RIFF | Dillon Flinders Wins TGR Dream Factory Film Festival Doug Coombs Award for Best Male Action

09:02 min • 20/02/2026

Dillon Flinders is officially a legend 🏆 The 2025 TGR Dream Factory Digital Film Festival Doug Coombs Award for Best Male Action goes to Dillon for his unforgettable performance in RIFF. Named after the pioneer who redefined big mountain skiing, this award honors athletes who push the limits of action sports—and Dillon delivered. Follow Dillon and Alex Lundstrom through a year of independent filmmaking, from tricky Utah snowpacks to charging Alaska’s massive Chugach spines. With jaw-dropping FPV drone angles and raw freeride energy, RIFF captures the scale, beauty, and danger of big mountain skiing like never before. Watch now to see why Dillon Flinders earned one of the highest honors in action sports filmmaking. And stay tuned—the 2026 Dream Factory Film Festival is just getting started, and the next $25,000 creator opportunity could be yours. Check out all the 2025 film festival winners and dive into the full Dream Factory Film Festival experience here: https://www.tetongravity.com/the-stage-is-yours-tgr-launches-the-dream-factory-digital-film-festival/ #TGRDreamFactoryDigitalFilmFestival

Athletes

Alex Lundstrom Dillon Flinders

Locations

Alaska Snowbird Utah

Alex Lundstrom

Profile and significance

Alex Lundstrom is a film-first American freerider whose big-mountain composure and clear, camera-friendly style have carried him from Park City youth ranks to headline projects. A former Park City Winter Sports School athlete and age-group North American big-mountain champion crowned at Grand Targhee, he shifted his focus toward filming and product-driven storytelling, riding for Dynastar with support from LOOK Bindings and Lange, and appearing frequently with Daymaker Touring and Stio. In fall 2025 he co-directed and co-starred in “RIFF,” a Level 1–presented short filmed across Utah and Alaska, placing his name squarely in the international freeride conversation. Lundstrom isn’t chasing slopestyle points; he’s shaping how modern big-mountain segments read—fast, precise, and easy to understand at full speed.

Competitive arc and key venues

Lundstrom’s early calling card came in youth big-mountain competition, where he earned the North American age-group title at Grand Targhee. That success confirmed habits that matter later on film: line choice that links safe zones, speed management on chalk and wind-buff, and landings that finish stacked. Rather than pursue a long federation career, he pivoted to projects and brand shoots that reward the same discipline. The 2025 short “RIFF,” presented by Level 1 and supported by Dynastar, LOOK, Lange, and Snowbird, follows Lundstrom and Dillon Flinders through a tricky winter that ultimately paid off with a late Alaskan window. Along the way, Lundstrom also appeared in Dynastar film efforts such as “Transmission” and North American team projects that put him beside respected freeriders and underlined his fit as a big-line specialist.

Venue choices explain the polish. Winter after winter, Snowbird provides tram laps, firm-morning timing, and chalky steeps that pressure-test footwork and tempo. Spring and storm cycles in the central Wasatch add the tight decision windows that real filming demands. Then comes Alaska—the state-scale classroom where spine geometry, sluff timing, and long-range plan-B options matter as much as a single air. Stitch Utah’s repetition to the scale of Alaska, and you get footage that looks fast without hurrying and composed without being conservative.

How they ski: what to watch for

Lundstrom skis with deliberate economy. On exposed faces he keeps the upper body quiet and stacked over the feet, using early, precise edge sets to redirect the fall line instead of late, emergency check turns. In couloirs and wind-buffed entries, hop turns land neutral so the next move can happen immediately. When terrain invites air—rollover-to-tranny hits, spine-to-spine transfers—he commits early, places the grab quickly if there is one, and keeps axes obvious all the way to the stomp. The signature is continuity: speed “spent” in small, controlled pieces so the line still has room to breathe at the final safe zone.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Big-mountain filming compresses the margin for error. Windows are short, light is fickle, and sluff management can end a day. Lundstrom’s recent seasons show a repeatable process for thriving inside those limits. He and his partners start with distant line reads and binocular confirmation, mark hazards, and bake safe zones into the plan before a camera comes out. Speed checks happen where they can; the first full line is treated like the keeper. That workflow runs through “RIFF,” where a late-season move to Alaska salvaged a lean winter and produced the kind of spine footage that stands up to repeat viewing. Earlier trips with Daymaker Touring—including Hokkaido and intermountain missions—added snowpack literacy and touring efficiency that translate directly to reliable film days. Together, those habits make Lundstrom the rider editors lean on to anchor a segment’s pace.

Geography that built the toolkit

Place is destiny in freeride. The Park City–to–Little Cottonwood corridor delivers daily variables—storm mornings, chalk at lunch, corn in the afternoon—that force quick reads and clean, repeated decisions. Snowbird supplies the high-speed environment and tram efficiency that build line fitness; neighboring Wasatch terrain adds sled-accessed pillows and short bootpacks that sharpen micro-terrain use. Alaska contributes the magnifier: bigger exposure, blind rollovers, and spine ribs that demand timing and humility in equal parts. Early-career repetitions at Grand Targhee explain why none of that looks rushed—he learned to link features and safe zones long before a heli was involved.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Lundstrom rides for Dynastar with LOOK and Lange, and he frequently appears with Stio and Daymaker Touring. The useful lessons are about setup principles more than model names. Start with a directional or mildly twin-tipped freeride platform that balances stability at speed with a tail you can trust when you must shut down in a pocket. Keep bases fast and edges sharp, detuning only where hookiness is a real hazard on wind-scoured entries; edge hold is non-negotiable on chalk and spines. Bindings should be set for predictable release behavior across drops and traverses rather than cranked for a single “big one.” Boots need a progressive flex and locked-in heel hold so you can pressure the tongue through runnels and land stacked when snow is variable. Predictability beats flash—especially when the face rolls over and the camera is running.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Lundstrom matters because he turns complex mountains into clips you can “read” instantly. If you’re learning to evaluate freeride lines, watch how he spends speed in installments, how he manages sluff by using ribs and micro-features instead of getting chased, and how early—and held—grabs make rotation obvious when there is air time. If you’re building your own objectives, study the method as much as the movement: scout from afar, set safe zones, tune for consistency, and commit to a version you can reproduce when the window shrinks. That is the through line from youth wins at Grand Targhee to Utah storm segments and the Alaskan payoff in “RIFF,” and it’s why Alex Lundstrom reads like a reference for clarity-first freeriding in the 2020s.

