Real Ski, the all-urban, all-film freeski contest brought to you by X Games is back for another year. Featuring 90-second street skiing edits from six of the best urban and freeriders around, the two-part contest is judged by a professional panel as well as you, the FREESKIER audience, for the fan-favorite vote. FREESKIER’s Skier of the Year, Phil Casabon, is defending his first-place and fan-favorite Real Ski titles against Swedish skiers, Kim Boberg, Henrik Harlaut and Pär “Peyben” Hägglund, Canadian Alex Beaulieu-Marchand and American Jake Mageau. From the skiing to the cinematography, this year’s videos take the contest to a completely new level. Check out each competitor’s Real Ski submission, below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite riders, here.
Phil Casabon – Vote Now
Casabon definitely made it hard for himself to beat last year’s first-place and fan-favorite edit but, alas, the French Canadian freeskier throws down another mind-blowing edit with videographer Brady Parron. From this minute and a half of skiing madness, Casabon may very well defend his title for a second year.
Kim Boberg – Vote Now
Hitting a dry spell in Sweden the first month of the filming window, where Boberg did all of his filming for Real Ski, the Swedish freeskier set out on a massive road trip to get the shots–and snow–he needed. Those efforts paid off for this 100-second edit.
Henrik Harlaut – Vote Now
One of freeskiing’s most prolific two-plankers, Henrik Harlaut, throws down in his second Real Ski appearance. In true Harlaut style, he did all of his filming on top of a full competition schedule, including his last clip, which he shot the same day as the X Games slopestyle finals. Casual.
Pär “Peyben” Hägglund – Vote Now
With the lack of snow in his home country of Sweden, Pär “Peyben” Hägglund booked it to Quebec to chase snow deep into the northern-most part of the province. Putting skis in all kinds of new places, Hägglund proves he’s a force to be reckoned with in this year’s contest.
Alex Beaulieu-Marchand – Vote Now
A wizard on skis, Alex Beaulieu-Marchand–ABM as he’s known–takes a different approach to his edit, and it shows. Airing huge gaps and greasing obscure features, ABM’s technical prowess certainly sets him apart from the rest of the competition.
Jake Mageau – Vote Now
Watching Jake Mageau, or “Mista Mango,” as he’s known, is like watching a magic show. You know it shouldn’t be possible but somehow it’s all happening seamlessly before your very eyes. To get a real grasp of Mango’s edit, you may just have to watch it twice… or three times.
Voting is officially open and you can vote for your favorite skier everyday, once a day, until March 3. The fan favorite winner will be announced on March 4. The gold, silver and bronze judge-awarded medals will be announced at the end of the hour-long “World of X Games: Real Ski” show on ABC Saturday, March 2.
