About
THE POET SKIS STORY
Poet Skis Co-Founder Lee White started playing with writing poems in the shape of ski tracks in early 2000. These shaped poems later inspired the idea of putting ski track shaped poems on skis as limited edition art pieces. 20 years later the first run of Poet Skis was released.
White calls the style of poetry Zen Koan Archery where stream of consciousness word play intersects with precisely aimed paradox to invite reflective insights.
Our Vision
We believe that poetry and art inspires shared experiences of flow.
Inspiring peak experiences, authentic expression and human connection
Reflecting beauty, truth and goodness by inspiring flow states
Embodied experiences such as skiing are universal and take us all beyond our limiting beliefs
Flow states and peak experiences invite authentic self reflection and support us in being our true selves
We believe that poetry and art inspire shared experiences of flow. Skiing is the embodiment of flow.
Art and poetry suspend the moment and invite transformative insights.
Shared experiences of art, adventure, and nature bring us closer together.
Everyone deserves to have fun!
Lee White
Lee started skiing out of his backyard in the Yukon with his brothers at 5 years old. They still ski together whenever they can. Growing up largely in British Columbia the mountains were a constant inspiration for adventures and art. Lee’s love of words started early writing poetry and prose including the eclectic philosophy book rapt in awe published in 2004. Having work for several years with Outward Bound in Canada and post-Apartheid South Africa, Lee continues to operate an Adventure Therapy Program for the youth jail in B.C. A deep love of nature inspires Lee in multiple art mediums reflected in the brand ethos of Poet Skis.
Aside from art and adventures, Lee is a social impact entrepreneur innovating novel approaches to clean energy transition and data sovereignty through ChinookX Technologies.
Lee is an Ashoka Fellow for his work leading ChinookX building next-gen solutions for data sovereignty and climate action, grounded in a deep respect for Indigenous ways of knowing and being. ChinookX partners with Indigenous communities to develop Indigenous Innovation Districts (IIDs) and StoryBox servers. These data centres, powered by clean energy, are built on Indigenous lands. IIDs provide the infrastructure for Indigenous data sovereignty, as well as a revenue stream by way of data storage and processing for broader communities. It’s a model that positions Indigenous peoples to flourish in the next iteration of the internet.
Chad Weir
Chad grew up in Kitchener and had his first days on skis at Chicopee. After high school Chad took some time off snow to spend a few years working and living abroad. After finishing work on the Disney Cruise Line 2000 he went to Aspen and forever fell in love with the mountains.
Getting his start at Disney World in 1995, Chad worked in a number of industries including; events, marketing, digital media, human development, technology, health & wellness, athletics, leadership development, & strategy.
After getting his Pilates Instructor certification in Toronto, Chad moved to Banff in 2000. After setting out on the mountain guide path compelling opportunities pulled Chad to take his CSIA Level 1 and continue to produce events instead.
Chad spent two seasons working in Australia for Mount Hotham managing the race and events department.
While back in Banff Chad worked as a ski instructor and coach, produced events for Lake Louise & Alpine Canada, ski patrolled and eventually became a rep for Head, the Technical Director for Non Stop Ski and acted as Program Director for the largest ski club in Alberta (Paskapoo- Skimeisters Alpine Racing Club).
In 2006 he started working with the newly formed Canada Ski Cross Team where he went on to be one of the key officials in several national championships and world cups.
In 2010 Chad was called to join the team at VANOC to be the Chief of Start & Starter for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The following year in 2011 the Canada Ski Cross Team joined the ranks of Alpine Canada and Chad took on the role of Director of National Programs and Events where he got to travel across Canada teaching Resort, TD’s and Race Clubs & Athletes about the sport of ski cross. In 2011 Chad retired from the ski industry to pursue a career in business.
Chad spent more than thirteen years in the personal development and human performance fields where he led workshops, coached high performance teams, developed training courses, mentored aspiring leaders and had the honour of speaking to 1000’s of people.
Chad has spent the last decade splitting his time between corporate project management, consulting business leaders, leading strategic marketing initiatives, producing world class events and has co-founded several social ventures. The most recent initiative is a hat company that’s committed to doing something about mental health (wirthhats.com).
When he is not working on Poet Skis he spends his spare time practising yoga, working out, riding his Triumph Thruxton R, road cycling or on the mountain bike trails, mountaineering, relaxing on the beach, obviously ski touring, playing Football (aka soccer), reading, practising martial arts, attending personal growth workshops, learning to sail, hacking away at learning the Cello and (slowly) getting his pilot's licence.
Photography
Jenn Dykstra
Jennifer is an accomplished photographer and graduate of the Western Academy of Photography (Victoria, BC). She views life as a series of memorable moments and creatively and professionally captures those moments for her valued clients. Jenn finds sanctuary adventuring in the great outdoors. The Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains are her favourite playgrounds. With her passport stamped on every page, she loves to travel and appreciates culture and diversity.
