Balancing Act - Hunter Hess on the Olympics, MAGMA and More

Featured Image: Dasha Nosova | Skier: Hunter Hess

Hailing from Bend, Oregon, Hunter Hess has grown into one of the most notable figures in freeskiing. While he's currently carving out his spot on the most stacked U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Team in recent memory, his reputation is far beyond that of a comp jock. His ability to split time between filming and competing, doing each in a full-time manner, is damn-near unprecedented. His commitments require a level of determination unknown to most. Yet, with a laid-back attitude and a calm demeanor, Hess makes it look easy.

But what he's doing is exactly the opposite of easy. Alongside Alex Hall and Owen Dahlberg, Hess has created some of the culture's favorite films over the last few years under the moniker MAGMA. The three have built a brand that pulls together brilliant skiing and cinematography, creating short films that feel more like an art project than a ski movie.

And when he's not filming in the streets or the backcountry, you'll find him competing in the halfpipe. His rise on the World Cup circuit has been monumental, quietly amassing podium finishes and working his way towards a long-time goal: the 2026 Winter Olympics. His summer has been filled with training, working out the logistics of a film tour, and inking deals with global brands like Peak Performance as his notoriety rises.

But amidst all the hype, we wanted to find out how Hess manages to do it all, and by every account, do it all so well. With that in mind, we got on the phone to check in with one of freeskiing's most humble and accomplished personalities as the impending winter closes in.

FREESKIER: Thanks for talking, Hunter. Congrats on the recent deal with Peak Performance. 

Hunter Hess: Thanks, man! I’ve been a big fan of theirs for a while. I think the first time I spoke with them was a few years ago, but they were still primarily only in Europe at the time. I vividly remember being attracted to their colorways and fit right off the bat, and clearly, it left an impression because I was still hitting them up years later. It’s been rewarding to see this one come to fruition over time now that they’re in North America, and I’m grateful to be on such a talented team.

It’s a stacked crew. Which riders are you especially excited to spend more time with? 

That’s a tough question because they have such a deep list. I’d say I’m excited to work with [Alex] Hackel, Anni [Kärävä] and Svea [Irving], just to name a few off the top of my head, but I’m also really pumped to meet more of their freeride athletes who I don’t know yet. That’s an area of skiing that I hardly dabble in, but I want to explore more, and the Peak team is loaded with some of the best freeride skiers around. I’m pretty isolated in the halfpipe world right now, which I love being involved with, but hopefully by joining this team, I’ll get to travel and learn from those other riders I wouldn’t normally interact with.

What drew you to them initially, and are there any outerwear pieces that already have your eye? 

I think the two things that caught my attention were [Peak’s] colorways, aesthetics and durability. The Hipe shell jacket and the Frost Down puffer are two pieces that come to mind right off the bat. The HIPE coat is such a great shell, and it’s done me well in everything from dry pow to wet Pacific Northwest sleet. The Frost Down is just unbeatably warm. Both of those jackets have done me so well. And like I said, they last a long time, which you don’t always see from big brands these days. I’m in New Zealand right now, but I’m excited to get to try more [Peak] clothes once I’m back in the U.S. 

How’s New Zealand been treating you? 

It’s great. Lots of rain lately, but we’ve been surfing a bit the last few days, which has been epic. We’re pretty far south right now, but we’ll be heading back to Cardrona soon. That’s where we’ve been riding for the most part. A few people in our group have made their way to Treble Cone, which has seen great snow in the second half of the season, but I’ve been in the park.  

Despite a loaded schedule filled with sponsorship deals, filming with MAGMA and training for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Hunter Hess remains calm and composed.

Photo: Dasha Nosova

Is most of the U.S. Halfpipe team there? 

The whole [U.S.] team is here. I guess you could say we’re all in training mode, but the vibe is still very fun. I mean, we’re all great friends, so it never gets overly competitive or serious. I’d say we just get more and more focused, you know? A lot of other riders were out here for the Jossi Wells Invitational at Cardrona recently, which was awesome, but now it’s mostly national team members training here.

With the Olympics approaching, have you found yourself motivated by constantly focusing on that as an end goal? Or are you the type of person who performs better just taking it day by day?

I’m just trying to ski the best I can right now. For me, that’s always been the key, as opposed to focusing on what might be or how something could go down. I find it better to just stay present. There’s definitely a lot of pressure and competitiveness surrounding [the Olympics], and I’m not immune to that. I think it’s really cool and I’m so proud to be a part of it. I mean, my family is usually excited for my competitions, but they’re extremely pumped this year. And of course, representing my home country would be a huge honor. 

But at the end of the day, I’m treating it like it’s any other season, just a little more packed than years prior. I want to put in the work to be at my absolute best and not worry about others. My riding just feels like it’s in a great place right now. I have a lot of tricks in that bag that I’ve been working towards for a while, which is a very rewarding feeling, and something I’ll be proud of regardless of the results.

You sound pretty casual about it. 

Don’t get me wrong, I still really want to win. This is just the mindset that I think will carry me the farthest. Taking things one day at a time and focusing on myself helps me not worry about the extra stuff, which then lets me ski at my best. And I mean it when I say there are other competitions I want to focus on, too. We have the first edition of The Snow League coming up this winter, and that’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. But I’m really excited for it, and for the year as a whole.

