Riksgränsen [Raw] feat. Phil Casabon, Henrik Harlaut, Jacob Wester, and Kim Boberg

Profile and significance

Henrik Harlaut (born 14 August 1991; Stockholm, raised in Åre) is one of the defining freeskiers of the modern era—an athlete who set records at X Games, stacked FIS World Cup podiums, and still found time to re-shape contest culture through rider-driven events and films. Harlaut owns a record haul of X Games Ski medals and the most Ski golds, highlighted by a landmark campaign in Aspen 2018 when he won both Slopestyle and Big Air in a single weekend. He’s also the rider who brought the “nose-butter triple cork 1620” from idea to history at Aspen 2013 Big Air, a moment that reset what was possible while keeping his hallmark readability—clean set, long grab, confident spot and stomp. Three Olympic Games (Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022) widened the audience for his style-first approach, even as he continued to invest in culture with the B&E Invitational and film projects like The Regiment. For freeski fans and developing riders, Harlaut is the template: do the heaviest tricks, make them easy to read, and build spaces where style leads the conversation. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Competitive arc and key venues

Harlaut’s competitive résumé blends consistency with signature highs. In the World Cup era he earned multiple wins and podiums across Big Air and Slopestyle—peaks in 2017 and 2019, plus a 2021 return to the steps—while his X Games record (eight golds and a record medal total) kept him in the sport’s brightest spotlight for more than a decade. The Aspen 2018 sweep (Slopestyle + Big Air) and his 2021 Big Air gold under pressure exemplify why judges and viewers trust his skiing: he scales difficulty without sacrificing clarity. Olympic turns in 2014, 2018 and 2022 added global stagecraft; even when results weren’t the headline, the takeaway was the same—legible trick architecture at full speed. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Just as important are the formats he helped elevate. Alongside Phil Casabon, Harlaut co-hosted the B&E Invitational at Les Arcs—a skatepark-style course that let riders tell stories with lines, not just trick lists, and where peer voting reinforced culture over calculation. Those years influenced today’s style-forward events and modern jam formats. Between seasons he kept timing sharp at parks with reliable laps and clean lips: Sweden’s Kläppen (home to many style sessions), California’s Mammoth, and long-season Mt. Hood for late-spring mileage. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

How they ski: what to watch for

Harlaut skis like a director and an engineer at once. Approaches are drawn early to minimize drift; the takeoff meets the lip in balance; grabs lock as soon as the body finds axis. Whether he’s spinning forward or switch, the rotation fits the venue—no last-second scrubs, no fight with the landing. His signature buttered entries (most famously the nose-butter into triple cork) are never decoration; they set the axis so the rest of the trick reads cleanly to judges and cameras. On rails he uses the whole feature—presses into swaps, redirects, and exits that square the shoulders—so even complex lines remain legible on replay. The result is difficulty you can study, not just applaud. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Resilience, filming, and influence

Harlaut’s cultural impact extends well beyond bibs. With Casabon and producer Eric Iberg he helped popularize rider-designed courses and film projects that let style lead—culminating in the B&E years and the two-year film The Regiment, backed by core partners and retailers. He also competed in video-first formats (Real Ski, Knuckle Huck) that reward creativity, connecting contest and edit audiences. Off-hill, his Stockholm-born, Åre-raised perspective shows in Harlaut Apparel Co., an independent label that treats drops and visuals like part of the story. It all adds up to a durable influence: younger riders copy not only his axis management and grabs, but also his insistence on formats where the best skiing looks like freeskiing. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Geography that built the toolkit

