Practice or Play?
Tavo Sadeg showing his clean riding style while dropping cliffs at Alpine Meadows Resort, California, December 2022. pc @tavo.sadeg
For most recreational riders and skiers a pow day is why we come to the mountains. To chase those special conditions that offer up the coveted chance to feel weightless, floating, and perhaps even enlightened. If you are lucky enough to experience a deep pow day, then you know how your life has changed.
Tavo Sadeg trenched out and hiking for the goods at Alpine Meadows Resort, California, January 2023. pc @mikayla.walshh
For freeride athletes who compete at the highest level however, pow days are necessary if not required. They aren’t so much for play as they are for practice. A special type of practice that comes only in the deepest pow. And with the recent recording breaking dumps across the Sierra’s and the western U.S., there have been plenty of chances to practice.
Tavo Sadeg (bottom) and his friend Curran (@luv_curnar, top) getting after it. It’s always worth the hike in these kinds of epic conditions, Alpine Meadows Resort, California, January 2023. pc @mikayla.walshh
To no one’s surprise, freeride world champion Tavo Sadeg approaches deep pow days differently than most of us. Tavo looks for where the chutes have filled in and landings have softened up before dropping big cliffs on missile-like descents. Practice makes perfect for Tavo and thankfully the Tahoe area has been in rare form after these monster storms (Palisades Tahoe reported 32 inches in 24 hours on New Year’s and then received another 7.5 feet in 10 days!)
“Can you see me over here!” Tavo Sadeg having the time of his life in the pow playground, Alpine Meadows Resort, January 2023. pc @mikayla.walshh
In his quest to make next year’s FWT, Tavo took full advantage of these epic conditions with his own practice routine. He hiked up to his favorite lines and threw down hard on some serious cliffs before repeatedly nailing backflips for practice. (Don’t take my word for it, check out the pics!)
Tavo Sadeg absolutely laying it all out for us to see on another gorgeous backflip, Alpine Meadows Resort, December 2022. pc @mikayla.walshh
When asked about his deep pow practice Tavo says,
“As the mountain get covered and filled in more with the snow, there are just so many options. It’s my perfect place to practice. I just love riding pow.”
“Dropping backies likes he’s flipping pancakes at IHOP!” Tavo Sadeg rips another huge backflip, Alpine Meadows Resort, California, January 2023. pc @mikayla.walshh
Freeride skiers and snowboarders absolutely need these deep pow conditions to really train properly and compete. Where else do you find chances on snow to huck 30, 40, maybe even 60-foot cliffs and rip backflips until your heart’s content? But at the end of the day… after all the hiking, hucking, stomps, and tricks, I still find it hard to believe that with this kind of smile it’s all practice and no play!
Tavo “Mr. Smiles” Sadeg back hard at work, Alpine Meadows Resort, January 2023. pc @mikayla.walshh
Thanks again for following along with us On Tour with Tavo. We’ll be back next week with a look at Tavo’s training schedule, review his gear, and also continue our discussion on turning. Have a great weekend!
We’d like to extend a special thanks to Tavo’s sponsors for their amazing support on this journey!