Tanner Hall
When a young Tanner Hall graced the cover and received his first feature story in the December 2001 issue of FREESKIER magazine, the conversation focused on his unprecedented style and skill in big air, slopestyle and halfpipe competitions. Through the years, Hall earned seven X Games medals and performed on the biggest contest stages, and the Montana-native solidified himself as one of skiing’s most capable freestyle riders through countless movie parts and a progressive interest in the backcountry—but, until 2019, he had never dropped into a big-mountain competition.
The then 34-year-old felt rejuvenated, focused and ready to take on the latest challenge in his career: a wildcard bid to join the Freeride World Tour (FWT). Stepping out of a five-year hiatus from competition, Hall not only brought legendary hype to the global circuit, but a completely new arsenal of tricks, and a tenured confidence that helped him stand out amongst the rest of the pack.
In 2018, on assignment for FREESKIER magazine, I spoked to Hall directly after a day of skiing in the park at Mammoth Mountain to learn more about how one of skiing’s greatest contenders was keeping the pressure low and the vibes high before heading into his first big-mountain competition season.
