Let's Be Frank

Frank Film by Noah Wetzel. John Denver is Frank. Welcome to the 7th Actual Frank World Classic Ski Competition!

Let's Be Frank

Before we talk about "The Frank World Classic," we need to address who Frank really is, more importantly, what Frank really is. Some of you might think you already know. What if you were told that all of what you believe to know about Frank is wrong? What if the Frank was never intended to be what it is today. What if it was just a running joke we let others in on? What if you found out that Frank is an actual person and a metaphor at the same time? And what if you were told that you have Frank inside of you right now as you read this article. 

So what is Frank? Frank is a state of mind. 

Frank is a place where every skier should long to be. It is a place of pure bliss, with none of the glitz and glamor and social media that seems to come in this modern age we live in. It is that feeling you get when you are on skis, and the world, and all of its problems, seem to fade away with every turn. Frank is a quiet slayer of the mountain. Frank is that hoot and holler you hear on the wind on an epic day at the mountain. Frank is a lock-kneed top-to-bottom bump line. Frank doesn't need the hype, the gear, or to be the best skier on the mountain. Frank is humble. Frank just wants to be. And so Frank is that place that is born within all of us. That place we neglect to visit enough that lives deep down in our souls. That spirit and sense of freedom that comes with skiing. Frank is the innocence that we tend to push into the background as we get older and let other things distract us from the real reason we are skiing: joy. 

Every ski resort has a Frank or two. The die-hard who doesn't care what you think and isn't affected by the chuckles and chairlift talk as you pass overhead. Frank lives in every skier, and it is up to you to let it out and shine proudly. Some live and ski that way, naturally, so for one day each year, we wanted to let that Frank out of the cage for all to see.

Sure, Frank is a party that takes place on "Punk Rock" in Alta. A place where people gather to celebrate another season of the "Greatest Snow on Earth," but Frank is much more than that. Over time, Frank has become something of a Frankenstein (pun intended) since its humble beginnings. Giant jumps, huge tricks, and a social media presence that an influencer would be proud of. I can tell you with total certainty that this is not what Frank intended to be. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and I salute those who have kept the flames of Frank alive. The Frank that we started is not the Frank that happens today, and that is perfectly alright. Things evolve and take the shape of their own, like a proud father watching his offspring or like a bird finally ready to take flight from the nest. Frank has grown, and with it, its popularity and its reach outside Alta. But like your favorite novel adapted to the big screen, you would hate to see them stray too far from the heart of the story—the true meaning of the plot.

Early days of Frank - Noah Wetzel Photography

"Frank World Classic"

As for the "Frank World Classic," the origins are quite simple. Take a couple of shop rats, their idea of a good sense of humor, mixed with plenty of salt from days and days in the ski shop, dealing with everything from early morning inter lodge, jet-lagged guests with a slight distaste for their families, and elevation sickness. Throw in some bitter discontent for the "scene," some jaded locals, and you have yourself a recipe for greatness.

We had a sign in the back of the ski shop "Our job is better than their vacation." This thought was true even on the toughest days in the shop. You also can't ignore Alta's stories, legends, and its contribution to skiing's past, present, and future, and the fact that locals get to be a part of that history every day they are there. We started to "Frank Out" a run or two while we skied together. We began to preach the way of Frank to others. Just flow, let it all hang out. Don't worry about going big or going fast. Take a few extra turns and bring those knees so close that light can hardly pass through them. Shout from way down in your belly as you feel your turn. It is truly a freeing experience if you haven't done it. I highly suggest you try it sometime.

A little-known fact is that after the very successful First Annual Frank, at the lift companies pre-season meeting with all the who's who, a conversation was started to figure out what to "do" about this new event that had been organically born from the seeds of skiing's past. This was well before it was embraced and basically sanctioned by Alta and used in marketing campaigns and social media posts to attract spring skiers, to show how much fun we all have in the waning days of the season in Little Cottonwood Canyon. There was even chatter that they wanted to shut it down completely, and on the day of the "First Second Annual" competition, we were not allowed to bring the prizes up the lift. This action would not stop Frank, and it did not stop us.

I truly believe "The Frank World Classic" was born that first year because the founders of Frank had embraced the concept of Frank. Being in Alta, you can't help but appreciate where you are every day. Over time, that appreciation grows stronger, and you become humbler to your surroundings and the history that is all around you. The gift and privilege that comes with being someone who gets to work and live in one of the most beautiful canyons in the country. Skiing the greatest snow on the planet, day in and day out.

