{"id":797385,"date":"2019-07-05T19:23:20","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T01:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=368433"},"modified":"2019-07-05T19:23:20","modified_gmt":"2019-07-06T01:23:20","slug":"chad-otterstrom-of-breckenridge-reflects-on-freestyle-snowboarding-this-spring-summer-in-colorados-high-alpine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/chad-otterstrom-of-breckenridge-reflects-on-freestyle-snowboarding-this-spring-summer-in-colorados-high-alpine\/","title":{"rendered":"Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge reflects on freestyle snowboarding this spring, summer in Colorado\u2019s high alpine"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8140960163432\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-368433-699\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-1-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-1-1024x767.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Zak Ferrara | Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge hikes along the ridge toward his line near the summit of Pyramid Peak in April, his\" the splitboard on his class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge hikes along the ridge toward his line near the summit of Pyramid Peak in April, his &#8220;The Graduate&#8221; splitboard on his back.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Zak Ferrara<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-1-1024x767.jpeg\" alt=\"Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge hikes along the ridge toward his line near the summit of Pyramid Peak in April, his \" the splitboard on his><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-2-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-2-819x1024.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Xander Raith | Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge finds some air off of a natural jump near Vail Pass.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge finds some air off of a natural jump near Vail Pass.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Xander Raith<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-2-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge finds some air off of a natural jump near Vail Pass.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-3-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-3-1024x683.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Celia Miller | A former competitive snowboarder, Chad Otterstrom now prefers to spend his time riding in the backcountry.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>A former competitive snowboarder, Chad Otterstrom now prefers to spend his time riding in the backcountry.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Celia Miller<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-3-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"A former competitive snowboarder, Chad Otterstrom now prefers to spend his time riding in the backcountry.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-4-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-4-1024x682.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Chad Otterstrom | Pyramid Peak near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Pyramid Peak near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Chad Otterstrom<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-4-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"Pyramid Peak near Aspen.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-5-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-5-820x1024.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Chad Otterstrom | Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge took this photo of Quandary Peak during a day out riding in the high alpine of Summit County.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge took this photo of Quandary Peak during a day out riding in the high alpine of Summit County.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Chad Otterstrom<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-5-820x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge took this photo of Quandary Peak during a day out riding in the high alpine of Summit County.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-6-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-6.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Chad Otterstrom | Chad Otterstrom took this selfie while riding in the high alpine of High Country Colorado.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Chad Otterstrom took this selfie while riding in the high alpine of High Country Colorado.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Chad Otterstrom<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-6.jpeg\" alt=\"Chad Otterstrom took this selfie while riding in the high alpine of High Country Colorado.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-7-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-7-822x1024.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Chad Otterstrom | Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge took this photo of a skin track in the backcountry.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge took this photo of a skin track in the backcountry.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Chad Otterstrom<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-7-822x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge took this photo of a skin track in the backcountry.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-150x150.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-819x1024.jpeg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy Doran Laybourn | Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge rides a steep, exposed line in the backcountry near Aspen.