Today reigning X Games slopestyle gold medalist Sammy Carlson announced his signing to Swiss ski manufacturer, APO. "I'm really, really excited to work with them," explained Carlson. "It's an amazing opportunity." APO, who was purchased by Snowide SAS in 2010, has been making Snowboards since the 1980s and started manufacturing skis in 2008.

Sammy's departure marks the second marquee name to part ways with French manufacturer Salomon—Simon Dumont partnered with Head last month. Just as well, Sammy's signing with APO marks the company's first foray into big name athletes. Sammy is coming off a banner 2010-11 campaign, taking home two medals at Winter X 16 (gold in slopestyle and bronze in big air), a second place at FIS World Championships slopestyle in Park City, and a third place at the Breckenridge Dew Tour Slopestyle. He also filmed the closing segment for PBP's Grand Bizarre and produced and starred in his own web released movie, On Top Of The Hood.

We managed to catch up with Sammy for a couple minutes to fire a couple questions his way about the new partnership and his upcoming season.

Freeskier: How pumped are you to work with a brand that no one has really worked with?
Sammy Carlson: It was a really tough decision to leave Salomon, but I'm really excited to work with APO. They have a ski shaper who has been shaping skis and snowboards for the last 25 years. He was involved in shaping the first Rossignol Scratch, so he's got experience. I'm excited to shape skis from the ground up. We'll definitely be working on some progressive shapes. I think people will like the skis we're making.

Also, it's awesome to be more involved in the brand, to have more of an opinion and to shape skis how I want to ride them. I'm going to have a limited edition pro model park ski coming out in February. And throughout the winter we'll be testing a powder ski, too, so I'll have a pro model pow ski for next season. We have been testing a bunch of different flexes this fall, I just received the newest proto-types with the changes I wanted and they are literally the best park ski I have ever skied, no joke! So stoked on how they ride!

FS: In addition to a pro model and working closely with the brand, APO is gong to help you out with some of your side projects?
SC: Yeah, definitely. They are giving me the freedom to work on some special video projects, so I'm super stoked about that. I'll be working all season long on some projects that we'll be putting out all over the web, so people can keep an eye out for that. Everyone is gonna' like what we're doing. Support the movement.

FS: What have you got lined up for early season?
SC: To start the season, I'm going to focus on the competitions. I'm just getting back into the swing of things out here in Oregon and about to head out to Utah to spend some time shredding with Tanner. From there I'll head on out to Colorado to get ready for the first Dew Tour. After that I'll just continue to train and get ready for the second Dew Tour and X Games. I'm definitely pumped to get back into the competition scene and light it up again.

Watch Sammy's free online movie, On Top Of The Hood.

For more information regarding the signing from APO, visit apo-snow.com.

For more news from Sammy Carlson, follow him on Twitter: @SammyCSkiing or like his Facebook fan page.

This story is backed by The House Boardshop.
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