Remake of the Ski School Tryouts scene from the movie "Aspen Extreme". Promotional film for the 88TH Annual FRANK World Classic Ski Competition.

Re-make of the 1989 Juicy Fruit Gum Commercial filmed as a promotional video for the Frank World Classic Ski Competition. Film by Noah Wetzel.

As for "The Frank World Classic" itself, it started from sheer boredom, to be honest. Every closing day, it was all about the "High Boy" party. We gathered at Punk Rock, grilled some food, drank some beer, and eventually make our way to the party to close out another year. One year, we thought it would be fun to do something more on the closing day. It was expected that people came dressed in their best "throwback" ski outfits. Some even breaking out old-school skinny skis to truly play the part. We wanted to incorporate our newfound appreciation for "Franking" into this day, so we thought we should have a fake ski competition. We wanted everyone to put the ego aside and get silly. Help others find the Frank that lived within them. The bump line was already there. We just needed to build a few half-assed kickers, and we have a venue. It was also that year that someone had graciously donated a megaphone to the ski shop to bring a little levity to the Wildcat base. With it, we let the people hear what we thought about things, whether they wanted to or not, all season. The heckling was all in good fun, I promise.

We had a venue and a PA system. We didn't need rules because this is Frank after all. What we did need was a way to differentiate this competition from others. That came in the form of how this competition was judged and the prizes that came along with it. This set of rules also had to align with the way of the Frank. Of course, everyone is a winner, but there could only be one crowned Frank on this particular day. Even if you won, it was a crown that you shared with everyone. The trophy would live with you until the next champion dethroned you the following year. Kind of like the Stanley Cup, but better. We also knew that every competition had a first, second, third, etc., but what about the last place? We knew someone would finish last, so we decided they would get a prize for that accomplishment. A prize the first two years in a row that the same person took. We won't name names, but you know who you are.

We also knew that to keep it as Frank as possible, there had to be a limit on the amount of effort someone could take to win it all. Remember, Frank isn't all about the flash, and we sure didn't want to give the impression that we cared if you were the best skier on the hill. Good skiers at Alta are everywhere, from real-life professionals to average joe's cleaning dishes at one of the lodges who would blow your mind on the slopes. We wanted to remind everyone that nobody cares that you ski Alta. We came up with the "Top Gun" award. Put simply, if you try too hard, and you have a clean run, throw a backflip or some corked-out trick, this will not award you with first prize. In fact, you will be met with an award meant to let you know that you are special, but not Frank special. The first year this prize included a collection of Tom Cruise movies on VHS and a copy of L. Ron Hubbard's novel "Dianetics".

There was a good amount of heckling as participants made their way to the finish—a way to keep everyone on the level and on their toes. There were trips to Savers to collect random gems to incorporate into the prizes and Hot Dogs. We couldn't have a Hot Dog ski competition without actual Hot Dogs. We decided that the best way to show our appreciation for a well-Franked run was to hurl uncooked Hot Dogs at participants. It just seemed like a reasonable connection to make at the time. I would like to make an open apology to all my Vegan or veggie friends out there who may find the concept of processed meat being thrown at your person morally and ethically wrong; it just kind of happened.

May the Frank be with you, always.

As mentioned before, you might think you know what the Frank is all about, but the chances are that you have no idea what it is unless you were there in its infancy. It was a joke, a jab at everyone, including ourselves, who at one point or another took things too seriously on the slopes. When it comes down to it, skiing is supposed to be fun. The idea was to make sure we all knew how much fun we were all having and what a great life we all were living. The hope is that you read this or hear it from someone firsthand about what it truly stands for. I hope you find yourself alone in the woods somewhere, and you take a few turns that touch your soul, and that spirit comes alive in you. I hope you find yourself at the next World Classic, at the start of the course, about to drop in front of hundreds of your fellow mountain dwellers. You take a moment and let the Frank flow through you and just ski. As I said before, everyone who boots up and puts on skis has a little Frank inside them. It is up to you to let your inner Frank shine for all to see. May the Frank be with you, always.

PHOTO BY LEE COHEN

Mike Trioli

Author and Visionary of Frank

Mike Trioli spent 12 years at Alta from 2001-2013. He currently resides in Essex Junction in the beautiful state of Vermont. Most of his skiing these days is in the backcountry around Mt. Mansfield and Smugglers Notch. He constantly bites his tongue in the lift line when he hears people talk about how deep the pow is out here. Yes the ‘stash is real.