There’s No Place Like Home In California
After taking the gold in the 1998 Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Jonny Moseley had the opportunity to train all over the world, but he realized there’s no place like home.
“It was just an amazing ride and I went to all these different places to train but I always came home. I loved Colorado, I loved Utah, I loved all these places, but I always wanted to get back to the Bay,” he told a Visit California gathering last night (Oct. 1) before busting out into song. “To the city, by the bay!”
In Toronto for the first stop on a Visit California sales and media mission, which is heading to Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver this week, the host of the outdoor adventure series Jonny Moseley’s Wildest Dreams says his freestyle technique was inspired by the skate and surf culture that was prominent in the area.
“There’s something about the vibe, the air and the juxtaposition between this ocean environment and the mountains right there,” said Moseley, whose family drove from the Bay area to ski Squaw practically every weekend growing up. “It really is part of my DNA and it’s something that I love. I can’t wait when people come to town to show off the slopes of northern Tahoe, Squaw, the Bay area, and take them to all the fun things there are to do.”
Although Canadians have a lot of choice for skiing, he says there’s something unique about areas like Tahoe and the way the runs are configured.
“I think it’s pretty common for people to know about the beaches, the surf and sand there, but the skiing is awesome,” he said. “We get massive snowstorms.”
Along with Moseley, representatives from Visit California and a large delegation from The Golden State was also on hand to mingle with guests, provide updates on their respective destinations and take part in a sabering demonstration.
Overall, Canada represents the second largest international market for California. Earlier this summer, California’s iconic Highway 1 along the Big Sur coastline, which is a big draw for Canadians, reopened.
Pictured at the event (top and bottom) is: Jonny Moseley and his sabered bottle of bubbly. Top middle: the delegation from California. Bottom middle: Dena Gouweloos PR rep for Discover Los Angeles.
