“I competed for the next two years, and it didn’t go that well,” he says. “But my sponsors, mostly The North Face, noticed that my skiing might be better fit for films.” Since then, Collinson’s energetic, playful brand of skiing has been on display in TGR and Matchstick films. “I prefer big, open Alaska lines,” he says. “And I like to go fast.”
Meet an Athlete: John Collinson
Home Base / Salt Lake City, Utah.
Activities / Skiing, mountain biking, cycling, gravel riding, climbing, running, gym training.
Why John
John Collinson spent his childhood honing his skiing and climbing skills. His father was a Snowbird, Utah, ski patroller who later worked in mountain operations and as an avalanche forecaster; his mother home-schooled John and his sister, Angel, who also became a professional skier. In winter, John was raised at Snowbird in an employee housing unit, and skied almost every day. In the summer, the family lived in an old Ford van, driving around the Mountain West for rock climbing. In 2010, he became the youngest person (at the time) to climb the seven summits, the highest peak on each continent. He also won the Junior Freeskiing Championship that year, which qualified him for the Freeride World Tour.
On skis, John's style morphs from modern slashy to full-on directional charging. This is a slash.
Rocko Menzyk courtesy John Collinson
A Red Bull athlete, John skis for Völkl, Smith, and The North Face.
Jack Armstrong courtesy John Collinson
Johnny is the jack of all trades in the mountains. He can freeride with the best of them, but the talents that set him apart are his mountain sense and mountaineering skills. He’s a beast and one of the fittest people I know. All this combined makes him an ideal mountain/ski partner. He also has such a positive attitude and always brings the stoke.
Specialized Skills
“I’ve been in pretty big mountains since I was four years old and have been climbing and skiing in the backcountry for a very long time,” says Collinson. “So I’m really comfortable in that setting—on snow or off.”
What's Next
Collinson has been studying exercise science for a few years now and recently completed his certified personal trainer exam. “I’m looking to create a physical space and website to train people to help them meet their fitness goals,” he says. “The gym is a great tool to help us enjoy our time outside.”
