close-up series

emma cook-clark

What do firefighting, top podium finishes, and contagious energy have in common? Mountain runner Emma Cook-Clarke. “Motivated by the pure element of running,” Emma finds no limits in what she can do when “up high and greeted by the incredible and unique terrain the mountains deliver. Out there, it’s hard not to feel giddy and energized.” Up with Emma Cook-Clarke.

Camera: El Flamingo

amity warme

Coming into the climbing world relatively late, Amity has quickly established herself as one of the world's best big wall free climbers. With four free routes up El Cap under her belt, plus a plethora of other difficult multi and single-pitch climbs, Amity’s quick success on stone is unheard of. Her secret? “Trying REALLY hard,” she says. “I can work hard, I can try hard, and I can give absolutely 100 percent,” she says.

Camera: El Flamingo

sandy ward

Sandy Ward, or Kelkeláokik in her traditional language of Ucwalmícwts from the Líl’wat nation, was an inaugural member of the First Nations Snowboard Team, riding in halfpipe competitions across the globe. Now a snowboard, mountain bike, and climbing coach, she’s passing on what she's learned from her time in the mountains. Connecting as many people as possible to the outdoors through her community groups, Indigenous Life Sport Academy and Indigenous Women Outdoors, is her passion.

Camera: Jake Forsythe

eric carter

The mountains are a puzzle; the right pieces must fit together to make the end payoff big. Whether it’s navigating the climb up or selecting the line down, choosing the right gear, or all the training in between, ski mountaineer Eric Carter finds “incredible appeal in solving the mountains’ problems as they arise.”

Get Close-Up with Eric Carter.

Camera: El Flamingo

elena hight

Elena Hight burst onto the snowboarding scene at a young age and quickly gained recognition for her talent and innovative riding style. Elena made history by becoming the first woman to land a double backside alley-oop rodeo in competition. Competing on both the Winter X Games and the Winter Olympics. Her dedication and achievements have solidified her status as one of the top female snowboarders in the world.

Camera: Leslie Hittmeier

max kroneck

Max’s love of the mountains lives in everything he does. A professional skier, photographer, and guide, he has a way of seeing nature from many different perspectives. His unique view of the mountains shines through in the creative ways he rides and the spontaneous moments he captures, all driven by his true passion for majestic peaks, valleys, and ridges. “Somehow it feels totally different to stand on the mountain if you travel there by yourself. Those are the rare moments when you work a little bit more and enjoy them way more.”

Camera: El Flamingo

michael gardner

Mike Gardner’s goal isn’t a mountain peak or a big championship, it’s to be someone who is undefinable. Known best for his climbing pursuits and skiing accomplishments, Mike is way deeper than that. From skateboarding to skijoring (that’s skiing behind a horse!) to having as many amazing new experiences as he can, this guy is passionate about anything that makes life interesting. “I don’t like labels. I don’t want to be defined as a skier or a climber because that only tells half the story. That tells what I do, not who I am.”

Camera: Leslie Hittmeier

maude besse

Professional freeride skier, Maude Besse lives to be immersed in nature. Charging down mountain faces around the world is one of her favourite ways to get into it. Her deep connection to nature came from growing up on an organic farm in beautiful Val De Bagnes, Switzerland, and the majestic forest surrounding it. No matter how far away skiing, drawing, or traveling takes her, Maude knows that “Every time I arrive back home I reconnect very easily with everything, just because of nature.”

Camera: El Flamingo

russel winfield

The world’s first African American professional snowboarder in the 90s and now an inspiration to a whole generation of snowboarders through his AYEE-ESSE movement, Russell Winfield is a living legend. His creativity, style, and positivity bridge the gap between outdoor activity and street culture, bringing countless people to the joy of mountain adventure. “For me, to be a joyful human is to always be learning, always be growing.” Get Close-Up with snowboarding icon, designer, and Arc'teryx ambassador Russell Winfield.

Camera: El Flamingo

silvia moser

You may know Silvia for bursting on the scene with a second overall finish during her rookie season on the Freeride World Tour, on her way to several National titles for her skiing. As impressive as this is, Silvia is dedicated to something much bigger – lifelong learning. In between ski sessions, she's earned a university degree, become a sommelier, and is stepping up as the third generation to run her family business. “In the mountains, but also in life, there’s always learning, and you never stop learning. Even if I skied my whole life until now, tomorrow I will learn something new, and I love that.” Get Close-Up with this lifelong learner and Arc'teryx athlete Silvia Moser.

Camera: El Flamingo

stinius skjøtskift

What do you get when you combine mad ski racing skills with a love of skateboarding and music? You get Stinius Skjøtskift — a rhythmic freeride skier who glides to the beat of his own drum. And when he isn’t dropping into huge mountain faces or skating the streets, he’s dropping heavy beats as a live DJ. “Music is influencing my skiing a lot. Especially, if the conditions are great and I have a great track – my skiing gets so much better.” Get Close-Up with freeskier, DJ, and Arc'teryx athlete Stinius Skjøtskift.

florian reichert

Former German road marathon and ultra-trail champion Florian Reichart has evolved into much more than a mountain runner. Also a high school English, Spanish, and PE teacher, he’s using the inspiration he finds in the mountains to challenge a whole new generation to discover their inner passion. “My days as a top-notch athlete are counted. I see myself now entering a role as a mentor and motivator. It’s a whole other dimension of sport.” Get Close-Up with teacher, inspirer, and Arc'teryx athlete Florian Reichert.

Camera: El Flamingo

edgar cheylus

French and European Junior Freeride Skiing Champion, Edgar Cheylus thrives on creativity. He loves to meld the skills he learns from surfing, kiteboarding, and skateboarding into his skiing and vice versa. And why stop the creativity there? Now he’s starting to design and build the tools he uses on the water and the mountain.

Camera: El Flamingo

mina leslie-wujastyk

Mina loves climbing; stretching her limits, exploring movement, and immersing in the experience. So what happens when she adds a baby to the mix? “When you’re climbing it is very all-encompassing, and that’s part of the joy of it. I absolutely LOVE being a mama but it’s also challenging to have that level of involvement and look after a child at the same time.” Being a mother has challenged Mina with finding a whole new kind of balance.

Camera: El Flamingo

hamish mcarthur

The 2021 Youth World Champion in bouldering and lead climbing, Hamish’s path to success has been a unique one. As the youngest member of Team Great Britain at the age of 12, he won everything he entered for years. Then flash forward to competing for his country, and he couldn't break past the 4th spot. A COVID-forced break changed everything. With no pressures, no distractions and no real reason to climb at all, Hamish found the next level – by simply climbing for himself. Instead of thinking too much, he went back to the basics “I started to climb more naturally like an ape or monkey. Trying to not try so hard.”

Camera: El Flamingo

henriette albon

All in, that's the mentality that Henriette Albon lives by. After having an epiphany and deciding to leave her 50-hour-per-week day job. Henriette packed her things and moved to the northernmost part of Western Norway, Møre og Romsdal. She's never looked back. Her life now revolves completely around her dream of being the best professional trail runner that she can be.

Camera: Erik Nylander

johanna åström

When Johanna entered her first Skyrace in the summer of 2019, on a whim, she came second. A month later, the then 24-year-old unknown from Sundsvall, Sweden, broke the course record on the most technical Skyrace of the Migu Run Skyrunner World Series. Despite her immediate success, Johanna doesn't see herself as overly competitive. She just wants to have fun and test herself while doing it. Luckily for her, running straight uphill fits her definition of a good time.

Camera: Erik Nylander