JOURNAL

Lou Dawson, a backcountry skiing pioneer, has shaped the sport from its early days to today’s global scene. From skiing all of Colorado's 14ers to documenting ski gear advancements, his memoir Avalanche Dreams reflects his evolution from daring skier to thoughtful alpinist. Tune in to hear about his adventures, spiritual journey, and insights on ski touring.

Mike Hattrup’s career spans from bump skiing champ to ski movie star to gear designer, leaving a mark on nearly every skier. From racing his siblings at Alpental to starring in Blizzards of Aahhh’s and building backcountry gear, Hattrup now directs skiing for Eleven Experience, guiding adventurers in Alaska, BC, Chile, Colorado, France, and Iceland. Hear his journey from pro skier to guide to gear innovator.

Drum roll, please… The 2025 Wagner Custom Fan Favorite Graphics Contest is here! We’ve curated our top 12 graphics from this season, and it’s up to you to choose the winner. By casting your vote, you’ll help nudge your favorite artist into the top spot, and you could also win some sweet Wagner swag as a thank-you for participating. Don’t miss your chance to vote and score some awesome goodies!

Aspen is enhancing its mountain experience through The Aspen Collection's partnership with Wagner, creating custom skis for Aspen and Snowmass terrain. Designed with local insights, these skis are ideal for everything from groomed runs to deep powder. Read more about this exciting collaboration and how it elevates your skiing experience in Aspen!

Amie Engerbretson, daughter of a pro skier and filmmaker, grew up ripping Palisades Tahoe. With a background in dance, she’s starred in numerous ski films, showcasing grace and flow. Now, she creates her own films, advocates for climate action, and empowers women to build confidence on and off the snow. Tune in to our podcast to hear how dance shapes her skiing and how to foster confidence on the slopes.

If there’s a sport that inspires more inventions than skiing, we have yet to see it. Why are skiers so prone to garage tinkering? It might be a mix of optimistic dreams—getting rich and skiing daily—or having too much free time (and weed) during long, cold winters. Curious about the weirdest ski inventions? Check out the summary for our favorites.

After dominating the slopes with the US Ski Team and completing many big mountain first descents, Kristen has become a fear and anxiety expert, helping clients manage the confusion and chaos of the emotion. In the latest 'Next Level Skiing' podcast, ski journalist Jason Blevins interviews Kristen to discuss her journey and insights on overcoming fear. Tune in now!

If you live on the East Coast, you can skip this article and move on to your next procrastination—you folks know what a sharp edge is. But the rest of us soft-snow snobs may need a little nudge to schlep our gear to the shop or even learn how to do it on your own. This is why tuning matters.

Pro skier Drew Petersen turned his struggles with mental health into a mission after a life-changing accident on Mt. Hood. His film Ups and Downs shares his story to help others, particularly in mountain towns with high suicide rates. In Next Level Skiing, host Jason Blevins interviewed Petersen just before the movie’s release in February 2024. Here's what he had to say.

Wagner Custom is honored to have a new series of topsheets designed by Lerew, which are stunning and psychedelic black-and-white images inspired by sound waves. To find out more about Lerew—and what musical genre he was listening to at the time of his creations—we caught up with him at his home in Denver, Colo. Here’s what he had to say.

When it comes to ski performance, most brands tout their latest tech. But what many brands don’t really talk about is where their skis are actually made. And, just like it does with automobiles or bikes or boats, the factory matters. Let's talk about why.

In the last 30-plus years, the ski industry has gone back and forth about women’s skis more times than Mikaela Shiffrin in a slalom course. First we needed them. Then we hated them. Then we loved them. And, now, we don’t need them—what is going on? Let's find out.

As a guide in some of the world’s rowdiest terrain, Grant knows how to settle skier jitters like no other. To find out just how she manages to help so many skiers be their best selves, our inimitable podcast host Jason Blevins caught up with her in January 2024. Here’s what she had to say.

There are some people in this world who inexplicably sparkle, like they toddled through a cloud of magic dust in some fairy forest along the way, and everything they touch sparkles, too. Artist Shannon Foley Henn, who designed our latest topsheet graphics, is one such person. We caught up with her to see what she had to say.

I once heard a celebrated ski racer of the 1980’s say to some admiring fans, “Yes, I stretch every morning.” He then mimicked a big yawn and stretched his arms up over his head. Here's what that skier didn't understand.