has a near divine respect for the mountains and
all they provide.
"This place, the mountain… is a temple to many people," he says.
"It gives people that feeling of community and purpose, it humbles
them, gives them something to be thankful for, something to define
themselves. For some people it is almost a religion, a way of life.
Skiing is less a sport and more a lifestyle, you can die out there,
but you're doing it to feel alive."
It's words like those that make martyrs and saints out of fallen
heroes like Sarah Burke, Shane McConkey, Jamie Pierre, C.R. Johnson
and many others. They risk their life not only for themselves, but
to grow and foster a community and lifestyle that defines 'living
the dream.' It's all of our hard work, drive and dedication that
have created this way of living, and we should be thankful of those
pioneers, to lay first tracks down a steep fall line paving a way
for us all.
Tagged:
Jeff Daubney, Living the Dream, Livin' the Dream
