The FIFTY - Line 8/50 - Spearhead Traverse - The Fastest Men on Skis

In British Columbia, Canada, there lies a classic line that links Whistler and Blackcomb mountains via a 20+ mile long traverse. The ski tour first done over the course of many days in the 1970's has now become a test piece for ski mo racers seeking speed and records. After a few months of the most ski touring in his life, Cody Townsend set off to test himself and attempt to capture the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for completing this traverse. Guest appearances by previous Spearhead Traverse FKT holder Greg Hill and superhuman mountain man Killian Jornet.
This is line 8 completed of The FIFTY, a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.
GEAR Used Throughout The FIFTY:
Salomon QST 106: alnk.to/6bRkaUX
Salomon MTN Binding: alnk.to/dLdUm1C
Salomon Carbon S3 Poles: alnk.to/87VEXX0
Yeti Rambler 20oz: alnk.to/gzS237q
Swatch BioCeramic: bit.ly/3gQhCzo
Hyperlite Porter 5400: bit.ly/3XJVCHC
Smith Summit Helmet: alnk.to/ehYjxBD
Smith Wildcat: alnk.to/d3ySqO7
Smith Pursuit Glacier Glasses: alnk.to/7M6hfmL
Smith Squad Mag: alnk.to/hDmzW2F
LeBent Cody Pro Sock: alnk.to/cHJmtdU
LeBent Base Layer: alnk.to/58mMi9D
Arcade Capture Belt: alnk.to/4MxozAr
Mammut Carbon Probe 280: alnk.to/cHJmtfT
Mammut Alugator Pro Light: alnk.to/8iQpWSn
Mammut Barryvox S: alnk.to/2uDpzVA
Pomoca Free Pro 2.0: alnk.to/aeUKJS9
Thule Duffle: alnk.to/9IatNqU
Thule Ski Bag: alnk.to/gKMN24C
Hestra Falt Guide Glove:
Hestra Overmitt:
Hestra Merino Touchpoint Liners:
Honey Stinger Energy: bit.ly/3sPpX9g
Strainge Beast Kombucha: bit.ly/3sK6vLj
TinCup Whiskey: bit.ly/3FvbSpb

[@4wardlobster]

Headlamps on at the bar. Power moves only.

[@Ranar14]

Do you get gnar points for that?

[@CodyTownsend]

@@Ranar14 More gnar points than wearing a harness to the bar.

[@Andrew.Drennan]

Is it still la graving if you aren't in Europe?

[@AllAmericanGuyExpert]

@@CodyTownsend Hey, Cody, you misspelled "The" in the title of this video. Might need to brush up on that. (Negative points) Ha!

[@CodyTownsend]

All-American Handyman I can’t believe you were the first one to catch that. Holy heck! Nice work and fixed.

[@derekperc]

I loved the juxtaposition of a hip Whistler bar playing club music being a place of lonely sadness.

[@ChristopherHeald]

How did Bjarne keep up with you? He sounded like he was hardly out of breath! :)

[@PhilippKlein]

Ok, who else thought they'd never see Cody in tights and skinny skis? That was hilarious 😊

[@CodyTownsend]

Well I guess most people didn't have the misfortune of watching me be a ski racer for a decade.

[@AuroraBoarder1]

@@CodyTownsend - no problem. I'm enjoying the view!

[@erik.reinert]

My favorite one yet! The ending at the bar... belly laugh.

[@PerfDayToday]

‘I think I’m out of water, do you have any?’ 🤣🤣

[@dougmarder]

“I have my doubts, but, you are Cody Townsend!” Nuff said.

[@akusantafe]

LOL>>>>LOL>>>>LOL. Super funny, super serious, super great route. The initial strip-down followed immediately by an enveloping blast of freezing wind was hilarious. The unfailing, light-heartedness from there made it an entertaining AND inspiring story.

[@Ranar14]

"I WORKED REALLY HARD FOR THIS!!!" ahahahaha. First step wrong, calling Greg instead of Killian :P

[@CodyTownsend]

Problem is I don't speak Klingon so can't talk to Killian...

