Stephanie JustThis Week on Peak Season: Episode Five

Another Monday night has passed, and with it, another drama-filled episode of Peak Season. As I sat down with my twelve-pack of beer and snow globe (the closest I can get to be Whistler local), I realized this episode marks the halfway point of the first season. It’s almost like the six month anniversary of a relationship, when you decide to persist or ditch. Is it worth the emotional investment, the time and the mind games? In my opinion, yes. Sure, it’s maddening when your emotional other can only dedicate thirty minutes to you a week, but sometimes, that’s what these one-ended relationships consist of. I mean, what other show has tractors plowing snow as a riveting opening shot? It’s one-of-a-kind, and I’m excited to see where this season will take the psychologically-insane individuals of Whistler.

What happens:

Stephanie Just: The fearless snowboarder.

In this episode, a lot of focus is put on Steph and her snowboarding. Her pass for the slopes has been reinstated, and she wastes no time getting back on the hill. When watching Steph in the park, hitting every jump and rail possible, it’s hard not to feel inadequate in comparison. I find myself on my feet, carving and leaning as though she is my Wii character (outfitted in my baggy pants and Jamaican toque), and I’m (not her!) garnering points for every trick. It works wonders for temporary self-esteem boosts.

In shows like The Hills, Lauren and Lo can use their powers to bypass lines at celebrity-infested club events. However, in shows like Peak Season, Steph and her friend use their overwhelming star power to wheedle and talk their way into getting spots in full Snowboarding competitions, more specifically, the “Showcase Showdown.” This competition features inflatable Redbull, gnarly tricks and Steph’s announced “aggressive frontside board slide.” I feel as though this is a personality characteristic of girls in Whistler. Instead of long walks on the beach, the new thing to enjoy is aggressively grinding a rail (no inappropriate innuendo implied).

After placing a respectable fifth place in the competition, probably due to a tragic bail on her final run, Steph congratulates her third-placing companion with a reassuring “I told you, if you beat me, I would kill you.. Congratulations!”

It’s truly hard not to love this girl.

Amanda and Stoofie: The conversationalists.

Amanda and Stoofie have a great dynamic as best friends. Within every one of their pointless conversations lies an absolute truth: which is, we (being female, that is) must talk about pointless things in order to exist. They discuss the undefined relationship between Amanda and Denny, Dre, and the volatile situation between Stoofie and Ian. Apparently, dishing about dirty ‘sexts’ is unacceptable in the elegant Ian’s book, and Stoofie believes it just may be over. The poor girl gets to join the Ross-causality list- a lot of brave soldiers have been lost in those trenches, but they persist tenaciously against the enemy with shots in hand and Uggs on feet.

Ian: Always the gentleman.

Apparently, Ian hasn’t mastered the meaning of the word “hypocrisy,” as he so cunningly demonstrates by reading the texts Stoofie has sent him aloud to his motley crew. It is fairly obvious that his short-lived fascination with Stoofie is dwindling, and it’s time to move on for the oversized-hat wearing stud. Even more awkward than this ensemble is the double-date that ensues between him, Stoofie, Amanda and Denny at a restaurant, which I suspect moonlights as a bowling alley.

Sometimes, when I’m walking alone by a shifty-looking character, I’ll pull out the whole immersed-in-my-texts bit, but this act is strictly reserved for strangers. Unfortunately for Stoofie, this rule does not apply to Ian. At one point she could have been naked dancing on top of the table, and her three other technologically-astute companions would have been oblivious.

Elle: the advocate for “Gill’s Night.”

For those of you less accent-inclined, the Canadian translation is girl’s night. This ensues in an evening of pampering, curling 20-inch extensions and donning the biggest sparkly ring you can find. As the ladies, or gills, enjoy their estrogen-only party at Bazooka Joe’s, Elle is understandably disappointed when her Australian hubby, Matt, crashes the party with his posse. Even more disappointing, apparently, is when he proceeds to ignore her and the high-pitched clan. This ensues in the “weirdest” fighting match I have ever witnessed. Case in point:

Elle: “Why are you being such a weirdo to me?”

Matt: “What are you talking about, I’m not being a weirdo!”

Elle: “Yes you ARE, you ARE being weirdo!”

And thus it continues. At the commencement of this vocabulary-infused debate, Elle decides that perhaps Australia isn’t her breeding grounds, and the Switzerland boy in the bar is more to her liking. On a following, more-sober morning, she is inclined to question her relationship and whether staying in Whistler is the greatest option at the moment.

