SEEING FLOWERS | TRAILER

Brand overview and significance

Level 1 is a Denver-based ski media brand conceived in 1999 to document the rise of freeskiing and push the craft of storytelling on snow. Over two decades, the crew evolved from dorm-room edits into one of skiing’s defining creative engines—filming street, park, and backcountry projects across the globe and premiering them to packed audiences. Level 1’s hallmark is a rider-first perspective: cinematography and editing that serve style, line choice, and snow feel rather than overshadow them. In 2019, the brand capped its 20-year run of annual features with its final tour film, then shifted focus to episodic projects and events without losing its role as a cultural touchstone.

Level 1 also builds community. Its channels highlight emerging skiers alongside established names, and its tone remains consistent—curious, welcoming, and uncompromising on quality. For skiers who follow freeski culture as closely as gear, Level 1 functions like a trusted label on the spine of a record: if it bears the stamp, it’s worth your time.

Product lines and key technologies

Level 1 doesn’t make skis; its “products” are films, event series, and premium digital content. The brand’s classic annual features culminated with 2019’s farewell chapter, after which production pivoted to focused short films, athlete-driven projects, and event coverage released throughout the season. Distribution prioritizes high-quality streaming and downloads, with archive access to past work for new audiences discovering the catalog.

On the craft side, Level 1’s technology is editorial. The team blends location-driven shooting, steadied tracking, and drone perspectives with meticulous pacing so tricks and lines read clearly. Sound design and score choices amplify snow texture and impact without drowning them. The result is a consistent “feel” across urban, park, and big-mountain segments—an aesthetic that many crews have since emulated.

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

Level 1 speaks to everyone who cares how skiing looks and feels. Park riders find trick shape, grabs, and switch landings framed so progression is visible. Street fans get thoughtful spot selection and build details shown honestly. Freeriders see line decisions and snow quality captured with enough context to understand speed, exposure, and consequence. If your winter mixes rope-tow laps, storm-day trees, and the occasional backcountry mission, this is the media that keeps you inspired between sessions and informs how you approach your next hit.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Level 1’s athlete network is deep, spanning multiple generations of influential freeskiers whose segments helped define modern style. Just as important is the brand’s long-running talent incubator: SuperUnknown, an open-submission video contest launched in 2004 that turns standout ams into finalists and, often, pros. The 2025 finals were hosted at Palisades Tahoe, underscoring how closely the series is woven into resort culture. Within the industry, Level 1 is regarded as a standard-setter for editorial discipline and rider partnership—projects ship when they’re ready, not when a schedule demands.

Awards have followed that approach, including major festival recognition for the brand’s capstone feature in 2019. But reputation here is earned less by trophies than by trust: riders, filmers, and fans expect a certain clarity and creativity whenever a Level 1 project drops.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Rooted in Denver, Level 1 films wherever skiing is happening at a high level. Urban segments span North America and Europe; park and spring projects often orbit glacier and camp venues; and big-mountain shoots chase storms. On the resort side, the crew’s cameras are frequent sights in the Pacific Northwest and the Coast Mountains, with many Skipowd readers finding Level 1’s fingerprints around Whistler Blackcomb. Recent event chapters have also anchored in California’s Tahoe basin, where accessible lift networks and established park programs make for efficient production weeks.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

For a media brand, “construction” means repeatable quality and safe, responsible shoots. Level 1’s process emphasizes clear communication with resorts and municipalities, appropriate permitting for urban builds, and safety-first rehearsals on features that demand it. Durability shows up as editing restraint—keeping shots that stand the test of time and cutting anything that doesn’t. The sustainability angle is practical: smaller, high-impact projects minimize travel churn, and partnerships with resorts allow efficient use of lift-served terrain and existing park infrastructure.

