Meet the Dream Team: Chris Monypenny

Where are you from?

I grew up down under ‘Down Under’ in Tasmania but I'm pretty at home in Banff these days. 

Tell us a little about yourself.

I've always been at home outside and not being much of a social butterfly I enjoy the peace and quiet out there. I'm complete polar opposites with activity though. I can happily put in a 12 day on the skis or sprint up a mountain in summer but will smash cookies and chocolates on the couch for hours afterwards ha. Always keen for an off the beaten path adventure. 

What sports did you practice as a child?

I remember being yelled at by my mum as a kid for always climbing trees and neighbours roofs. I always ran everywhere and when I got my first mountain bike my world became infinite. I remember saving for years to buy my first dual suspension bike, a Norco A-line. Me and my mates would build pirate trails out in the bush behind our houses. 

What brought you to the mountains?

Funnily enough it was that old Norco A-line that I wanted to reunite with its Canadian roots in Whistler but along the way someone told me to check out Banff. I never did make it Whistler to go mountain biking ha. 

What “personal touch” do you bring to SkiUphill?

Well, somehow I'm the first Australian to work there which is pretty unique in the Bow Valley haha, but I like to think I bring a little more freeride skiing to crew there. It ain't pretty but it sure is fun! 

What other sports are you interested in?

My roots in biking are always there, but these days I spend most of my summers out on the rivers rafting for work but when I get any free time nothing beats a quick mountain run or multipitch climb somewhere.

What is your favourite area to ski?

If I told you I'd have to... Get you to come along and jump off some stuff! I'm a huge fan of the yoyo terrain off the pulpit knobs on 93N but you can't beat the high alpine objectives on the Icefields 

What are your other hobbies/interests?

I'm becoming a bit of a boardgame addict these days and no cookie is safe around me. Otherwise I mostly check the weather and looks at ski lines on google earth ha. 

What’s your ideal day out in the mountains?

It's impossible to do it all in one day but I love a good winter camp under the stars and waking up in the alpine for sunrise. Hopefully followed by some steep bootpacking and alpine climbing to an epic summit and of course skiing off the top is a must. Hmm Forbes anyone...? 

What is your ski setup this Winter?

No one has been able to get me off my Blizzard Zero G 108’s yet but I've been brought into 2020 with the new Plum Summits and Dynafit Hoji boots. Man, what a setup 👌

Favourite coffee?

Love a good Farmers Union. But other than that I stick to Tetley’s and TimTam’S.