Dillon Flinders

Profile and significance

Dillon Flinders is a Utah-born freeski rider whose smooth, high-consequence big-mountain lines and film-first mindset have pushed him from local Wasatch laps into international view. A Freeride World Tour athlete in 2024 and a longtime product rider for Dynastar, he moved the needle again in fall 2025 by co-starring in “RIFF,” a Level 1–presented short supported by Dynastar, LOOK Bindings, Lange, and Snowbird. The film follows Flinders and Alex Lundstrom from Utah storm cycles to Alaskan spine walls, and it landed on festival and tour screens before an online premiere, giving a wider audience a clean look at why Flinders’ skiing reads so clearly at real speed. He’s not a bib-collector chasing slopestyle points; he’s a freerider who treats filming and backcountry decision-making as the main arena, with contest weeks serving as punctuation rather than the whole sentence.

Competitive arc and key venues

Flinders’ competitive chapter centers on the Freeride World Tour. The FWT24 season put him on the global big-mountain stage, with edits and league features highlighting his composure on exposure and his comfort when a line needs to flow from blind roll-overs into technical exits. While he has an alpine and freeride background (and notably crosses over with elite mountain-bike racing), his most visible “results” come on the lens. The 2025 project “RIFF” captured the rhythm behind those makes: storm-day face shots and technical trees in the Wasatch around Snowbird, followed by a late-season window in Alaska where spine geometry, sluff management, and long-range line planning mattered more than any start list.

Those venues explain the public arc. Snowbird provides the high-traffic, high-speed proving ground—tram laps, chalky mornings, and spring corn—that build line fitness and timing. Alaska supplies the magnifier: bigger scale, longer exposure, and the need to link safe zones without sacrificing tempo. When a season alternates between those environments, a skier either learns to protect momentum and manage hazard—or the footage never makes the cut. “RIFF” shows which way Flinders went.

How they ski: what to watch for

Flinders skis with deliberate economy, the kind of movement that looks inevitable when you replay the clip. On exposed faces he favors stacked, quiet upper-body mechanics and footwork that lets the skis do the deflection—small, early edge sets to change fall-line rather than emergency checks late in the panel. In couloirs and wind-buffed entries you’ll see hips stay centered over the feet so hop-turns land neutral and the next move can happen immediately. When features invite air time—rollovers to trannies, spine-to-spine transfers—he commits early, places the grab quickly if there is one, and keeps axes obvious so the camera (and any judge) can read the intent at full speed. The signature isn’t a single trick; it’s flow preserved from the first takeoff to the last safe zone.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Big-mountain filming compresses the margin for error: weather windows close, light fades, and a single sluff management mistake ends the day. Flinders’ recent seasons show a repeatable process for thriving inside that pressure. He and his crew start with careful line reconnaissance—spot from afar, confirm with binoculars, then mark rollovers and hazards. Speed checks happen where they can, and the first full line is treated like the keeper. That workflow translates directly from Utah storm days to Alaskan spines and explains why “RIFF” feels cohesive rather than lucky. Earlier short projects with the Dynastar North America crew laid the foundation, but “RIFF” is the statement piece that demonstrates authorial control: the skiing and the story move together.

Geography that built the toolkit

Place is destiny in freeride. Utah’s Wasatch gives Flinders dense repetition on consequential terrain—traverse-served steeps, tram laps, chalk, and powder in close succession around Snowbird. That mix hardwires sluff awareness, micro-terrain use, and the discipline to keep lines alive after small mistakes. Alaska adds scale and patience: reading spines for secondary ribs, choosing entry points that keep exposure manageable, and surfing moving snow rather than fighting it. Seasons that swing between those two build a skier who can look fast without hurrying and calm without being conservative—a balance that reads beautifully on film.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Flinders rides with the French “trifecta” of Dynastar skis, LOOK bindings, and Lange boots, and he filmed “RIFF” with direct support from Snowbird. The logos help, but the useful lessons are about setup principles that any advancing freerider can apply. Start with a directional or mildly twin-tipped freeride platform that balances stability with a tail you can trust when you have to shut down in a pocket. Keep bases fast and edges sharp with detune only where hookiness causes hazard on wind-scoured entries; in freeride, edge hold is non-negotiable. Bindings should be set for predictable release in variable snow without creeping too high—consistency across drops and long traverses matters more than a single “big send.” Boots need a progressive flex and locked-in heel hold so landings finish stacked and you can pressure the tongue through runnels or crust. The throughline is predictability: gear you don’t think about when the face rolls over.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Flinders matters because he turns complex mountains into understandable footage. If you’re learning to evaluate big-mountain skiing, watch how he “spends” speed—never all at once—and how he uses terrain features to manage sluff rather than getting chased by it. Notice the early commitment on airs and how grabs, when used, go in quickly and hold long enough to make axes obvious. For skiers pushing into sidecountry or film-day objectives, the takeaway is method as much as movement: scout carefully, plan safe zones, tune for consistency, and ski with decisions that will still make sense when the camera is rolling. That’s the connective tissue in his FWT appearances and in “RIFF,” and it’s why Dillon Flinders has become a reliable reference for freeride done with clarity.

