My primary focus in sports photography is with ski racing. The 2023/2024 season was limited due to a severe lack of snow in the Midwest and many events were canceled. Hopefully next season will be better.
I Photograph ski racing and freestyle events of FIS, US Ski and Snowboard and World Pro Ski Tour. I also photograph local races and freestyle events in Minnesota.
I’m an accomplished skier. I race. I do bumps. I do backcountry. I’m at home in deep power and also ice. And I even been on helicopter trips. So photographing skiing is a natural fit for me.
Ski Racing
I have a racing background and It’s fair to say I know my way around a race course. I have been praised before by event workers and organizers how they appreciate my “no issues presence” on the course. My racing background is a big reason why. Yes, they have all had issues with photographers in the past, falling down, getting in the way, getting too close, etc. I stay on my skies most of the time which gives me the agility to change positions and get a variety of shots. I usually shoot with significant telephoto which means I do not have to get that close to the racers. So basically I get good photos without ever being in the way, at risk and usually not even noticed that I’m there.
Also, because I’m on skis I usually get to know the racers when riding the chair or congregating at the start or finish. Knowing the people you’re photographing makes for better photos.
I photographed the World Pro Tour in TAOS for the first time this year and I am planning on photographing more events for now on. When I asked for a press pass they didn’t hesitate to give me one. Being a ski photographer from Minnesota and being affiliated with several of the race teams here really resonated with them.
Freestyle Events
I also photograph freestyle events in Minnesota primarily moguls and aerials. Minnesota has a few freestyle teams and they are gaining momentum. They are good athletes and I predict we’ll start seeing them advancing to the world stage. Minnesota also already established itself with ski racing and I’m sure the same will happen with Freestyle.
Ski Teams
Local youth ski teams that I typically photograph are with the US Ski and Snowboard Central Division. This division includes Buck Hill, Team Gilboa, Four Alpine, Team Afton, TB Fast and Team Duluth.
I haven’t made it to a college events yet in the Midwest but next season I will. However, many of the college racers have been attending the US Ski and Snowboard events. The USCSA teams in my region are University of Minnesota, UMN-Duluth, University of St. Thomas, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, UW-Madison, and St. Olaf.
Photo Albums
These are some of the ski events I have posted on Instagram.
I photographed the World Pro Ski Tour World Championships at TAOS this year. This is one of the more interesting race formats and is very interesting to see and photograph.
The Nagy races are held at Mt. Lacrosse in Wisconsin every year. This is a US Ski and Snowboard event for youth racers. This is also a FIS qualifying event. There are over 600 hundred racers and several courses. I believe this is one of the bigger ski racing events in the US. It’s impressive.
Trollhaugen ski hill had their pond skip and a freestyle event the same day.
There is a Mogul competition every year at Buck Hill.
The Planet Cup was held at Wild Mountain the same time as their pond skip. I photographed both. It was very busy day.
Spirit Mountain had a lot of freestyle boarders and skiers out this weekend. You’ll see a lot of aerials.
The US Ski and Snowboard Central Division has races at Welch Village every year. However, in 2024 it was canceled due to a lack of snow.