It's been a good year for 32-year-old Oakley White-Allen, not only because Oakley (also known as OWA) was awarded a wildcard to compete on the European Freeride World Tour—after his second place run at the combined Freeskiing/Freeride World Tour Revelstoke stop—but also because it's been a good year for business. OWA, who currently resides in Alta/Snowbird, is co-founder of Panda Poles along with Tanner Rosenthal. Panda Poles is an environmentally conscious ski poles brand, which utilizes bamboo to create its products.
Bamboo, as a quick reminder, is biodegradeable and far less harmful to the Earth than man-made poles. Plus they have recycled grips and hemp straps. The manifesto behind the poles is to encourage consumers and manufacturers to "reconsider products as usual." Now in its second year of production, the company is recieving a lot of recognition both for its environmental efforts and quality of product.
This week, we hit up Oakley White-Allen to give you a better idea of the man behind the brand.
I GREW UP climbing trees and throwing hay bails.
BIG MOUNTAIN SKIING is pretty gnarly.
THE EUROPEAN TOUR is a nice contrast to ours, for now.
SNOWBIRD safely opens a lot of terrain after fresh snowfall, and fast.
I LIKE champagne at sunrise.
MY FAVORITE SKI BUDDY is my shadow.
I'D RATHER have a trust fund.
GETTING A WILDCARD AT FREERIDE_WT WAS a blessing, and the product of a life dedicated to skiing.
PANDA POLES are the fastest growing ski poles on the market.
BEFORE DROPPING IN, I LISTEN TO Dangerbee.
I'D RECOMMEND Burning Man to anyone radically self reliant with an open heart and a mind for late nights.
I'D LIKE TO END UP IN A HOT TUB WITH Marilyn Monroe.
MY FAVORITE ASPECT OF LIFE is the breath.
I HOPE TO connect.
(ABOVE: Oakley White-Allen en route to a second place finish at the combined Freeskiing/Freeride World Tour Revelstoke stop—January, 2012.)
Oakley in action at Snowbird, sportin' the Panda Poles.
VITALS
Sponsors: Panda Poles, Strafe Outerwear, Smith Optics, Nordica Skis and Boots, Aseda Raw Honey, Snowbird, Alta, Replay XD
Results:
2007. 4th Canadian Freeskiing Championships, Red Mountain, BC
2010. 3rd Freeskiing World Tour Championships, Snowbird Utah
2011. 2 points earned for Team Americas, Swatch Skiers Cup, Valle Nevado Chile
2012. 2nd Freeskiing & Freeride World Tour, Revelstoke, BC Canada
2012. Sickbird Award, Freeskiing World Tour, Revelstoke, BC Canada
2012. 3rd Freeride World Tour. Chamonix/Mont Blanc, France