Alaska

Overview and significance

Alaska is the world’s archetype for big-mountain skiing—a place where steep, glaciated faces and ocean-fed snowpacks create the freeride lines that fill film segments and athlete highlight reels. From the Chugach above Girdwood and Valdez to the spine fields near Haines and Juneau, the state’s mountains have shaped modern freeskiing’s idea of scale, exposure, and flow. Lift-served laps center on Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, while helicopter and touring programs unlock vast terrain across coastal and interior ranges. For freeski culture, Alaska is more than a destination—it’s a rite of passage. The Freeride World Tour’s return to Haines in 2026 underscores that status, bringing the sport’s best back onto Alaska’s dramatic, technical spines. On skipowd.tv, the state already stands as a cornerstone location; see the growing archive at Alaska for a sense of how often the cameras point north.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Coastal Alaska sits under a maritime snow climate that tends to lay down deep, cohesive snow with fewer but larger storm events than many continental regions. In the Chugach near Girdwood and Valdez, that translates to thick storm slabs, powerful wind transport, and, when conditions align, confidence-inspiring powder that sticks to angles most skiers only dream about riding. The hallmark features are long fall-line panels, fluted ribs, and knife-edge spines broken by hanging ramps and glaciated benches. Interior and northern zones trend colder and drier, with clearer spells between systems, but the classic heli windows along Prince William Sound and the northern Inside Passage are what many visitors plan around.

At the lift-served core, Alyeska’s metrics tell a clear story: roughly 2,500 feet of vertical rise, seven lifts including a 40-passenger aerial tram, and a long-standing reputation for “steep and deep.” The resort reports well over six hundred inches of annual snowfall at upper elevations in strong winters, and its high-speed chairs and tram make quick work of laps when visibility and control work cooperate. Spring brings larger corn cycles on south aspects and longer, stable windows on northerly faces; midwinter serves most of the cold powder. Above and beyond the ropes, the Thompson Pass area outside Valdez is one of the snowiest road corridors in the state, and the Haines backcountry presents a concentration of spine walls that ride as cleanly as they look when the snowpack bonds.

Park infrastructure and events

Alaska is not a classic terrain-park destination; the draw is big-mountain riding. That said, Alyeska typically builds small to medium parks for progression, and in-season it supports night laps on illuminated terrain where features like Pump Station 3 and the Refinery Park open when conditions and staffing permit. Girdwood’s club scene contributes to athlete pipelines through organized freeride and alpine programs, keeping local stoke high through the dark months. Historically, Alaska has hosted major freeride moments—from Valdez’s extreme competitions of the 1990s to multiple Haines stops on the sport’s top tour—and the planned 2026 return of the Freeride World Tour reaffirms the state’s position on the global stage. In Valdez, rider-run outfits such as Black Ops Valdez appear frequently in film credits and video parts, reflecting how guiding culture and media production interlock here.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Most trips route through Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport for Girdwood and the broader Chugach. From there, it’s an easy, scenic forty-mile drive along the All-American Road–designated Seward Highway to reach the resort base. Alyeska’s “Getting Here” guidance confirms the short highway transfer and common transit options if you’re not renting a vehicle; see Alyeska Resort for details. For heli venues, Haines is accessed via Juneau by air and ferry combinations, or overland via the Haines Highway through Canada, while Valdez has a regional airport and road access over Thompson Pass when conditions allow.

On the hill at Alyeska, the tram and high-speed quads are your backbone for storm-day tree skiing and, when patrol drops ropes up high, for steep north-facing panels. Weather and avalanche control drive openings; set expectations accordingly and build flexibility into your itinerary. On heli programs, plan for down days and have a backup like resort laps, touring on the Turnagain Arm sidecountry with a guide, or avalanche coursework. The logistics rhythm is simple: watch the forecast, be ready to mobilize when ceilings lift, and stay patient when winds and precip pin operations down.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Alaska’s winter community blends hard-earned local knowledge with a welcoming, small-town cadence. Respect for avalanche work, land use rules, and weather realities is non-negotiable. Before any backcountry day, check regional bulletins from the Alaska Avalanche Information Center and the dedicated Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center, and remember that hazard varies dramatically with elevation, aspect, and wind. Glaciated terrain adds crevasse and serac exposure; rope travel, glacier partners, and guide supervision are essential where blue ice and bridges complicate route finding. In heli zones like Haines, permitted areas, seasonal operating windows, and community noise considerations are codified by the borough; consult current updates via official channels such as the Haines Borough’s heliski pages to understand where and when commercial skiing is allowed.

Etiquette follows a few clear lines. Give ski patrol wide berth during control, respect closures, and yield to locals working lines they’ve waited on all season. In guided contexts, speak up about comfort levels, stay tight on radios and transitions, and treat pilots’ and guides’ calls as final. Wildlife considerations—especially along Turnagain Arm and coastal inlets—also matter; don’t crowd animals from roadsides or flight paths, and leave-no-trace at pullouts and skin tracks.

Best time to go and how to plan

For heli-skiing, the prime window is late winter into spring—February through April—when daylight expands, storm cadence eases, and aviation conditions are more cooperative. The state tourism board’s overview of ski options aligns with that reality and highlights core heli hubs in Valdez, Cordova, Girdwood, Haines, and Juneau. Lift-served travelers will find Alyeska spinning from early winter into April, with night operations scheduled in peak season during many winters. If parks are part of your plan, track resort updates to know when features are live.

