2023-12-06 12:56:14
Patricio Diaz (01)
Holding it down in Santiago, Chile, Patricio “Pato” Diaz says design is his hobby, photography is his art, and combining the two is where the magic happens. Pato’s mountainous pursuits started with climbing in Patagonia and evolved into searching for powder throughout the Andes, where he now regularly goes on backcountry expeditions with professional athletes from all over the world. Pato feels lucky to have such an amazing landscape so close to home, with abundant potential for climbing new routes and riding new lines. See more of Pato’s work on Instagram
@patodiazfilms and online at www.patodiazfilms.com.
Elena Hight (02)
Elena Hight is a professional snowboarder who was born in Kauai, HI, and raised on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Once a top-level halfpipe competitor, she turned her sights to the backcountry about five years ago and quickly became one of the top freeriders in the world. With standout performances on the Natural Selection Tour and in films such as her own Blank Canvas (2020), Danny Davis’ Ark (2022) and Arc’teryx’s recent release, Continuum, as well as several human-powered projects with the legendary Jeremy Jones, Elena has proven she can get it done via mechanized means and on self-propelled missions. Elena is currently supported by Jones Snowboards, Arc’teryx, Spark R&D, Clif Bar, GoPro, ThirtyTwo, Smith Optics and Urban Armor Gear. Follow her on Instagram @elenahight.
Lauren Powers (03)
Lauren Powers is a freelance photographer from Ontario, Canada, who currently lives between Nelson and Tofino, BC. Coming into her 23rd season of riding, Lauren has established herself as a multifaceted professional in the snowboard industry, with roles ranging from photographer and writer to tail guide. Lauren’s photography aims to showcase women and underrepresented groups in snowboarding who are driving positive change in the world. She has worked with top female-specific initiatives, including It’s Tits!, B4BC and Women’s Week at Baldface Lodge, while maintaining media partnerships with various companies including Weston Backcountry, Ripping Giraffe Boardshop, Whitewater Ski Resort, Dollhouse Agency and Picture Organic as an athlete. Lauren has traveled the world to snowboard and work in different countries and has licensed her photography to Yeti, Airblaster and others. Additionally, Lauren is the founder of Shredology Freeride Company, an operation specializing in progression in British Columbia and freeride tours out of Myoko, Japan. Find her on Instagram @laurenpowers.photography.
Tailer Spinney (04)
Tailer Spinney grew up mostly in Virginia Beach, VA, in a U.S. Navy family. Tailer settled in North Lake Tahoe, CA, about 10 years ago, where she splitboard guides for a few companies from Mammoth to Tahoe and up to Mt. Shasta. She is a United Shapes snowboard athlete and harnesses her nomadic roots to organize and execute splitboard expeditions to wild and scenic places. Tailer enjoys writing about her experiences for numerous publications as well as her personal blog, www.tailergray.com. See more on
Instagram @tailergray.
Sam Thackeray (05)
Sam Thackeray was born and raised in the mountains of central Idaho. He has spent the last decade chasing powder and whitewater around the western United States and currently resides in Park City, UT. During the winter he works as a splitboard guide in the Wasatch and Uintas ranges as well as the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Summer finds him working on conservation of whitebark pine trees in Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. He is an ambassador for Weston Backcountry and Zeal Optics and would love to take you on a splitboarding trip. You can find him on Instagram @samuelthackeray.
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