Sander Hadley first made a name for himself in the ski industry nearly a decade ago with his literal award-winning GoPro POV edits. Since winning the GoPro Hero Award in 2014, Sander Hadley has been featured in at least one film project every year, either self-produced or with the big dogs like Matchstick Productions (MSP). This year, Hadley joins the ranks of Level 1 stalwarts like Parker White, Chris Logan and Tanner Rainville in the Dynastar team flick, “LEMONADE.”
As the name suggests, the Dynastar team had quite the season battling one figurative speed bump after another. Injuries, border crossings and the occasional shit conditions challenged these athletes to dig deep, maintain a good attitude and get’r done. Featuring Sander Hadley, Alex Lundstrom, Megan Dingman, Anthony Carmola and Dillon Flinders, “LEMONADE” will have you puckered from the opening clip to the closing shot. We caught up with Sander Hadley to talk about the filmmaking process and what he has planned for the next decade of his fruitful career. Keeping reading for the full interview, below.
First off, how are you? How has your off-season been?
I’m doing alright. I had some injuries from last year that lingered into the summer but overall I’m doing pretty good.
What do you like to do to pass the time until the flakes start falling again?
Lots of road biking, yoga and skateboarding. That’s how I like to keep myself fit in the offseason. Meditation is crucial to keep the mind from going into too dark of a spot.
Last season you spent the entire winter filming with Level 1 for the Dynastar team movie, “LEMONADE.” What are some of your standout moments or memories from that project?
Seeing people like Megan Dingman, Anthony (Toe) Carmola and Alex Lundstrom seize the opportunity and ski stuff that they didn’t think they were capable of. Getting to know our filmer Fred Norquist was a pleasure, we experienced just about everything that could go wrong when you’re trying to make a ski movie [laughs]. Fred kept things on track for all of us.
SKIER: Megan Dingman PHOTO: Noah Wetzel
You started your professional ski career as one of the original GoPro POV edit guys and that got you in a couple MSP movies, and now a Level 1 movie. What is it like filming with a larger production and team versus just you and a GoPro?
When you’re by yourself, it’s much easier to have a vision and execute that vision. When you have others involved, it’s a much more collaborative experience with everyone bringing different ideas to the table. I’m learning that I like to work in smaller groups because in the backcountry, with all of the uncontrolled variables, it can quickly become dangerous. I’m very grateful for all of the experiences and projects I’ve been a part of but it’s made me more selective about who I’m working and traveling with in the backcountry.
What was the hardest part about filming “LEMONADE”? It certainly couldn’t have been the lack of snow…
It was not all rainbows and butterflies, there’s a reason it’s called “LEMONADE.” I would say the hardest part was working with such a large group of people who had no prior experience working together. It was tough figuring out the dynamics of everyone and who was prepared to dedicate their entire winter to this project because it takes a whole season, sometimes more, to make a ski movie that people are going to want to watch.
Has filming “LEMONADE” made you more grateful for anything in life or in skiing?
It was a good way of creating and building relationships with everyone involved, I got to know my Dynastar teammates and work with Fred, who is an incredible sledder and filmer. I’m very grateful for Fred’s vast knowledge of zones, how to make snow flicks and for always having a great attitude. I feel like I learned a lot from working with him all winter and Alex, too. Though Alex (Lundstrom) is new to making ski movies, he brought a great attitude and work ethic.
SKIER: Alex Lundstrom PHOTO: Noah Wetzel
You’ve made films featuring your sled but you’ve also made foot-powered projects in the past. Do you prefer one mode of transportation over the other or do you feel like there’s a time and place for both?
Snowmobiles may seem like they make filming ski movies easier because of access but they also come with a steep learning curve and environmental issues. Foot-powered may seem like more effort but it actually has a way of simplifying the process. With “LEMONADE,” I feel like it’s a way for me to completely close the sled-powered ski-porn chapter of my life so I can focus on what I’m motivated to do, which is make human-powered content. I can say throughout last winter, I definitely felt a moral confliction about how much I was using my sled. Sleds perpetuate a lot of issues that we have in the snowsports industry, from income inequalities, to the biggest challenge of our time: climate change.
What’s your go-to backcountry snack?
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich followed by a union-mandated break.
SKIER: Sander Hadley PHOTO: Noah Wetzel
Are you the type who likes to listen to music or podcasts while out in the backcountry, or do you prefer the sounds of nature?
I like music and podcasts while maintaining awareness of my surroundings and conditions, so I usually only have one ear plugged in on the way up.
What does the perfect ski day look like to you?
Morning chairlift laps with close friends and fresh snow finished off with an afternoon of hiking on the backside of my home mountain, Pebble Creek.