Seems like a good mindset. You barely missed the Olympics in 2022. Is that fueling your drive at all? 

For sure. I think that’s part of why I’m trying to downplay it in my head. The Olympics are definitely something that, if you haven’t had it before, you want it even more. And I feel good knowing that I’ve learned so much since 2022. My riding has improved, I’m a much better competitor, and I know myself far better as a person. All these things add up, and I’m confident in how I want to present myself as a skier and a person now. I’m motivated and more prepared, which amounts to less pressure in a way, if that makes any sense.

Hunter Hess stacking clips in LAAX, Switzerland last spring | Photo: Dasha Nosova

Is that pressure something you’ve seen others struggle with? 

Yes. And I’ve struggled with that in the past, too, but I think thanks to my friends, family, sponsors and team, I don’t have the same stress in my career right now. I’m thankful that I’ve got great people in my corner. Maybe a good way to put it is that I’m personally driven, not externally pressured. Some riders apply that pressure to themselves, and some have a lot put on them by those outside factors I just listed. I feel lucky, because personally, I don’t think people expect shit from me, [laughs] and I mean that in the best way. I love being an underdog and, like I said, if I go out there and do the run that I’ve envisioned and worked towards for years, the end result has got to be good. 

Outside of the competition grind, you’re also constantly stacking clips. Putting together full films year after year with MAGMA is an incredible feat. Does that balance ever wear you out, or does it help in some way? 

It’s tiring to do both, but I love filming with Alex [Hall] and Owen [Dahlberg] so much and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I do think there’s a balancing act between filming and competing that helps me on some deeper level. I get to share my focus on each, so I’m never getting too burnt out on one. 

The latest MAGMA project, “TKO” is dropping this fall. What are you most excited about when it comes to this film?

I think this is the best movie we’ve ever made, if I’m being honest. We just got the final version back from our friend who finished the color grading, and it’s something special. It’s a testament to Owen’s skill and vision behind the camera. There’s a lot I’m excited about, but I’d say having Tom [Wallisch] in the project really brought it up a notch. Shooting street with him was such a cool experience; he’s the type of person who makes everyone around him better. When we first met up, I thought he was just shooting for his own thing, but when I found out he wanted to film for our movie, I let out a loud, “oh, f*ck yeah!”

He knows how to motivate people, that’s for sure. He’s always pushing you to get the next shot because that’s how he rolls. He never asks anyone else to do anything he wouldn’t do. He’ll shovel spots that he isn’t even hitting. I got to session a spot with him in Toronto, which is an amazing city for street skiing if anyone was wondering, and to see [Wallisch] stacking really high-quality shots and being as motivated to ski street as he was 10 years ago is inspiring to say the least. He’s the man.

From the top rope! Hess and crew grinding while filming for "TKO" | Photo: Owen Dahlberg

Are there any shots or segments in the film that stick out after watching the final cut? 

I’ll tell you that Alex’s closing segment almost had me in tears. It’s incredibly good, and he’s worked so hard to get to where he is. I hope people recognize that, because he really has just put in so much time and effort over the years, and it shows. I think everyone is going to be blown away.

Personally, I’m really hyped on the street clips I was able to get, as well as the backcountry shots. We filmed another segment in the backcountry around [Mount] Hood this year, which was special, being able to film close to home. Overall, I wouldn’t say there’s one shot that sticks out necessarily. But the film as a whole is definitely our best yet, so I’m proud of that. 

What do you hope people take away from the film? And on that note, how do you hope "TKO" and other MAGMA projects benefit freeskiing at large?

Good question. I just want people to leave feeling excited and motivated to get out there and do it for themselves. And that doesn't only apply to skiing. I hope that when people see MAGMA, they see something besides just a ski crew. I want them to see a group of friends who are passionate, and if we can inspire people to go out and follow their own passions, then we're doing something right.

To take us out, can you give one skier and one filmer you think everyone should be watching right now?

That’s tough. There’s so much talent out there right now. For a filmer, I’d say Brady Perron. I think Brady has the best style, and he keeps getting better every year. He blends so much into his work both in and outside of skiing. I can’t wait to see what he makes next. 

For a skier, I’d say either Jonah Williams or Tristan Fienberg. Jonah is an incredible skier and a better guy, always a blast to be around to watch. The way he takes his riding into the backcountry is something I want to emulate for sure. And Tristan is definitely someone to have on the radar. He’s on the [U.S.] halfpipe as well, so I’ve gotten to watch him develop such a unique, composed style. He just loves skiing with everything in him, and if you haven’t been watching him, now is a great time to start. But it’s hard to narrow it down. 

This question always reminds me of how lucky I am to be in freeskiing right now. People love to complain, but this is hands down the best time to be skiing. There’s so much creativity, so much passion in every corner of the industry. Each fall I see a new ski film from someone I’ve never heard of and it will get me more excited to ski than I’ve ever been before, so shoutout to everyone crushing it. I’m stoked to see what this winter will bring.