Place explains a lot about Harlaut’s approach. Åre gave him the Scandinavian mix of rope-tow repetition, icy learning days, and creative park design; Sweden’s broader park ecosystem—especially Kläppen Snowpark—refined timing and line selection. Springtime moved to long-season venues—Mammoth Mountain for reliable XL jumps and clean takeoffs; Oregon’s Timberline on Mt. Hood for months of consistent practice. The B&E years anchored a French chapter at Les Arcs, while Arctic Sweden’s Riksgränsen supplied late-light windows and natural hits that sharpen creativity when most resorts are closed. That map—Åre → Kläppen → Mammoth/Hood → Les Arcs/Riksgränsen—produces exactly the composure and readability you see on snow. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Logos matter less than systems, but Harlaut’s partners tell a coherent story. His signature Armada EDOLLO ski is built for presses and pop with durability for rails—recently refreshed in the 2025–26 line—while his boot of choice is the K2 FL3X Method B&E, a three-piece design tuned for park feel and repeatable flex. For vision he runs Oakley, including signature Line Miner goggles; energy support comes from Monster Energy; and his own Harlaut Apparel Co. handles the fit. Practical takeaways for progressing skiers:

• Tune edges for the day: lightly detune contact points to avoid bites on rails, keep under-foot bite for icy in-runs, and refresh base structure before salted scaffolding jumps.
• Keep swing weight and mount points consistent across “training” and “shoot” setups so timing transfers from medium jumps to XL lines.
• Protect in-runs and landings when filming or on comp day; consistent entry speed and clean outruns make long grabs and centered stomps possible. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Harlaut bridges worlds: he took home the biggest medals without abandoning the style and storytelling that built freeskiing in the first place. Fans get rewatchable runs and parts—tricks that tell a story from approach to ride-away. Developing skiers get a step-by-step blueprint: design the approach first, size the spin to the venue, lock the grab early, and value landings you can reproduce tomorrow. That philosophy is why his Aspen highlights still circulate, why his World Cup wins feel instructive, and why park laps worldwide still carry echoes of his technique. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Quick reference (places)

• Åre — official / Sweden
• Kläppen Snowpark / Kläppen — official
• Les Arcs / Les Arcs — official
• Mammoth Mountain / Mammoth — official
• Riksgränsen / Riksgränsen — official

Principal sponsors

• Armada — skis (EDOLLO signature)
• Oakley — goggles (Line Miner signature)
• K2 FL3X — boots (Method B&E)
• Harlaut Apparel Co. — apparel (athlete-run label)
• Monster Energy — energy partner

Profile and significance

Jacob Wester (born 1987, Stockholm) is a Swedish freeski original whose career traces a clear line from early-2000s park progression to modern, foot-powered steep skiing. He arrived on the scene in 2005 with a breakout second place at the Jon Olsson Invitational and a win at Oslo’s “Air We Go,” then spent the next years pushing the doubles era in slopestyle and big air, making X Games finals and filming with the most influential crews of the time. In the last decade, Wester has deliberately shifted his focus to human-powered freeride: long approaches, technical couloirs, and ski-mountaineering style descents that he documents through thoughtful, instructive films and a steady YouTube presence. That evolution—from park innovator mentored by Jon Olsson to a reference point for steep-skiing craft—makes him unusually valuable for fans and riders who care about both sides of freeskiing’s identity.

Competitive arc and key venues

Wester’s competitive résumé is anchored by the formative years of modern slopestyle and big air. His 2005 results (JOI runner-up; “Air We Go” winner) put him on the international radar, followed by X Games starts and finals appearances that showcased clean axes and long, locked grabs at a time when doubles were still new. He logged FIS World Cup starts, podiumed at invitational events, and became one of the clearest on-snow examples of the “readable difficulty” judges wanted to reward. As his interests moved into the mountains, the venues changed but the clarity remained: couloirs in the Lyngen Alps, late-spring lines at Riksgränsen under the midnight sun, and serious objectives off the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix. That chapter produced foot-powered films like “Walk the Walk” and a stream of steep-skiing stories that treat risk management, sluff control, and route finding as part of the performance. In short: he traded bibs for bootpacks without losing the precision that made him a park mainstay.

