There are few things in skiing quite like FREESKIER’s annual Ski Test—heck, we might even go as far as saying it’s the best damn week of the year. Every season, we invite a cohort of the best skiers we know to get a sneak preview of the finest, fresh-off-the-press planks that will be featured in our annual Buyer’s Guide. Nearly 30 brands, big and small, fill the racks with skis featuring new technologies and constructions, and our team of riders rate, review and rank the gear to help you—the avid skier—sift through the madness to find your newest favorite skis.
This season, we’re on-site at one of the most renowned ski destinations in the world, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Known for its steep, demanding terrain, legendary snowfall and diehard locals who prioritize skiing over everything else, we couldn’t be in a better place to test the latest and greatest new product from some of the best brands in the biz.
Beyond the skiing, though, FREESKIER’s annual Ski Test is about bringing together amazing people to celebrate the weird and wonderful sport we love so much. Après parties, high fives and good vibes round out the week as we experience the culture of this snow sliding experience. And none of this would be possible without the support from our partners… our resort host Jackson Hole, The Ski Monster, a crew of experienced gear testers with one of the best online and brick-and-mortar gear shops around, Leki, who decked out our entire testing crew with fresh ski poles and Stillhouse Whiskey, a Colorado-based distiller cooking up belly-warming spirits that are keeping the party going late into the evenings.
Now, we want to give you a peek behind the scenes at FREESKIER’s annual Ski Test with a photo gallery from the entire week. Stay tuned online for complete coverage and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; check out the hashtag #FREESKIERFEST for more; and be sure to subscribe to the print-version of the magazine to see the complete results from the 20th annual FREESKIER Ski Test land on your doorstep in the fall.
DAY FOUR — March 11th, 2022
PHOTOGRAPHERS— Keegan Rice and Stephen Shelesky
Holy smokes, what a week. With three days of skiing hard—and partying harder—the FREESKIER Ski Test ended on a high note. Party shreds all over the mountain. Mushrooms in the gondola. Side hits and moguls galore. On our final day of testing the latest and greatest, we finished up the mid-fat category, daily drivers with waist widths between 100 mm and 110 mm. The snowfall from Tuesday settled into a creamy topping, freshly blanketing Jackson Hole’s frontside for premium shredability. Tired legs and full hearts, we skied ’till the last drop. With the crew hanging outside the tent, soaking in a week full of some of the best skiing of the season, the FREESKIER crew gathered everyone to award the coveted Denim Jacket for the two people who epitomized “putting out the vibe.” Congrats to testers Kristie Ryan and Dan Grund, who took home the hand-painted vests along with a $500 gift card to The Ski Monster to get kitted up before next season. We’ll see you next year, Jackson!
