Between Two Runs: On the Chairlift with Ted Ligety

Between Two Runs: On the Chairlift with Ted Ligety

As the second and final week of the Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado, gets into full swing, get into the spirit by hearing from GoPro athlete and Mr. Ski himself, Ted Ligety. We hopped on the chairlift with the alpine skier during a training day recently to ask him how GoPro is a part of his professional--and personal--life, as he prepared for World Championships.

GoPro: What is your favorite perspective/mounting for capturing training/review footage? Are there different perspectives for different techniques to review?

Ted Ligety: I think my favorite perspective is from a follow cam. One of my coaches will put a GoPro on a broken gate and follow me down the course. It's pretty sweet because you can see how you develop every turn and line, how your body reacts to it, and the complete view of your technique in action. The chest mount is also sweet because you can see very well how your body is facing through the line.

GoPro: How has reviewing GoPro footage affected your training regimen?

TL: When I first started using GoPro cameras, I thought it was just really cool footage, but as I have used it more often in different angles, I can actually see things happening in my skiing that I can't see from traditional footage. For example, when I use a gnarwall mounted from the rear, I can better see the the level of smoothness of my GS turns it's subtle and not visible or reviewable from a traditional long-lens shot.

GoPro: Can you think of one GoPro shot that really got you excited? Something that inspired you to shoot more?

TL: There are so many, but the first time I saw a gnarwall shot of the back, I thought it was so unique compared to anything else I had seen before. It is such a cool perspective of your body, so I think it's my favorite shot so far.

GoPro: Besides skiing, what is your favorite activity to shoot with a GoPro?

TL: I have shot mountain biking, and that has been a lot of fun. Mostly, though, I just like to have it around to shoot anything at random. One of the cooler things, I think, was when I mounted it to my niece's push trike as we were running around San Francisco. That was pretty funny because you could see her giggling and having fun, but then also of her perspective of others looking down at her smiling and laughing as she played.

GoPro: You have one run, one chance to capture your moment Photo or video? What mode?

TL: I do a lot of photos. I like to put the GoPro in the line and have someone fire the remote as I pass through the frame, usually at 30 frames over 2 second burst. It's so cool because a still photographer could never get that close to the action. You can get such a unique perspective that you can't with any other still photography.

GoPro: How would you describe both Julia (Mancuso) and Lindsey (Vonn) as fellow GoPro athletes?

TL: Julia is more the free spirit. She does such a great job of getting crazy footage, even outside of skiing. It's pretty cool to see how much she celebrates all the things she does. Lyndsey is so focused and dedicated to our sport. Through the stuff that each of them capture, you get to see how each of their personalities shine through.

LINK:	http://gopro.com/news/between-two-runs-on-the-chairlift-with-ted-liget...
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