SLVSH || Ross Tester vs. Tristen Lilly at ALTA

21:34 min • 02/12/2025

We finally made it back to ALTA for a wild game of SLVSH between Ross Tester and Tristen Lilly. Check these guys out: https://www.instagram.com/ross_tester/ https://www.instagram.com/_____pants/ Beats by: Andrew Wickes.

Athletes

Ross Tester Tristen Lilly

Locations

Alta Ski Area

Ross Tester

Profile and significance

Ross “Boss Ross” Tester is one of the defining figures of modern big-mountain freeski, a rider who blends the speed and consequence of classic freeride with the trick vocabulary of slopestyle and big air. An American skier from Truckee, California, he grew up lapping the steep faces and cliff bands of Palisades Tahoe before basing himself in Utah to ski the deep, complex terrain of Snowbird and Alta Ski Area. On the Freeride World Tour (FWT) he quickly went from promising rookie to perennial title contender, earning FWT Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and establishing himself as a regular at the sharp end of the overall rankings. At the same time, his solo film project “Here 4 Now” and his resort edits have made him a reference point for fans who want to see how world-class freeride technique looks on everyday inbounds terrain. Tester matters because he shows that you can ski huge lines with both imagination and discipline, treating style, safety and line choice as parts of the same equation.

Competitive arc and key venues

Tester’s path to the top of freeride ran through junior freeride clubs and the North American qualifier circuit, where he learned to turn creative lines into consistent scores. His debut Freeride World Tour season in 2020–21 was explosive: he won two events and arrived at the Xtreme Verbier finale in Switzerland as a genuine threat for the overall title, ultimately finishing just shy of the championship but locking in the Rookie of the Year award and announcing himself as one of the most complete riders on the tour. In 2022 he backed that up with another strong campaign, stacking podiums and ending the season third overall in the Ski Men rankings. After stepping away from the tour schedule to reset and film, he returned in 2025 as a season wildcard and immediately proved he still had the edge, winning the Baqueira Beret Pro on the steep La Bamba venue in Spain and taking second place at the legendary Xtreme Verbier, finishing sixth overall for the year. Moments like his now-famous one-ski descent at the Georgia Pro after losing a ski on a 360 underline just how thin the line can be between highlight and crash reel at this level.

How they ski: what to watch for

Ross Tester’s skiing is built on a foundation of strong fundamentals, but what stands out to viewers are the decisions he makes under pressure. He is known for meticulous face inspection, picking lines that string together several high-value features while still offering realistic margins of safety. On snow, that preparation translates into an easy-looking rhythm: fast, fall-line skiing punctuated by big, controlled airs and clean rotations. His signature moves include large backflips into steep landings and well-spotted 360s off natural takeoffs, tricks that would not look out of place in a slopestyle course but are performed over exposure and complex terrain. When you watch a Tester run, pay attention to how little he scrubs speed between features, how early he commits to his takeoffs and how precisely he lands in tracked or variable snow. For progressing freeskiers, his clips are a masterclass in setting up tricks with smart approach angles and using body position and absorption to keep landings tidy enough for immediate turns.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Stepping away from a successful competition career is a risky move, but Tester used his time off tour to expand his impact on freeskiing. His 2024 film “Here 4 Now” focuses on presence rather than podiums, following him through resort laps and backcountry days around Palisades Tahoe, Snowbird and Alta while he reflects on what it means to be fully engaged with the mountains in front of him. The project shows a more contemplative side of an athlete fans usually see only in bibs and start gates, and it highlights his versatility on everything from hardpack groomers to storm-day pillows. At the same time, his resilience is obvious in how he returned to top form on the 2025 FWT after a break, and in how he handles inevitable setbacks such as crashes or missed tricks. That combination of competitive seriousness, creative filming and a grounded attitude has made him a role model for young freeriders who want to chase big goals without losing the joy that drew them to skiing in the first place.

