Skier Sammy Carlson's Super Session

02:28 min • 22/12/2008

Sammy Carlson shows his Jedi skiing abilities at the Super Session at Grand Targhee. To see more of Sammy check out TGR's latest ski & snowboard film Under The Influence.

Big air

Athletes

Sammy Carlson

Locations

Grand Targhee

Sammy Carlson

Profile and significance

Sammy Carlson is a U.S.-born, Revelstoke-based freeski icon whose career bridges park innovation and backcountry mastery. Raised near Mount Hood and forged by endless laps at Timberline, he first stormed the contest scene with technical slopestyle runs and history-making tricks—most famously the first switch triple rodeo (2010)—before pivoting to film and deep-snow freestyle. The hardware is undeniable: X Games Slopestyle gold in 2011, three straight X Games Real Ski Backcountry golds from 2013 to 2015 (with a Fan Favorite sweep in 2015), and a FIS World Championships slopestyle silver at Deer Valley in 2011. Over the same arc he became the face of rider-led backcountry projects, headlining “The Sammy C Project” with Teton Gravity Research and later releasing “Over Time,” “GROWN,” and “ECHO,” statement pieces that codified a surf-informed, pillow-stacking style.

Today his name signals two things at once: innovations that changed what’s possible—switch takeoffs in real mountains, buttered doubles on natural rolls—and a movement language that any progressing skier can study. You can see the blueprint clearly in his clips: calm entries, patient pop, early grab definition, landings that read centered and inevitable. That clarity, plus a rare stack of medals across Slopestyle, Big Air, and Real Ski, makes Carlson one of the most influential freeskiers of his era.

Competitive arc and key venues

Carlson’s competitive résumé traces freeskiing’s evolution. He broke through in the late 2000s with X Games Slopestyle silvers (2007, 2009), added bronzes (2010 slopestyle, 2011 big air), and sealed the park chapter with Slopestyle gold at Aspen. Then he proved that film-grade creativity could be judged: Real Ski Backcountry golds in 2013, 2014, and 2015, where his precision on natural features outpointed the field and his 2015 Fan Favorite vote showed how strongly the audience responded. In parallel he collected World Championships silver in slopestyle at Deer Valley, confirming that his method traveled from edits to the start gate.

The places tied to his name explain the skiing as well as any podium. Timberline on Mount Hood delivered repetition and switch comfort, the raw materials for a first-in-history switch triple rodeo and years of technical slopestyle. Aspen Snowmass provided the broadcast-stage pressure where he took Slopestyle gold and later showcased creative takes on features under floodlights. Basing in British Columbia anchored the second act: the storm cycles and terrain above Revelstoke Mountain Resort turned into a classroom for pillow lines, wind, and speed management that define his Real Ski and film segments. Spring trips to Mammoth Mountain added XL build cadence and wind reads that sharpen big-feature timing when he wanted to return to jumps at scale.

How they ski: what to watch for

Carlson skis with economy and definition. Into a lip—sculpted or natural—he stays tall and neutral, sets rotation late, and locks the grab before 180 degrees so the trick breathes and the axis reads cleanly. On natural takeoffs he starts butters from the ankles and hips instead of an upper-body lean, which is why his nose-butter doubles feel suspended rather than forced. In pillows and cutbanks he favors lines that preserve speed, entering features square and exiting with shoulders aligned so momentum survives for the next move. Landings show soft ankles and hips stacked over feet; even on consequential terrain, recoveries look unnecessary because edge pressure is organized early.

On rails—less frequent in recent years but still visible—the same grammar holds: square entries, long-enough presses and backslides to be unmistakable, and quiet surface swaps that keep the base flat through kinks. Whether the backdrop is a contest jump, a Real Ski kicker in the trees, or a spine, the takeaways are consistent and teachable.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Film seasons are the backbone of Carlson’s legacy. “The Sammy C Project” reframed him from contest winner to backcountry author, pairing booters and technical lines with the same patient setups that worked in slopestyle. “Over Time” (with CK9 Studios) extended the language—pillow stacks, fall-line airs, switch takeoffs in places that once looked too chaotic—while “GROWN” and “ECHO” kept the focus on honest speed and compositions that show approach, slope angle, and body organization. That visual honesty is why riders and coaches still pause his footage for breakdowns; the shots teach as much as they impress.

