Featured Image: Faction Skis | Skier: Duncan Adams
They say that trickflation is running rampant in the streets. Every day, another 13-year-old stomps a dub 12, another quad backflip goes viral on Instagram, and another insane rail is conquered and moved past. With so much freeski talent flooding the internet, many say it dilutes the truly great skiers. The skiing and the tricks are just worth less. (Trick-inflation, come on, it's not rocket science.)
But I beg to differ. I'd argue that as more and more skiing is pumped into our timelines, it's simply an opportunity to reflect on what the sensational masters have contributed to our sport. It's a chance to compare with the abundance we have today, and to recognize that even with exponential growth rates in both sheer numbers and capabilities, there are still skiers who are untouchable. Duncan Adams is one of those skiers.
Quiet. Humble. Mustacheod. Fearless. These are a few of the qualities that could be used to describe Adams. One of the many freeski prodigies produced by the mountains of Vermont and later Colorado. His time with Faction, Level 1 and others took him from British Columbia to Europe, to Alaska to Utah and back again, letting him hone his skills around the globe and become one of the finest pow chargers ever to walk the earth.
To back up these high claims, we'll look at three pieces of evidence. Duncan's Athlete Edit and "Loose Ends" cuts from Faction, and his time in the cult classic "Lite Years" from The Big Picture crew. Buckle up and dim the lights, you're in for a goodie.
Up first, we have Duncan's Athlete Edit from Faction, a collection of his best shots from the 2018 film "This Is Home." It's a gleaming example of versatility on skis, bringing together clips from Montana's Flathead Valley, Utah's Wasatch Mountains, and Verbier, Switzerland. The combination of backcountry line choice, terrain awareness, and freestyle talent here is on another level.
Turn your gaze to "Loose Ends." Shot throughout the 2020/21 season, this is an epic barrage of sled laps, pow shots and stomps that make you question what your legs are capable of. I still think the tree tap (or bash) 360 at 2:01 is one of my favorite shots because of how casual he makes it look.
Last but not least, we have "Lite Years" from Sean Logan and The Big Picture crew. This iconic team put out some of the best work in the history of freeskiing during their run. Parker White, Chris, Sean Logan, Duncan Adams, and friends went to work, but their magnum opus, "Lite Years," stands apart. And yeah, you'll find Duncan snagging the closer with a beautiful cork 7 blunt to end the film. Watch it once, then watch it a few more times. It doesn't get any better.