How to choose within the lineup

If you’re new to Level 1, start with the milestone year that closed the annual-film era, then sample recent shorts to feel how the brand’s voice translates to tighter, more frequent drops. Fans of rider spotlights should look for contemporary one-offs and film-tour edits that foreground a single skier’s style arc; those who love community and discovery should dive into SuperUnknown recaps, which package street, park, and pow into a single week of progression. If your local hill favors deep storms and natural hits, chase the freeride-heavy pieces; if you live on rope-tows and rails, queue the street and park chapters first.

Want to connect dots on the map? Pair an evening of Level 1 with planning for real-world laps at destination hubs. Our readers often bridge screen to snow at British Columbia venues and other West Coast resorts; watch what the camera emphasizes—speed control, line setup, pop timing—and bring that intent to your next day on snow.

Why riders care

Because Level 1 makes skiing feel true. The brand documents progression without losing the small details—edge angles, snow sound, the quiet beat before drop-in—that make sliding on snow addictive. It champions new voices through SuperUnknown while continuing to produce polished work with established pros. And it has stayed remarkably consistent: projects are built around the skiing itself, not trend-chasing transitions. If you want media that informs your riding and fuels your stoke, Level 1 remains essential viewing—proof that the culture grows strongest when the camera serves the turn.

Brand overview and significance

Rossignol is one of the most storied names in skiing. Founded in 1907 in the French Alps, the company grew from handcrafted wooden skis into a global leader that now builds equipment for race, on-piste carving, all-mountain, freeride/freestyle, and touring. Within the Rossignol Group portfolio, the Rossignol label remains the flagship for alpine skis and boots, supported by sister brands for bindings and boots in select categories. The brand’s influence is easy to see on snow: from World Cup gates to big-mountain lines and everyday resort laps, Rossignol models appear because they deliver a dependable, “sorted” feel that skiers trust when conditions get variable.

Rossignol matters to Skipowd readers for two simple reasons. First, the catalog covers virtually every use-case with clear families, so you can match ski personality to your terrain without guesswork. Second, the engineering is rooted in the Alps—race-room learning and high-mileage testing filter directly into consumer skis—so edge hold, vibration control, and predictability stay front and center even as shapes get more playful.

Product lines and key technologies

Rossignol organizes its alpine range by intent, with distinct families that make selection straightforward:

Hero is the race and race-inspired line. Built for timing sheets and precise edge angles, Hero skis use stiff, damp constructions and Rossignol’s Line Control Technology (LCT)—a central reinforcement that calms counter-flex and keeps turn shape clean at speed. These are the consumer expressions of World Cup learning for skiers who crave maximum grip and stability on hard snow.

Forza / React (frontside carving) targets recreational on-piste skiers who want high edge fidelity without full race stiffness. Expect strong bite, powerful energy return, and radii that range from short-swing carvers to longer GS-like arcs, often with LCT or derived damping features to keep chatter down.

Experience is the all-mountain daily driver. Waist widths sit in the mid-80s to low-90s, with rocker/camber blends that release easily in trees and bumps but still hold on early-morning corduroy. Constructions mix wood cores with titanal or composite reinforcement by model, so you can bias toward agility or top-end calm.

Sender (men) / Rallybird (women) is the modern freeride platform. These skis pair generous tip rocker with supportive midsections so they’ll smear when you want and stand tall when you need to drive through chop. Stouter models add metal for tracked powder and speed; lighter builds suit mixed resort/backcountry use.

Freestyle & park models (including Blackops heritage shapes) cover directional-twin and true-twin options tuned for rails, jumps, and all-mountain-freestyle. Thicker edges and bases, shock-absorbing interfaces, and balanced swing weight keep them alive in rope-tow laps and on jump lines.

Touring & light freeride selections trim weight while preserving downhill manners—think efficient skin-track days that don’t feel nervous on firm exits. Constructions lean on lighter cores, purposeful carbon, and snow-shedding topsheets.

Under the hood, a few technologies define the ride feel. LCT (Line Control Technology) stabilizes the ski’s longitudinal behavior for cleaner arcs on hard snow. Drive Tip and Damp Tech elements target tip vibration and high-frequency chatter so the shovel stays composed in chop. Across families, Rossignol blends rocker/camber to keep release forgiving with supportive camber underfoot, and deploys titanal or carbon where torsional hold and damping matter most. Wood cores are selected and mapped by length to keep flex consistent across sizes.

