Congratulations to Dean Cummings on winning the 2012 Powder Award for Best Line at Powder magazine’s annual awards last week in Aspen. Dean, founder and owner of H20 Guides, is a big mountain steep skiing icon, Alaska heli-skiing pioneer and World Champion extreme skier. He won the award for his epic descent down Dragon’s Back Spine on Meteorite Mountain in AK’s Chugach Range (pictured left). Dean tells us that Meteorite Mountain was struck by a Meteorite in 1927 and created a ramp that is 50 degrees sustained for 2800 vertical feet. The spine had sections that were 60 degrees with high exposure. 
His award winning descent was one of two first descents he accomplished last spring. The other was down The Tusk Mountain also in AK’s Chugach Range – which Dean describes as the most committing line he’s ever skied. They are both featured in his new movie, The Steep Life. Watch as Dean talks to the Snow Troopers about his ski down The Tusk.
And take a look at the below clips of his first descents. He successfully completed them on the “Karen’cito’” skis – part of his “Access the Goods” ski line from his own H20 Outdoor Gear company – proving that the Karen’cito’ can excel in the most precision-demanding, extreme conditions. We’ll bring you more info about H20G’s “Karen’cito’” and other skis shortly so be sure to check back often.
We’d also like to congratulate Dean for being named Avalanche Educator of the Year at the Inaugural Avalaunch/Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Awards earlier this month. Dean is founder of the North American Outdoor Institute and lead architect of the American Mechanized Ski Guide Course. His award-winning avalanche safety curriculum has won two safety awards from the Alaska governor’s office.
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Donnelly Miller
I sense a troll has been here. I could be wrong. For some kid to have hiked that and then skied it would be more than unbelievable. I’m sure feats like that are done on occasion, but if this is a trollin’ statement, instead of spraying hate on the internet go out there and get some, it’s not like first descents are going to run out tomorrow.
Sting
well. we never heard back from whoever that was – wish we did.
Joe Blow
FYI Deans’ “line of the year” was also skied by a local kid- except he had no heli, did not have 9 cameras and a full support and safety crew and he also skied it on light AT gear and 3 buckle boots (after climbing the route BTW) Powder Magazine likely never heard about this… Two locals had climbed and skied the same line two days before, without leaving an anchor on the summit and a rope dangling for the heli to retrieve, they climbed and skied it with all of their gear on their back and with out 9 cameras and a full support and safety crew. …
TNT
Very cool, who was it and is there any media for his ski?
H2O Outdoor Gear – Karen’cito’ ski review w/ Dean Cummings « The Snow Troopers
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