[@elainegarner1375]

That was the best! So funny and your temper tantrum at the end. Then the sad face downing beer at the bar. Love it!

[@hclark6053]

with the headlamp still on...

[@deannilvalli6579]

I always enjoy the comedy bits, like at the end. Very enjoyable.

[@kevin_howell]

very late to this episode... I used compete in skimo racing and now I want to get back into it lol XD

[@zactitus]

I Salomon (ly) swear, this is the best episode YET(I)

[@CodyTownsend]

Solid puns. This I can dig.

[@TheHowtoDad]

didn't think rondo could be this fun to watch! thanks bud

[@davidsmart3338]

I watched this while shaving this morning, and snortled with laughter into a face full of water seeing your gait at the starting gun. Keep it up Cody!

[@alexold8183]

This was the funniest so far in the series. What a great series.

[@smumm]

Love the humor of this episode/ line. So good!

[@paulrichardson6804]

Possibly the best mountain skiing vid ever

[@1080scl]

👌. Super fun to watch.

[@prototyp303]

I think i saw your inner McConkey coming out. Thank you Cody. Let him stay alive.

[@willoceann]

You made it to the other side🤝 believe that’s a goal it’s self

[@Hojiii]

So much to love here. I just became a Cody fan.

[@leehappy3259]

Awesome & hilarious! Thank you

[@joe_3y3s]

I'm bingeing this series. loving it!

[@ritzyllama]

I love how concerned your cat is @1:59 "boss, are you ok???"

[@zozopantin2796]

Excellent!!!

[@jonathank.7670]

Another brilliant episode😂 you have the right spirit, Cody!

[@johncarder819]

Loved the cat watching him practice.

[@1ROCKY89]

What a finish! And I thought the intro was great. This series is live

[@fightinbluhen51]

Omg. The transition practice is hilarious!

[@geraldrushton4974]

Love this series.

[@alpinejonny]

This is the best thing i've ever seen.

[@Creeder991]

This is really impressive Cody. You did it man, amazing job.

[@hbmtrhbmtr4824]

Yay 😀 you did it! So proud of you😏

[@edwardlobb931]

Fantastic. Reality can be tense.

[@AbiT50]

Favourite episode yet!

[@BoyajianDon]

Best episode yet!

[@scottybeegood]

Classic drinking beer alone at the flaming bar.

[@gentryaustin]

Definitely earned that sufferfest beer at the end

[@gabrielreuter6969]

The spirit of GNAR makes a backcountry appearance

[@Mktraslin]

My Brother Andy Gump Traslin has done this traverse 25 times...I have hit 22....Thought about bring our speed suits a few times.....We both Rando raced for 9 years.....funny perspective.....I hear you on the speed suit......But just like cross country bike racing....It would be tough to race in Jordache jeans.....Christian Hosoi made tights look great.....I played high level ice hockey and I knew some pretty tough dudes who would wear tights underneath there equipment. I think in Europe they are less concerned about what people think....Thanks for reminding me about this wonderful Province I grew up in. Get it. Killian Jornet is the Tony Hawk or Gretzky of Ski Mountaineering. I first hit this on Secura fixes in the early 90s with Andy Gump... Then by chance Pennywise was playing in the Whistler Village then again until 3 or 4 in the morning at the bottom of Blackcomb.....

[@randyspotts5069]

I think that's great you added that to the mix. All that was missing was the rifle... Biathlon!

[@gualdus]

Jajaja…lo mejor la pataleta final….y la cervecita 👍🏻👍🏻

[@rikardtvedby3206]

Oh man, you were so close! Just keep working on those transitions and Im sure you will get the FKT :)

[@CodyTownsend]

Yeah, if I could shave a bit off those transitions I bet I could make up those lost hours pretty quickly.

[@itsnowingrightnow]

@@CodyTownsend Just out of curiosity, when was this done? Conditions looked perfect!