DESIGNER + ILLUSTRATOR
IAN ADAMS
Ian was trained in traditional fine art and illustration techniques, including colour theory and composition, which has given him a unique approach to graphic design. By combining these skills with modern mediums, and with an equal understanding of print and digital production, Ian is able to understand the bigger-picture needs of a project.
This knowledge and practical experience make it easy for Ian to successfully handle any design challenge, from concept to completion.
In Fall 2021, Ian became an instructor of branding and packaging for North Island College’s Digital Design & Development program.
Ian also owns Done Creative, a small-batch art and apparel company that donates a portion of all sales to local environmental and community initiatives.
Nicole Chalmers
Skilled and motivated digital communicator with 15 years experience directing successful online marketing and promotional campaigns. Track record of delivering high-quality digital communications under tight deadlines in a politically demanding organization. A proven team leader able to drive results under pressure and difficult timeframes.
Highlights Include:
• Proven strategic advisor who counseled the Premier, senior Cabinet Ministers, and Members of the Legislative Assembly on on-line and digital media strategies.
• Experienced project manager able to lead teams for the successful development of high-profile web and social media campaigns utilizing a full range of tools including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and on-line video production.
• Skilled at synthesizing large volumes of information into clear and effective web-based products including content, graphics, video and interactive website applications.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolechalmers/
DESIGNER + CREATIVE COORDINATOR
ZOE COOPER
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Zoë arrived in the Comox Valley in 2011 for an extended visit with her sister and to explore the area on a working holiday. But the landscape, lifestyle, and strong sense of community proved tough to leave and she is now happily at home here.
With over 15+ years of professional experience in design, marketing, and copyediting, Zoë thrives on creating strong communication, both visual and written.
Heliski Guide
Graeme White
Graeme is an ACMG Ski and Rock Guide and the eldest of the White brothers - twin Craig and PoetSkis co-founder Lee. Graeme has been breaking trail on brotherly adventures for decades. In recent seasons Graeme has been heliski guiding in Northern BC with Last Frontier Heliskiing as well as guiding throughout the seasons with Island Alpine Adventures.
Graeme’s love of wild spaces began at an early age camping with his family and exploring Western Canada and the Yukon. His own explorations continued across Western North America, South America, the UK and Africa. For sixteen years, Graeme worked with Outward Bound Canada, starting as an instructor and later as manager of their Western Canada operations and has also worked globally developing and supporting Outward Bound schools. Graeme also works with St. Michaels University School outdoor programs, and fills the time between teaching and guiding working as a carpenter.
Photographer
Craig White
Craig is a photographer, carpenter and all around athlete having represented Canada internationally in rugby at various age grades. Craig is the owner of CWH Construction in Victoria building custom homes, renovations and commercial projects, a family business built on quality, integrity and craftsmanship.
After studying at the esteemed Western Academy of Photography in 1990, Craig established himself as a freelance adventure and landscape photographer. Craig has visually chronicled many White-brother adventures over the years and brings his eye to Poet Skis aesthetic. A genuine family man, Craig frequently skis with wife and three adult children. Craig continues to compete in rowing regattas inspiring others with his quiet unstated work rate.
Pieter Vorster
After graduating from the University of the Orange Free State with both a distinction in Communications and the Andre Du Plessis-prize for best Dramatic Arts student, Pieter obtained a diploma in Creative Writing from the AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town, South Africa before spending 3 years cutting his teeth as a professional copywriter for Saatchi & Saatchi. At this time Pieter's primary passion in life was surfing daily and regularly hitting breaks considered extreme where few chose to paddle into.
Feeling the call for something more, Pieter travelled to Taiwan to teach English. In 2005 Pieter became Managing Editor of FYI South – a bilingual city guide focusing on the southern region of the island. He left the publication to travel with Caila, his Canadian partner to Indonesia, Bali and New Zealand camping on the beach searching for the perfect wave.
Since arriving in the Comox Valley in late 2008, Pieter has been working on his business Pod Creative helping small business and non-profit organisations establish and maintain professional up-to-date communications systems. Skiing has replaced surfing as Pieter’s driving passion to anchor stoke and feed his hunger for adventure. Pieter and Caila share their love of skiing with their daughters Juniper and Wren - both little rippers in the park and all over the mountain - the next generation of soul skiers.
Pieter is both an adaptive ski and snowboard instructor as well as a board member for the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports, a group of people passionate about both skiing and helping people. A place to anchor compassion in action. Amidst it all, Pieter is a poet. His Gods of our Time poem graces the badass park as a centering mantra for going large.