How they ski: what to watch for

Three signatures connect Wester’s park past to his alpine present. First, approach discipline: whether it’s a city big-air takeoff or the entry to a 45–50° couloir, he sets speed and angle early so the move reads from the first frame. Second, grab/edge literacy: in the park it showed as long, stabilizing holds; in steeps it appears as quiet edging and patient hop turns that let the bases track without chatter. Third, landing management: he spots late but rides away centered, preserving momentum for the next decision—another feature in a slopestyle line then, a safe island of snow between rock bands now. Watch his modern edits and you’ll see the same narrative structure he used in contests: set → engage (grab or edge) → spot → stomp.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Wester’s influence today rides through films and long-form web episodes. The projects are pragmatic rather than flashy: foot-powered missions in Norway; story-led edits that show maps, approaches, and decision points; and a cadence of uploads that make steep skiing feel understandable. He’s candid about bailing when temperatures or snowpack don’t cooperate and clear about the logistics—partners, angles, turn shapes—that make committing lines repeatable. For park skiers looking toward bigger terrain, that honesty is a roadmap. For steep-skiing diehards, it’s validation that careful pacing and readable technique belong on camera as much as the summit shot does.

Geography that built the toolkit

Stockholm’s small hills gave Wester repetition and community; Sweden’s park circuit built timing and trick architecture; and the north provided late-season freedom. Riksgränsen became a spring classroom for line reading and sluff awareness, while the Lyngen Alps in Norway offered longer pitches and more consequential exposure. When objectives turned alpine, Chamonix’s Aiguille du Midi delivered the gradient and scale to apply those habits to truly serious terrain. He still drops into Sweden’s style hubs—Kläppen’s meticulously shaped park lines are ideal for keeping pop and precision sharp between missions—but the modern map is Scandinavian steeps first, with selective forays into the Alps when conditions align.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Wester rides a modern freeride/touring system with group synergy: skis from Rossignol, bindings from Look (the Pivot lineage for resort/freeride or lighter platforms for tours), and expedition/lifestyle support from Dometic. If you’re chasing a similar feel, copy the systems, not just the stickers:

• Keep mount points and swing weight consistent across your “daily” and “mission” skis so timing transfers from resort laps to technical couloirs.
• Tune for the day: preserve underfoot bite for chalky entrances; lightly detune tips/tails to prevent hookiness in runnels or refrozen sastrugi.
• Standardize boot–binding ramp and forward lean so jump techniques (quiet upper body, centered exits) translate to steep hop turns and controlled sideslips.
• For human-powered days, plan energy and filming together—camera angles that show exposure and safe zones teach more than a summit selfie ever will.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Wester ties freeskiing’s two big threads together. His park years helped define how doubles could look clean rather than chaotic; his steeps era shows that the same values—approach clarity, edge discipline, legible landings—are what keep difficult skiing safe and beautiful in real mountains. Fans get rewatchable stories where the terrain is a character, not just a backdrop. Developing riders get a blueprint: build technique on small features, scale it in spring parks, then bring it to bigger lines with the same patience you’d apply to a contest run. It’s a career that proves style and judgment are transferable skills.

Quick reference (places)

• Riksgränsen (spring steeps & midnight sun)
• Kläppen Snowpark (style sessions, park timing)
• Stockholm (home base & early laps)
• Aiguille du Midi — Chamonix (alpine objectives)
• Lyngen Alps — official tourism (Norway steeps)

Principal sponsors

• Rossignol — skis (freeride/touring platforms)
• Look — bindings (Pivot & touring-oriented models)
• Dometic — expedition/lifestyle support (ambassador)

Profile and significance

Kim Boberg is a Swedish freeski icon whose influence runs through slopestyle culture, street skiing, and the community-first event he founded, Kimbo Sessions. A longtime member of the Armada Skis family, he helped define the modern park-and-street aesthetic: creative lines, strong edge control, heavy presses, and ultra-clean grabs. Beyond his own segments with crews and brands, Boberg’s most enduring contribution is building an environment where top riders push each other without the pressure of judging—an idea embodied by Kimbo Sessions at Kläppen in Sweden (Kimbo Sessions).