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge rides a steep, exposed line in the backcountry near Aspen.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy Doran Laybourn<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/07\/Otterstrom-SDN-070619-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge rides a steep, exposed line in the backcountry near Aspen.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/chad-otterstrom-of-breckenridge-reflects-on-freestyle-snowboarding-this-spring-summer-in-colorados-high-alpine\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/chad-otterstrom-of-breckenridge-reflects-on-freestyle-snowboarding-this-spring-summer-in-colorados-high-alpine\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many young boys read the classic fantasy \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d novels and dream of going on their own adventure within such an enchanting and intimidating landscape.<\/p>\n<p>Chad Otterstrom doesn\u2019t need to dream. With his splitboard in tow, the Breckenridge resident is the High Country manifestation of a freeriding Frodo.<\/p>\n<p>The longtime Summit local conquered his own snowboarding Sauron during a big mountain freestyle trek in April to the summit of the precarious Pyramid Peak near Aspen. The trip was centered around ripping \u2014 in Otterstrom\u2019s distinct, free-as-a-bird big mountain fashion \u2014 the 4,000-foot Landry Line, an iconic Rocky Mountain ski line that begins with a steep cliffside 5 feet from the 14,026-foot jaw-dropping summit. You know, it\u2019s the one so many resort skiers gawk at from within the safe confines of Buttermilk Mountain Resort.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been going over to Aspen since I moved here,\u201d Otterstrom said. \u201cAnd I\u2019d look at it, it\u2019s so far out, so far gone. Then you look at the line off of it, \u2018it would be insane to rip that top to bottom one day, no holding back.\u2019 \u2026 my goal with everything I do is I want to get it top to bottom the best I can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting back on the adventure, Otterstrom, 42, described it as the equivalent to a \u201cfinal level\u201d if his snowboarding life was a novel, film or video game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe way out was exhausting because of all the avalanche cycles that went down,\u201d Otterstrom said. \u201cThe whole way out was like a \u2018Lord of The Rings\u2019 adventure quest \u2014 going up and over logs, broken down trees, taking your skis off, putting them back on, taking your skis off (again), getting down to the trailhead, a 12-hour loop. But we rode it good and with energy. I put a lot of work into it (by) hiking around (Summit County) every day (in advance) and getting mini lines. The best way to do big lines is doing mini lines, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SNOWBOARDING THE LANDRY LINE ON PYRAMID PEAK IN COLORADO\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-rocket-lazyload=\"fitvidscompatible\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t0xBude_Eug?feature=oembed\">[embedded content]<\/iframe><noscript><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SNOWBOARDING THE LANDRY LINE ON PYRAMID PEAK IN COLORADO\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t0xBude_Eug?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\">[embedded content]<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Of all of the talented snowboarders in Summit County and Colorado, Otterstrom stands out for the stylish and energetic lines he shreds off of near some of the state\u2019s most aesthetically amazing peaks. If you ask him, the big mountain freestyle rider doesn\u2019t prefer, say, park riding over high-alpine riding, or vice versa.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like park riding in the high alpine,\u201d Otterstrom said with a smile.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s why we go out,\u201d he continued, \u201cbecause it\u2019s an infinite environment. If you go to the park, it\u2019s a finite environment. Your 60-foot jump is a 60-foot jump. Here in the backcountry, snow can blow differently. You can find a 20-foot jump can turn into a 50-foot jump and a totally different landing.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-instagram wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram\">\n<\/figure>\n<p>How did Otterstrom end up here, not merely riding, but ripping park-style tricks at such remote locations as Pyramid Peak in Aspen or Crystal Pea in Summit County, buttering and hucking inverted corks and spins off of ridge-line wind lips?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have to take things 1% at a time,\u201d Otterstrom said. \u201cYou can\u2019t push yourself too much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His lifetime of freestyle riding \u2014 from riding logs in the backyard forest of his Minnesota childhood home, to slopestyle at the X Games to his \u201cfinal level\u201d at Pyramid Peak \u2014 all of it, each individual 1% of growth each day on snow, has slowly, methodically prepped Otterstrom to execute what you see now. The mind-boggling GoPro footage that amazes Otterstrom\u2019s 29,000 Instagram followers? It\u2019s the careful culmination of a life devoted to snowboarding.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-instagram wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram\">\n<\/figure>\n<p>Otterstrom\u2019s devotion now turns to that infinite landscape of the backcountry. That\u2019s where Otterstrom\u2019s snowboarding spirit loves life the most. And with this year\u2019s consistent cold temperatures and prolific powder, it\u2019s been a ripping party for Otterstrom, dating back to Loveland Pass turns on Oct. 10, through many high-alpine powder days this spring and, most recently, to Fourth of July Bowl high above Breckenridge on July 4.