His influence also runs through product and events. With Armada he shaped the Whitewalker series (116/121), pow-focused twins that reward buttered takeoffs and centered landings without folding at speed. Apparel with Quiksilver and long-standing support from Oakley and Monster Energy helped fuel a career built as much on films as on podiums. The through-line is intent: rather than chase every start list, he picked formats that rewarded touch and storytelling, then used films to raise the ceiling on what “slopestyle in the backcountry” could look like.

Geography that built the toolkit

Place explains the method. Mount Hood’s Timberline allowed nearly year-round repetition, perfect for codifying switch approaches, late sets, and clean grabs. Aspen’s stage at Aspen Snowmass added long decks, TV timing, and wind management under lights. The interior of British Columbia—anchored around Revelstoke—layered storm snow, pillows, and complex terrain where speed choice matters more than spin count. When spring jump blocks called for XL timing, Mammoth provided consistent shapes and the headwinds/tailwinds that decide whether a trick reads cleanly. Trace that map and you can see fingerprints in every clip: local-hill repetition, broadcast composure, and deep-snow decision-making that holds up at half speed.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Carlson’s current toolkit reflects his skiing. The Armada Whitewalker series gives a balanced, press-friendly platform that still tracks when you need to carry speed into a second feature; the 121 shines on storm days, the 116 covers most of the season. Outerwear and support from Quiksilver, optics from Oakley, and energy backing from Monster Energy round out a program built for film blocks and selective starts.

For progressing skiers, the hardware lessons mirror the footage. Choose a true twin with medium flex that you can press without folding, a mount close enough to center for neutral switch landings, and a tune that detunes contact points just enough to reduce hookiness while keeping reliable bite on the lip. Keep binding ramp angles neutral so you aren’t tipped into the backseat. More important than any single product is the process his parts model: film laps, compare shoulder alignment and hip-to-ankle stack against a short checklist, and repeat until calm entries, patient pop, early grab definition, and square-shoulder exits become automatic.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans care about Sammy Carlson because his skiing ages well. The clips prize timing, organization, and line design over noise, whether the camera is on a pillow stack in Revelstoke, a sunset jump at Mount Hood, or an Aspen feature built for prime time. Progressing skiers care because the same choices are teachable on normal resorts and real snowpacks: organize early, let the trick breathe, and land on edges you already prepared. Add the résumé—X Games Slopestyle gold, three Real Ski Backcountry golds with a Fan Favorite sweep, and a World Championships silver—and you get both proof and a path. In an era that demands creativity and craft, Carlson remains a reliable reference for how to make freeskiing look inevitable.

Grand Targhee

Overview and significance

Grand Targhee is a powder-first resort on the west side of the Tetons, perched above the town of Driggs, Idaho but located across the state line in Alta, Wyoming. It is the quiet, storm-catching counterpart to its famous neighbor over the divide, with a reputation for deep cycles, forgiving landings, and sustained, leg-friendly fall lines. The resort’s footprint spans 2,602 acres with a 2,270-foot vertical drop, six lifts, and an average of 500+ inches of annual snowfall, all spread over two primary summits—Fred’s Mountain and Peaked Mountain—with in-bounds, hike-only terrain on Mary’s Nipple when conditions allow. Those fundamentals make Targhee a go-to for freeskiers who value flow and snow quality over hype, and who want a mountain that rewards both progression days in the park and storm chasing in the trees and bowls. For official stats and current operating windows, start with the resort’s mountain information hub at Grand Targhee Mountain Stats.

The identity here is distinctly Tetonic but less crowded: frequent resets courtesy of west-side storm tracks, wide corridors that ride well in flat light, and ridge-accessed faces that feel adventurous without requiring full backcountry logistics. Add a calendar of grassroots comps and regional freeride events, a resort-run valley shuttle, and straightforward road access when the weather plays nice, and Targhee becomes an efficient base for stacking high-quality laps across a full week.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Targhee skis in three tiers. Fred’s Mountain delivers long groomers, glades, and side-hit lines that keep speed consistent in variable visibility. Peaked Mountain skis steeper and more open, with wind-buffed chalk between storms and drifted pockets that refill quickly. Above them both sits Mary’s Nipple, an in-bounds, patrol-managed, hike-only zone that opens in stages and offers short-but-serious shots when stability and coverage line up; the resort lists Mary’s as a distinct in-bounds objective within its mountain stats. The snow climate is reliably generous: dense, maritime-influenced flakes during active cycles create supportive takeoffs and landings, while clear, cold nights set friendly packed powder and chalk across north and east aspects.

