Skiing superstar
Freestyle and extreme great Glen Lake visits Pine Mountain

Pine Mountain Photos

Freestyle and extreme skiing great Glen Plake, left, talks with ski technician Dick Ring in the Pine Mountain Sports Shop.

IRON MOUNTAIN — One of the ski industry’s most recognizable figures made a surprise visit to Pine Mountain on Sunday, Dec. 30, to ski with the local kids.

Glen Plake, pioneer of freestyle and extreme skiing in the United States, spent the entire day at Pine Mountain skiing and autographing posters. He is most noted for his colorful foot-long Mohawk hairstyle.

Arranged by Pine Mountain Sports Shop, Plake’s visit was originally slated as a “quick stop” during his Midwest tour but quickly turned into an all-day and all-night affair. Glen and his wife, Kimberly, along with his camera crew, had such a great time at Pine Mountain that they altered their schedule to stay longer.

“Every year, I happen upon certain hills or mountains that just seem to leave a lasting impression on me,” Plake said. ‘Today at Pine Mountain was one of those times.

“I have really enjoyed skiing with such a nice group of young people and this hill is great. I love it.”

He spent all day and into the evening showing off some of his moves and teaching kids some new and different techniques in the terrain park.

Kimberly commented that every five years or so, they like to take time off their world travels and tour the Midwest to live what they feel “is the heartbeat of skiing.”

The Plakes love the atmosphere of the Midwest ski hills and it reminds them of what skiing is all about.

“I do not believe there has been a bigger Alpine ski celebrity ever at Pine Mountain,” said John Bittinger, Pine Mountain Sports Shop owner. “It is great that the same person you see in almost any Warren Miller movie or extreme skiing magazine is taking jumps at Pine Mountain with our local kids.

“Even better was the fact that Glen and Kimberly were two of the nicest and most approachable people you would want to know.”