Ski journalist and photographer Jimmy has skied in 71 countries on all seven continents, probably more than any other person, having visited more than 550 resorts and posted more than 500 articles, many included in his 2005 book, Skiing Around the World. Jimmy is currently hard at work on volume 2 of this seminal work (skiingaroundtheworldbook.com).
> When did you first start skiing?
My Austrian-born mother was the first woman to qualify as a ski instructor in California, and she and Dad put me on skis when I was two. After university in 1973 I went to Hinterglemm to work as an instructor, planning on then finding a job as a history teacher, but that’s where it all went awry. Compared with my native America, the resorts in the Alps were bigger and better, the powder lasted longer and the European girls were much more sensuous. I never looked back.
> How have things changed over the years?
Safety equipment is better, particularly bindings and avalanche transceivers. I am also happy that they flatten moguls with piste machines, as even when I was young with strong knees I never liked bumps.
There are more resorts today, but unfortunately there are also more skiers and way too many powder hounds. Snowboards and wider skis have made it easier for people to ski powder. Hence many pistes are too crowded and the powder is gone by 11am.
I am also unhappy with some resorts that are actually real-estate developments in disguise, creating ugly, generic places with no charm. Fortunately, there are many small and atmospheric ski resorts remaining.
> What are your greatest achievements in skiing?
I have won various awards in snow-sports journalism, and I am proud of my book and the sequel, as well as having skied in so many different countries. When I began my career as a ski journalist in 1985 I was one of the first to focus on skiing in unusual locations, which is more common nowadays, so perhaps I have helped others to expand their horizons.
> Have you any particular favourite destinations?
Saalbach has been my winter base for many years and has always been one of my favourite resorts. As a photographer, I enjoy skiing in areas that are scenically beautiful, and the Dolomites of Italy, Zermatt in Switzerland, and the small ski centres of Narvik and Stranda in the fjordlands of Norway are also favourites.
> What have you enjoyed the most?
It is great fun to ski in small, non-commercial ski areas, where skiing is still a pastime rather than a faceless industry, and I get nostalgic when I am riding a rickety old T-bar in the likes of Dragobrat in Ukraine or Kashka-Suu in Kyrgyzstan. I’ve also experienced some excellent deep powder in these uncrowded locations and enjoyed meeting friendly people and learning about different cultures.
> Where’s left?
Most of the countries that I have left on my list are Muslim countries that have been rather hostile toward Westerners in recent years for understandable reasons. I would however like to ski in Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria and Pakistan when I can, and I do plan to visit North Korea next. I also hope to ski on the Lewis Glacier high on Mt Kenya, but there is often no snow on the glacier as a result of climate change, so that’s currently uncertain too.
