Chamonix, France

Name a person who inspires you to be a better skier/rider?
Marcel Hirscher.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Bring all my friends to Alaska for a few weekends of Heliskiing.

Best meal you can cook?
Impressed of my own BBQ skills.

The most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this year? (books, podcasts, TV shows)
Hans Roslings book, "Factfulness".

Highlight memory from filming with WME for this year's film?
Meeting a lot of new friends.

Gear you are loving right now, on or off the ski slopes, and why?
My new rocket espresso machine, because i just love coffee.

What is a cause you care about that you'd love to share with the Warren Miller audience?
Higher safety awareness in the backcountry.

Do you have any sponsors, if yes, who?
Helly Hansen, POC, Head, NOCCO

Name a person who inspires you to be a better skier/rider?
Mikaela Shiffrin inspires me to be a better skier because she is always improving, working harder, skiing faster and performing under pressure. I want to push the limits of skiing like she does. I also am incredibly inspired by Christina Lustenberger because I used to watch her race when I was growing up and now I get to watch her completely shred big mountains.

In lieu of our 70th film, what’s your most memorable or favorite Warren Miller film or segment – past or present?
Steep and Deep- 1985, Flow State- 2012

What would you do if you won the lottery?
I would buy my first car :) I would fix up our buildings at my grandparent's tree farm. I would travel to all the places I’ve dreamed of. I would help young athletes be able to afford to go skiing!

Best meal you can cook?
Curried, quinoa, currant, mango, pepper salad

Favorite chairlift and why?
The old chairlifts at Red Mountain because they are so old school and slow. You get to take time to appreciate where you are, make friends with the locals, rest your legs, and plan your next epic run!

The most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this year? (books, podcasts, TV shows)
The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, Podcasts- Finding Mastery feat Jewel, 10% Happier feat Brene Brown

Fictitious character you most identify with from a book, movie, etc. and why?
I’m not sure. Maybe Jess from New Girl because she always has the best intentions and tries to be helpful, however somehow messes up and ends up apologizing... mix that with a healthy dose of awkwardness and positivity and that might be me...

Highlight memory from filming with WME for this year's film?
I have too many to count. First, the epic pow heli-ski day on my second-day filming. Second, spending the night at the Argentiere Hut in Chamonix and waking up in darkness to start filming. Third, jumping out of a helicopter to get to one of the lines I was about to ski.

Gear you are loving right now, on or off the ski slopes, and why?
My Rossignol skis- all of them because they are solid, turn fast and are always improving (SL, GS, Black Ops, Touring set up) My Helly Hansen set up because it is stylish, functional and it keeps getting cooler every year. My jet boil because who doesn’t like warm beverages everywhere they go. My headlamp because... I just love it in a nerdy sort of way.

What is a cause you care about that you'd love to share with the Warren Miller audience?
I have a huge passion for trying to keep girls in skiing. I am so sad when I see girls drop out of racing for a number of different reasons. I hope that the WM movies inspire these girls, I hope that I can be relatable in my career, and I hope more than anything that these girls continue to love to ski, whether it is racing, powder or just as a hobby. Check out “Fast and Female.”

Do you have any sponsors, if yes, who?
Rossignol, Look bindings, Helly Hansen, Dainese helmet, Level gloves, Leki poles, Oakley goggles/sunglasses, Polar Asset Management Partners, Martha McCarthy & Company

Current favorite piece/pieces of gear? Why?
The Atris skis by Black Crows. I can take them anywhere and I know I'll be able to shred whether the snow is awesome or really bad. And I like to wear the Black Crows Corpus jacket and pants, it's a 3-layer Gore Tex outfit with a big mountain touch, but it also works for touring and summits, it looks like a parka , I pretty much wear it all winter.

What’s your “Back in my day, we…”?
... we could handle skiing all day every day, sometimes in exotic locations, and then party at night where things would sometimes get intense and exotic as well!

Who has inspired your skiing the most?
It's not really a specific person, even though I had "ski heroes" when I was younger, but when I reached my 20s, what motivated me the most was the whole discovery and travel side of skiing. Reaching new peaks, discovering new lines... Skiing's the best excuse to try and lead as free a life as possible.

Best recovery exercises?
Hot lemon water and a sauna.

Ideal down day?
I can think of a few options, but nowadays, it would probably be watching a Korean movie in a small theater in the Latin quarter in Paris, then have a coffee on a terrasse.

Favorite on-mountain fuel/snack?
Well, I'm french, and I come from the mountains, so without any hesitation: saucisson, cheese and bread. In the sun please.

Spiciest/most intimidating line you've skied or ridden this year?
Nowadays and for the past ten years, ever since I launched Black Crows, I spend the better part of my days behind a computer. I have less time to ski but as soon as I get a window I get out there, I need it so bad, it's my whole life, but I'm also a mere office guy, as they say...This winter for the Warren Miller shoot, the most intense moment was probably when we were on the North Face of the Aiguille du Midi. The light was really poor and we had to wait close to an hour on the face to try and see the terrain. The light never came, but we had to go ahead and ski down regardless. I hadn't skied the North face all winter and it was actually almost pleasant...

