Erik Olson defies convention and defines style

Erik Olson is the East Coast’s Candide Thovex, without the mittens. Beautifully angled form, hands forward, knees bent. His body always matches the power of the turn—all the time—a style only a handful have been able to achieve. Olson’s humble start, on 200-foot rope tows in Western New York farm country, bred the quiet honesty with which he has skied for years. He’s earned money to ski working in a can factory and lived in his car for 135 consecutive days at Mount Hood. He pointedly avoids promoting himself, but also landed the first switch 1080 in pipe skiing history in 2006, and has more footage in the Meathead Films archive than any other athlete. Similar to Candide, his dedication to skiing is earnest, deeply personal, and full of integrity.

This story appeared in the November issue of Powder Magazine.  

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