This shot was taken during a film shoot with the ski-movie company Teddybear Crisis while we were in Utah, filming for their self-titled (and so far only) movie. It was in February 2005. We had been working hard in the Wasatch backcountry for several days and had really good conditions, so we were almost happy when the weather turned shitty one morning. We slept in and decided to hit up the park at Park City. When we arrived at the parking lot in the afternoon, around 2 p.m., there wasn’t much time left — I almost left my camera backpack in the truck. I’m glad I didn’t, because a few hours later I had this photograph in the can.
This photo was taken from the slow chairlift that serves the public park in Park City and goes above parts of it down low. The first time I went up with the lift, I knew I wanted to create this photo. It took a few tries, but it worked out exactly as I wanted. Thanks to Henrik Windstedt (the rider in the shot), T.J. Schiller, Niklas Karlström, and Ashley Battersby for their effort this day. This photo became the cover shot for Powder Magazine in October 2005 — my first cover with that fine publication, which I’m very happy for.