Goals in skiing/riding this next year?
I'm planning on going back to the Himalayas for a high altitude expedition. I haven't been back in years because my schedule is too heavy but I definitely want to head there and experience these unique times again.

What’s a great book you’ve read recently?
It's a book called "Le Lambeau" by Philippe Lançon, a french journalist. It's a tough read, really intense. It tells the story of a journalist who comes back from the dead after being killed in the Charlie Hebdo massacre (terrorist attacks in January 2015 against french journalists). It talks of his pain and his metamorphosis. It's really well written. A great book on life.

Favorite mountain range?
Every morning, when I wake up in my hometown of Chamonix, I look out the window and I see the Aiguilles of Chamonix and the Mont Blanc Massif and I never get bored. They look intense and different every day, it's been like that since I'm a child!

Working title for the book or movie about your life?
The Metamorphosis

Best moment filming with WME this year?
There were so many good times but the best was probably to shoot for something as iconic as a Warren Willer production alongside my long-time friends Michael Schaffer and Bruno Compagnet, whom I co-founded Black Crows with. We've been friends for over 20 years and we skied together way before Black Crows existed, so being able to shoot together just adds another cool page to our story.

How did Warren Miller the man influence your skiing/riding career?
As a teen in France, it was really hard to get our hands any American ski movies, but I have flashbacks from old Warren Miller VHS where skiing seemed so gnarly and exciting! My ski club buddies and I would come across a movie and we'd head straight to the mountain to try just about anything! Those movies lead the way to skiing heaven!

Current favorite piece/pieces of gear? Why?
My skis, the interface between me and the snow

What’s your “Back in my day, we…”?
We partied all night, skied all day

Who has inspired your skiing the most?
Franz Klammer

Best recovery exercises?
A good bottle of wine, cheese and charcuterie shared with my ski partners

Ideal down day?
Lie in, a good book, a sauna, a healthy meal.

Favorite on-mountain fuel/snack?
A big piece of artisan bread, lard du Val d'Aosta, garlic

Spiciest/most intimidating line you've skied or ridden this year?
Face nord du col du plan

Goals in skiing/riding this next year?
To ski good snow far from the crowds in wild places.

What’s a great book you’ve read recently?
Le sabot du diable Ken Nhum.

Favorite mountain range?
The one which is yet to be discovered in perfect conditions.

Working title for the book or movie about your life?
The tracked mountain

Best moment filming with WME this year?
The day we spent in the sun on top l’aiguille du midi.

How did Warren Miller the man influence your skiing/riding career?
It was a vision of an alternative ski lifestyle which didn't yet exist in Europe. It made me realize a career as a professional Skibum was possible.

Current favorite piece/pieces of gear? Why?
Black Crows Corvus Free Bird Ski- It's my one ski quiver for the backcountry designed for its versatility and its super pink so I am more approachable. Norrona - some of the best technical and most 'stylie' outerwear out there. Designed for any mountain adventure and more importantly with the environment in mind, using recycled materials which makes me feel good about the clothes I choose to wear out there!

What’s your “Back in my day, we…”?
Back in the day, we were fortunate to survive. Living the extreme lifestyle in Chamonix is finding out where the boundary lies.

Who has inspired your skiing the most?
My older friends were my heros. I would follow them around shredding the 'loup loup', or hiking all day for 10 pow turns. I'm so happy for that face shot we found. Scottt Schmidt early on, Remy Lecluse of Chamonix.

Best recovery exercises?
Acro Partner Yoga

Ideal down day?
Getting up and realizing it's puking so hard that I dont have to go and can relax for the day. So I can get some other stuff done and prepare for the next one.

Favorite on-mountain fuel/snack?
Kind vegan cookies man- OR Coconut Oil mixed with pure maple surap.

Spiciest/most intimidating line you've skied or ridden this year?
North Face Aguille du Midi - Frendo Solo exit with speed wing. 

Goals in skiing/riding this next year?
Enjoy the journey, realizing all the moments matter and we are apart of it. Oh, and skiing big mountains using the speed wing to exit where close out lines exist.   

What’s a great book you’ve read recently?
Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Did you say my favorite? Most recent I dont know, I am reading all the time to fly in the story instead of my mind. 

Favorite mountain range?
Washington Cascades / Mont Blanc Chamonix

Working title for the book or movie about your life?
Birdstory

Best moment filming with WME this year?
Following in the footsteps of Warren Miller and recreating some of the scenes he shot back in the day in Chamonix. Skiing powder on a perfect day at Grand Montet with Camille, not to mention the electro party that evening.

How did Warren Miller the man influence your skiing/riding career?
Since I was a little kid, I think Warren had the biggest influence on our small town of skiers. That he could travel around and make a life out of skiing, sharing and inspiring people. This set an imprint in my brain to do the same and here I am fortunate to be doing a little inspiring myself.

What do you enjoy doing to give your body a break? (Recovery routine, healing tips, etc.): TV-Shows. I love TV-Shows. Breaking Bad, The Wire, True Blood, Game of Thrones, Shameless. Love it all.

