COVER “During the last days of the season in Riksgränsen, Sweden, the local crew arranges an annual jib session called the Lillstugan Open. It’s a laid-back event, more of a season-ending celebration. My friend Ronja Stenhöös and his shirtless Cossack help summarize the vibe.” See more from Axel Adolfsson in his Gallerie starting on page 084. Photo: Axel Adolfsson TIPS UP 01 • “Dino Flatz was born and raised in Lech, one of the most famous freeride areas in Europe set deep in the Austrian Alps. That means when conditions line up in his backyard, it’s best to do as Flatz does, pictured here airing off an early morning mini spine.” Photo: Daniel Bear 02 • “With a scheduled road closure of Rogers Pass, BC, at 11 a.m., Cody Cirillo and I started our approach in the dark and watched the sun rise over the mountains. An hour later, Cirillo straight-lined these pillows, came off the set at Mach 3 and made what he calls ‘the most angulated turn of my life’ to avoid a tree at the base. We cruised back to the parking lot to the surprise of many skiers just starting their day and made it through the road closure in time to celebrate Cirillo’s birthday with midday mar-garitas in town.” Photo: Matthew Tufts 03 • “We thought winter was over but a big, cold storm in late April provided a few days of powdery fun. Amie Engerbretson and I headed up to Donner Summit, CA, for a sunrise tour just after the storm. It was a beautiful morning and as we were walking up, Amie pointed out this line, planted me in some trees and made some art with her skintrack. It may have been one of the last pow days of the season but it was also one of the sweetest.” Photo: Jeff Engerbretson 04 • Austrian teenager Max Hitzig sends a huge double backflip at the Engadinsnow freeride competition in Engadin, Switzerland, in 2022. But the 19-year-old from Montafon was just getting started, as he would go on to win the Freeride World Qualifier Final in Nendaz, Switzerland, before win-ning his first Freeride World Tour stop as a wild card in Fieberbrunn, Austria. Photo: Daniel Bear 05 • Even though the Lofoten Islands sit within the Arctic Circle, spring comes fast in Norway’s northern island chain. Heat wave or not, David Kantermo was determined to squeeze out one last couloir before calling it quits in the far north. Photo: Mattias Fredriksson 06 • Can’t go under it, can’t go through it, got to boost over it. Dylan Siggers takes the high road in style in Revelstoke, BC. Photo: Mattias Fredriksson. Photo: Adam Clark 07 • Sun’s out, huck everything. Colin Puskas races his sluff off the Hol-lywood line in the Banff, AB, backcountry. Photo: Grant Gunderson 08 • “Dozens of skiers cross the Bossons Glacier on Mont Blanc below Chamonix, France’s Aiguille du Midi. Summer’s early arrival made for iso-thermic mashed potatoes down below—harrowing conditions for glacial crossings—but it allowed for a few days of great snow up high. Dozens of tracks on the summit made Western Europe’s highest peak look like the piste on a pow day. C’est la vie en Chamonix.” Photo: Matthew Tufts The Ski Journal 013
The Ski Journal Volume 16, Issue 3: Page 15