Geography that built the toolkit

Tester’s skiing makes sense when you look at the places that shaped him. Growing up in Truckee meant constant exposure to the cliffs, chutes and technical lines of Palisades Tahoe, a resort famous for its film history and high-consequence terrain. There he learned to read wind-lips, navigate firm landings and use natural terrain to build freestyle-inspired airs. Relocating to Utah to study and ski brought another set of tools: the deep storms and tight canyons of Snowbird and Alta Ski Area forced him to manage sluff, changing snowpack and reduced visibility while still moving fast. On the Freeride World Tour he added yet more layers, adapting his riding to European venues such as Baqueira Beret in the Val d’Aran and Verbier 4Vallées in Switzerland, where massive faces, long runouts and variable conditions demand precise line planning. All of that geographic variety shows up in his skiing: he looks at home whether he is threading exposure on a Swiss face or blasting through playful side-hits on a storm day in California.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Like most top freeriders, Tester’s setup is built around reliability, power and safety rather than chasing the lightest possible gear. His support from Truckee’s Tahoe Sports Hub ties him closely to the community shop where skis are tuned for real conditions in the Sierra and beyond. In outerwear, he rides for Flylow, whose shells and layers are designed for the kind of storm days and long hikes that define freeride seasons. Avalanche safety is a non-negotiable part of his program, and his partnership with Backcountry Access reflects the importance of beacons, shovels, probes and airbags that are intuitive to use when things go wrong. On the hardgoods side, bindings from Marker, boots from Dalbello and freeride-oriented skis from Völkl give him a platform stiff and stable enough to handle 40-plus-degree faces and big landings. For viewers, the takeaway is not that you must copy his exact setup, but that a coherent system of trustworthy bindings, supportive boots, versatile freeride skis and competent avalanche gear allows you to focus on line choice and technique instead of worrying about whether your equipment can keep up.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans gravitate to Ross Tester because he represents a version of modern freeskiing where huge tricks, classic big-mountain lines and thoughtful risk management all coexist. His Freeride World Tour performances show what is possible when a rider brings a park-style trick bag onto genuinely serious venues, while his film work and resort edits show how that same eye for lines can be applied to lift-served terrain that many viewers know first-hand. He talks openly about preparation, inspection and safety, so aspiring freeriders can study not only what he does on the face, but also how he builds the confidence to do it. Whether he is standing on the podium at a major event, calmly skiing away from a massive backflip above exposure or carving a clean turn on a groomer, Tester offers a blueprint for skiing with creativity and intent. For anyone who loves freeride, slopestyle-inspired big lines or simply watching a skier unlock the full potential of a mountain, following Boss Ross is an easy choice.

Tristen Lilly

Profile and significance

Tristen Lilly is an emerging big-mountain freeski talent whose name exploded into wider view after a mind-bending run at the 2025 Kings & Queens of Corbet’s at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Raised in Bethel, Maine and shaped by long days lapping Sunday River, he represents a new generation of freeriders who arrive on iconic venues with a background that mixes race turns, park skills and playful all-mountain skiing. Now based in Salt Lake City, Utah and skiing nearly every day at Alta Ski Area and Snowbird, he’s built a reputation for sending large features with a slopestyle and big air trick vocabulary while still reading the mountain like a classic freerider. His third place in the men’s ski category at Kings & Queens, combined with a wildly creative “spin” into Corbet’s Couloir that went viral worldwide, has made him one of the most talked-about new names in freeski.