Build redundancy into travel logistics. Book cancellable stays for the front and back end of heli weeks, carry a rental car reservation you can drop if weather strands you, and pack for true maritime winter: durable shells, high-loft midlayers for static time on ridgelines, multiple glove systems, and goggles for flat light and storm snow. If touring, formal avalanche education and rescue practice are baseline. Before driving any of the main corridors, check current road conditions and avalanche advisories; coastal highways like the Seward and Richardson can close during major cycles. If your trip centers on Girdwood, base yourself near the tram to make the most of short weather windows and quick rope drops.

Why freeskiers care

Alaska is where freeride dreams meet the physics of real snow. The angles, the scale, and the clean panels deliver a sensation you can’t simulate elsewhere: long, top-to-bottom lines on terrain that rewards composure and precise speed control. Alyeska gives you a reliable, lift-served anchor with serious snowfall and enough pitch to feel the state’s character under your feet. Haines and Valdez provide the spines and ramps that define the aesthetic of modern big-mountain skiing, and the Freeride World Tour’s Haines stop puts that terrain back under the sport’s brightest lights. Whether you’re linking tram laps under the northern lights, stepping into glaciated zones with a rope and a guide, or finally ticking off that first spine run, Alaska sets the bar. Start by studying Alaska segments on skipowd.tv, then build a plan anchored to Alyeska Resort, validated by avalanche centers, and, if your skills and budget align, capped with a heli window. This is the reference point for big-mountain freeskiing, and it belongs on every dedicated rider’s map.

Snowbird

Overview and significance

Snowbird, in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon, is a big–mountain benchmark for North American freeskiing. The resort combines 3,000+ vertical feet, roughly 2,500 acres of in-bounds terrain, and a deep, reliable storm cycle that averages over 500 inches each winter. The iconic Aerial Tram rises to Hidden Peak near 11,000 feet, putting skiers onto steep faces, chalky ribs, wind-buffed spines, and long fall lines within minutes. The resort’s three primary zones—Peruvian Gulch, Gad Valley, and Mineral Basin—offer different aspects and snow qualities, letting crews hunt for the right texture from first bell through last lap. Thanks to proximity to Salt Lake City International Airport, it’s one of the most accessible “serious terrain” destinations on the continent.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Peruvian Gulch (frontside, tram-facing) delivers sustained pitches and classic routes off the Cirque with groomers like Regulator Johnson for high-edge-angle days. Gad Valley (looker’s left) mixes glades, gullies, and storm-day hideouts, plus lift lines that keep lapping efficient when visibility is low. Mineral Basin (backside) is a sun-kissed bowl network with rolling groomers, glades, and spring corn laps; it’s accessed from the Tram, from high chairs, or via the Peruvian Tunnel—an in-mountain conveyor that links Peruvian Gulch to the backside while showcasing the canyon’s mining history.

Snow quality is a calling card: canyon geography funnels frequent cold storms that reset surfaces often. Between systems, prevailing winds sculpt upper-mountain aspects into supportive chalk. Typical seasons run from mid/late fall openings into a long spring, often with quality skiing in April and, in strong winters, operations extending into May. High elevation and north-facing pitches help preserve snow; Mineral’s solar aspects flip to buttery corn when the freeze–thaw locks in.

Park infrastructure and events

Snowbird’s DNA is natural terrain, but you’ll also find a progression-focused Woodward Mountain Park off Baldy Express in Mineral Basin, generally set up with small-to-medium jumps and creative jibs when conditions allow—especially in spring. On the freeride side, Snowbird regularly appears on the IFSA calendar with Junior and Qualifier events staged on legitimate big-mountain venues. These competitions give developing athletes real terrain to test line choice, control, and fluidity, and they draw a strong Intermountain field each season.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

From Salt Lake City, the approach is straightforward: I-215 to SR-210 up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Mountain travel is weather-dependent—during active storms or high-traffic periods, the canyon can see traction checks, uphill restrictions, or full closures for avalanche mitigation. Plan your timing, carry appropriate winter gear if you’re driving, and check official road updates before you commit. Interlodge—shelter-in-place orders at canyon lodges during mitigation—is part of the local safety protocol; when it’s called, all outdoor movement pauses until the work is complete.

On-hill flow is simple once you orient to the three zones. For big, continuous laps, take the Tram to Hidden Peak, then drop frontside faces or spin to Mineral Basin. Peruvian Express and the Peruvian Tunnel link Peruvian Gulch to Mineral without a full return to the summit, which is handy when Mineral is skiing best. In Gad Valley, Gadzoom and Gad 2 serve trees, gullies, and shorter storm-cycle laps that hold quality throughout the day. Patrol opens terrain methodically after new snow; following signage and rope lines keeps everyone safe and usually rewards early risers with sequenced openings.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Snowbird is a “bring your A-game” mountain that still welcomes progression. In consequential zones off the Cirque or upper Mineral, manage sluff, exposure, and traverse etiquette; give space on rollovers and call your move when merging on traverses. Respect closures—openings are staged for a reason—and keep a partner in sight in trees and tight chutes. The canyon’s avalanche program is robust but weather-driven; be patient on storm mornings. If you plan to tour beyond resort boundaries, treat it as backcountry travel: beacon, shovel, probe, a current avalanche forecast, and conservative decisions. Deep-snow immersion is a real risk on big storm cycles—communicate, regroup often, and avoid solo dives into tight glades.

Best time to go and how to plan

For powder laps and the classic “Wasatch reset,” target mid-winter through February when storm frequency peaks. For sunny, sustained conditions and long top-to-bottom days, late March into April delivers a reliable corn cycle and playful park builds in Mineral Basin. Book ahead on holiday periods, and keep a flexible plan that can pivot with road status or phased terrain openings. Many visitors anchor a trip at Snowbird and add days at neighboring Alta on the same canyon itinerary for variety. Multi-resort passes are honored here in many seasons—useful if you’re stitching together a broader Utah tour.

