Inside a WINCH-CAT GROOMER at Fernie Alpine Resort, BC
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- Grooming steep slopes requires the use of a winch to help pull the cat (groomer) up the mountainside, and so it doesn't slide down the mountain while trying to groom the terrain. In this video, I go for a ride along with Blair who has been grooming at Fernie Alpine Resort for the last 30 years!
People like Blair are the unsung heroes of the mountain, and so I made this video to ensure they get the credit they deserve, as well as to give you some insight as to how it is done with these awesome machines!
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Music: Hero Theme by MK2
Blair the operator sounds like a man who knows his business. Exactly who you would want running one of these expensive machines.
Absolutely. There’s no one better than him on the mountain.
@@DownieLive 🥰
Props to the driver/operator! The man is a true professional. I’m sure he is underpaid and undervalued.
He might be valued and get a fair wage for his work also.
+Matt Heaton, so you’re an underpaid and undervalued cat driver? Well played man, well played...
I would guess that groomer operator isn't doing it for the money
Underpaid for 30 years? That would be his fault alone ...
He obviously gets paid in joints lmfao🤣🤣🤣
Thx for the behind the scenes look! Blair is so knowledgeable! Really was a great to watch someone who has passion for what they do!
Give this video an award. Mike, you're such a natural. I hope some cable show picks you up, if that's what you want. That driver really knows his stuff. Great video.
Thanks for the tour Blair and Downie! Many turns!
And many turns to you too, Brian.
Now I know where Neil Young spends his winter months! Seriously though, these Cats are awesome machines. I saw them from a distance years ago at Whistler, and I got to do a ride along in a regular groomer once here in Ontario at Blue Mountain, but that was an epic video. Thanks to you Fernie!
Sick vid! Always wanted to know about those groomers. Plus that operator is quite a character! He’s got some serious chops going on!
Always enjoy watching your videos I learn so much and I get travel through you😊
Awesome, thx for the behind the scenes look!
Blair is REALLY good at explaining the gear and processes.
Awesome video mate! Love it.
First class operator! I always thank them for a great day!!
The big red button ... of course one has to ask what it does! Blair should've said, "Oh, yeah, that's your *Passenger Eject* button." (to get reactions from people, LOL)
This reminds me of climbing dunes with a jeep at silver lake lol (other end of the climate spectrum) that angle always feels like you're gonna flip backward lol great vid!
Awesome videos. Its always interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of how a ski resort works.
It also makes you whine less about costly lift tickets. :)
does anyone else just want to sit down with that man and have him talk about his life and wisdom to you?
I miss flying down North Ridge at dawn to get the haulback running. Best job I ever had.
Awesome piece of equipment! Great view of the interior cab. I can now make it for my RC groomer!
Very interesting all the tech that goes into those grooming machines to keep the skiing awesome. The driver really knows his snow too! Thanks for the video!!
Jeff, it's my pleasure! Anytime!
Very interesting. Last time at La Plagne it was always interesting to watch the machines coming out just before dusk to smooth it all out. Such an important job that we can easily forget. By the end of the day skiing can get very bumpy with large mounds of snow building up and some areas forming a depression where people usually turn.
Cool video mate, its very good to see behind the scenes and the hard and very skilled work those guys do while we all sleep.
David, couldn't agree more. Hope to bringing you some more behind the scenes videos soon.
I don't ski but love machines. Awesome machine, great explanation and tour nice presentation well spoken and produced. Thanks!
Much appreciated!
They had the best dude ever for this video what a good guy knowing his job and history and he is ment to be on camera guy did awesome presentations
Here in Sioux City Iowa we have a tube hill and we use this type of machine to groom the hill it awesome watching it work
Pretty cool, makes me want to get the Lifty Special!
snowcat vlogs coming soon?
I would pay just to ride along with this guy as he's working. What a PRO!
How cool is this. I worked 2 winters at Monarch Ski Area in Colorado.
Thank's for an awesome Fernie segment .
My pleasure man! Stay tuned for some good stuff from Kicking Horse Resort next!
Right On Right ON RIGHT ON! Good ride and great guys! Cool Canada!
Great video, makes me want to ask for a ride along some time at my local mountain.
those chops are awesome!!
Sweet machines.
I used to work on those baby's when I ran the maintenance shop at Mt. Shasta skipark.
good guy. great snow
That was really interesting. I had no idea how complicated the Sno Cat was to operate.
What a great job
Awesome video! Pretty sure I just learned everything and more I will ever need to know winches, and I'm glad I did!
Hahaha! I bet you didn't even know you wanted to learn about this! My channel is all about teaching people about things they didn't know they wanted to know, but afterwards feel glad you did. So, thanks! Your comment makes me feel like I'm succeeding.
Love it man! Looking forward to the next educational lesson I never knew I wanted! 😁
😄 Haha! That's exactly it! The education you didn't know you wanted! I love that.
Very cool dude with a great long career. Keep on the cat.
I was just there and had the best day ever. I was one of those lifty spescials first down on virgin pow pow. Best place on earth for powder riding plus lots of trees what more could you you ask for.
YES! I love those moments!
Love these videos!!
Thanks John!
a man who really know his job! respect
Absolutely!
Great job, you should do more of these.
I do! I have more coming out and I have over 60 videos already made and posted on my channel. Stay tuned for more!
Cool video. Thanks
Those chops are freakin epic!!!
Wowo 30 years!. I miss my snowcating days.
thanks Mike
Know that was friggin cool!! ,thanks for sharing
Hey, my pleasure! I've got a few more interesting ones coming up.
Mike! You cut your hair!! Looking good!! Great video...thanks!
Was always interested in this, thanks Downie live for an insightful piece.
Hahaha. Really?? You, an Aussie, have always been an interested in winch-Cat Groomers? Hey, glad I could help! Haha! 😝
Definatley, we don't have any runs long or steep enough in oz.
WOW! I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT THOSE WERE!!!!
This was an awesome video. I lernt a lot and very well done
lernt lmao
Except spelling...
This guy is a legend
Having driven an old Bombardier down a chute with only the blade chopping off the mogul tops slowing me down, I can appreciate this winch technology. 😂 Cool inside look. 👍👍
Absolutely
Thank you guys good v.
The groomer needs some grooming.
Ha! Yeah, a little I guess 😉
Says the man in a heated office, work outside in the winter and you will let it grow too dude.
@@SegoMan hehehe the man probably has a heated garage for his car .
That was a great video
Thanks!
So cool so so cool
My heart was broken seeing that beautiful run groomed
Great video 🎖🎖🎖
Thank you! I have plenty more behind the scenes from that trip, and lots of newer ones that I think are a little better. Enjoy!
Not shown in video: Blair bagging the pow line & then grooming over the evidence. 😎
ahah this dude is rad he reminds me of Rocky Ericson!
very cool thank you
Very welcome
I love the groomer driver! Seems like a really fucking cool guy :D
Blair!....How ya doin? It's Brent....one of your proteges. Man how I miss you guys and Fernie
Woo. You’re great!
I worked grooming at killington in the 80s...proto winches were tested and perfected...mounted on the front of a piston bully 270 at first..then turret winches were invented...
@HeavyDSparks needs this
Ahh lifty special!
Yeah... but remember, that's a secret 😉
So....how long have you been growing those ham hocks? Well..a I've been actively growing these here hocks for well over 30 years then.
1:00 NEIL YOUNG WORKS AT SKI RESORT !!! Music business is rough on old Rockers
This is awesome. I've always wanted to know what all the controls were and how the winch worked. Thanks!
Me too! That’s why I did it!
My pleasure!
I always tell people when I retire I'm moving to a ski hill to be a cat driver. Keep up the great work!
That’s the dream!
Cool!
I work at Marmot Basin in Jasper Alberta Canada and it's awesome ski resort in National park and are groomers are team that works hard for skiers. I see this daily
That was pretty interesting.
That’s why I made it! 😆
Coolest groomer ever!
Neat video and very informative, too! Just curious- how did you get access to the ski patrol and groomers? Do you know someone at the resort and just asked if you could tag along?
I emailed their media team and told them what I wanted to do, and got approval and permissions from them.
@@DownieLive Right on!
very cool dude this dude
very much
Hey, thanks
Gotta love Fernie. Shout out to the Kodiak Kodiak.
Yeahhhhhh!
woo very kool ty
what a character!
Absolutely. Such a character.
that was freakin cool looked kinda scary goin down dude !
Raymond J you think that’s scary? Try going over the Easy Street onto Mouse Trap at Castle. It feels like the cat is gonna slide all the way down 😂
Maybe this was covered before, but what’s the machine cost? Would be fun to do a shift writhing him. Wonder if he listens to tunes while he’s working.
I really want to ski Fernie!!
Do it!!!!!
Talk about Chops😲 I wonder if he uses them as a Air break on the mountain
dream job
Right?!!
I don’t like looking at that cable.
is dave wall still up there??? mono man
the man who drove the groomer took me rafting down the elk river!!
Yeah, I heard he does that! How was it?
Is it something I should try?
As a former Bombardier operator, we dubbed winch assisted guys a monkey on a string. Still that was a good video. Thanks.
Holy crap!
Neil Young drives a cat?
Hahaha. You’re the second person to comment that same thing!
that's hilarious, I operate snowcats and think my boss looks like Neil Young as well! Cheers!
just like this loser! Not the driver.
I thought he looks familiar
Cool
I want to do this for long time I had my certification for snowcat but i live in a country without mountain and snow 🙄🙁
That cat driver could not be more Canadian looking.
very cool! Thanks for fucking posting, enjoyed the video
The best job snowgroomers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blair looks like the grinch
nice guy
So, the guy operating the winch cat is who they based the character from The Night They Saved Christmas off of
hastag the grinch cat driver
I had no clue what this vid was about til we were half way thru it.