Keeping track of the Monster Squad riders is like running backwards down a hill, that’s right, it’s not easy; nor was staring too long at the hunter orange hoodie Dan Ruppel was wearing while we chatted when he was in town during Thanksgiving. I always learn something new from each Monster Squad member while interviewing them. After talking to Dan, I know now not to mess with girls from Montana as well as the sketchiness of highway 191 – the road Dan travels on from Bozeman to Big Sky. Dan lives for the deals on steepandcheap.com, as we all should, but there’s more to this MS member than his style. Dan has a fresh vision about freeheel skiing – the type of vision that will keep us on track and headed in the right direction, progressing, and growing not just as individuals in our sport, but as a community. Read on to find out more about Dan, his roots in the sport of freeheel skiing, and what is really on his mind.

How old are you?
19

When did you start freeheeling?
I learned to tele three or four years ago, just randomly, on a crappy set-up with leather boots. Last year at Christmas I decided to switch to tele full on. My alpine stuff is still lying around, so I’ll alpine if a buddy wants to try my tele gear.

Where are you from originally?
Peterborough, New Hampshire. It’s about an hour or so outside of Boston.

Back east, where do you like to ski?
I worked at Crotchet Mountain; otherwise I rode with my brother up at Loon, Waterville, and Cranmore. Sometimes we got up to Sunday River in Maine, and if we get up to Vermont, we go to Okemo – I love their park.

How long have you been out west?
I’m a sophomore in school up at the University of Montana, so I’ve been out here for two years.

What brought you out west?
Snow. Actually, it was the last day to decide on a school and I just randomly picked Montana. The guys I live with are all from Vermont, so I’m still hanging out with kids from back east.

I heard you’re working in food services up at school, how’s that going?
I’m working there for three more days, and then I’m off. I had to quit otherwise I was going to get fired for skipping work to go to a rail jam. It was great. I dodged my boss the whole shift I worked the day after the jam and I was eating some free food and talking to some friends and she hunted me down and ragged me out. It was funny.

Any plans for employment after all that?
I was offered a potential job at Moonlight Basin (next to Big Sky) in the jib park that they’re putting in this year. They’re asking me to teach tele lessons for kids and incorporate park riding in the lessons.

Where have you primarily been skiing out here?
Bridger Bowl at Big Sky and then a bit of backcountry skiing around the area. We pretty much just hang around Bozeman.

Is there anyone else you tele with up in Montana?
I tele with a couple kids in the backcountry. In the park, there’s me and couple other guys around.

Competition wise, what do you have going on?
I’d love to compete, I’d like for my parents to let me compete, but they’re not too into it. Last year I competed in 3 Big Sky pipe jams. I was the only freeheeler. I like the pipe on alpine skis, but it’s a completely different game on teles.

Do you feel like an outsider as the only competitor on freeheel skis?
No, I don’t even think about it. Initially, you show up to register and they see you have tele skis and they’re a little surprised, but after 10 minutes or so, they don’t really care what you’re skiing on.

What’s your favorite type of terrain?
Ideally, I prefer the backcountry – being away from people, building big jumps and hitting them; and then at night, coming in and hitting up some urban stuff. But things don’t always work out like that, so I end up cruising through the park and the pipe. I really like the pipe.

Talk about an average day in the life of Dan Ruppel during ski season Wake up, pound some Red Bull, eat some good food, take the hour long drive in a buddy’s car to Big Sky, take some warm-up runs and lap the mini park; that’s the way I like to do it, I could hang out there for half the day. And then if there’s good snow, go ride; take the tram up to the peak and shred. If the snow’s not great, I’ll hang in the park and do laps on rails, hang out with some friends, and call out tricks for each other. I ride primarily with one alpine skier and one snowboarder.

Where do you see freeheel skiing going – what direction do you want to push it in?
I want to move away from the separation between tele and alpine; and even with snowboarding, I ride with snowboarders. Snowboarders are sick on rails; I’d like to see everything fuse together. I’d like to see a tele movie that doesn’t suck – that would be a first. And getting freeheelers in big comps like the US Open and the X-Games, that’s going to be key.

On the subject of films, what do you like or dislike in ski films?
I’m over voiceovers; no one’s that interesting to listen to when you’re watching a ski movie. I also want to see good, stomped tricks and get rid of some of the style issues that freeheelers have had in the past like tele-flops, hinging forward when landing switch, and landing shaky; otherwise, good, quality urban coverage. I’d also like to see more fun and group-oriented footage. With the whole Monster Squad, we’re all at the same place in the sport and I think it would be a riot to cruise around with someone like Jeff Rutkowski; so a lot of life-style footage of our group just hanging out and progressing would be great to have in a film.

Do you plan on traveling around this season to ski?
I’m trying to. I’d love to work it to be able to ride as much as possible, but studying mechanical engineering is hell. I’m working on buying a car, which isn’t going so hot, but I’m working on it. So once that falls into place, I plan on being down here during spring break. I’d like to do a bunch of filming in the Utah backcountry. Otherwise, I’m going to hit all the comps in Montana that I can. I’m not cool enough for foreign travel, so none of that yet.

How has it been as a Monster Squad member?
Other than having Cody Smith follow me around with a camera and a tripod, it’s helped me to get recognized in the industry a lot more than before. Anytime I have a question, I can just shoot Josh Madsen an email and he helps me out with tons of stuff. It’s been great.

How would you describe your personal style?
Image wise, I’d have to say steepandcheap.com, all the way. When I get into the whole ghetto’d out mindset, drop the pants and have some rap going on the iPod, stuff just seems to flow in the park. Once I’m in the backcountry though, the music goes off and I’m a lot more alert about what’s going on around me.

Thank Yous:
Becca, for giving me skis. Josh, for hooking me up. Freeheellife.com and everyone else involved with it.