Why freeskiers care

Few places combine fast vertical access, serious in-bounds terrain, and a storm pattern this reliable. Snowbird’s tram culture gives you real big-mountain reps in a single day: chalk to pow, bowl to chute, tree lap to ridge traverse. The backside’s Mineral Basin brings spring to life with groomer–corn–glade combos, while Gad Valley handles storm-day laps without wasting time. Add the canyon’s safety protocols, a lift network that encourages smart exploration, and a community that lives for deep mornings and long springs, and it’s clear why Snowbird remains a fixture on athlete schedules and film trips alike.

Quick reference (official resources)

Notable athletes & brands linked to this place

Angel Collinson, John Collinson, Julian Carr
Wasatch Powderbird Guides, Black Diamond, DPS Skis

Utah

Overview and significance

Utah is a global reference for lift-accessed powder and high-output freeskiing. The Wasatch Range above Salt Lake City concentrates marquee resorts—Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, Brighton, and the Park City duo of Park City Mountain and Deer Valley—while the Ogden corridor adds Snowbasin and Powder Mountain, and Southern Utah contributes high-elevation laps at Brian Head. The region’s deep, frequent storms and efficient lift networks turn days into repetitions, and the events pedigree is proven: the 2002 Winter Olympics centered many alpine and freestyle competitions here, and Utah hosted the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle & Freeski World Championships across Park City, Deer Valley, and Solitude. Add a year-round training hub at Woodward Park City, plus a modern safety and transit framework, and Utah becomes the rare destination where a one-week trip can feel like a full season of progress.

For freeskiers, the appeal is threefold: storm-day tree laps with fast reloads, bowl-and-ridge terrain that skis “big” between weather pulses, and credible park/pipe options that scale from first rails to pro features. The proximity to a major airport makes the whole system unusually efficient: breakfast in the valley, first tram at 11,000 ft, and a dozen clean attempts before lunch is normal here.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Utah skis on contrast and continuity. Little Cottonwood Canyon (Alta/Snowbird) delivers steep, sustained bowls, ribs, and gullies with classic traverses that unlock side panels when patrol drops the ropes. Big Cottonwood Canyon (Brighton/Solitude) rides slightly mellower on average but stacks playful trees, natural features, and hidden benches that keep definition in flat light. Park City’s expanse spans wide groomers, long fall lines, and park lanes that reward speed control and repetition; Deer Valley layers race-bred grooming with moguls and event venues. North of the city, Snowbasin’s speed-event scale (long, direct pitches and tram/gondola access) contrasts with Powder Mountain’s huge footprint and low lift density, a set-up that favors creative route finding over lap counts.

Storms arrive off the Pacific and reload frequently mid-winter, with the Wasatch topography boosting snowfall as systems rise and cool. The snow itself trends supportive and shapeable during active weather, then sets into wind-buffed chalk on leeward faces after skies clear—ideal for building and re-building takeoffs. Mid-January through late February is the prime window for cold, repeatable surfaces and preserved lips; March adds bluebird spells, photogenic panels, and aspect-driven softening for forgiving landings. Spring sticks around higher up: upper lifts at Snowbird often run deep into May when coverage and operations allow, while shaded north aspects across the range retain wintry texture well into April.

Park infrastructure and events

Utah’s park and pipe ecosystem is wide and pragmatic. Park City Mountain has long run one of the state’s deepest terrain-park programs, with multiple zones from beginner to advanced and recurring slopestyle/pipe builds in peak years. Brighton’s jib culture anchors a rail-heavy progression scene that stays productive on cold nights, while Solitude maintains small-to-medium features designed for timing and board/edge control before you step to natural takeoffs. Woodward Park City stitches everything together with a winter on-snow park, tow-rope laps, and an indoor training facility for airbags, trampolines, and wheels—useful for year-round timing and air awareness.

Event credibility is baked in. Deer Valley hosts annual FIS Freestyle World Cup moguls and aerials under lights each January, a broadcast-grade confirmation of snowmaking, grooming, and venue craft. Solitude and Park City Mountain have staged World Cup and World Championships park & pipe and snowboard events in recent seasons, and resort calendars across the Wasatch carry IFSA freeride qualifiers from junior through multi-star tiers, with Snowbird’s north-facing venues a recurring test of line choice and control. For everyday skiers, this means predictable jump speed in the heart of winter, cleaned-up landings around event prep, and park lines that evolve without losing cadence.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Salt Lake City International (SLC) is the gateway, with Little and Big Cottonwood canyons 30–60 minutes from baggage claim in normal conditions. On storm or peak days, treat road status as part of the plan: traction restrictions and canyon closures are posted on the Utah DOT Cottonwood Canyons hub (UDOT Cottonwoods). If you prefer to go car-free, UTA Ski Bus routes run to both canyons in winter from TRAX light-rail connections (UTA Ski Service), and several resorts operate in-valley shuttles to reduce parking stress. In Park City, lodging on the transit line or near the base keeps you mobile without moving the car; in Ogden, Snowbasin and Powder Mountain publish clear driving and shuttle guidance.

Flow the day by visibility and wind. In active weather, default to Big Cottonwood’s trees and benches or Park City’s lower pods for definition; as ceilings lift, step to ridge traverses and bowl entrances where chalk and drifted panels ski best. Use tram and high-speed lifts to build two- or three-feature circuits that tune speed before dropping full lines, and reset legs with long groomers when conditions shift. When the Wasatch runs on spring diurnal cycles, ride cold, shaded aspects early, then move to solar slopes for corn before noon; finish on north-facing ribs and park lines as temperatures moderate.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

This is avalanche country in and out of bounds. Inside the ropes, staged openings and rope lines exist for a reason; respect them, especially on corniced ridges and cliff-banded bowls. In Little Cottonwood, be aware of Interlodge—mandatory indoor shelter during active control or extreme hazard days. If you plan to tour or step into sidecountry, start with the morning forecast from the Utah Avalanche Center, travel with beacon, shovel, and probe, and ski with partners who know companion rescue. Many resorts post uphill-travel policies and gate protocols; read them before you go, and remember that an exit gate is not a guarantee of safe conditions beyond.

