Dripping in skimo gear and heavily skeptical, Klaus Kloutman takes on Snoqualmonix, WA with a serious dose of French attitude. 

In Folkrm Poles’ 8-minute mockumentary, Kloutman doesn’t hold back as he gallivants around Alpental, WA, Borat-style, spreading his opinions on poles and scoffing at the lack of technical skiing he can find. 

“I don’t quite understand the style,” says Kloutman in a heavy French accent as he rides the lift up, dripping with carabiners, ropes, multiple sets of poles, a skimo harness and even a picket. Kloutman ruthlessly ridicules folks he meets on the hill about their pole choice (kids included), and at one point he even forcefully replaces dozens of poles with Folkrm poles. 

“That was not real skiing. I did not like that,” he grumbles after a groomer lap. The happiest Kloutman appears to be is while rappelling down a cliff under the chair. 

This Folkrm short is a refreshing reminder of just how goofy subcultures of skiing can be, and how important it is to poke fun at ourselves once in a while. So thanks, Klaus Kloutman, for turning what was likely a calm spring day on Snoqualmie Pass into some of the funniest 8 minutes we’ve seen in a while.