John Spriggs’ professional ski career spans over a decade and has encompassed a fair share of ups-and-downs. The taller than average, Bend, Oregon-based skier has spent his years jumping around terrain parks and in the backcountry alongside the best in the sport, yet these athletic achievements are often overshadowed by poor choices away from the mountains, including a recent high-profile arrest.

But it’s clear that six-months sobriety and a refocused lifestyle are paying off for the longtime skier. In his 2016-17 season edit, coined “Natural High,” Spriggs looks as fresh as ever. In the description of the video, Spriggs reflects through the words of President Richard Nixon, “Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.” Amen, Spriggs, amen.