Competitive arc and key venues

Lilly’s competitive story starts in New England, where he grew up just down the road from Sunday River and spent most winter days skiing after school. A race background gave him edge control and comfort at speed on firm snow, but like many modern freeskiers he gravitated toward airs, side hits and rail features as soon as he could. After graduating from Telstar High School, he moved west to Utah, putting himself in the heart of Little Cottonwood Canyon and skiing Alta and Snowbird so often that their terrain became an extension of his imagination. From there he dabbled in freeride qualifiers and filmed short cuts, steadily building the experience needed to step into bigger arenas. That work paid off when he earned a place on the Freeride World Tour Challenger circuit and, in parallel, an invite to Kings & Queens of Corbet’s. On competition day in Wyoming, he launched into Corbet’s with a line that blended freestyle rotation and big-mountain consequence, landing third among skiers on the official podium while also winning over the audience through a separate People’s Choice voting. For a young rider, that combination of peer respect and fan hype is a strong sign that his trajectory is still pointed upward.

How they ski: what to watch for

Watching Tristen Lilly ski, the first thing that stands out is his comfort in the fall line. He tends to enter features with more speed than most, relying on clean body alignment and strong legs to control impact rather than constantly checking or scrubbing. His racing roots show up in the way his skis stay connected to the snow between airs, but his trick selection comes straight out of modern freeski culture: big backflips, floated 360s, and off-axis spins that would fit at a slopestyle or big air contest, adapted to natural takeoffs and complex landings. One of his signatures is how he uses small terrain ripples to set up larger motions, often rolling into a feature with a subtle butter or press before fully committing to the air. When you study his runs from Corbet’s or his Alta and Snowbird edits, look at how early he spots landings, how square his shoulders stay over his skis, and how smoothly he links a huge move back into regular turns. For progressing skiers, his footage is a great reference on bringing park-style creativity onto big-mountain faces without losing basic technique.

Resilience, filming, and influence

The Kings & Queens performance that put Lilly on the global radar was not just about one trick; it was about how he handled the entire run and the pressure surrounding it. Dropping into one of North America’s most famous couloirs with a complex spin, dealing with the chaos of landing, and still fighting to keep the line on track shows a level of resilience that resonates with other riders. In interviews after the event he spoke about the support he felt from friends in Utah and back home in Maine, underlining how much community matters in freeski culture. Away from that single contest, he has quietly built a catalog of edits, including short films from Alta and Snowbird and travel clips from places like Nevados de Chillán in Chile. These pieces show the same personality you see in competition: a “professional fun haver” who mixes serious terrain with a light touch and constant stoke. His recent all-mountain SLVSH battle at Alta against Ross Tester further showcased his creativity under the camera, this time in a game-format where each trick demands precision on command. All of this makes him increasingly influential among young freeriders looking for examples of athletes who can both compete and simply enjoy skiing hard with friends.

Geography that built the toolkit

Lilly’s skiing makes sense when you look closely at the places that shaped him. Bethel and Sunday River gave him thousands of laps on firm East Coast snow, learning to carve on icy mornings and send local cliff lines with limited landings. Trails like the steep, sustained pitches the resort is known for forced him to develop strong legs and precise balance long before he started appearing in major freeride lineups. Moving to Utah opened a completely different chapter: Alta and Snowbird offer deep storms, tight chutes and long fall-line bowls, demanding awareness of sluff, variable snow and exposure. Skiing those areas almost daily for years evolved his style into something uniquely adaptable, comfortable spiraling off a windlip one day and threading a technical chute the next. Occasional trips to the Southern Hemisphere, including sessions at Nevados de Chillán in the Chilean Andes, added volcanic terrain and long, flowing faces to his internal map. Put together, this geographical mix is why he can look just as at home dropping into Corbet’s Couloir in Wyoming as he does cruising side hits on a random weekday in Little Cottonwood.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

