Ariel kazunas Ariel Kazunas (she/her) grew up a bookworm in the flatlands of middle America. As a young adult, Ariel started to have adventures like the ones she read about as a kid, and soon discovered the outdoor industry and began working as everything from an adult babysitter (a.k.a. guide) to event producer. Today, Ariel is based in the Tetons of Wydaho, a place that has taught her the many thrills of skiing, mountain biking, blowing ACLs, breaking bones and being The Gaper. Now a full-time writer, Ariel is “quite chuffed” to have returned to her roots in storytelling with its power to create space for belonging, foster connection with people and place and spark needed change in the world by imagining new narratives. You can find her on Instagram at @akazunas.

nicole cordingley Nicole Cordingley is a freelance writer, marketing strategist and total sucker for all things skiing. She grew up in New Hampshire but is now at home in Salt Lake City, UT, skiing as much Alta powder as she can. She finds joy in developing stories about people, places and ideas with the the hope that those stories inspire others as they do her. When not skiing or writing, she’s a river guide, mountain biker, kitesurfer and overly-competitive Mini Crossword player. Check out more of her work at nicolecordingley.com.

tom winterTom Winter first met Bob Mazarei (pg. 28) in 1995 on a failed attempt to climb and ski Ecuador’s 20,548-foot Chimborazo. Tom’s freelance portfolio includes work for ESPN, the Los Angeles Times, Rossignol, Vail Resorts, Eldora Ski Area, Taos Ski Valley and others. Most recently the North American Media Relations Manager for the Freeride World Tour, Tom retired from his career in action sports in 2021 to pursue a love affair with architecture and design, focusing on the restoration and modernization of ancient stone buildings in the Alps. When not writing for The Ski Journal, Tom is working on his latest renovation project in northern Italy, a property that coincidentally happens to be close to world-class skiing. Find more of his work at tomwintermedia.com.

Aaron RolphA pro skier and photographer from the UK now living in Chamonix, France, Aaron Rolph is driven by blending creative storytelling with whatever hare-brained ski or bike adventure he can dream up. As a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, he tries to use human-powered adventures to encourage people to care more about our wild and outdoor spaces. He hopes to inspire others to discover their own sense of adventure, however big or small. Follow along on Instagram at @aaronrolph.

max ritterFor the last two decades, Max Ritter has been working on figuring out what his favorite type of skiing is, but lately he’s given up and decided to just embrace it all. These days, he calls the west side of the Tetons home, and when he’s not harvesting turns in unlikely places, he works full time in ski media production for outlets like The Ski Journal, Powder Magazine, Teton Gravity Research and more. Max co-authored “Beyond Skid: A Cookbook for Ski Bums” and is currently finishing a sequel. See more of his work at raxmitter.com.