Warning: Video contains explicit language
He may be out of the spotlight of X Games and other showcase competitions, but Tanner Hall is still pushing the limits on skis.
The 32-year-old Kalispell native, a freeskiing pioneer and seven-time X Games gold medalist, remains as active as ever and is in the process of finishing a two-year film project in Alaska. The result, “Ring the Alarm,” is slated for release in September 2016.
One of the true rock stars of skiing, Hall could be in the midst of a career renaissance as one of the best big mountain skiers out there. In the past decade, he went from being one of the most decorated skiers in history to one of its troubled stars who suffered career-threatening injuries and battled personal demons, along with losing his best friend, C.R. Johnson.
Now he appears to be as motivated and healthy as ever. Armada, which Hall co-founded, recently released a short “Family Portrait” video (see above) featuring an interview with Hall where he reflects on his career and talks about this “new beginning.”
“Do you want to be that motivated every year, year after year, or do you just want to sit back and think you’re accomplished?” he says in the edit. “To me, I don’t think I’ve really started yet. I think I did something but only that something led me right here to that beginning, which is sick.”
Hall has had a wild ride since growing up in Kalispell and learning to ski at Big Mountain and becoming one of the most talented, innovative skiers in the world.
In late 2010 I caught up with Hall and we talked about his journey from Kalispell to the summit of the sport.
He recently gave an interesting interview to Teton Gravity Research, too, where he sheds light on his life as a pro skier and how the sport is evolving.
Here’s an excerpt:
You just gotta put good energy into life, your crew, your family and your friends, and everything will follow. I’ve definitely been at points where I’ve kinda lost that vision and been put back in my place.
For a reminder of how good Hall was in the competition circuit, check out this clip of him competing in his glory at the 2007 Winter X Games: