Cody Townsend wakes up early most days — around 2 AM. Cody is one of the world’s most recognizable pro big mountain skiers in the world always pushing the limits of his snowy pursuits. His skiing has taken him from the Arctic to Tibet, completing some truly white-knuckled lines. But, when he wakes up, he just needs a cup of coffee. He’ll then throw on his 30-pound ruck and climb for the summit. “Hours of sweating, struggling and suffering later, I arrive at the summit, tired but energized by the view and the vertical finish line.” Then all there is to do is “click into my skis, put the goggles on and gingerly step back out to the steeps.” For a pro like Cody — or for anyone looking to tackle any challenge — the gear you step off with can make all the difference. “My gear is essential because in the backcountry it truly can be the difference between success or failure,” which on some lines Cody takes on, can mean life or death. Read on for Cody’s insights on the pieces of kit that he relies on every day to tackle the next ski line where the gear can’t fail. What’s more: “It’s kind of weird how much happiness a good piece of equipment can give me.”
Salomon QST 106 Skis
The most do-it-all ski I’ve ever skied on. From the summit of Denali to the groomers of Squaw, it is light enough to walk with to the highest point in North America, yet powerful enough to carve like Mikaela Shiffrin on-piste. It also does pretty damn well in powder, too, being 106mm-wide underfoot.
