Phil Casabon, Henrik Harlaut, Torin Yater-Wallace and Mike Hornbeck did a team trip to South Korea. To this day all of us have absurd stories and untold memories from two weeks embedded there. There are roadways with grooves that play music when driving the speed limit, the proximity to the DMZ and the historical weight of North Korea hangs in the air, and the contrast between ancient and technologically advanced cultures walk in tandem amidst overdeveloped cities. “It was a really crazy portion of my life,” Bishop says. “That fall of 2014, my mom died from cancer. Three weeks later, JP [Auclair] died in an avalanche. Maybe three to five weeks after that, I got the news that Armada was moving to Utah. You can look at Armada like it was just a job, but for me it was so much more than that. Armada was so wrapped up in my identity and what I wanted to be since I was a kid. I would watch Tanner and JP in films every day before school and, suddenly, I was working for the brand they co-owned and got to travel and ski with them and shoot photos of them. I just knew that was the coolest thing I could’ve been doing with my life.” Bishop ultimately made the difficult decision to stay in California and figure out life all over again. He knew he had the marketing expertise to succeed in new ways. He also had become an exceptional photographer with growing recogni-tion. Bishop’s images stood out significantly in action sports; his quiet, accommodating personality allowed him to capture a more personal side of skiing and life in general. With these skills in tow, he approached as many companies and indi-viduals as possible, and also began hustling as a freelancer. “I would see that a job was listed online and try to apply for it,” he says. “If they showed interest, I’d say, ‘Great, so what do you guys really need? Do you need a full-time employee to do all of this? Because if you have a problem, I can provide a solution on a freelance basis.’” Owing to his hustle, Bishop began working with Monster Energy to photograph major events in the ski sphere such as the X Games and Dew Tour. He saw himself staying with the brand on a more permanent basis and, as time went on, that desire became reality. Today, he’s the Global Category Manager of Monster’s ski division, managing some of the best athletes on Earth and traveling alongside them. “It’s pretty amazing to understand what an energy drink sponsor really means to these athletes,” he says, now 34 years old and based in Newport, CA. “It gives them support and serious help in the field. I feel super fortunate to be a part of that support and I’m very proud of the work we do.” Bishop’s quiet, confident personality continues to serve him well. He instills trust and comfort in those who surround him. He looks at situations intellectually and creatively. He loves skiing right down to its core. Above all, he keeps going when the going gets tough—whether that means losing a loved one or leaving a dream job. Or just losing an earbud in his head. Josh Bishop Gallerie 081
The Ski Journal Volume 13, Issue 3: Page 81
