Photography by Frode Sandbech
Oakley’s annual team summit, dubbed “Oakley Week,” is currently rockin’ and rollin’ at Mammoth Mountain, with the brand’s top ski and snowboard athletes on-hand for late season product testing, hot laps through the terrain park and a week long celebration of all things Oakley.
Sean Pettit in the Line Miner goggle with PRIZM lenses.
Olympian Joss Christensen rides the halfpipe wall at Mammoth Mountain.Although this year’s forecast didn’t bring any gifts from Ullr, the crew stayed in high spirits as the sun shone bright and the snow turned to mashed potatoes by late morning all week long, boding well for the likes of team athletes Joss Christensen, Alex Beaulieu-Marchand (ABM), Sean Pettit, Oscar Wester, Oystein Braten and the rest.
Oystein Braten is all smiles heading up to the lift on the first day of Oakley Week.
Braten riding a rail in the Mammoth Unbound park.Beginning Wednesday, April 11, and running through Sunday, April 15, the week-long event brought athletes, brand representatives and the general population together in one of a kind fashion. Thinking hard on it, there isn’t another brand in the industry that brings its ski and snowboard teams, as well as the general public, together to enjoy our favorite thing: sliding around on snow.
Local ripper Bernie Rosow slashing his way through Oakley Week.At the base of Mammoth’s Canyon Lodge and Main Lodge, Oakley set up demo centers, where everyone at the mountain had the chance to test out the company’s award-winning PRIZM lens technology in a variety of goggle options, including the updated Line Miner and Flight Deck styles.
Another product on tap for testing was Oakley’s jaw-dropping PRIZM React goggle technology—a built-in lens change system that reduces or increases lens tint at the touch of a button. Combined with the outstanding contrast and clarity of PRIZM lenses, this “electrochromic technology” will completely eliminate the need to bring multiple lenses on the mountain. And trust us, this tech—which one FREESKIER’s coveted “Best of Show” award at the annual Outdoor Retailer trade show—truly works, so keep your eyes peeled for when it goes on sale October 2018.
Alex Beaulieu-Marchand testing out the all-new PRIZM React goggles.
Oscar Wester keeping things relaxed on the downrail.As well as trying out the latest eyewear and sporting the finest threads from Oakley, the week’s on-hill events are what make this week truly shine. Custom terrain park features shaped by the talented crew at Mammoth’s Unbound Park included a BMX-style “Snake Line” that twisted though the woods; enormous booters that sent the entire team flying; and, an unbelievable mini-pipe chock full of rails, “pills” and other hits for the athletes to play around on.
Oystein Braten going full disaster on the down-kink in the Unbound terrain park.
Finding a quick way down the stairs during Oakley Week.The festivities continued in the mini-pipe on Saturday as athletes and the public went head-to-head in the first-ever “Mini Pipe Challenge.” No, there wasn’t a winner—just a collective energy that became more palpable as the day progressed; sharing pipe laps with the likes of Olympians, longtime professionals and fresh young guns, like the 16-year-old Fagan twins is enough to make heads roll.
It’s all smiles with the crew at Oakley Week.Finally, Oakley Week’s celebration of all things snow-related came to an end on Sunday as Mammoth’s annual Pond Skim took place at the base of Canyon Lodge, right beside one of Oakley’s demo centers. Costumed competitors, as well as a handful of athletes, took to the greatest stage in spring skiing to cross the 110-foot long pool, with only a handful making it all the way across.
Bringing professional skiers and snowboarders, brand representatives and the general public together to test new equipment and enjoy sliding on snow is unique to Oakley and Oakley. Big shout out to everyone involved for their commitment to bringing everyone together. Now, we wait… Oakley Week 2019 will come soon enough.