On the gear side, Tristen Lilly’s setup reflects the demands of modern freeride rather than a quest for ultra-lightweight kit. As a team rider for K2 Skis, he relies on freeride-oriented shapes that can charge fast, stay stable off large drops and still feel playful enough to slash wind lips or spin off natural features. His outerwear partner, Mountain Hardwear, outfits him in technical shells and insulation built for long storm cycles, bootpacks and the mix of wind and deep snow that define life in Little Cottonwood Canyon. One of the most visible elements of his kit is his choice of bamboo poles from Grass Sticks, whose durability and feel complement the hard-charging, big-air style that made his Kings & Queens run so memorable. While his avalanche tools and protective pieces are less public, the venues he skis demand a full safety mindset: beacon, shovel, probe, and appropriate packs are standard. For everyday skiers watching him, the takeaway is not to copy every brand, but to think about building a system that matches their ambitions—solid freeride skis, supportive boots and outerwear that keeps you warm and dry enough to focus on line choice and technique.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans gravitate toward Tristen Lilly because he feels both aspirational and relatable. He is not yet an Olympic medalist or a multi-time World Cup champion; instead, he is a rider who grew up on a regional hill, worked his way through local scenes and now stands on one of the most intimidating start gates in freeride, delivering runs that push the progression of big-mountain tricks. For skiers from smaller resorts, his path from Sunday River to Salt Lake City shows that a strong foundation on “ice coast” hardpack can absolutely translate to major freeride venues. For those interested in slopestyle, big air or even urban and street skiing, his lines demonstrate how that trick-based language can be adapted to natural terrain without losing respect for exposure and snowpack. When you watch his footage, you see more than just a viral moment—you see a skier who treats fun, creativity and calculated risk as equal priorities. That balance is exactly why he has become a name to watch for anyone who cares about where freeskiing is headed next.

Alta Ski Area

Overview and significance

Alta Ski Area sits at the top of Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon and remains one of the world’s purest expressions of lift-served skiing. It is a skiers-only mountain with a deep-snow reputation that regularly draws storm chasers, strong locals, and international visitors. The mountain’s identity is built around fall-line steeps, long powder traverses, and classic bootpacks rather than parks or pageantry. Alta connects with neighboring Snowbird via terrain links for those holding the joint Alta-Bird ticket, expanding options on big days without losing Alta’s timeless character. Its powder climate, rope-drop culture, and famous lines like High Rustler, Baldy Chutes, Ballroom, Devil’s Castle and Catherine’s Area have shaped North American freeskiing for generations.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Alta’s terrain stacks from sheltered spruce glades to open alpine bowls and rock-walled chutes. Collins and Wildcat face offer fast fall-line skiing and the gateway to the High Traverse, where patience and side-stepping unlocks steep shots such as High Rustler, Eagle’s Nest, and Eddie’s High Nowhere. Sugarloaf and Supreme rise toward Sugarloaf Peak and Point Supreme; when patrol opens Devil’s Castle, careful sidestepping along the traverse reveals long panels of sustained pitch with a true backcountry feel inside the boundary. The Catherine’s side delivers scenic, wind-buffed bowls and trees that ski beautifully after storms. Snowfall here is famously frequent and light thanks to canyon funneling and regional storm tracks; mid-winter is the sweet spot for repeated refills, while late March and April bring deep base depths, longer days, and periodic corn cycles between cold resets. Alta’s upper elevation, predominantly north-to-east aspects in key zones, and robust avalanche control program combine to keep quality high well after storms.

Park infrastructure and events

Alta does not operate a formal terrain park. Freestyle here is all-natural—wind lips, gullies, rock drops, and rollers are everywhere, especially around Wildcat and Supreme. If you want sculpted jumps or rails, the Alta-Bird connection and nearby Wasatch resorts cover that need; Alta itself stays focused on classic terrain. On the events side, the mountain’s culture centers around community racing and stewardship more than big-budget competitions. The long-running Town Race Series brings locals together through winter, and the Alta Environmental Center anchors an annual Alta Earth Day gathering that blends skiing with education on watershed, ecology, and climate. Event calendars and status are best checked directly with Alta.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Reaching Alta means driving State Route 210 up Little Cottonwood Canyon or riding transit. Winter operations in the canyon are unique: storms can trigger avalanche control closures, uphill restrictions, and occasional “interlodge” periods when everyone must stay indoors for safety. Always monitor road status with UDOT Cottonwood Canyons before you go. To manage peak demand, Alta requires paid parking reservations on busy days and holiday periods; review current details and book through the resort’s channels at Alta Parking. Many skiers skip the car entirely and ride the UTA Ski Bus; Alta maintains a simple guide for Route 994 on its site at Ride the Ski Bus to Alta.