Winter typically runs from late November into April (season dates vary by year), with January through early March providing the best balance of frequent refreshes and durable surfaces. Between storms, seek preserved snow on leeward bowls and in the mid-mountain trees; on bluebirds after wind events, ride upper ridges for chalk and scooped-out panels. Spring brings classic corn on solar slopes while higher, shaded lines stay wintry. Keep an eye on the resort’s trail maps and daily report to time rope drops and sector openings; both are updated on the operations pages at Trail Maps and the live Lifts & Trails Report.

Park infrastructure and events

Grand Targhee’s park program is purpose-built for progression. The crew rotates rail gardens and jump lines through the season, headlined by the North Pole Terrain Park when coverage and temperatures allow. Expect a steady cadence of homegrown events: USASA slopestyle and rail jams, boarder/skier cross weekends, and creative one-offs like the surf-inspired course at the Teton Surf Classic. Check the resort’s events listings for current dates, including the USASA park and cross competitions, the Teton Surf Classic, and seasonal takeovers such as Terrain Park Takeover. Park etiquette and safety are emphasized in the resort’s guidance—review the terrain park safety page before you drop.

Freeride culture is active here as well. Targhee has hosted IFSA qualifiers on Peaked Mountain and continues to appear on the junior and regional calendars; the current slate posts through the IFSA’s venue page and the resort’s events calendar. The mix—credible natural terrain with a consistent park under it—makes Targhee a productive filming and training base when you want to keep options open in shifting weather.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Most visitors stage in Teton Valley, Idaho. From Driggs, it’s a short drive up Ski Hill Road to the base area; the resort runs a valley shuttle with park-and-ride stops in Victor and Driggs and live bus tracking via its app (see Teton Valley Shuttle). From the east, travelers coming from Jackson cross on Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass; after 2025 reconstruction, the route is open, but winter storms and maintenance can trigger traction laws or short closures—always check the current status on WYDOT’s WY-22 page before committing. Inbounds, circulation is straightforward: lap Fred’s for storm-day trees and visibility, step to Peaked as light improves, and slot Mary’s once patrol opens the hike and stability is solid.

Flow tips are simple. Build repetition by choosing a two- or three-feature circuit in the park rather than crossing the entire hill. On powder mornings, ride mid-mountain glades while the upper routes are assessed, then follow patrol’s staged openings onto bowls and ridges. On wind-buffed days, hunt chalk on Peaked’s exposed faces and save low-angle trees for the afternoon. If a down day appears, the valley’s coffee-and-wax routine pairs well with short window sessions when the rope drops again.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Targhee skiers are pragmatic and avalanche-aware. In-bounds closures and rope lines are actively managed—respect them, especially around Mary’s and other hike-to panels. If you plan to tour beyond the boundary, treat the Tetons with full mountain discipline and start your day with the regional bulletin from the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center. Standard park etiquette applies: inspect features, call your drop, hold a predictable line, and clear landings and knuckles quickly so the lane keeps moving. Tree wells are a recurring hazard in deep Teton cycles; ski with a visible partner and avoid solo laps in refills. Note that the resort’s long-running cat skiing program on Peaked Mountain has been retired; lift-served and hike-to options now define the experience (see the resort’s announcement, “A Final Farewell to Cat Skiing”).

Best time to go and how to plan

For the highest odds of repeated refills and durable park lips, aim for mid-January through early March. That window typically brings frequent storms and cold surfaces that hold shape between cycles. March adds daylight and spring corn on solar aspects without sacrificing upper-mountain quality on shaded faces. Lock lodging in Driggs or at the base early for peak weeks, and build buffer time into any itinerary that relies on Teton Pass in active weather. Each morning, scan the resort’s lifts and trails report for wind holds, rope drops, and park updates, then plan by aspect and elevation as light and temperature shift.

Why freeskiers care

Because Grand Targhee converts powder and time into progression. You get a mountain that fills in fast and skis well in mixed light, a park program that favors clean, repeatable laps, and hike-to terrain that adds real consequence under patrol’s eye when conditions line up. The travel logistics are modest, the safety framework is clear, and the culture prizes flow over flash. If your goal is to stack quality runs, film without fighting crowds, and come home better than you arrived, Targhee earns a prime slot on the Western U.S. shortlist.

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.

Skier Sammy Carlson's Super Session

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Sammy Carlson

Grand Targhee

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