On the road, check canyon restrictions before you roll, carry chains or proper winter tires when required, and build buffer time around peak traffic on powder mornings. In the park, ride SMART: inspect first, call your drop, hold a predictable line, and clear landings and knuckles immediately. Give shapers and patrol room to work—fast touch-ups are why speed stays honest. Around teaching zones and traverses, keep speed checks conservative; Utah’s mix of terrain funnels beginners and experts onto the same arterials more than you might expect.

Best time to go and how to plan

For storm consistency and durable takeoffs, aim mid-January through late February. You’ll trade some blue windows for frequent resets, crisp morning lips, and supportive chalk between storms. March blends sunny spells with aspect-driven softening and excellent filming light, while late spring brings novelty: upper-mountain Snowbird laps into May when operations allow, north-facing powder surprises after cold snaps, and predictable corn cycles by aspect. If you’re weaving a multi-base itinerary, stitch days by corridor to minimize driving: a Little/Big Cottonwood block for steep bowls and tree laps, a Park City block for groomers and parks with Woodward sessions, and an Ogden block for Snowbasin’s long pitches plus Powder Mountain’s roam-and-discover feel. Southern crews can hedge with Brian Head when northern storms turn to warm rain at valley level.

Day to day, keep a simple checklist: road status, resort ops page, avalanche forecast, and a weather read on wind and temperatures. Start on smaller park features to calibrate speed, step to bigger lines as lips set, and pick aspects by light. Build two anchor runs—one groomer, one tool-free side hit circuit—so your crew stays synced if visibility flips. If you’re filming, use crisp mornings for speed-dependent tricks, then pivot to chalky ribs and trees for mid-day angles before finishing on spring park laps.

Why freeskiers care

Because Utah turns proximity, snowfall, and craft into momentum. You can ride deep storms and fast reloads in the Cottonwoods, reset with long Park City groomers and structured park lines, push line choice at Snowbird and Snowbasin, and do it all on a transit and safety framework that makes good decisions easier. Add a year-round training option at Woodward Park City, an event calendar that spans freestyle World Cups to freeride qualifiers, and a late-season that often stretches well past the equinox, and you get a destination where learning faster and filming cleaner is the norm—not the exception.

Brand overview and significance

Dynastar is a heritage French ski specialist founded in 1963 in Sallanches, at the foot of Mont-Blanc. Born from the Dynamic–Starflex alliance and today part of the Rossignol Group, the brand built its reputation on precise, lively skis tested on real alpine terrain. Historically known for pioneering freeride shapes (the 4x4 series) and early twin tips developed with Candide Thovex, Dynastar now focuses its modern collection around the “M-LINE” families that map clearly to how skiers actually ride: directional freeride, playful freeski, lightweight touring, and on-piste speed. The result is a lineup with distinctly French edge feel—calm when you need it, quick when you want it—and a consistent identity that spans resort carving, big-mountain laps, and long tours.

The brand’s development and athlete programs are anchored in the Mont-Blanc ecosystem—fast access to hard snow, storms, wind-buff, and spring corn means prototypes see everything in a week that many skis meet in a season. This feedback loop has kept the catalog compact, comprehensible, and easy to choose from: M-PRO for directional power, M-FREE for pop and pivot, M-TOUR for human-powered days, and SPEED/RACE for the gates and groomers. In 2025, group-level industrial decisions relocated ski production away from Sallanches to other Rossignol sites, but the product brief remains the same: build skis that translate high-alpine input into dependable feel for everyday skiers.

Product lines and key technologies

M-PRO (directional freeride): Powerful, stable, metal-reinforced options aimed at mixed snow, off-trail lines, and “coast to interior” variable conditions. The chassis emphasizes edge hold and top-end calm without feeling planky. Waist widths span the mid-80s to 100-plus mm to match local snowfall and speed preferences.

M-FREE (playful freeski): Progressive shapes with generous tip/tail rocker, softer extremities, and supportive midsections for butters, slashes, and quick pivots. These are the skis you reach for when you want to smear, pop, and land switch without sacrificing stability for a fast lap back to the lift.

M-TOUR (lightweight touring): Hybrid layups that trim mass for long approaches but keep real downhill manners. Expect efficient skin-track performance, snow-shedding topsheets, and constructions tuned to avoid nervousness on firm exits.

SPEED / RACE (on-piste & FIS): Frontside carvers and race-room derivatives with strong torsional grip and predictable rebound for hard snow. Consumer “Speed” models deliver precise arcs and shock control; FIS/World Cup skis follow the federation rulebook.

Under the hood, the headline is Hybrid Core 2.0: layered wood combined with PU for weight, damping, and smooth snow feel, now oriented in three directions to reduce fiberglass where possible without dulling the ride. Freeride models layer titanal, basalt, or specific fiber grids depending on width and target speed; freestyle models add thicker edges and bases for rail life; touring builds mix lighter woods and strategic reinforcements to keep energy on the down.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

M-PRO suits skiers who love off-trail confidence and carve-to-chop composure. Think wind-buff on alpine faces, tracked powder in bowls, and firm afternoons where you still want to finish turns with authority. If you drive the front of your boots and value edge clarity, start here.

M-FREE is for playful resort days and creative terrain—side hits, tree slots, soft landings, and park-adjacent laps. Expect easy release, centered balance for spins and switch, and enough backbone to blast through late-day snow without chatter.