Boots follow the same clarity. Hi-Speed is the precise, on-piste/all-mountain shell with a modern fit and strong lateral power; Alltrack is the hybrid freeride boot with hike/walk mode for gate-ducking and tours; Pure is the women’s all-mountain series with thoughtful volume and liner mapping. Many models use dual-injection shell tech for rebound and wrap, heat-moldable liners, and GripWalk soles for modern binding interfaces.

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

If your winter centers on groomers and you love carving clean trenches, Hero or Forza/React deliver the lock-in you want: quick to edge, calm at speed, and confident when the piste turns firm. If you want one ski to do most resort days, Experience hits that “predictable everywhere” brief—bite in the morning, easy release at noon, and enough backbone to stay composed in late-day chop.

Freeriders who split time between bowls, trees, and wind features gravitate to Sender and Rallybird: surfy tips, supportive platforms underfoot, and tails that will feather or finish depending on stance. Size up for speed and float, size true if maneuverability in tight spaces matters. Park and all-mountain-freestyle skiers will appreciate balanced swing weight and durable edges on the freestyle twins; they press and pivot when you want, yet track predictably back to the lift.

Tour-curious riders can look to lighter constructions that keep efficiency on the skintrack without giving up the trademark Rossignol calm on the way down. Across categories, choosing a construction with metal yields a quieter, more planted feel at speed; choosing lighter layups yields quicker pivoting and less leg fatigue on long days.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Rossignol’s credibility spans racing, freeride venues, and film. The Hero line is informed by decades of World Cup and Olympic success, and those materials and geometries filter into consumer skis in each refresh cycle. On the freeride side, Rossignol shapes appear in marquee film projects and on contest stages where variable snow, wind, and exposure stress-test damping and edge hold. In the park and big-air lanes, Rossi twins have long been a fixture thanks to predictable swing weight and durable construction. The net effect is a brand whose skis feel “vetted” before they reach public demos: designs are iterated with real athletes in real mountains.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Rossignol’s roots are French, and a lot of the product DNA comes from high-mileage venues in the Alps where testing is repeatable and varied. For context on the kind of terrain that shapes these skis, look to official resort hubs like Les 3 Vallées for sustained piste mileage, Tignes for high-alpine laps and park exposure, and Chamonix for mixed snowpacks, steeps, and long descents. That mix—hard, fast mornings, storm cycles, spring corn—explains why Rossignol simultaneously emphasizes edge fidelity and composed, versatile shapes.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Durability starts with layup discipline. Directional on-piste skis pair full-length sidewalls and titanal laminates with LCT or equivalent damping to steady the edge on ice and late-day hardpack. All-mountain and freeride skis map reinforcement where it matters—underfoot platforms and edge-adjacent zones—so tips and tails can stay lively without feeling flimsy in chop. Freestyle builds bring thicker edges and bases for urban and rope-tow abuse.

On responsibility, Rossignol publishes group-wide sustainability targets and has moved toward responsibly sourced wood cores, recycled content in sidewalls/bases where feasible, PFC-free water-repellent finishes on textiles, and service programs that favor repair to extend product life. The practical take-away is simple: buy once, maintain, and expect multi-season performance. Boots follow suit with serviceable hardware, heat-moldable liners, and replaceable soles to keep shells on snow longer.

How to choose within the lineup

Start with terrain and snow. Mostly groomers or you’re working on edge angles? Choose Hero for race-room precision or Forza/React for a friendlier, still-powerful carve. Want one ski for most resort conditions? Experience in the mid-80s to low-90s waist range is the dependable daily driver—pick a metal-reinforced version if you value high-speed calm, or a lighter build for maneuverability.

