The Mind Behind Salomon Freeski TV

Ever wish you were a mutant athlete?

You know the ones- the folks that can climb with their fingertips up thirty pitches- in four hours, or those who jump off cliffs in their second year skiing- throwing a 360°, and even those naturals who like to swim- crossing a channel for their first race.

Well, Mike Douglas, of the ski world, is one of those. Douglas is a legend in the world of snow and affectionately referred to as “The Godfather” of freeskiing. When you meet him, he is a humble, ordinary guy, but is someone who does truly extraordinary things. His athletic talent, passion for sport, and his innovative impact on the direction of skiing will affect generations.

Even to those who don’t ski he is an inspiring individual who is not only enthusiastic about sharing his love of the snow experience, but also serves as a role model for pursuing one’s dreams; and we can always use more of those.

Douglas is the mastermind behind the new trend in ski film making. In an era when people consume information on a minute-to-minute basis, Mike and his crew conceptualized and created a new spin on the filming of outdoor adventure to accommodate the hungry speed of a technologically-proficient society.

As Mike got settled back into his home in Whistler, Canada from yet another travel adventure, he took a quick break from his hectic schedule to chat with me about the creation and evolution of this new direction.

Kim: Who is the Mike Douglas of Freeskiing? Why are you referred to as the “Godfather”?

Mike D: Since I was a kid I've always just wanted to ski as much as possible. Becoming a pro skier was the best way to make that happen. Over the years I've competed, filmed, done stunts, developed products, and pretty much made most of my dreams come true. It's been a good run! The Godfather nickname is in reference to my role in the rise and development of the new/twin-tip freestyle movement. Ted Wardlaw from Salomon gave me the name. But it's really most likely because I'm old! Haha!

Kim: Why do you do this sport, and love this industry? How do you explain to non-skiers your life-long dedication to Skiing?

Mike D: Skiing is freedom, adventure and fun. The sensation is like flying. I've used skiing as a vehicle to open a whole world of travel and adventure. There are so many places I still want to ski and so many different ways to do it. If it bores you, you're looking the wrong way.

Kim: How did your career with Salomon evolve into Freeski TV? What are its origins and how was it created? Where is it now and how does it work?

Mike D: Salomon has been my best partner in this sport for the past 13 years. Back in 2005 we were talking about the new direction of media and I pitched them the idea of producing content for the internet. They thought it was a great idea so I started Switchback Entertainment and we started producing shows. In the past 5 years we've seen tremendous growth and it's really cool to see skiers from around the world get fired up from watching. We now produce 20 shows per year. They are only 5-minutes long and can be watched at www.salomonfreeski.com every Tuesday starting in October. You can find all the archives on YouTube as well.

Kim: Why is this revolutionary to the art of ski film making and what does it mean for those watching? What is its trajectory?

Mike D: The primary goal since the beginning has been to inspire people to go skiing every weekend. In the age of technology, it's tough to get people off their butts and out into the mountains when it's cold and snowy. Hopefully we're doing our part. We aren't obsessed with the number of views, but it makes us feel good when we see that we've connected with a lot of people.

Kim: Did Salomon begin this new direction, and now other companies are following?

Mike D: I don't know if we began it, but for sure we were one of the first to put a bunch of resources behind online content. Five years later, dozens of ski videos go up online every day. It's flattering and it pushes us to be better in order to maintain our spot in skiers’ minds.

Kim: What is the next step?

Mike D: For me it's all about creativity. The sport is already in such a crazy place in terms of athleticism, it's really the only place to go.

Kim: Last thoughts?

Mike D: Have a great winter!

Salomon Freeski TV episodes can also be found weekly on their Facebook page. Become a fan. Also, find a log of episodes on their YouTube channel.

Freeski TV has also begun to join up with, on occasion, film festivals across the country. Next month, on December 18th in Whitefish, MT, the grassroots “Whitefish Mountain Films” will show a sneak peak of a Salomon Freeski Episode that was filmed in Morocco last spring. This episode won’t drop to the internet until March 2011.

If you are in the area, come attend a great event and witness the exploration and the action on the big screen. www.bluebirdguides.com.

You can follow Mike and his inspiring adventures on Facebook and Twitter.