M-TOUR targets skiers counting grams on the uphill who still want an alpine-credible feel on the descent. These skis prioritize predictable flex and grip so you can trust them on firm traverses and variable exits.

SPEED / RACE rewards riders who live for clean edge angles. On cold corduroy or injected surfaces, these skis bite early, hold long, and rebound consistently run after run.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Dynastar’s name appears across World Cup, European Cup, and junior programs on hard snow, while its freeride identity plugs into marquee venues and athlete projects throughout the Alps. Historically, the brand helped set freeski direction with early twin-tip collaborations, and it continues to show up at high-consequence events in the Mont-Blanc orbit and beyond. As of 2025, Dynastar remains visible around the Freeride World Tour scene and on elite pistes, reinforcing a reputation for skis that feel “sorted” before they reach public demos.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Development DNA is rooted in the Mont-Blanc massif—Chamonix-Mont-Blanc’s lift network and high-alpine snowpacks provide the mixed surfaces that shape Dynastar’s ride feel. For destination context, see the official tourism portal for Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Beyond the valley, the brand’s freeride and on-piste skis are commonly tested across the French Alps; for a broader look at a flagship French destination, our page on Les Arcs explains why long vertical and mixed exposures matter to product tuning. Across the Atlantic, many Skipowd readers meet the M-LINE on deep resort days in British Columbia and big, variable laps at Whistler-Blackcomb, where the balance of bite and surf truly shows.

Note on manufacturing: Sallanches was Dynastar’s historic factory home. In 2025, the Rossignol Group announced the closure of this site and a transfer of ski production to other group facilities in France and Spain. The design brief and on-snow testing cadence remain anchored in the Alps.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Dynastar’s build philosophy prioritizes precise flex mapping and torsional control. Hybrid Core 2.0 blends woods and PU for smooth damping across imperfect snow; titanal or basalt reinforcement is added where edge lock and top-end calm matter most. Freestyle models feature thicker edges/bases and shock-attenuating interfaces underfoot; touring models shave grams without crossing into “one-run soft.”

On responsibility, the Hybrid Core 2.0 approach aims to reduce fiberglass usage by re-orienting wood layers, a practical step toward lower-impact layups while keeping the signature feel intact. Serviceable hardware, durable bases, and longstanding race-room practices translate into multi-season life if you keep edges tuned and the base waxed.

How to choose within the lineup

Start with terrain and style. If your home mountain stacks wind-buff, tracked powder, and firm afternoons, choose M-PRO in a waist that matches your snow (mid-90s for mixed resorts; 100–108 mm for deeper or faster venues). If you ride park-adjacent laps, trees, and side hits, and want to smear and spin without giving up stability, go M-FREE in the mid- to upper-90s or a 108-class width for soft days.

Tour-curious? Pick M-TOUR when efficiency matters and your descents still include firm traverses and variable exits. Mount with a binding that matches your uphill plans and DIN needs.

Frontside first? If carving drills and clean arcs are your winter, the SPEED line delivers precise edge hold and reliable rebound. Size by stability preference: longer for big radii and top-end calm; shorter for quicker edge-to-edge and tight fall-line work.

Tune to taste. Metal-reinforced versions bring a quieter, more planted ride at speed; lighter layups pivot quicker and reduce leg fatigue. Size up if your mountain is wide-open and fast; stay true-to-size if you ski tight trees or prioritize agility. When in doubt, demo on a hard-to-soft day—you’ll feel quickly whether you prefer the M-PRO’s directional authority or the M-FREE’s looseness.

Why riders care

Dynastar builds skis with a distinctive “alpine honesty”—edges that talk to you on hard snow, tips that stay composed in chop, and shapes that make mixed days more fun. The M-LINE makes choosing simple without dumbing it down, Hybrid Core 2.0 keeps the ride smooth without killing energy, and the brand’s Mont-Blanc test loop ensures models feel ready out of the wrapper. Whether you’re carving first chair corduroy, threading storm-day glades, filming a backcountry pillow line, or ticking a long tour, there is a Dynastar chassis that fits—and it will still feel right a few seasons from now.

Brand overview and significance

Teton Gravity Research (TGR) is one of skiing’s defining media houses: founded in the Tetons in the mid-1990s, headquartered near Jackson Hole, and built by riders who wanted films to reflect real mountain decision-making. Over three decades, TGR has helped set the visual language of big-mountain and freeride skiing—long, honest line shots, athlete-driven objectives, and film tours that mark the start of winter for communities worldwide. The company’s catalog spans seminal Alaska segments and Jackson Hole storm days to modern, athlete-led stories that balance consequence with creativity. For skipowd.tv readers, TGR matters because it consistently turns winter into narrative: venues, riders, and weather windows woven into films that become seasonal landmarks.

The brand’s annual feature is a cultural metronome. Recent releases include the 30th-anniversary film “Pressure Drop,” a return-to-roots celebration of steep lines and clean execution shot across North America and Europe, and “Beyond the Fantasy,” which explored how athletes translate imagined lines into reality. Beyond feature films, TGR’s shorts, athlete profiles, and tour events keep the stoke rolling between premieres, while long-form storytelling ensures the heavy clips still make sense ten seasons later.

Product lines and key technologies

TGR does not build skis; its “products” are films, tours, and a platform that develops riders and destinations. The flagship is the annual ski/snowboard movie and the accompanying Film Tour, which drops into mountain towns each fall. Parallel series—athlete spotlights, destination pieces, and web shorts—extend the life of a winter, bringing viewers back to the same faces and venues as conditions evolve.