Chase storm cycles or mixed in-bounds/off-piste days? Go Sender/Rallybird. If your home mountain stacks chopped powder and wind-buff, a titanal-reinforced Sender will feel planted; if you spend time in trees and tighter lines, a lighter Sender or Rallybird keeps pivoting quick. For soft-snow depth and speed, consider sizing up a few centimeters.

Live in the park or ski all-mountain-freestyle? Choose a directional-twin or true-twin with durable edges and the waist that fits your hill (low-90s for mixed laps; mid-90s to ~100 mm if you want more soft-snow stability). Mount closer to recommended for stability or nudge forward for symmetry and switch riding.

Boots and interface. Pair precise, on-piste skis with Hi-Speed boots for crisp lateral power; pick Alltrack if you plan to hike gates or skin short tours; size Pure models for women who want targeted volume and warmth without giving up response. Match soles to bindings (GripWalk vs. alpine), and if you ride aggressively, consider bindings with proven elasticity to complement the ski’s damping.

Length and construction tips. If you value stability and float in open terrain, size up; if your mountain is tight and technical, stay true-to-size. Metal brings calmness; lighter layups bring agility. For a quiver of one in variable mountains, many skiers land on an Experience in the upper-80s to low-90s—or a Sender/Rallybird just under 105 mm—for a strong balance of bite and surf.

Why riders care

Rossignol earns long-term loyalty by making skis and boots that feel dialed where it counts. On firm snow, edges hold and turns finish with confidence; in mixed or soft conditions, shovels stay composed and tails release when you ask. The lineup is easy to navigate, the technologies are purposeful rather than buzzy, and the brand’s alpine heritage shows up in the way product feels from first run to last lap. Whether your season is carving drills at dawn, storm-day trees, big-mountain traverses, or park nights under the lights, there’s a Rossignol chassis that fits—and a high chance it will still feel “right” a few seasons from now.

Brand overview and significance

SCOTT Sports is a Swiss-based multisport brand with deep ski DNA. The company’s origin story begins in Sun Valley, where engineer and racer Ed Scott introduced the first tapered aluminum ski pole in 1958, a small but pivotal shift that helped modernize equipment across resorts. Decades later, SCOTT’s wintersports line has grown to include freeride and touring skis, goggles, helmets and technical apparel, while the global HQ in Givisiez, Switzerland, anchors design and product testing in the Alps. In freeski culture, the brand is best known for big-mountain tools (the Pure series), lightweight touring platforms (Superguide), and optics/helmets that show up everywhere from storm-day tree laps to expedition footage.

Product lines and key technologies

SCOTT’s ski range is organized around clear use-cases. The Pure series covers freeride and all-mountain—think stable chassis with metal and carbon reinforcement for high-speed composure—while Superguide models prioritize uphill efficiency without giving away downhill confidence. Construction themes recur across the lines: poplar/paulownia wood cores, sandwich sidewalls, and targeted layers of Titanal or carbon. Two shaping ideas matter for how these skis feel: the brand’s multi-radius “3Dimension” sidecut concept (shorter radii at the ends for easy initiation, paired to a longer/straighter section underfoot for stability) and freeride-specific shaping in Pure models designed with steep, fast faces in mind.

Beyond skis, SCOTT is a category leader in vision and protection. LCG goggles popularized a glove-friendly lens-change slider and use “Amplifier” contrast-boosting optics. On the helmet side, models like Symbol 2 Plus D combine a low-profile shell with impact-management stacks (MIPS, energy-absorbing inserts) and ear-pad designs that preserve situational awareness. The net effect is a consistent ecosystem: skis that track confidently in rough snow, goggles that hold contrast in flat light, and helmets designed for both comfort and real-world safety.

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

Freeriders who chase storm cycles and film-worthy terrain will gravitate to the Pure family. The ride is damp and directional with enough rocker/splay to stay loose when you need to slash or shut it down. On chalk or wind-buff, the longer effective edge underfoot reads predictable and calm; in deeper snow, the tapered tip and tail make course corrections easy. If your winter mixes lift laps, traverses and tours, Superguide models are the daily driver: light on the skintrack, torsionally honest on refrozen exits, and forgiving enough to pivot in tight trees.