[@CodyTownsend]

@@itsnowingrightnow Late February I believe.

[@itsnowingrightnow]

@@CodyTownsend Cool, thanks for update. Loving this series btw! Stoked to live vicariously & see you guys shred Robson & dodge polar bears up on Baffin

[@mattweber1543]

FKT actually stands for "Fat Kid Treats." Just needed more snacks!

[@kirkhwaltz]

fantastic!

[@markfurlong5776]

Haha .. awesome . thanks for great entertainment !

[@gregparrott]

Good one!

[@hclark6053]

I love you man.

[@nilsnilsnilsify]

The temper tantrum was the best part

[@k2thah286]

This is pretty much my day hiking pace.

[@miketye-sun6420]

I've been doing a lot!

[@fredbongiorno6980]

This had me cracking up

[@freshseeker]

Pretty fucking spot on with ski mo vibes. All speed and time, nothing else. On par with fruit boots.

[@themilkrun3964]

Hilarious! and such a cool traverse

[@HaCh3_]

This was epic 20/20

[@billwang88]

Hahahahaha loved the ending!

[@piccolo6214]

Man I want to be able to travel again...

[@wibblywobblyidiotvision]

OK, that was fuckin' hilarious. I have friends who do the whole "pipette et moule-bite" skimo thing, that is so them.

[@JamesJackson-jv4pf]

Rad! Many style points earned in the Ski Mo Hall of Fames for minimalist gear and supplies. Don't know if I could ever pull it off! I'm always the guy with a heavy camera and extra food and water, ect.... :D

[@alan4sure]

Being prepared is so old school now. They all expect a free rescue if it gets gnarly.

[@MazdaMike96]

I almost thought I was watching Kilian Jornet for second...

[@sebastiencrompton-roberts3137]

Anyone know the song playing at 11:14? Its on the tip of my tongue, woulf appreciate help

[@rocksnowandwater]

Does Salomon sell those puffy short mid layer? Can't seem to find it online.

[@cherrymansk]

My dreams finally came true. I can die now.

[@romanmelnik7328]

What a program or site do you use for planning track?

[@flowlineproductions]

So ski-mo, much brutal.

[@tbyleveld]

That was awesome!! I think you have a future in Skimo racing, just keep trying!!

[@fernandovalley9229]

Really enjoyed this one and wanted to like it but it's at 420. AHHHHHHH

[@cypriano8763]

faster than greg hill.! overestimating your cardio by a mile there. funniest video so far

[@johnlfre]

Killian wears Pierre's boots. They have to be worth at least three hours . Also should have had some fan boys standing next to the skin track yelling "CODY, CODY CODY! That stoke would have been worth another 20 minutes. FKT would have been yours, Bro. All kidding aside, I bet if you wanted you'd be really good at it.

[@Rangetechus]

😂😂😂😂 This series is the best!

[@nicholasrandell2310]

I know you've said these traverses are the hardest to find people for; it would be hilarious if you did the Rogers to Bugs traverse with Katie Burrell (The genius behind Dream Job)

[@robertrepka1372]

what's that app you're using to plan your route? thank you

[@richardboyle2829]

Bahahaha Cody you’re the friggin man!!

[@joeulman9140]

Ranks up there with the snowblades, when you gonna put skins on the blades?

[@grantfogle9190]

what app are you using to plan your routes?

[@ellen1231]

So good. I think you might have a little Nordic in you....nice stride!

[@alexs5394]

This was hilarious, also typo in the title

[@dylancrooks9211]

What is the Software he was using when planning the route?

[@CodyTownsend]

Google Earth

[@paghal11]

Takes off sensible down jacket to expose...........Lycra. Strikes cross country skier pose. Single wind gust. "Aaaaahhhhhh....fuck this!!"

[@secondunitmedia4863]

Dude what‘s your upspeed and epoc?

[@CodyTownsend]

It was too fast to measure really.

[@johnpeck8405]

Can someone explain what that big pink sticker thing is that he puts onto his skis? Does that protect the skis?

