Men's Journal

The Park City–based free-skier and X Games star has seven gold medals — and a nasty taco habit. 

As told to Megan Michelson

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My Portrait

My older brother Tyson, who helps run Armada Skis, did this charcoal painting of Bob Marley when he was in the eighth grade. My mom framed it for me. I have it hanging up in the hallway going into my room so you get a nice, mellow vibe before bed. 

My Taco

The best taco I’ve ever eaten is the carne asada Fatty Taco at Chronic Cantina in Costa Mesa, California. The place is right off the Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County. The seasoning they put on the meat is a ridiculous habanero chile flavor, and the salsa is a mild pico de gallo with tomato, onions, and chile. It’s not too spicy, which is how I like it.

My Music

I’m all about reggae dance-hall music. My favorite album is Cali P.’s Lyrical Faya. I’ll play it
really loud to get pumped up before I go skiing.

 

My High-Tops

I wear what’s comfortable: the same pair of shoes every day with a pair of extra-large sweatpants
and a hoodie, no matter where I’m going. Right now I’m wearing some yellow, white, gray, and tweed
Nike 6.0 old school–looking high-tops — actually, I’ve got some nice fucking shoes on right now!

My Memento

At the premiere of my film Believe, snowboarder Mikey Peterson gave me a dog tag with tan imprinted on it. Two months later, he was killed in a car accident, so the tag became that much more special. 

My Motivator

The day I left Montana to go to the Park City Winter Sports School in Utah, my attendance counselor
gave me a framed piece of calligraphy. It said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.” The saying is kind of lame, but it made me stoked to follow my goals. 

 

My Powder Stash

As a pro skier, I follow the storms and ski wherever the snow is good. Sometimes that’s Utah or St. Anton, Austria. But my favorite place is a cat-skiing lodge in Nelson, British Columbia, called Retallack, where
I’m an investor. The best run is named Big Woody. It’s a tree-skiing shot behind the lodge. You never
have to worry about hitting bottom.