[Camping out in the wild sounds alright if you get to rip pow like this. Photo: Zach Clanton]

Did you have any special expectations about this trip?

All I wanted was to get as close as possible to the nature that allows us to ride and do what we do. To be able to feel the cold at night, the effort during the day, and not just stealing a few turns in these surroundings and go away. The approach we took means you have to work a lot more to get where you want to and ride some amazing terrain and get into the steeps, but I must say the efforts have made was worth it and we got what we were looking for.

The big question: how scary is Alaska when lived like this?

Erm, very scary I would say! It has nothing to do with anything I’ve ever done before as a pro rider. I went to AK a few years back with the Rome crew, in the Aleutian islands, but it was totally different. In the middle of AK, everything is ‘more’. Bigger mountains, steeper, colder, bigger avalanches, longer distances… At the same time the conditions are also more stable, which is a real bonus when you’re out without a local guide. You just need to take it step by step and not try to do things too fast.

After this experience, where would you say is the best for you: a laser shaped megapark, or a virgin piece of steep backcountry?

It’s always so satisfying to drop in a laser shaped park in the early morning, and just take the maximum pleasure with it. It’s one of the best things that snowboarding has to offer. But when you arrive in an untouched backcountry zone, where there are no other boundaries but your imagination, it’s is a real life experience. You just have to pick your lines, choose the jumps, imagine your own park. It’s more effort, but it’s so amazing!

I got a little tired of spending days up there putting snow blocks on top of each other. I mean, I still like this vibe, but I mainly want to do other things.

How did you ended up teaming up with Picture Organic Clothing? Did you see any similarities in your approach of the mountain?

For sure yes. Picture was founded by three snowboarders in the beginning, so that put things in perspective straight away. Then when they decided to build a team, I was in a transition sponsor wise, so it was a perfect timing for both of us.

Is their ecological take on things is important for you, and was important in your decision to join them?

Absolutely. From the start they had this environmental approach, and this is very important for me when it comes to representing a brand. It seems to me so important to really start taking care of the world we live in, and especially those fragile ecosystems we evolve in. We need to think about the future generations, and I feel totally responsible as a person to take it upon ourselves to make those decisive changes we all need to make. I do my best – as everybody else I’m not perfect, but at least I try not to make things worse, and have that in mind all the time. So to ride for a brand that share those values is highly important for me.