Sammy Carlson, X Games medalist and perennial film star, takes some time out of his busy winter to chat about his year so far, upcoming plans, and just being plain stoked.
FS: What’s up Sammy, whereabouts are you in the world these days?
SC: I’m at home in Oregon, just chilin’. I have a tweaked ankle right now, so I’ve just been hanging trying to get it strong. I’m pretty bored.
FS: That’s a bummer on the ankle, did you tweak it while you were in Europe filming?
SC: I tweaked it right at the end of our Poor Boyz trip… it was at [Red Bull] Play Streets. I over shot this jump landed really weird, it sucked.
FS: Tell me about the PBP trip, how did that go? Get some killer shots?
SC: Austria was sick, dude, so nice to go over there and get some good skiing done in the backcountry with my friends. The contest season was pretty frustrating for me, i put a lot of hard work in this early season and last summer preparing for the X Games and US Open and I was ready, but things just didn’t go my way. So austria was really nice to go shred and get some frustration out… I definitely stepped it up out in the field on that trip.
And we ate the same dinner for like 14 nights, man. Chicken, fries and corn on the cob pretty much every dinner. In austria that’s how we do it.
FS: That sounds sick. I heard that was the Nike 6.0 trip, how is Nike working out these days?
SC: Well we started out early to get a little extra work done, then mid-trip the boys showed up from 6.0. It was sick, they definitely hooked us up, we were rolling around on a huge tour bus, sleeping on it and everything. Nike 6.0 is onto good things man, every year its getting better and better, now with Jossi and TJ on there, we’re taking over.
FS: Sounds like it for sure. What have you been up to with your ankle, just healing up, or have you taken any other trips?
SC: I got home from Austria the 21st and have been chilling since really trying to get it strong before i go ski on it again as I dont want it to be bothering me the rest of the season.
FS: I noticed at X that you were sporting some new Rockstar gear, care to shed some light on that?
SC: Yeah man, I’m STOKED. I just signed with Rockstar, and its going super good, the guys are super cool over there and I’m pumped to work with them and get them more involved in our sport. It’s definetly going to be cool.
FS: That’s really cool that they are making an investment in the sport. I reazlied it’s been a while since i’ve heard from you, what else have you been up to recently?
SC: Ha yeah, it has been. Honestly, I have just been skiing, kinda laying low at night time just trying to get up early and get to the hill to progress my skills on the skis, its been so fun this year man im skiing better then ever feeling strong then i went to austria for a while remember? Where you been?
FS: I also heard you were up in Vancouver doing something for Oakley, what was that all about?
SC : Yeah, that was cool too. [Rory] Bushfield, [Dan] Treadway, and myself all went up there with some people from Oakley and we shot some lifestyle pics for the new catalog, it should turn out pretty cool. It was super cool to hang with Bushy and Treadway, they’re good old canadians, eh. But I was bummed I couldn’t go ski up at Whistler because of my ankle.
FS: Well now that your ankle in on the right track to getting 100%, what’s next on the Sammy Carlson calendar?
SC: Well depending on if I can ride next week I’m going to blast out to europe for the Orage Euro Open. Then head over to France for this sick Salomon shoot we’ve got lined up for Gagnier and myself… should be sick supposed to have a big jump with some crazy heli follows. Yeahhh boy, stoked for that. Then headed over to Sweden for Jon’s comp [Super Sessions] which is going to be siiiick this year. It’s a 10 day video comp so its not like a normal contest and my brothers coming so were going to have a good time for sure.
FS: Despite the comps this year, it seems like you are crushing the filming, will we see some big things in both tanner’s movie and the PBP release?
SC: Yeah I’m stoked filming has been going good this year, I’ve been riding a lot more powder and just focusing on trying to be more creative with my skiing, just been trying to create this style. I’m getting there but this year’s films should be my most progressive yet, but Im stoked for next season man… BIG plans
FS: How is it filming for two movies this year? Is it tougher than you thought, or is it pretty manageable?
SC: Filming for two movies isnt bad, I’m stoked this year to link up with Tanner’s crew and do some filming, all those kids are so positive and we get so much skiing done when were together, it’s insane. But I just ski so much that it’s not really a problem, but usually one segment tends to be filmed in the winter and then one is a spring time park seggy but its sick dude, I love it. Stoked to film at the end of the season up at Mt Hood Meadows… thats the funnest place to film big park jumps.
FS: There always seems to be good footage and shots from Mt. Hood every year, I’m sure this season will be no different. Any plans for the summer?
SC: Yeah man, Mt. Hood is a good place. This summer I have big plans. I’ve got so much motivation right now for summer, it’s insane! Turning my volume up higher then ever on the iPod and going skiing dude every day, all day. It’s going to be good… lots of training this summer and I hope to get a chance to ride some more pipe… hopefully we got a sick pipe this summer.
FS: Any last words for the kids out there?
SC: Once again, it’s on.
FS: Shout outs?
SC: Big shouts to all my sponsors, OAKLEY, Salomon, Rockstar Energy Drink, Nike 6.0, Mt. Hood meadows, DAKINE, Skjeerssas, Kicker, and every one else who is stoked!
check out the Nike 6.0 team shoe here