On snow, think in zones. From Wildcat/Collins, early laps up Collins let you time patrol work on Ballroom, the High T, and Baldy access. When Sugarloaf spins, you can shuttle quickly between high-alpine groomers and gate-controlled steeps; when the Castle or Baldy Chutes open, alert boards and word of mouth travel fast. Supreme is the call for Catherine’s—expect short sidesteps and smart traverses to milk stashes and wind-buffed shots. Beginners and families should stage out of Albion/Sunnyside, which has gentle pitches and direct access to ski school, while mixed groups can regroup at Watson Shelter mid-mountain. With an Alta-Bird product, an upper-mountain gate lets skiers slide into Snowbird’s Mineral Basin and beyond; make sure you can return to Alta via open routes and watch the clock in storm cycles.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Alta is proudly skiers-only, and that policy is part of the place’s rhythm and history. Culture here values strong fundamentals, patience on traverses, and respect for closures. Rope lines and gates matter; do not duck ropes or poach when terrain crews are working. When the High Traverse is busy, keep speed reasonable, hold a consistent line, and yield to those above you. On big cycles the Town Marshal may declare interlodge; if that happens, stay inside until the order lifts. For sidecountry or backcountry travel outside Alta’s boundary, treat it as true avalanche terrain and arrive equipped and trained. Inside the boundary, carry a small kit for variable weather, hydrate at altitude, and remember that classic headwalls can ski firm between storms—edges and tune matter as much as fitness.

Best time to go and how to plan

Storm frequency peaks mid-winter, but Alta delivers from opening through spring. If your priority is powder, target a flexible window from December through March and build your days around forecast timing, canyon control work, and lift openings. If you prefer sunshine and bigger objectives with stable coverage, late March and April can be superb, with periodic deep resets. Regardless of month, check the resort’s lift and terrain status and the daily weather/snow report before committing to a plan. Park your car strategy early—reserve parking for peak days or take the Ski Bus—eat early or late to avoid lodge rush, and be ready to pivot zones as patrol drops ropes across the mountain. Travelers combining resorts can leverage major multi-resort passes that include Alta access; see Alta’s pages for Ikon Pass, the joint Alta-Bird Pass, and Mountain Collective specifics.

Why freeskiers care

Alta is foundational for powder skiers because it rewards craft. The mountain doesn’t spoon-feed features; it teaches line choice, timing, and traverse etiquette, then pays you back with faceshots and long fall-line arcs when the ropes drop. Its mix of storm-soaked bowls, protected trees, and technical steeps gives you a different kind of “park”—one built by wind and gravity. Add the option to link with Snowbird on the same day, the authenticity of an independently run ski area, and a canyon where snow is still the main character, and you have a benchmark destination for freeskiing. If you come prepared, check the road, respect closures, and move with the mountain, Alta will show you why so many skiers plan their winters around it.

Brand overview and significance

SLVSH (pronounced “slash”) is a ski-culture brand and media outlet founded around a simple but powerful idea: bring the playground game of “HORSE” into the park and freeski scene by matching tricks between rivals and letting the video tell the story. The brand was co-founded by notable freeskiers Matt Walker and Joss Christensen as a way to inject creative freedom and fun into a culture increasingly dominated by judged contests. SLVSH has grown into an internationally recognized format and community hub, with apparel, video series, and global event tie-ins. For skiers who care about park laps, jib battles, street features and rider-vs-rider formats, SLVSH offers a unique, peer-driven alternative to traditional competition.