[@johnpeck8405]

Like he is pulling off at 2:06

[@alan4sure]

They're called skins. Synthetic material that gives grip for uphill in snow. Fibres are angled so they'll slide fwd and grip going backward.

[@cosmokenney]

You have a Vizsla. Best dogs in the world!

[@rubyvolker2559]

what is in your cooler? is it just water or is it nasty food saturated water?

[@daemkru]

Great vid! Anybody knows what glasses he's wearing at 06:06 ?

[@alan4sure]

Looks like sunglasses to me.

[@windowshots]

Lol. You Rock!

[@jenniferross8955]

🤣🤣🤣 Love it!

[@howedy]

Great effort though!

[@morganmoe4080]

Hey man you ripp!

[@coronan1]

What helmet is that?

[@samsonian]

Skin it to win it, buddy! (aka: better you than me!!!) So, when do we get to see you kicking serieux derriere dans les Alpes? (**snicker, snicker**) P.S.: Great job, Cody! I bet your wife enjoyed all those gratuitous skinsuit shots...maybe. Cheers!

[@geyser463]

Lmafo nice

[@brianharder7714]

I love the fact you were in full regalia with the suit and pink Pomoca skins. You even had a proper skimo skin wiggle going. Pretty legit. You wimped out just a touch with the fat skis. You shoulda gone with race sticks for full entertainment value. But considering what you usually ski on, I bet they felt pretty tiny.

[@littlelawson06]

Brian Harder I’m not sure I’d call a 164cm 79mm ski a fat ski...

[@Ranar14]

​@@littlelawson06Wider than 65MM = fat ski in skimo 😂

[@CodyTownsend]

@@littlelawson06 Yeah, those are actually Killian Jornet's pow skiing model. So while that's the skinniest and shortest ski I've skied since I was like 11 years old, those are actually fat skis in terms of the ski mo racing world. Crazy huh?

[@Cragdognamedbear]

Running out of water? You're standing on water Buddy.

[@NowImUnderControl]

first? amazing video as always.

[@nateloman1553]

i dont know much about mountaineering and the like - but i know a lil about endurance stuff and the lil bit of water and calories seems like a disaster in the making - :-)

[@CodyTownsend]

It was a joke. A full joke episode.

[@nateloman1553]

@@CodyTownsend whoops - sorry - I have only watched a couple of these and have not "gotten" your humor - after watching this one I decided I should now do this in order since I am at home - :-) I did get the humor at the end - :-)... to be honest this is my first introduction to you - I like the physical aspect of what you are doing - I am not a ski dude so pardon my ignorance of your expertise -

[@18volkerracho]

Hahaha nice one

[@MattGoesSkiing]

Cody’s a trip lol

[@kevinvtt83]

hey, elle est géniale ta vidéo. J'essaie de me lancer en proposant des vidéos de ski freeride et randonnée, si cela peut t'interesser.

[@midi510]

I'm really liking the series, but you gotta know someone in audio who can do some basic mastering to the soundtrack. I'm constantly riding my volume control so I can hear the quiet stuff without waking my roommates and neighbors up on the loud sections.

[@CodyTownsend]

Oh I agree with ya and know plenty of audio engineers, it’s about being able to afford that work on a weekly basis. Making movies ain’t free

[@midi510]

@@CodyTownsend I'd have done it for free. Let me know if you ever need audio work. I've been doing audio engineering (live & studio) for 40 years, but have a full time job and do it mostly for fun and to help friends out. I have the best software and gear in the industry. I'm sure we know some of the same people, too, for references. Email me if you want at kirk at mammothrecordingdotcom. I haven't updated the site for a long time, so don't judge my work off that.

[@CodyTownsend]

@@midi510 Hey well that's awesome to know! One of our other hurdles was actually gettin just the edits done in time to even get to do a sound tweak. Often I was getting final edits (with quite often lots of work to still be done on them) at 2:00am before a 5:00am release. At one point we were putting out an edit a week, so it's challenging all the way around but good to know and thanks Kirk.