Featured Image by Daniel Ronnback
Hot off the press this morning from Quiksilver’s HQ in France is news that Sammy Carlson has signed to its Global Snow Team. Joining the ranks alongside world-class snowboarders Travis Rice, Mat Crepel, Bryan Fox and Austen Sweetin, Carlson is the only skier represented by the brand and will have a heavy hand in designing and testing future backcountry-oriented products.
Carlson’s career in skiing has been revolutionary from its beginning. Originally competing in park, pipe and big air competitions, the Mount Hood, Oregon native earned four X Games medals and multiple podium appearances on the Dew Tour, but has since shifted his focus to off-piste pow-slaying, bringing his enormous bag of tricks into the backcountry.
Keep an eye on Carlson in 2018 as the 29-year-old begins working with one of the most iconic mountain lifestyle brands in the business. “I can’t wait to help progress the legend of the mountain and the wave [Quiksilver’s logo] into the future,” says Carlson.
Full Press Release
Quiksilver Signs American Skier Sammy Carlson To Snow Team
Quiksilver is proud to announce the addition of American skier Sammy Carlson to its core snow team. The 29-year-old from Mount Hood, Oregon gained international notoriety for his success in competitive freeskiing early in his career before he ditching the podium and focusing purely on progressing the sport.
Since 1969, Quiksilver has been teaming up with individuals who share our vision for pushing the limits of what is possible on the mountain and wave. The brand expanded from its surfing roots and began making outerwear in 1985 — and we haven’t looked back since.
“He’s a great fit for Quiksilver,” says Global Head of Sports Marketing, Miky Picon. “We’re amazed by everything Sammy has accomplished both in and out of competition. His approach to skiing is one-of-a-kind and his values are perfectly in line with everything that Quiksilver stands for.”
Sammy joins Travis Rice, Mat Crepel, Bryan Fox and Austen Sweetin on Quiksilver’s snow team. This core group of riders has made massive contributions to product development over the seasons, sticking to our philosophy of always looking forward and never settling down.
After winning numerous Big Air events, standing on the podium of the Dew Tour, and grabbing four X Games medals — including Slopestyle gold in 2011 — Sammy shifted his sights on pushing the limits outside of competition. He felt the runs had become predictable and was ready to migrate his creative energy toward filming feats never done on skis. Sammy is the first skier to land a switch 1260 and changed big mountain skiing when he brought his park skills to the backcountry.
“I want to focus 100 percent on the type of riding that excites me and aim toward the unimaginable. With skiing, your mind is the only limit,” Carlson said. “So I just let my imagination take over and follow the visions I have in my head of certain jumps, lines or both. The terrain is endless, you’ve just gotta find it!”
Sammy’s focus on backcountry skiing resonates with his passion for protecting the environment, which perfectly aligns his values with Quiksilver’s Sustainability Initiative. The current season’s outerwear offering uses 55 percent recycled materials, with a goal of using 100 percent recycled materials by 2020 (excluding all Gore-Tex technology).
“This year, I want to keep getting further into the mountains and surround myself with people that motivate me to keep pushing myself,” Carlson said. “I’m also super excited to judge the Quiksilver Young Guns Ski event [more information below] — it’ll be rad to go out to Whistler with some of the world’s best kids and hand one of them $10,000. Overall, I’m just stoked to join the Quiksilver family. The brand has such a deep history and I can’t wait to help progress the legend of the mountain and the wave into the future.”
Follow Sammy’s adventures via Instagram.