Product lines and key technologies

SLVSH is not a ski manufacturer; its core “product” is content and community. Under the SLVSH banner you’ll find the game format (head-to-head trick matching), video episodes, event series (such as SLVSH Cups) held at terrain parks and resorts, and a streetwear line including hoodies, hats and accessories. The apparel is often co-branded and available globally (e.g., via abstractmall storefronts). On the media-side, the brand uses filming and editing techniques suited to the park environment—tight follow-cams, rapid cuts, and multi-angle battles—to emphasise trick detail, reaction, and rhythm. The key “technology” is the format itself: no judges, just call a trick, the opponent lands (or doesn’t), someone gets a letter, first to spell SLVSH loses. This simplicity underpins the brand’s appeal.

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

SLVSH speaks directly to park, urban, and freestyle-oriented skiers who ride rails, boxes, jumps and street features and who value creativity, fun, and peer challenges. If you’re in the terrain park, enjoying jib setups, chasing friends on the rail line, or filming match-ups with your crew, SLVSH fits. The ride feel is loose, expressive and informal—less about maximal speed or big-mountain consequences, more about style, line choice, trick creativity and session banter. It’s ideal for skiers who view park laps as culture rather than contest rounds, and who like a format they can play with friends, record, and share.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

SLVSH has cultivated credibility via its athlete-led foundation and the adoption of its format by parks and resorts worldwide. Games and match-ups featuring high-profile skiers such as Joss Christensen, as well as grassroots entries, have helped the brand stay relevant. Its video series on YouTube show head-to-head match-offs at terrain parks from North America to Europe (e.g., SLVSH Cup Grandvalira). The reputation is of a brand that keeps skiing fun, accessible and peer-to-peer oriented—contrasting with high-stakes judged contests. While it may not carry the prestige of an Olympic or World Cup circuit, for the park scene it holds a meaningful place.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

SLVSH has roots in the modern park and freestyle community rather than a single geographic resort heritage. Its match-format videos and events have taken place at venues such as Penken Park (Austria) and the SLVSH Cup at Grandvalira (Andorra). The global reach includes U.S. park locations (such as Park City, Utah). Because the format is portable and doesn’t require infrastructure beyond a terrain park, the brand’s geography spans many popular freestyle hubs. It channels the spirit of open-session, game-driven skiing across continents.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

In the media and culture context, SLVSH’s durability is shown in its staying power—over a decade of match-games, videos, community visits and product drops. The game format remains relevant to emerging skiers and seasoned stylers alike. Sustainability-wise, the brand emphasises participation and simplicity. Because the barrier to entry is low (rent features, film a game), the format scales without large production overheads. On the apparel side, there is limited public data on material sustainability; the focus remains cultural rather than manufacturing. For the skier-viewer, the lasting value is the format and community more than a tangible gear asset.

How to choose within the lineup

If you’re a skier wanting to get involved: start by watching SLVSH videos to see how the format plays out in parks you know. Then arrange games with your crew—pick a feature, call tricks, record. Aim to replicate the style and pace you’ve seen so that your own edits look crisp and fun. If you’re a park or resort looking to partner: host an official SLVSH Cup or branded match session, film for social, invite riders of varying levels. For apparel: drop a hoodie or shirt from the SLVSH line if you’re into ski-street style and want a brand that signals park credibility.

Why riders care

Because skiing should be fun, peer-driven and expressive. SLVSH removes the intimidation of judged contests and replaces it with a format nearly any skier can join. It brings friends, features and filming together in a way that emphasises trick creativity, risk-taking and fun—whether you’re a 270 board-slide novice or a back-flip rail veteran. Its brand cues—bold graphics, playful identity, video match-ups—resonate with skiers who spend equal time filming, lapping features and pushing style. For the park crew, the hill is the playground and SLVSH gives you the rules, the format and the vibe.

SLVSH || Ross Tester vs. Tristen Lilly at ALTA

Athletes

Locations

Sponsors

Ross Tester

Tristen Lilly

Alta Ski Area

Recommended Videos