Karl fostvedt
Professional skiers have plentiful opportunity to travel the world: They are the one planning trips into the wilderness of British Columbia, to powder-laden slopes of Japan, and high above treeline in the European Alps; this is commonplace for the pros. But journeys to far-off destinations aren’t necessary when you’re sitting on a pot of gold at home—like Karl Fostvedt is in Sun Valley, Idaho. Fostvedt grew up in Ketchum, the mountain town that sits at the base of Sun Valley Resort, learning to ski at an early age. As a teenager, he was one of the best performing mogul skiers in his age group of 12- to 15-year-olds, often winning the competitions he entered. His coaches viewed him as a rising star, but Fostvedt yearned for more from his ski experience. But he eyes for bigger terrain…
“When I was 12 or 13, [pro skier] Collin Collins starting showing me Poor Boyz, Propaganda, Happy Days flicks,” Fostvedt explains. “We loved the mogul team [because] we got to hit those kickers, but by the time we were teens, we were starting to get into a rebellious era, starting to get over all the mogul skiing, the bump humpin’ and we just wanted to be like the freeriders in the backcountry.”
Recognizing that skiing, especially in the Sun Valley area, could encompass far more than lapping zipper lines within resort boundaries, Fostvedt set his sights on the various mountain ranges that surround his hometown. With multiple zones—including the Sawtooths, Smokys, Soldiers, Boulders and White Clouds—all within a few hours drive of Ketchum, and plenty more within reach of those with access to a snowmobile, Fostvedt found that he can access new terrain on any given day of the week…