<\/p>\n<p>And, he ain\u2019t done yet. How could he be? For Otterstrom\u2019s money, this season has been the most special in Summit County history \u2014 and maybe even in the state\u2019s history as well. With that, he\u2019s hoping for at least one powder day in July. Why not? Heck, just a week-and-a-half ago he sat near the summit of Peak 10 in a blizzard before dropping into deep powder on familiar above-tree-line Tenmile Range terrain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis has been the best winter since snowboarding and skiing has existed, pretty much, in Colorado,\u201d Otterstrom said, \u201cas far as functional skiing and snowboarding goes. It might have been (better) in the \u201980s or 10 years ago. But the way people snowboard and ski now is way different than they did 10 and 20 years ago. We can get it better now than we could back then.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey might say, \u20182008 was sick,&#8217;\u201d Otterstrom added. \u201cBut did you ski it as good or snowboard as good?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Otterstrom realizes his assertion that this winter-turned-spring-turned-summer season has been the best to ride in the state\u2019s history may be a provocative statement. But he couches his claim by pointing to the advances in technology and gear that have revolutionized snowboarding in just the past few years. Otterstrom is an owner of Academy Snowboard Co., which includes his own specialized splitboard, dubbed \u201cThe Graduate,\u201d built by Never Summer. He says the splitboard rides as close to a park board as he\u2019s ever come across.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-instagram wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram\">\n<\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s not just the board, though. There\u2019s backcountry safety elements such as an ice ax, crampons, ski crampons, beacon, probe and shovel. All that combines with his years of \u201c1% each day\u201d experience.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond that, there\u2019s also the advanced technology of not only how Otterstrom accesses amazing terrain, but how he maintains enough energy so that, once he\u2019s at the exact spot to rip the high-alpine, he can do it almost as if he just jumped off a chairlift at the top of a slopestyle course. Recently Otterstrom has been waking up around 5 a.m. to ride an electric fat tire bike. Otterstrom said the bike is crucial in allowing him to maintain energy in high elevations, enabling him to ride bigger and better in the Tenmile and Mosquito ranges. He doesn\u2019t want to merely side-slip or turn at spots like Crystal or Pyramid Peaks. He wants to ride them like he\u2019s always dreamed of.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-instagram wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram\">\n<\/figure>\n<p>With that weekly goal in mind, this season was special as Otterstrom said \u201ceverything\u201d filled in, even such spots as the \u201cSarlacc Pit\u201d on the county\u2019s outskirts.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just remote locations where Otterstrom had all-time days this year. Not every day is like the one on Pyramid Peak. Some are fun and fresh in different ways, like the day in spring when Otterstrom jibbed off of avalanche debris near Loveland Pass.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-instagram wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram\">\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt was fun. That\u2019s like making something out of nothing,\u201d Otterstrom said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I love about snowboarding, you can go out and it\u2019s like an art form, do and see things and, no matter how you do it, you\u2019re going to do it different than somebody else. You put your own paintbrush on everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The paintbrush Otterstrom put to Pyramid was once-in-a-lifetime. Yes, there was fear dropping into the cliffside off Pyramid, riding a precarious toe-side at the start knowing if anything goes wrong, \u201cit\u2019s over,\u201d as Otterstrom put it. Once past that portion, though, Otterstrom turned his full focus to party-boarding to the bottom, riding the line\u2019s cliffs and choke like he always wanted to \u2014 no holding back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt gives you a really big sense of freedom, I guess,\u201d Otterstrom said. \u201cYou feel free.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-instagram wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram\">\n<\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/chad-otterstrom-of-breckenridge-reflects-on-freestyle-snowboarding-this-spring-summer-in-colorados-high-alpine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge hikes along the ridge toward his line near the summit of Pyramid Peak in April, his &#8220;The Graduate&#8221; splitboard on his back.Courtesy Zak Ferrara Chad Otterstrom of Breckenridge finds some air off of a natural jump near Vail Pass.Courtesy Xander Raith A former competitive snowboarder, Chad Otterstrom now prefers to spend [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-797385","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-17 14:34:38","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797385","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=797385"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797385\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=797385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=797385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=797385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}