Industry News
You’ve probably seen it all over your Instagram feed…Your favorite pro skiers trading in their planks for a fly fishing rod during the summer months; if these guys and gals aren’t out chasing the snow in the Southern Hemisphere then they’re out on the river. So why do so many skiers gravitate towards the water in the off-season?
For one, fly fishing, like skiing, is an art form. It is a way of interacting with nature, that puts you in control yet at the same time leaves you vulnerable to the unpredictable elements of the wild. Now, I know that equating fish to snow is a strange concept, but this philosophy rings true for every skier doubling as an angler. Just like a skier, an angler depends on the conditions of their surroundings. However, even when the conditions are perfect an angler must execute a high level of technique, and at times trickery, in order to nail a monster hog. Skiing is the same game… Good conditions + good technique = the dreamiest line.
However, not all is the same with these two sports. Professional free-skier and lady angler, Tatum Monod says, “It’s such a different energy-fly fishing compared to skiing”. In her mini film “The Line”, Monod shares the special bond that she has with her dad through fishing and skiing. Both these sports are ways for Monod to use her independent personality, competitive nature, and love for learning to connect with the wild.
So, folks, this could be one of the reasons why skiers take such pleasure in casting a line in the off-season. While logistically the nature of fly fishing and skiing are similar, fishing gives skiers the change of pace that they need in the warmer months. But even with a difference in speed, don’t be fooled, hooking into a fish triggers the same feeling of stoke that comes from shredding the perfect line.
