At last, we’re excited to share with you the FREESKIER Buyer’s Guide. Hitting newsstands and mailboxes soon, our annual gear bible is chock-full of the best skis, boots, bindings and more—over 275 products to ogle in preparation for the winter. Featuring in-depth reviews, expert insights and commentary from product designers, it’s your one-stop-shop for everything skiing. This year’s cover is by Swedish photographer Axel Adolfsson, and it’s his first photograph to grace the front of an American magazine. Shot in idyllic Engelberg, Switzerland, skier Joel Pollinger slices his way through some sweet Swiss pow.
Behind the cover with Axel Adolfsson:
For me, as a Swedish ski photographer, Engelberg, Switzerland, is a sanctum. I still remember the first time I went there to shoot, how I was almost afraid of lifting my camera and claiming a spot among the other photographers. I soon got hooked on working in Engelberg and realized why so many photographers and filmmakers come back year-after-year—the light is just so special. Last winter, I hooked up with my friend and local Engelberg skier, Joel Pollinger. He has the right attitude, shows up on time with proper gear and knows it takes hard work to get good photographs. In the beginning of March, the snow came and we worked together for two days, which ended up being as productive as the entire season. Joel nailed every single turn and our communication was on point the entire time. Some days later, once the pandemic had hit with full force, I met Joel in the village and showed him some sneak peeks. During that conversation, I realized it wouldn’t be possible to shoot any better pictures that winter. At the time, what we had managed to accomplish together was the best I could achieve.
