Alex Schlopy is no stranger to the camera, he has been featured in movies by Teton Gravity Research, Warren Miller, Rage Films and more. Schlopy’s resume reads like a professional skier in their 20’s but he is just 17 years old. In addition to having his whole career ahead of him, Schlopy is still experiencing the joys of high school; girls, adolescence, fun, sports, homework. Wait a minute, HOMEWORK? That’s not fun, unless you get to share it with the world like this edit from Alex for his film class about his off season. Keep an eye out for Alex this winter on the Dew Tour and filming, he will be everywhere.

In the Off Season from Alex Schlopy on Vimeo.

Punisher Ski |  The Fix Goggle I Team Issue Poles

“At just 22 years old, Tom has proven that he is a force in slopestyle and that he can throw down dominating movie segments,” comments Gabe Glosband, marketing director for SCOTT’s wintersport division. Wallisch’s resume is already stacked, he has appeared in numerous Level 1 Productions movies and has solid slopestyle competition results including victories at Dew Tour Northstar and the Dumont Cup. Tom was recognized as the #1 Ranked Slopestyle skier for 2008-09 season by the Association of Freeskiing Professionals. “Tom is the skier we wanted to be SCOTT’s first North American ski athlete. I can’t wait to watch him rip our skis onto the podium,” adds Kevin Kruse, SCOTT’s wintersport team manager.

 

“I couldn’t be more excited to be joining a company like SCOTT and to be riding their skis and rocking their eyewear and poles. I am really stoked to take my skiing to the next level with their help,” states Wallisch.

Look for Wallisch this winter on the worldwide competition circuit including the X Games, Dew Tour, and tomorrow night at the London Freeze. Wallisch also plans to film with Level 1, 4bi9 and Field Productions. Wallisch is also the featured ski athlete on the Alli Show that can be seen on MTV2 and at http://www.allisports.com/the-alli-show.

Dane Tudor Spring Summer Edit Wit Cali P, 2009 from duneis on Vimeo.

His line had everyone at the bottom talking about the little kid from AK who just flashed a line that had put the likes of Wendy Fisher, Seth Morrison, and more on the podium in Crested Butte before. Dane went on to win his first of several junior big mountain titles that year in Crested Butte by a landslide, and his winning ways were started. When his resume came across my desk just after I started at SCOTT I immediately picked up the phone to call and welcome him to the team.

It was only about 2 to 3 years ago Dane decided to start taking his already solid big mountain skills to the park. Needless to say it did not take long for him to develop the skills it takes to compete all over the world in Slopestyle competitions. These days Dane can be found everywhere from a Heli in AK with Abma and Poorboyz, Dew Tour Stops, or winning the Canadian Freeskiing Open. Somewhere in all these trips he also managed to score the first 8 minutes of Poorboyz Latest release, Everyday is a Saturday. Just ask Mark Abma about Dane, “Seems like he has the makings for greatness. Growing up at a mountain like Red, Dane has been studying lines since a young age. He was able to put all this together and shred lines like a seasoned veteran this year on his first heli trip ever in AK.”

These days Dane has been hanging out in Alaska spending down time at home by riding moto, and hitting the gym to stay in shape. During this time Dane is still a business man working on his website, www.danetudor.com and traveling to premieres all over the globe. On his travels he also swung buy IF3 to pick up hardware in the form of, “Male Performer of the Year,” which has to be one of the biggest moments of Dane’s life this early in his career. Quite the honor when going up against the likes of Simon Dumont, Tanner Hall, Sammy Carlson, Seth Morrison, and many more.

Dane Tudor some mx riding in AK from duneis on Vimeo.

If you didn’t know who he was before this year, you do now. Everyone in Crested Butte got a peek into the future 5 years ago and was talking about the young kid from AK who just flashed the pro line, these days everyone in the Ski industry is talking about that young kid from AK who just blew peoples minds in Everyday is a Saturday, that kid is Dane Tudor.

But how do you pick the best stuff? Well, first you take a staff of four editors with 100-plus years of combined lifetime on-snow experience and let them decide, because it's their job to do the legwork for you. Then, for the real test, you bring the gear to people who've never seen it before, to places it's never been, to do things that were never in the blueprints during their creation. Then you wait and see what happens.

We hit the streets in four snowy epicenters of the country to determine the best gear for each location.

Fix Goggle - $105

Get your fix of elemental vision impairment reduction. Engineered to match the curvature of your eyeball, these goggs bestow an unaltered natural view, perfect for dodging Texans in tucks and vehicles on you afternoon fitness ride. "I wear goggles when I ride so I don't have to shave my eyebrows,"says bike commuter Aaron Clark.


Photo: CRISPIN CANNON/ESPN ACTION SPORTS

Team Issue Pole - $120

Made from the strongest commercially available aircraft-aluminum, the Team Issue is stout and stylish, with straps how you want 'em. They also make a decent epee -- or weapon, for champion fencer Nina van Loon, 15, of the Northern Colorado Fencing Club. " It's only a lil heavier than my epee," she says, "but it;s longer, so I'd have an advantage with this."


Photo: DAVELEHLl/ESPN.COM/Action