Matt: The perfect boyfriend.

Otherwise his touching display of affection for Elle at Bazooka Joe’s, there is not much of Matt in this episode. What’s the equivalent of a gills-night out? A mates-day-outing! Matt, Dane (his shaggy-haired roommate) and Rory (a visiting friend), go snowmobiling in the beautiful slopes of Whistler. They rip around with accompanying rap music and flurries, a combination that represents the new hot threesome in television.

Best Lines:

“Dude, I know I have you hooked, I can call her anytime of the day and she’d be here.” -Ian, about Stoofie.

“Switzerland!” – Elle beckoning to her new man/country of choice.

“That’s why we have the best group, because we have all the hot people.” -Ian

“It takes typing texts to wheel a chick … that’s sometimes how it goes.” -Ian

“Gnarly, Shred, Bummer, Let’s peace” -Whistler Lingo

“F**k this sh*t, F**ck boyfriends.” -Elle

Overall:

I think it may be virtually impossible to say anything negative about the show itself in throes of a growing addiction. I will say that this episode was surprisingly lonely without Lauren Horton, Dre Morel or Stephanie Weber. I felt a tension throughout the entire show, like something big, sorry…gnarly, was about to happen, and I believe next week will be brimming with an above-average quota of drama. Character descriptions are slowly solidifying, but there still hasn’t been a lot of meaningful advancements in understanding each person on the show. Essentially, Fraggalosch (the creator of the show), is doing his job impeccably, because it seems as though next Monday is light-years away, a far-too long period of time in which I will most likely re-watch episode five an admittedly embarrassing amount of times.

andPOP insider interview with Stephanie Just

Stephanie Just weighs in on the show, her snowboarding, and what it was like growing up in Whistler.

Loving the show, what do you think of it so far?

“I think it’s great! It’s definitely dramatic!”

You just made your big debut on the third episode.. do you think it accurately reflected your personality?

“So far, it’s pretty accurate!”

Describe growing up in Whistler.

“Growing up in whistler was amazing. I feel like I grew up outdoors. I was always doing something outside; whether it was swimming, skiing, snowboarding, or just playing nicky nicky nine doors on the neighbors. It’s a very small town though so you can’t get away with a whole lot. It teaches you to be honest because everyone’s going to know everything you do. My high school was small, and most of us were together since preschool. We’re kind of like a big family! I feel very fortunate to have grown up in such an amazing place. ”

How would you describe your style?

“Hmmm, my style? I don’t really know if I have a style. I like to dress how i feel, mostly comfortable. I love sweat pants. I love big baggy clothing, but i also like to dress like somewhat of a girl. I love hippie shirts! Sometimes when I’m feeling super sexy, I’ll dress like it.”

Have you and the other local on the show, Dre, always been friends?

“Dre and I have been friends for a long time. When I was younger I used to hang out with Dre’s older sister Nat. She’s the funniest girl. Nat, Dre, and I hung out a lot. We even traded pets. I traded my turtle for their two guinea pigs… ha ha!”

What about the rest of the cast? Did you know them all before Peak Season?

“I’ve know Amanda for a while. I met her at a snowboard contest a few years ago. I know Lauren and Ian from around town, and I met Matt and Elle while we were filming.”

What led you to snowboarding?

“My blood, my childhood, and my dad! My dad bought me my first snowboard. It was a rental SIMS for $75. I didn’t really want to snowboard, but I thought I’d give it a shot.”

Your parents are obviously big supporters of your boarding. What do they think of you being on Peak Season?

“My parents are really excited for me! We watch the show together every Monday night, and they love it! My dad calls it freak season. Ha!”

If boarding wasn’t an option what else would you want to do with your life career-wise?

“I think I would be somewhere out in the middle of know-where trying to save animals. Or I would be in architecture.”

You have to give up one thing: partying, guys or snowboarding. Which one would it be?

“I’d like to say boys, but that’s the whole reason we party in the first place. And if I cut boys, who would I snowboard with?”

Have you been signed on to a boarding company?

“I ride for Westbeach, Kombi, OGIO, Mayday, Spy, and Omatic.”

Can we expect anything romance-wise from you in coming episodes?

“Romance in Whistler… hardly. Ha!”

Tell us something about yourself that not a lot of people know.

“I’m kinda obsessive compulsive. I’m obsessed with numbers.”

Anything else you want to say about the show?

“I hope there’s a second season.”






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