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Peace amongst the chaos
Sammy Carlson finds harmony in Alaska
Sammy goes harder than ever in his latest film, Harmony, exclusively filmed in Valdez, Alaska.
Sammy’s mastery in the backcountry goes from strength to strength as he once again pushes his own limits and begins to push the sport’s. He’s now riding lines so steep, it looks more like semi-controlled falling than skiing. But not only his riding steeps, he’s throwing his own freestyle flavour into these lines, stamping his mark in the mecca of freeride.
We interviewed Sammy last season, and he told us all about his plans to start riding more consequential terrain, while bringing his freestyle flavour to those lines. Check it out here.
From Youtube:
Every diehard skier & boarder knows the feeling of harmony in the mountains. It’s that moment when you step your boots into bindings and everything else clicks into place. You’re calm in the chaos. Your body and mind are one, your skis/board an extension of self and soul. All those years of honing your craft have come to this. But you don’t force it. Instead, the mountains set the rhythm, inviting you in, and you oblige and dance, It’s these moments that keeps bringing us back, year after year.
Of course, harmony is elusive, especially in Valdez, Alaska. Here, in the promised land of Big Mountain skiing, storms can ground the most motivated crew. Steeps can freeze the fearless in their tracks. Slough can take down the strongest skier. But if you pay your dues and get lucky with a bluebird window and a stable snowpack—and you do find harmony in this ruthless range, it’s more rewarding than a lottery jackpot. And harmony is exactly what Sammy Carlson and his skeleton film crew found in Valdez on a three-week strike mission with Black Ops Heli last spring.
This project is the definition of Harmony. It’s the result of Sammy’s body, mind, and equipment, all working together. It’s a testament to the tight-knit team behind the project, from the heli pilot to the drone operator and the guides, all working towards a common goal: elevate the culture by showcasing not just the artistry of backcountry freestyle, but also raw freeriding and envelope-pushing first descents.
“I was way more at peace this year,” says Sammy, looking back. “I felt in tune on my skis and with the mountains. I was confident when I needed to be confident, humble when I needed to be humble. The crew was solid and tight. As a result, we were able to strike, get in and out safe. Alaska is the ultimate freeride experience—powerful and humbling.”
We hope you enjoy the flick as much as we did making it. If nothing else, we hope it helps you find your own version of HARMONY in the mountains.
Thanks for watching and being part of the journey.
Many thanks to everyone who had a hand in bringing this project to life.