Slideshow: Open Season Photo Essay
Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ Sign up for Outside+ today.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Oskar Enander
SKIER: Patrik Leidstedt
LOCATION: Engelberg, Switzerland
“It was the first big storm of the season and everything was closed. We were bored and wanted to do something,” says Enander. “The inrun was extremely sketchy. I’m glad Patrik made it over.”
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lee Cohen
SKIER: Dave McReynolds
LOCATION: Alta, Utah
On November 27, Alta got 25 inches of snow-with just 5 percent water content. On the 28th, it got nine more. This shot was taken first thing on the 30th: a sign of things to come.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Blake Jorgenson
SKIER: Ingrid Backstrom
LOCATION: Mica Creek, B.C.
“Everyone was getting in avalanches that week,” says Jorgenson, who was shooting for Matchstick Productions’ latest film, Hit List. “This was the only line Ingrid got that day. Thankfully, she killed it.”
PHOTOGRAPHER: Scott Markewitz
SKIERS: X Games skiercross finalists
LOCATION: Aspen, Colorado
“This was the first time I’d seen a gap like this in a skiercross, and I thought it’d look cool from underneath,” says Markewitz. The Crist brothers-Reggie and Zach-crossed the line one-two.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Adam Clark
SKIER: Will Burks
LOCATION: Alta, Utah
Trying to find a fresh perspective at the A-Frame, a popular natural cliff jump on Alta’s back side, Clark stood in the landing zone and aimed upward. “Will got 60 feet of air and nearly landed on me,” he says.
