SUN IN SLOVAKIA | The Massive Carpathians Reveal Themselves to Our Delight

SUN IN SLOVAKIA
The Massive Carpathians Reveal Themselves to Our Delight

Words and Photos: John Stifter

Eric Pollard bounced into our room at 6 a.m. fully dressed for skiing. “It’s sunny! Check it out—you can finally see the mountains.” Unbeknownst to Pollard, Chris Benchetler was already mid-yoga session preparing himself for the first day of sun during our Eastern European tour. Finally, the dayball showed itself and we were ready to see and shred the High Tatras of the Carpathians. Although we skied deep pow in Poland and the first few days of Slovakia, this was our one-day sunny window at Jasna Ski Area in northern Slovakia. And despite a few upset stomachs attributed to a hearty Slovakian classic—pot deer goulash—from the night before, our crew was ready as evidenced by our 7:15 a.m. arrival at the local grocery store.

“It’s bluebird, so no lunch break today,” said Pollard while stuffing his third croissant into his stuffed arms full of chocolate bars, bananas, and juice.

Our Polish and Slovakian guides told us what seemed to be fantastical stories of big peaks and big lines at Jasna. Once we found a parking spot on the narrow access road, a challenge unique to Jasna, we slowly made our way up the mountain via a variety of lifts—six-pack, double, and surface Poma.

After skiing powder the trees on the lower half of the mountain in Jasna and in Zakopane, Poland, a few days prior, our guides’ claims rang true in “Holy Smokes!” fashion. The alpine terrain of Jasna, designated as Freeride Zone I, II, and III, blew us away in disbelief. Lift towers were covered in rime ice, resembling Star Trek spaceships and other abstract alien forms, as were all the cliffs and trees on the steep, expansive terrain making for sweet features.

Probably the most astonishing element of the terrain is that it’s located directly off the piste. As Euros in tight one-pieces and Uvex mini-goggles sprayed turns on groomers, Pollard, Benchetler and Polish ski star Marek Doniec readied themselves for their biggest big-mountain lines of the season.

The boys threw down and photographer Adam Clark stomped it on the photo side. But you’ll have to wait to check out the radness of Jasna once the story comes out in print next October. For now, trust us when we say that Jasna is the jewel of Eastern Europe and we sent it in our one day of sun in Slovakia.