Bottom of the Moai face on the Santa Teresa PC: Pablo Bell @_pablobell Yo TREW Crew! Eric Lee O’Brien here dropping in with a season recap – it’s been a whirlwind of pow, peaks, plane rides, and a few sporty (questionable?) comp lines in between. The season kicked off way south with an unforgettable run through South America. I landed 2nd place at the El Colorado 4★ Freeride World Qualifier—a strong start (and an even stronger excuse for celebratory pisco sours and parrilla. As they say in Sud America: no pisco, no disco!). From there, we made our way into Patagonia—ripping couloirs beneath granite spires while condors kept watch overhead, and settling into hut life at Refugio Frey, where damp gear hung from every rafter and stoke simmered on a steady boil between rounds of very bad instant coffee and very good Argentinian wine. We wrapped up the South America leg with a classic trip to Las Leñas—high winds, big terrain, and enough empanadas to keep the legs moving. On the way to La Torricillas at Las Leñas, Argentina PC: Max Davidoff @max.davidoff Back in North America, early season meant chasing cold temps and high pressure in the Canadian Rockies. I posted up in Banff for storm skiing at Lake Louise and ticking off early season backcountry lines in Banff and Yoho National Parks. North Face of Mt Whymper in Yoho National Park, Alberta PC: Dan Evans @danevansmedia Quick stop at Mt. Baker in December for a proper Pacific Northwest reset—guide training with the team at Blackbird Mountain Guides (a nice break from my role as chief paper pusher and spreadsheet wrangler), plus a healthy dose of classic Cascade storm skiing. From there, I made my way back to Revelstoke for January and early February, stacking a mix of resort days, storm riding, and sidecountry laps. Amongst the snow ghosts at Revelstoke PC: Hywel Williams @hywelwilliamsphoto Then it was game time—on the road with the Freeride World Qualifier Challenger Series. Big venues, stacked fields, and all gas from start to finish. Comps were cancelled, crashes were had—but I’m grateful for the experience, the crew, and the chance to throw down on big terrain with a rowdy crew of senders. Backcountry laps in Beyond Boundary Bowl at Lake Louise PC: @chris.foote.photo Wrapped it up with sunny spring laps back at Lake Louise—bootpacking, corn harvesting, and stretching the season as far as the legs (and snowpack) would allow. Hourglass chute + marlin shirt on the backside at Lake Louise PC: @dannothomson Up next: I’ll be hanging around Mt. Hood and the other PNW volcanoes this summer, squeezing out turns and soaking up that summer slush before heading back down to South America this fall for Round 2. Above the clouds on Mt Hood PC @alex_zimm Thanks to TREW for keeping me styled, dry, and looking so much cooler than I really am.Catch you out there! – Eric We highly recommend giving Eric Lee O'Brien a follow on IG! SHOP ERIC'S KIT
