Bryon – Hence Creative

Bryon Friedman

Art Athlete

I’m Bryon Friedman (aka Freedog), a professional skier and musician, and a seasoned marketing expert (CMO/Marketing Director/Brand and Creative Director) for brands that live and breathe the outdoors.. My career has been shaped by a love for adventure, creativity, and the outdoors, and I’ve made it my mission to connect people with brands that inspire them to push boundaries and experience the world around them.

Whether I’m on the slopes or in the boardroom, my motto is simple: do awesome shit with awesome people. I believe that the best work happens when you’re surrounded by passionate, driven individuals who share a common goal. That philosophy drives everything I do, from building campaigns that resonate with outdoor enthusiasts to creating brand experiences that are as bold and authentic as the adventures we seek.

I’ve been fortunate enough to combine my background as a professional athlete and musician with my passion for marketing, bringing a unique perspective to every brand I work with. I know firsthand what it means to push limits and thrive in the outdoors, and I use that knowledge to craft messaging and creative strategies that speak directly to people who live for those moments.

At the end of the day, it’s all about creating connections—whether through a brand, a sport, or a piece of music. My goal is to work with people who inspire me and to keep pushing myself and the brands I represent to always aim higher, be bolder, and, of course, do more awesome shit with awesome people.

Field & Stream - Brand Relaunch (CMO)

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Field & Stream - Brand Relaunch (CMO)

Carhartt - Made By Hand (Music Production)

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Carhartt - Made By Hand (Music Production)

Carhartt - Making Winter Work (Producer/Art Director)

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Carhartt - Making Winter Work (Producer/Art Director)

Soul Poles (Founder/Creative, Brand & Marketing Director/Sales Director/Shop Manager/Janitor)

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Soul Poles (Founder/Creative, Brand & Marketing Director/Sales Director/Shop Manager/Janitor)

ROAM Robotics - Chile (Producer/Art Director/Subject)

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ROAM Robotics - Chile (Producer/Art Director/Subject)

Park City + Summit Country Arts Council Music Video (Event Coordinator/Art Director/Artist)

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Park City + Summit Country Arts Council Music Video (Event Coordinator/Art Director/Artist)

Career Storyline

We’ve had a lot of fun working with incredible clients over the years, but what truly matters is doing awesome sh!t with awesome people… that’s always the goal!

27+

Brand Collaborations

4/1

Businesses started/sold

Years on the US Ski Team

National Titles (Downhill/Combined)

Albums recorded (*2 unreleased)

Grammy Nominated Musician Collabs (Johnny Neel)

Coming soonish from a real piece of work…

Brian Bennett

Creative Director @ Carhartt (10+ years)

Awards and
Recognition

October 10, 2019

Best Ski Poles of 2020

2004

US National Downhill Champion (Alpine Skiing)

2004

US National Combined Champion (Alpine Skiing)

2010

#1 Emerging Singer-Songwriter (SiriusXM Coffeehouse)

Experience

Field & Stream

As CMO of Field & Stream, we were tasked with acquiring the magazine from its previous ownership and relaunching the brand alongside country music stars and investors Morgan Wallen and Eric Church. Throughout the relaunch process, we brought on a talented group of designers, marketers, and third-party agencies to help shape the brand’s next chapter as a leader in the hunting, fishing, and outdoor lifestyle space. I oversaw major initiatives such as reviving the print magazine, redesigning the brand, restructuring the website, launching a music festival, collaborating with the hotel division, and exploring key licensing opportunities—from beer to pet food—driving the brand’s resurgence in the outdoor industry.

HuntingFishing

2023
Crosson

At Crosson Skis, I led the marketing efforts, collaborating closely with former US Ski Team teammate Bode Miller to relaunch the brand as a premier, direct to consumer, performance ski brand. As a team we crafted a fresh brand identity, website aligning a Bode designed-product with the needs of high-performance athletes, and driving its resurgence in the competitive ski industry.

Freeride SkiingBackcountry SkiingProduct

2020
Soul Poles

At Soul Poles, I played a key role in shaping the brand’s identity and growth as the Founder and Sales and Marketing Director, leveraging my creativity and passion for sustainability. I helped build the company’s unique story, connecting environmentally conscious products with outdoor enthusiasts through compelling grass roots and digital marketing strategies combined with authentic brand experiences. After 13 years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, I sold the brand to a private group in 2024.

ProductFreeride Skiing

2011
SoulForceOne

I first founded SoulForceOne as a results-driven digital marketing agency, focusing on delivering impactful campaigns for clients in the digital space. Over time, the agency evolved into providing fractional CMO services, specializing in outdoor and purpose-driven brands, helping them grow through strategic marketing and authentic brand development.

SEOEmailBrand Positioning & Guides

2017
Freedog

As a songwriter and frontman for the band Freedog, I’ve had the wild ride of jamming with legends like Grammy-nominated Johnny Neel (Keyboardist of the Allman Brothers Band), who added his magic to our sound. Somewhere along the way, the universe conspired, and Sirius XM Coffeehouse listeners crowned me the #1 emerging singer/songwriter. It’s been a journey filled with soul-soaked melodies, late-night sessions, and unforgettable gigs, all driven by the love of crafting tunes that hit people with the right vibes.

Writing

2006

Photo: GordyMegroz

A lot of people know me as the “Bamboo Ski Poles Guy” who also has a band and was a pretty damn good skier once upon a time.

Here are a few glimpses of how life works its magic in the most beautiful ways.

Although I’m a Utah-raised skier through and through, my soul now craves the ocean. During my recovery from injury in Santa Barbara, I found solace in the waves, and what started as a therapeutic escape slowly turned into my true passion. Surfing has become my favorite sport—there’s nothing quite like the rhythm of the ocean to keep me grounded, creatively refreshed and fully alive.

The first time I got inter-lodged was in Alta, April 2023. Picture this: 72 inches of Utah’s finest powder falling over 5 days, and we only skied 2 of them. This pic was snapped on day 2, just before the mountain shut down again because an avalanche decided to take over the road at Snowbird. Lucky for me, I packed not one, but two guitars. So, we bartered tunes for room and board all week. Epic doesn’t even begin to describe it—one of my to dos is to write a story about the whole wild adventure!

Croney Cove 2 scaled aspect ratio 637 440

I met Johnny Neel (Allman Brothers Keyboardist) during a Soul Poles trip to Sun Valley, and as luck would have it, I had my guitars with me. A friend made the intro, and Johnny’s warm, laid-back vibe was magnetic. We had a great hang and he eventually said, “Why don’t we get to know each other?”—which, in Johnny’s world, meant lets play some music. After playing a few songs together, he invited me to sit in with him that night, and it changed my life. That moment kicked off an unforgettable musical journey.

Bryon Friedman

Career Storyline

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