Resort all-mountain skiers who want one pair for groomers, bumps, side-hits and storm leftovers should look at the narrower Pure Free/Mission widths. They carve with authority on morning cord, stay composed at speed, and are still playful enough for cut-up bowls and sidecountry laps. Pair any of the above with SCOTT goggles and you’ll notice the optical package on low-viz days—contrast stays readable when the sky goes to milk.

Typical venues that show off the intended ride feel include the maritime rolls and parks of Whistler-Blackcomb, the long fall-line steeps and trees around Revelstoke, and pre-season jump lines on Austrian glaciers like Stubai Glacier and Kitzsteinhorn.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

SCOTT’s image in freeskiing leans steep and fast. Collaborations with marquee big-mountain athletes helped shape the Pure concept—long-radius stability for straight-line authority, with just enough tip/tail support to pivot and reset on consequential faces. The wider culture piece shows up in films and trips—from powder pilgrimages to Hokkaido to dealer/test events in places like Lech Zürs—where the brand’s optics and helmets are as common as its skis. The result is a reputation for hard-charging tools that still feel intuitive for strong everyday skiers.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

Heritage is split between the American birthplace in Sun Valley and modern operations in Givisiez. That map matters: R&D and athlete feedback flow through Alpine venues in Austria and Switzerland—glaciers, early-season parks, and Föhn-polished chalk—while the products remain grounded in the practical demands of storm skiing and big-mountain lines across North America. When you see a Pure or Superguide on edge, you’re looking at a ski shaped by both worlds.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Most SCOTT skis use full-length wood cores with layered laminates to tune flex and damping. Pure models add Titanal and carbon in the right places to keep chatter down without turning the ski into an unforgiving plank; Superguide trims mass with lighter cores and precise carbon layups so uphill feel improves while downhill edge hold remains credible. Factory tunes arrive with sensible base/edge geometry, so a fresh mount often means you’re ready to ski without immediate shop work.

Durability signals carry over to protection and eyewear: goggle frames and lenses are designed for repeated swaps and hard use; helmets feature modern impact-management systems and ventilate well enough to avoid “wear it or stash it” dilemmas on variable days. On the responsibility front, the brand’s ongoing “Re-Source” initiative focuses on reducing harmful chemistries in durable water repellents, increasing recycled/renewable content where performance allows, and making incremental material choices that scale across categories. It’s pragmatic rather than flashy, and that tracks with the rest of the line.

How to choose within the lineup

If your winter is 70% lifts / 30% hikes with a bias toward bowls, chalk and storm days, start with Pure in the upper-90s to low-110s waist range. Pick the narrower end if you carve hard and ski firm snow often; go wider if you live where storms stack and you draw clean lines in soft snow. For mixed resort/tour weeks or hut trips, choose a Superguide width you can drive when conditions get refrozen or cross-winded; size by terrain rather than by ego so you can hold an edge when it matters. If most days are groomers, bumps and side-hits, look to the mid-90s Pure Free/Mission shapes for a single-quiver answer that still behaves when a front rolls through.

Goggles: match lens to light more than to brand marketing. SCOTT’s contrast-enhancing tints are versatile; carry a second lens if your mountain flips from milk to blue regularly. Helmets: prioritize fit and ventilation on the head you actually have; the safety story only works if the shell sits correctly and you keep it on when the pace heats up.

Why riders care

SCOTT’s ski program blends two core ideas that matter to real skiers: predictable edge behavior when speeds climb, and a smooth, pivot-friendly feel when you need to make decisions in tight or 3D snow. Add optics that make flat light less punishing, helmets designed for the crashes you hope to avoid, and a design language informed equally by Alps testing and North American storm culture. From Stubai to Kaprun, from Whistler to Revelstoke, the through-line is the same: trustworthy tools that reward commitment without punishing everyday laps. That’s why SCOTT keeps showing up in the kits of skiers who value speed, clarity and calm skis underfoot.