The Performance Leader in Telemark Bindings
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Atheletes - Team 22

Espen Berg-Johnsen

Espen is a young Norwegian who rips both in the park ond on the peaks. He's been standing on podiums at all types of competitions all over Norway. He's a reminder of how some skiers get to be as good as they are: the love of the mountians.

Where are you from, when did you begin skiing and telemarking, where do you ski most now?

I'm from Vinstra, a small place one hour west of Lillehammer, the olympic city. I began alpine skiing when I was 6, and started telemarking when I was 12. I have skied a little bit alpine and snowboarded, but mainly I have been loyal to telemark. Some years ago I raced, but found out that powder and playing is more fun.

Right now I'm studying to be a teacher in Trondheim, and I ski the nearby resorts, such as Vassfjellet and Oppdal. I also travel a lot, both on competitions and for fun, and I have done seasons in Fernie BC and Engelberg Switzerland.

What are your favorite boots and skis?

My favorite boots are the Crispi XR. It provides the maximum stability and durability, and also it fits my foot perfect. My favorite skis for now are the k2 pistols, but I'm gona try some new skis this year. I also like the Head monster 103 if I have a big face with lots of pow.

What do you like about HammerHeads?

Hmm….. what don’t I like about my hammerheads? :-) When I tried the binding for the first time I had been training to land switch on another binding, and had some difficulties. My first jump on the hammerhead I landed it clean. That was a wakeup call.

After a while on the binding I was amazed how precise, and how strong the binding was. I could ski harder and steeper, and I never had the feeling of a loose back ski, which I had with other bindings. I could fit it for my own needs, which are very wide, from deep pow to hard parks.

Another thing to mention is the durability. I have always had different kinds of problems with other bindings. One season I broke three pairs of bindings, and I have tried almost every binding out there without satisfaction. With the HammerHead bindings I haven't had a single problem, and it's a good assurance when you are out on a big face, that you know your gear is the best.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not skiing?

Off season I try to keep myself fit by doing alternative activities. I try to go to the gym a little bit, but don’t find it that interesting, so I'd rather skate, jump from high things into the water, hike in the mountains, walk on tight ropes, and of course jump on my mountain bike. I love biking, and I`ve done a lot of jumping and hitting trails this summer.

Accomplishments, awards, and sponsors

Competitions

  • 1st X-sports rail jam (telemark class)
  • 3rd Sport xtreme rail jam ( alpine class)
  • 5th Scandinavian big mountain championship (telemark class)
  • 7th Røldal freeride challenge
  • 7th Sauda backcountry challenge

Accomplishments

  • Approved K9 avalanche patrol
  • 3 years at sports college
  • Approved telemark trainer step 2.

Sponsors

Crispi

I've also spent more hours, more cash, and hurt myself more than most people do in a lifetime on skis. I've evolved from a kid putting on his first skis with his father, to a dedicated and focused telemarker, without losing that joy to put on his skis on an early winter morning. And every day I'm on skis I think to myself, this is life.

Thanks Dad for sharing the joy of the mountains with me.

The Other Members of Team 22:

Alison Gannett | Espen Berg-Johnsen | Justin Ayer | Matt Kaso | Ove Netvold
Paul Karchut | Scotty McGee | Shaun Raskin | Steve Crazy

 
 

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