I had the pleasure of meeting Peter Chrzanowski ages ago, I think that it was in Las Leñas, while I was staging the South American Extremes. He is someone I bumped also in Whistler and is one of those characters that are larger than life, and completely not afraid of doing things that for all the rest of us humans, seem completely dangerous.

His enthusiasm is contagious, and he has always done all in a grassroots way, bringing extreme sports and paragliding competitions to Canada.

His love for adventure started with a trip with his family overland from Canada to Tierra del Fuego when he was 14 years old.

This was the catalyst of four decades of being an extreme skier, paraglide pilot, film maker, journalist, and event producer.

By 1978, with 21 years, he organised his first major climbing/skiing expedition and documentary film on Peru’s highest peak, the famous Huascarán (at 6,745 m or 22,132 feet). He joined Patrick Vallençant and Jean Marc Boivin in this expedition. The film of this event won the GoldenSheaf award at Yorkton International Film Festival.

Through the pages of this book you can read all his adventures, his accidents (they were bound to happen as Peter always pulls the envelope), but mostly of all, his determination on keep on going.

After 20 films of first descents and lots of crash, he discovered the arcane sport of paragliding and took it to Canada. With this sport, he continued to suffer more severe accidents and judging films at numerous mountain film festivals around the world. He was also a judge for the World Extreme Skiing Championships in Valdez, Alaska, for 7 years.

Get Peter’s book in Amazon here.

Start planning your next trip!

 

If looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check the direct booking for Il Coure della Valdigne here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using.

Il Cuore della Valdigne. Book your lodging directly with me here.Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.

If you prefer, you can also book my apartment through Booking.com

Booking might be cheaper if you have Genius status!

Check my Mountain Art on my Shop

You can go to my shop and see what have been inspiring me lately, lots mountain landscapes in soft pastels, and now in oils too. Go here to check my latest works!

If interested in me doing a special commission for you, let’s talk!

Needing help to get contacts in the ski tourism business– I am offering new consulting services- contact me here.

Featured Image: Chrzanowski with Huascarán in behind. Peru, 1978. Photo: DAVE CLARKE