Ptor Spricenieks

With more first-descents of huge, steep mountains worldwide than most and more good karma than Gandhi, Ptor Spricenieks is Team BD's Ski-Shaman and 'freeride-mountaineer'. Ptor burst onto the international big-mountain scene in 1995 with the incredibly bold first-(and still unrepeated) descent of the North face of Mount Robson, the jewel of the Canadian Rockies. This ridiculously steep line is just one of over 60 Ptor has knocked off, and all were accomplished without the use of a helicopter. And unlike most 'extreme' skiers, he skis on fat skis and is always on the lookout of fresh powder and big turns.

Ptor started skiing in Canada as a wee boy, and later took up racing- but it was the allure of the steep and deep that enventually dragged him out of college and send him to Whistler in the late 1980's. It was here that the seed was sown, and Ptor's passion for big mountain descents and the daily powder skiing lifestyle began. He moved on to Golden, BC and spent his time spinning laps at Roger's Pass. And when the conditions were right, he'd head up into the Rockies for multi-day outings, and changing forever the distinction between ski-touring, ski-mountaineering and freeriding, thus the modern term- 'freeride-mountaineering'.

Yet another chapter in the life of the quintessential ski-bum, Ptor returned to the big-mountain mecca of La Grave, France, where steep descents and unreal tree-skiing are right in his frontyard. And just to keep his adventure addiction and his karma-level on high, Ptor heads over to Gulmarg, India- the new powder hotspot in Kashmir- every season to knock off big lines and the help the local people with avalanche forecasting and mountain safety, and guiding tourists to their dream day in the Himalayan powder.
Through first descents, steep powder and good vibes, Ptor is the perfect skier for the Zealot!