Competitive arc and key venues

Boberg’s early years included FIS events before he increasingly focused on filming and projects. He later stepped onto one of the sport’s biggest stages via the video category at X Games Real Ski, releasing a full urban part in 2019 (X Games Real Ski). His official FIS profile confirms his competitive background and Swedish nationality (FIS). Today he’s best recognized for Kimbo Sessions—spring park gatherings at Kläppen that draw an elite roster year after year. The event emphasizes progression and style over podiums, and its “ride-all-day, film-all-week” format has become a pilgrimage for the sport. (A planned tenth edition was called off in 2025 due to warm weather.) When not at Kläppen, Boberg has logged time across Sweden’s resorts and Arctic venues, including laps and film trips that showcase the country’s varied terrain.

How they ski: what to watch for

Expect technical presses, butters, and nose/tail pivots that link rails, side hits, and transitions into one flowing run. Boberg favors clean grab mechanics and purposeful speed control; he’s the skier who makes a simple line look like a canvas for subtle edgework. On jumps, watch for off-axis rotations that stay compact and balanced—often capped grabs from takeoff to landing. In the street, he’s known for spot selection and surface changes—step-ups onto high ledges, wallride reverts, and transfers that reward strong pop and board-feel. The overall effect is smooth and expressive rather than “spin-to-win,” which is why his parts remain rewatchable long after the season ends.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Boberg built his reputation through full-length projects and brand films as much as contests, contributing to segments with Armada and Scandinavian crews. His own edits—and the annual media output from Kimbo Sessions—have shaped what many riders expect from a late-season park: creative features, linkable transitions, and a mellow yet high-output vibe. Because Sessions prioritizes rider ownership, Boberg’s influence extends to format and park design, not just tricks. That template has inspired other rider-led gatherings and helped shift attention back to style, line choice, and collaboration.

Geography that built the toolkit

Sweden’s snow culture and compact verticals reward technical edge skills, rail comfort, and springtime stamina. Boberg’s home scene around Dalarna and the national hub at Kläppen Snowpark (Sälen) shaped his park flow and love of long spring sessions. Northern venues like Riksgränsen offer a different canvas—wind lips, midnight-sun slush, and rugged natural transitions that favor creativity over sheer size—elements that surface in his edits and at Sessions course builds.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Boberg rides for Armada and worked with the brand on a pro-model “Kimbo” ski line designed for presses, carves, and versatile park/side-hit use. The shape and flex profile suit a centered stance and reward skiers who like to butter into features rather than muscle through them. For bindings, he’s aligned with Tyrolia, favoring the reliable retention and stomp feel that Attack/Hybrid users recognize. Eyewear and optics have long been part of his kit via Oakley, and Kimbo Sessions has been supported by partners including Monster Energy. For fans and progressing riders, the practical lesson is simple: match your setup to your skiing intent—soft enough to butter and press, supportive enough to land consistently, and mounted to encourage neutral, playful stance.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Boberg matters because he demonstrates another path to relevance in freeskiing. Instead of chasing rankings alone, he’s built community, created space for risk-taking without judging, and kept style at the center. If you’re learning, watch how he links features with minimal speed checks; if you’re filming, study his spot choices and transitions; if you’re event-minded, note how Sessions funnels resources into athlete freedom and course creativity. The result is a career that’s as much curator as competitor—one that’s helped shape the culture of slopestyle, big-park spring laps, and urban skiing.

