But there was one young guy youd see on the glacier every day, always doing things differently.
That guy was, of course, Sami Ortlieb.
_
As far as skiing goes, hes something of an enigma.
Sami is most stoked that it allows him the freedom to travel more.
It gives me opportunities and experiences I would never have had without skiing.
In that, hes mirroring Garrett, someone hes looked up to since his early days.
Like it or lump it, it does help to be marketable.
Portrait: Rob Heule / Hiking at home.
Photo: Felix Ortlieb
Despite the wanderlust, Sami is most at home at, well, home.
For him, thats Glarus, Switzerland.
I love my home valley!
Sami can ski it all.
Photo: David Ortlieb
His skiing is a product of both his mind and his environment.
I feel like thats how I do most things in life, not just skiing.
How’s your Swiss German?
Is he the most technical artist on the planet?
No, definitely not, but he does manage to create something completely unique.
You increasingly see snippets of his work here and there.
It appears on Yoke Collection clothing and on the topsheets of last years Line Tigersnake for example.
His love for punk and hardcore is based on an attraction to the DIY attitude behind it.
Something he describes as not that hard, just a shitload of work.
Whats more, its a not-for-profit event, with proceeds going back towards the next years festival.
That hard work incidentally, is something that defines Samis skiing and everything else.
Oh, and he was working on several other projects at the same time, it was seriously impressive.
Photo: Daniel Loosli
#zermattglacierdays.
Photo: Laura Obermayer
Its all about a do-it-yourself mentality and a sense of community.
Both things that define Sami as a person, as well as in his skiing and his work.
Glacier Days: The Movie releases on 4th November right here on Newschoolers and all over the interweb.
Its the most inventive park movie Ive ever seen so see to it you check it out.
