Photos by Eric Parker
In 2017, pro skier Tim Durtschi was filming with Teton Gravity Research (TGR) in Jackson, Wyoming, when he met an up-and-comer named Kai Jones. Kai was 11 years old at the time, and an unlikely skiing partner for Tim, but the two hit it off. “Our first run together was skiing down Corbet’s Couloir, and everything kind of kicked off from there,” says Tim, who has been Kai’s mentor ever since.
Tim knows the importance of mentorship. When he was in his early twenties, he had the opportunity to go to Alaska with legends Pep Fujas, JP Auclair, and Julian Regnier. “I saw how accepting some of these veteran pros were,” Tim says. “So later it was really natural for me to accept Kai as the young green skier.”
Over the years they’ve been skiing together, Tim has helped Kai progress on the slopes and in the industry. Before dropping into a line, “Tim would explain the terrain and different scenarios that might happen,” Kai says. “He did a really good job showing me the ropes and helping me take in all the gnarly aspects of everything in a way where I wasn’t too scared.” And more recently, Kai has been the one dropping in first.
For Kai, mentorship in the mountains is about community. “The deep-rooted culture of skiing is special,” he explains. “I think it’s so important to pass down the culture and experience you have, because it’s such a special thing we get to do. Without mentorship you can get lost in everything. I’ve had a super awesome progression, and it’s all thanks to Tim taking a chance on me.”
“There’s a safety component, as well,” Tim adds. “Because we’re backcountry skiers, safety is a big part of the sport. And that’s where there’s a lot of trepidation,” particularly with younger skiers.
With Tim’s support, Kai has developed his avalanche safety skills and prowess in big-mountain terrain. Along the way, their relationship has evolved. “Our mentorship is always going on in the background, but it’s so natural for us when we’re skiing to just be friends in the mountains,” says Tim. “There’s a lot of trust that we’ve built over the years, and I think that’s really important in order to progress and ski at such a high level.”
Both Tim and Kai encourage younger riders to seek out ways to learn from experienced skiers and cultivate mentorship in their own communities. And if you’re like Tim and Kai, it won’t just help your skiing progress, but offer a lasting friendship.
“It’s important for young skiers to challenge themselves and set goals,” says Tim. “And it definitely helps to have someone who can share knowledge or just the joy of being in the mountains together. That’s really what’s going to help you become the skier you want to become.”