PRO OF THE MONTH: FEBRUARY '23
22|23 February Pro of the Month: Lucas Evans
Our Pro of the Month column celebrates the remarkable individuals within The Pro Collective. Enjoy inspirational stories shared by your fellow mountain professionals and see how Faction skis allow them to thrive on the front lines. To be featured as a Pro of the Month, fill out the form linked here.
Our February Pro of the Month is Lucas Evans, the alpine service manager and assistant hard goods buyer for a small shop called Gear West, located in the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read on to find out about Lucas's life experiences in the shop and how he gets his kicks on the mountain.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS LINE OF WORK?
Through my dad. Long before I was born, my dad had been working in the ski industry. I grew up between Utah and Colorado. With my love for skiing and my father’s guidance, I quickly learned the ins and outs of the industry. My first job at 14 was working in a rental shop. I learned I had an aptitude for gear and its various quirks. As the saying goes, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
WHAT ARE THE ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB THAT MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD TO WORK IN THIS ROLE, AND IN THIS INDUSTRY?
I enjoy being able to outfit, repair and refresh people’s skis and boards. For most people, their gear is very precious and either full of memories or potential new experiences. I enjoy helping people pursue their ambitions and adventures.
DO YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO SHORT STORIES TO DEMONSTRATE HAPPY OR NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS ON THE JOB?
A particularly happy moment occurred this season when a customer came in with a 1975 straight ski. He wanted to mount it with a new binding and have it tuned. He had tried a few other shops and they had all refused to help him as no one felt comfortable working on such an old ski. After a brief chat, I concluded this customer had skied on this ski model since buying his first pair of skis in 1975. We were able to mount the ski with a modern binding and get him back on the snow. Our new friend even dropped us off some home-cooked pastries. Not a bad result!
HOW DID YOU GET INTO SKIING?
My dad was instrumental in creating my passion for skiing. Before his ski industry days, he was a freestyle skier specializing in moguls, but also competing in aerials and dabbling in racing. He won’t admit it, but I think there was some ski ballet in there as well. I know a proper “step over javelin” when I see one. He was very excited to pass his passion and knowledge onto me and this created a strong bond between us. My wife, Kate, unconditionally supports my love for skiing and I hope my daughter Kaia will also develop a love for the outdoors.
WHAT ARE YOUR SKIS OF CHOICE?
I am a bit of a ski geek. I have a major obsession with ski shapes and their capabilities. I get to try lots of skis through my job, but my favorite ski is still the Prodigy 3. It strikes a perfect balance between precision and playfulness. It’s surfy, snappy, and dynamic in soft snow and fast, aggressive, and damp in hard snow. I am also really intrigued by the new La Machine Series. I am glad to see reverse camber coming back to the fold.
WHAT KIND OF SKIING DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Some years back, I was traveling and competing in Slopestyle and Big Air. After relocating to the Midwest, I embraced skiing in a more minimalistic sense; enjoying just going out and carving turns. My freestyle roots are still there and I enjoy a nice side hit or the odd feature. But it’s amazing how electrifying a simple turn can be. Time on these humble hills makes me all the more grateful when I get back to the mountains.
I am fortunate enough to be able to travel and ski regularly. I spend a lot of vacation time hunting for fresh snow and new places. I will also never pass up an opportunity to go ski touring, I find myself daydreaming about that the most.
HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU AS A SKIER?
I’m not sure, to be honest. I hope they would describe me as a joyful skier. If I’m on the snow, I am in my happy place.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL SKI DAY.
Early morning, strong coffee, light breakfast. Then load up the snacks and get out. On a perfect day, I’d either love to go earn some turns or ski at Snowbird. Tram laps are close to indescribable. Ideally, I’d end the day with sore legs and enjoy some fish tacos and a margarita.
FINALLY, WHAT SUMMER SPORTS ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT? HOW DO THEY COMPLEMENT YOUR SKIING?
I have grown fond of cycling. Road biking often feels similar to ripping groomers and mountain biking is like charging off-piste or on more technical lines. I am enjoying developing my understanding of terrain features and line choice on a bike. In this sense, I see many similarities between skiing and biking.
There are, however, some fundamental differences between the sports. In skiing, you’re doing intense intervals of activity, whereas on a bike you sustain for prolonged periods with varying levels of effort. That has proved to be a fun but challenging distinction. When I first started riding, I tried to ride like I ski and would burn out quickly. I am slowly learning to channel my effort and I think it is making me a much more calculated skier and a nearly-decent cyclist.
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