Quick reference (places)

• Kläppen Snowpark
• Riksgränsen
• Kläppen Ski Resort

Principal sponsors

• Armada — skis
• Tyrolia — bindings
• Oakley — goggles & eyewear
• Monster Energy — event partner/support

Philip Casabon, known to skiers around the world as B-Dog, is a Canadian freeski legend from Shawinigan, Québec, whose influence on street and park skiing spans more than a decade of groundbreaking video parts, signature products and era-defining style. He emerged in the late 2000s and early 2010s as a rider who could make complex tricks look effortless, pairing technical precision with a relaxed body language that reads clearly on camera and in person. While many athletes built careers around podiums, Casabon built a catalog around originality and storytelling, proving that progression in freeskiing is measured not just by spin counts, but by ideas, rhythm and the way a skier uses terrain. Casabon’s breakthrough years were intertwined with a creative partnership with Henrik Harlaut under the B&E banner, culminating in invitational events that showcased style, flow and unconventional features. Those projects amplified a philosophy that still guides his skiing today. Lines are designed like sentences with a beginning, middle and end. Approach speed is chosen to preserve cadence rather than to force difficulty. Takeoffs are decisive and axes are set early so rotations remain readable and landings ride away clean. The result is footage that ages well and remains instructive for younger riders studying how to combine rails, walls, gaps and banks into coherent sequences. The contest world eventually embraced video-based formats, and Casabon became a benchmark there as well. In X Games Real Ski he delivered all-urban segments that balanced heavy enders with subtle touches: nose and tail presses that carry real weight, surface swaps performed on imperfect steel, redirected spins that treat walls and banks as extensions of the rail line. Those edits demonstrated mastery of spot selection, logistics and risk management under tight timelines. They also highlighted a symbiosis with filmer and editor Brady Perron, whose eye for pacing and framing magnified Casabon’s skating-inspired approach to edges, balance and transitions. Equipment is a central part of Casabon’s story. His signature park and street skis became known for playful flex in the tips and tails, supportive underfoot platforms and shapes that feel neutral on unknown landing angles. He is meticulous about mount points that keep swing weight balanced without sacrificing landing stability, and he is vocal about edge durability, torsional support and base speed on contaminated snow. In boots, he gravitated to progressive designs that preserve ankle articulation and rebound for presses and quick recentering after surface changes. This product literacy turns gear into a creative partner rather than an afterthought, and it informs a steady stream of feedback to designers who translate rider needs into shapes and constructions that withstand urban abuse. Casabon’s training habits reveal why the style looks so effortless. Off snow he emphasizes hip and ankle mobility, single-leg strength for efficient pop on short run-ins, and trunk stability to manage off-axis rotations without letting the upper body flail. Trampoline and air-awareness sessions break big tricks into components, rehearsing set mechanics, grab timing and spotting before full-scale attempts. On snow he builds lines from low-consequence moves, scaling them patiently into heavy features once speed, angles and snow texture are predictable. That incremental method reduces injuries and preserves longevity in a discipline where impact tolerance is often mistaken for progress. Storytelling is another thread that runs through his career. Casabon treats each project like an album rather than a single, choosing music, color and pacing that serve the skiing. He shows the process in behind-the-scenes moments: shoveling and salting to control speed, testing inruns at dawn when light is flat but traffic is light, cleaning spots and restoring environments out of respect for neighborhoods. This transparency sets a standard for urban filming etiquette and keeps doors open for future crews. It also explains why his films are rewatchable; they offer both the satisfaction of heavy tricks and the narrative of how those tricks were made possible. Community impact rounds out his profile. Casabon mentors younger riders by translating complex technique into simple cues: align early on the inrun, commit to a clean set, keep shoulders calm through impact, and ride away with purpose. He is honest about fear management, using visualization and measured increments to turn nerves into information rather than noise. In camps and informal sessions he shares the small adjustments that create big gains, from binding ramp angle to edge bevels that keep rails viable on cold mornings. As freeskiing continues to evolve, Casabon remains a reference point for authenticity. He releases tightly curated video parts, appears at select events, and collaborates with brands in ways that preserve the integrity of his style while pushing product design forward. His legacy is not confined to medals or one winter’s highlight reel. It lives in a generation of skiers who learned that creativity can be systematic, that style is a skill built on fundamentals, and that a line that reads beautifully will always matter. For fans and aspiring riders, Philip Casabon stands as proof that street skiing can be both refined and raw, both disciplined and free, and that the most enduring progression happens when craft, culture and community move together.