Age: 24 | Vitals: 5’10”, ~155 lbs | Years Skiing: 21 | Current Residence: Gunnison, Colorado
Skiing Background
I grew up in Evergreen, Colorado. My dad took me skiing as soon as he could convince my mom it was a good idea. He was already an avid skier before I came into this world, and so it was only a matter of time before he got me on the slopes.
After going through ski school, I joined the Big Mountain team at Winter Park where I learned the basics of good freeride technique and style. While I never competed on this team, my coaches were always pushing me to try new things, then go back next lap and do it again with even better technique and control. Unfortunately, I developed a hereditary knee disease, Osgood-Schlatter’s, which made skiing hard and painful during my early teens. So, I quit the Big Mountain team and started freeskiing alone and with my friends.
Once I got my driver’s license in high school, I bought an Epic Local pass and started to explore Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Vail with my friends. I skied a mix of steeps, cliffs, and trees, and also dedicated the occasional day to skiing park. It was definitely the highlight of my high school years, and I experienced a big progression in my confidence and abilities, dropping bigger cliffs, skiing steeper lines, and throwing harder tricks.
I then went to college at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, where I was a part of the Freeride team for all my college years. I continued to progress with the help of some very insightful coaches and some very talented skiers who I tried to keep up with. I competed in Freeride World Qualifier events across North America and eventually made my way into some 4-star events. Competing made me push my limits and get out of my comfort zone, and subsequently let me progress significantly as a skier.
My skiing today revolves around finding big airs, skiing fast, carving up groomers, skiing steep and technical lines, and throwing tricks off natural features. I consider myself a somewhat well-rounded skier, and I can get along with a variety of skis. I never ski raced, and while I do love to carve, I have a pretty slarvey style off piste. My favorite skis are always a mix of stable and playful, but I usually match the kind of skiing I am doing with the ski I am riding that day. When I am not in the resort, I like to tour in the backcountry, finding notorious powder stashes, skiing cool lines, or building and sessioning the occasional jump.
In the summer, I like to mountain bike, whitewater kayak, and go on multi-day river trips throughout the US. The Gunnison Valley has been my home since 2017, and I am so content living somewhere that allows me to do so many fun outdoor activities, all in one place.
Some of My Favorite Gear:
Apparel: Monotone kits, Patagonia R1 Air Fleece, merino wool base layers, Dissent socks, Blackstrap balaclavas, mittens.
Ski Gear: Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 boots, magnetic goggles, Smith Code helmet, Grass Sticks bamboo ski poles.
Skis: ON3P Woodsman 108, Atomic Bent Chetler (the older, heavier version), Sego Comp 110, Rossignol Blackops 118, Sego Big Horn 106, Dynastar Menace 98, Line Blade Optic 96, Black Crows Mirus COR, K2 Mindbender 89Ti, Moment Wildcat, 4FRNT Raven, 4FRNT Hoji, Faction Mana 2, Black Crows Camox, Season Kin, Dynastar M-Free 108, Rossignol Sender Free 110.