MORE INFO: Snowboards For Kashmir

Ever since I rolled up on the Tien Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan during the Mongol Rally, I have been obsessed with riding in that region. A short hop and a skip through war torn Afghanistan and Pakistan and you are in Kashmir. We have featured a bunch of videos from the regions, but now we are featuring an opportunity for you to go and help. Michael Nixon has doing just that since the '07/08 season and now he is looking for some help. This is one of those rare opportunities, adventure in foreign lands and ride righteous powder. The kicker is that the resorts resemble the US in the mid-eighties when riders were not allowed on the lifts (see cover photo of riders hiking). For those of you that weren't around back then, that is where snowboarding's rebellious roots lie. This is a chance to feel that energy and help some riders get to the point that we all take for granted.

I caught up with Michael Nixon to find out more about his experiences, here are his responses.

7YW: How did you end up in Kashmir?

MICHAEL NIXON: I first heard about Gulmarg at the TGR Forum as a vague whisper. I believe it was a trip by JHAF pilots Wade McCoy and Dan Treadway. I decided to spend a whole season there in '07/08 but there was no information about if this was possible on a budget. The only guy who seemed to know was the owner of Ski Himalaya, and he hired me to train his guides in exchange for meals & lodging, so I rented out my place at Bolton Valley and flew to India.

7YW: What is the craziest thing that has happened to you in Kashmir?

MICHAEL NIXON: Nothing too crazy. Despite the perceived danger or actual risk I've kept my nose clean over four winters. Terrorist acts have been committed and people have died while I've been in Srinagar (airport & city 30 miles from Gulmarg) but I have not been involved nor directly witnessed.

The main risk of avalanche trauma I've minimized by learning and practicing good technique and paying close attention to the daily avalanche advisory report. All credit for this goes to Brian Newman and the Gulmarg Snow Safety program he developed and directs. Before this program there was no avalanche safety program. Furthermore, the ski patrol were minimally trained and poorly equipped.

Frustration. It is the constant in any trip to India but at Gulmarg it is legendary. Water shortages, power outages, frozen pipes, strange food, and government employees. At Gulmarg it is like Valdez or a surf spot: Find someplace relatively comfortable, wait it out, and be there for the good days. It can be frustrating knowing my friends at Sugarbush are going lap after lap any & every day they want because the lifts are spinning. I tell people not to go to Gulmarg on less than 2 weeks if they want to count on 6 days of the gondola running full tilt. Last season was the most operating days in its winter history: 68 days. That's a pretty short season relatively. It helps that each run from the top is 3000 vertical feet minimum. That and a constant 38-degree pitch and good snow make up for all the stink.

The worst thing that happened to me was just getting to Gulmarg in the first place. The airline lost ALL my gear for a three-month stay. I waited 10 days in a hotel in Srinagar sick as hell. I bailed India and flew home. I fought the airline for a month and was finally awarded First Class tickets to return to India. Gory details of the clusterfuck are here, read from bottom to top: http://myhouseinpanama.blogspot.com/search/label/JetAirways

My second season at Gulmarg began with a 14-day curfew on bathing since the plumbing was frozen solid (stacking doodies on the ice in my toilet), and I often woke up to a 34 F-degree room when the generator would run out of fuel and the heating system would kick out. Major discomfort is pretty much de rigeur during a visit here. Once you get to the gondola good luck getting a ticket! Government employee ticket sellers will take a tea-break on a powder day! I've seen the gondola running and the ticket office closed too many times. I almost bought a $550 season pass just for one powder day so I would not have to fuck with lines (at both the ticket seller, and the gondola line-up [times 2 since it's a two-stage gondola]).

Photo Credit: <a href="http://johncarolin.com/">John Carolin</a>

Some Words:

Here are the details for the position.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - WORKING VACATION IN THE HIMALAYA
LOCATION: GULMARG, JAMMU & KASHMIR STATE, REPUBLIC OF INDIA

POSITION: SNOWBOARD COACH & TECHNICAL TRAINER
TERM: FOUR (4) WEEKS DURING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012

Highly qualified individual sought to coach a crew of 20-30 local snowboarders in Kashmir. The position requires 24 hours of your coaching & training per week to meet program needs.

The students have 2 winters of part-time coaching and need focus to consolidate an opportunity.

In this position your primary task on snow will be to create from this crew a solid core of qualified instructors who can teach the sport to others at a level equal to current international standards (e.g., AASI, CASI).

In this position your primary task off snow will be to run clinics that fully demonstrate & educate regarding proper mounting/sizing/maintenance of all snowboard equipment being used in this program.

The position is offered with a lodgings stipend up to USD$20 per diem in Srinagar, Tangmarg, and/or Gulmarg. The position is offered with a riding stipend: For each 6 hours of coaching time the program will provide a single-ride ticket for stage 2 of the Gulmarg gondola, up to four (4) per week. Ultimately, your reward is limited only by the effort you put in.

AASI/PSIA Level 2 instructors, CASI equivalent for North American candidates. Open to fluent, English-speaking, credentialed instructors from the international community. Visa required by Republic of India. Check your status.

If you are interested, contact Michael at info@snowboardsforkashmir.com.

Here are a few useful links on Kashmir
http://snowboardsforkashmir.blogspot.com/
http://www.gulmargsnowsafety.com/