Technically, TGR helped popularize ultra-stable, high-definition aerial cinematography in ski films. Helicopter-mounted, gyro-stabilized camera systems paired with cinema-grade bodies allowed the crew to hold a skier in frame at speed on big faces without losing the texture of snow or slope angle. On the ground, a mix of long-lens, cable, and follow-cam work keeps perspective honest: you see approach speed, takeoff timing, sluff management, and landing control instead of abstract close-ups. The result is footage that both entertains and teaches—useful for riders who study line choice as much as they enjoy the spectacle.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

TGR’s work speaks first to all-mountain and freeride skiers who chase real terrain—steep bowls, spines, couloirs, storm-cleaned trees—and want to see how elite athletes manage risk and speed when conditions are authentic, not staged. Park and backcountry-freestyle skiers also find a consistent thread: natural takeoffs, side hits, wind lips, and transitions treated as canvases for style. If you alternate between in-bounds challenge laps and out-of-bounds tours, TGR’s films mirror your calendar—resort storm days, bluebird windows, and spring missions strung together by avalanche awareness and crew trust.

For learners, the films function like masterclasses. You can pause to analyze fall-line choices, sight-lines into roll-overs, or how riders “read” sluff and manage exposure. For trip planners, destination segments preview pace and pitch at places like Jackson Hole and Verbier, helping crews match ambitions to terrain reality before they book tickets.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

TGR’s athlete network has included many of the names that shaped modern freeskiing—chargers known for committing to the fall line and bringing style to consequential snow. That roster has evolved with the sport, blending seasoned big-mountain specialists with younger riders comfortable moving between film, freeride venues, and creative backcountry features. The company’s reputation rests on two pillars: it consistently captures skiing at its most honest (speed, consequence, variable surfaces), and it shows athletes as decision-makers, not just stunt performers. This approach earned trust with guides, resorts, and viewers, keeping access open to terrain that rewards skill but punishes shortcuts.

Tour nights reinforce the relationship. A TGR premiere is part film screening, part community gathering: local avalanche centers table in the lobby, resort operations teams show up, and skiers plan first snow days under the glow of the closing credits. That annual ritual keeps the brand connected to real mountain towns instead of existing only as a streaming logo.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Home base is Wyoming’s Tetons, where the Jackson Hole culture of tram laps, technical chutes, and storm cycles has shaped TGR’s pacing and priorities. The resort’s character—steep entries, long fall lines, and crowd-aware decision-making—translates directly to the films’ tempo and line selection. For skiers scoping a stateside itinerary, the official resort portal for Jackson Hole is jacksonhole.com, while skipowd.tv’s location guide to Jackson Hole gives a rider’s eye to the terrain.

Across the Atlantic, the Alps are a second home. Filming and athlete projects regularly pass through Les Arcs and Verbier, where lift-served big-mountain terrain allows multiple attempts inside tight weather windows—ideal for capturing clean lines without heli overuse. Closer to the Tetons, Grand Targhee often appears in storm-day segments for its forgiving landings and consistent snowfall. These hubs are not random pins on a map; they’re places where speed, access, and avalanche frameworks make ambitious filming repeatable.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

In a media context, “construction” means how a project is built: pre-production with guides and resorts, weather modeling, camera plans that won’t distort slope angle, and shot lists flexible enough to follow real snow. Durability shows up as films that age well; a decade on, viewers still reference certain TGR segments when discussing line selection or snowpack behavior. Sustainability is practical and cultural. Practically, crews lean on lift-served access when possible, compress travel around storm cycles and tour stops, and work with local experts to minimize footprint in sensitive zones. Culturally, TGR has amplified environmental conversations via athlete-led projects and partnerships that nudge the community toward responsible travel and decision-making. The throughline is respect for mountains and the people who operate in them.

From a gear-care standpoint, the company’s footage quietly advocates for maintenance and preparedness: tuned edges and predictable bases for firm entries, binding checks before bootpacks, radios and rescue kits where exposure demands them. That attention to detail is why the skiing looks smooth on camera—it’s built on a foundation of redundancy and process.

How to choose within the lineup

Viewers: Start with the latest annual feature to catch the state of the art, then dive backward to compare eras. Watch a modern Alaska spine sequence and follow it with a classic to see how angle capture, runout management, and pacing evolved. Use athlete profiles to study how different skiers solve similar terrain.

Trip planners: Use destination segments to set expectations. If “Pressure Drop” shows a storm-cleaned day at Jackson Hole, notice how riders manage speed into consequential terrain and how patrol openings shape the day’s rhythm. If a Verbier sequence sparks your interest, pair the film with the Verbier location guide and build a plan that respects itinerary closures and changing light.

Athletes and creators: TGR rewards authored ideas that can be repeated safely under real conditions. When pitching, think like a guide and a shaper: is the line skiable at speed, can you reset for multiple attempts, and does it film cleanly without misrepresenting slope angle? Consider venues with lift-served access and consistent snow so your story survives typical winter variability.

Why riders care

Skiers care about TGR because the films feel true to the way we actually ride: weather-dependent, partner-driven, and shaped by terrain that asks for respect. The camera shows speed, consequence, and style without faking the experience; the editing leaves room for context so a clip makes sense in the bigger story of a winter. For aspiring chargers, the movies double as study guides. For seasoned riders, they’re reminders of why careful preparation and strong crews unlock the best days. And for mountain towns, a TGR tour stop is a seasonal gathering—an evening where the community lines up plans for the first deep week and the last spring mission. In a sport that depends on timing, teamwork, and trust, TGR keeps delivering the template for how to capture skiing at its most alive.

RIFF | Dillon Flinders Wins TGR Dream Factory Film Festival Doug Coombs Award for Best Male Action

Athletes

Locations

Sponsors

Alex Lundstrom

Dillon Flinders

Alaska

Snowbird

Utah

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