Powder in Poland | Powder Magazine

POWDER IN POLAND
Zakopane Ski Resort Delivers the Forbidden Goods

Words and Photos: John Stifter

The white stuff continues to fall on the POWDER and Nimbus crews in Europe. Our crew consisting of Eric Pollard, Chris Benchetler, and photographer Adam Clark arrived in a chilly, damp-like cold in Krakow, Poland, a few days ago and the snow followed.

We’ve been stationed southwest of Krakow in the resort town of Zakopane, skiing forbidden lines and bonking a myriad of pine-less trees in hopes of not getting apprehended by the National Park authorities. Fortunately for us, 40 centimeters of Eastern Europe powder and grey skies have allowed us to ski out of bounds and out of sight of the authorities. Unfortunately for Polish freeriders, and our U.S. crew, skiing off piste in Zakopane is strictly forbidden and harshly regulated since the ski area lies within a National Park. In fact, our local guide Andrej has been fined over $100 for skiing out of bounds. Notwithstanding, we have yet to be fined and have been spending our money instead on the $10 lift tickets and favorable exchange rate.

But when the sun has appeared, which has been short-lived, these mountains—the High Tatras of the massively long Carpathians—offer drool-inducing potential for eager skier. Although the untouched alpine remains elusive and alluring, we’ve been watching Pollard and Benchetler slash and bonk their way through Poland. But the new snow, providing for a few timely face shots, and Polish kielbasas have quelled our frustration and fear of being caught by the park rangers. We’re fugitives in forbidden territory and the fight for powder in Poland continues…