Can you tell us about some of the gear you were using in your segment with WME? Head Monster is a new line of all round backcountry skis. They work well for speed riding. Tyrol AAAdrenalin gives me the combo binding of racing performance and hiking. I wear a Berghaus Frendo Gore-Tex set. When it comes to the actual wing, Im using a specialized riding rig that is easier to keep off the ground compared to other wings. I use both helmet and goggles from Dr. Zipe. It’s basically skiing gear with a wing as an add on.

Other than professional athlete, what is your dream job? A Formula1 Race Car Driver!

Most memorable moment filming with WME this year? On one of our rides my leg-strap popped off high up on Mont Blanc. Bad experience. My equipment is my responsibility, and it was both scary and embarrassing to fail on equipment control.

Your idea of a perfect vacation sans skiing? West Coast of Africa. Pick-up Truck. A couple of surf boards and good friends.

Mantra to live by? Try to make the heart and brain move in the same direction.

Tunes to ski to? Massive Attack, great for freeride comps!

FEATURED ATHLETE: Marcus Caston

Name a person who inspires you to be a better skier?

The people sitting on the chair overhead.

 
Favorite classic ski film and why?

Beyond the Edge. Classic Warren Miller. 

 

What makes for the ultimate day on the mountain?

A good lunch break! I can't remember a bad day on the mountain with a good lunch.

 

 

 

Featured Athlete: JT Holmes 

 

 

Name a person who inspires you to be a better skier?

Shane McConkey (deceased), Timy Dutton (deceased), and Jeff Engergretson (alive and working for WME).

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Buy an airplane, payoff my families debts, then helicopter ski, or maybe purchase my own ski resort.

Breakfast of champions?

Breakfast sandwich from Wildflour Baking Company in Squaw Valley's Olympic House.

Favorite chairlift?

KT-22 at Squaw Valley.

The most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this year? (books, podcasts, TV shows)

Blitzed by Norman Ohler.

Fictitious character you most identify with from a book, movie, etc. and why?

James Bond because he uses clever pieces of gear to outwit his opponents with a confident swagger.

Highlight memory from filming with WME for this year's film?

Speedriding at Solitude right off the chairlift as well as in their nearly endless lift acccessed backcountry.

Gear you are loving right now, on or off the ski slopes, and why?

Alps & Meters Patrol knit sweater and their Alpine WInter Trouser. Both are warm, breathable and very stylish. I like their stuff because of the comfort and because I look different than anyone else on the mountain. I get compliments on my attire all day!

What is a cause you care about that you'd love to share with the Warren Miller audience?

Red Bull's Wings For Life. They raise money for spinal cord injury research.

How do you think the year 2020 will shape the future of skiing?

It was nice to stay at home and ski Squaw Valley rather than travel a bunch. COVID travel bans definitely had their silver linings.

What is your vision for the future of skiing & snowboarding?

I would like to see North American skiers and riders skiing with parachutes inbounds just like they do throughout Europe and Scandinavia. I have seen families of four with kids 11 and 14 speedriding like it is no big deal. In fact, it is not a difficult activity and it should not have the stigma of an extreme sport.

What do you do to calm your butterflies before a big line/moment?

Take slow deep breaths, then exhale with my lips softly closed but relaxed. This makes that horse like sound and flappy lip movement. If you are too tense to flap your lips, you should take a moment to calm down and push the fear aside.

Favorite classic ski film and why?

That is a tough one but it is hard to beat Hot Dog: The Movie. It is hilarious and captures the vibe of early days Squaw Valley freestyle skiing.

What makes the Warren Miller films different than other films you have done?

The cool thing about the Warren Miller program is the tours. Just the fact that it’s still based around having everybody in one room and you feel that energy and pre-season ski stoke, and that just really fires me up, to go and shoot stuff that I know is going to get people off their seats and just stoked.

So you have spent some time speed riding. Is it one of your favorite ways to ski?

Speed riding is adding a fourth dimension to skiing. Suddenly you're able to ski all sorts of places that otherwise aren't available, and you do that by flying over the sections that are un-skiable or even just undesirable to ski, and what that does is it allows you to just ski the highest quality ski experience, and then you're using the wind as transportation to the next high quality ski experience. It's almost gluttonous with the amount of fresh tracks we're able to get and the amount of fun we're able to have.

It's a pretty innovative way to ski, what motivates you to keep innovating?

First of all, it's just fun. Second, doing something new that is really uncommonly done or never done before, that adds kind of an exploration element to it where you feel like you're figuring something out and conquering new territory and it really kind of triggers a new type of motivation. You brainstorm something interesting to do and then you figure out what toys you need to bring or develop in order to make it possible and then when you do complete it, it's not only fun but also an accomplishment feeling. That's really what motivates me.

Anything you would say to someone looking to give speed riding a go?

Everybody needs to try speed riding. Put it on the bucket list and then scratch it off the bucket list and put it on the now list, because it’s just so dang fun. I know a lot about having fun - I'm an expert at having fun, and this is really fun. And it’s not that hard.

 

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Don't miss JT in our 72nd film, Winter Starts Now, dropping Fall 2021!