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GNAR is on and the gloves, I mean clothes, are off!!

Today began the first-ever big-money game of GNAR, another hilarious brainchild of Shane McConkey. You can find GNAR in Robb Gaffney’s absolutely incredible book, Squallywood. If you spend any amount of time up here, especially at Squaw, you need to have a copy. It explains the craziest lines at Squaw with detailed directions on how to ski them. Each line is ranked according to difficulty, the pitch of the slope is measured, etc. This book is an eye-opener for those who will never ski these lines and more importantly it’s a how-to guide for those with the skills but without the mountain knowledge.

Judge Robb Gaffney overjoyed that GNAR is on; competitors in background

The funniest part is the bonus chapter by Shane McConkey, renowned prankster and humorist. Oh yeah, he was the best skier since Scot Schmidt. Oops, he also re-invented skiing…twice. Anyway, his section at the end goes something like this: “Pushing, shoving, kicking, punching and biting are all necessary tactics for a good day of fun on a Squaw powder day. (O)n a testing ground of such incomprehensible sickness and with a cast of riders so loaded with talent how does anyone compare themselves? Through competition and with points naturally!” Thus is born the game of G.N.A.R., Gaffney’s Numerical Assessment of Radness.

Roving filmer J.T. Holmes interviews competitor Jamie Blair on a chair. Jamie was apologizing to his mom for straightlining Extra Chute in the Palisades while talking to her on the phone…for bonus points

The game being played currently goes until March 20 and the winner gets $25,000. There are 20 competitors with helmet cams, 8 – 10 roaming film crews and spotters on each lift to identify competitors. The coolest thing is that the game is making these 20 hand-picked athletes ski like they never have before. They have to do it for 10 days and they are being forced to have a good time while attempting the incredible ski lines described in the Squallywood. The good times are pranks that creator Shane thought were hysterical and they earn competitors bonus points. Like skiing a line then going up to a group of strangers who watched and say, “I’m the best skier on the mountain.”  Or hit another competitor with a snowball once they’ve pushed off into a line. Or call your mom and keep her on the phone while you straightline the Palisades. The list goes on forever but suffice it to say that today there were numerous guys cooking real breakfasts in the KT line, some of them got there at 4:30am to get first chair, and one of them skied the Fingers butt naked. Keep your eyes out for some antics on the hill…