For our fourth interview of the Frame of Mind Series, we spoke with Solitude Ambassador Harrison Hogan Holley. Harrison is hands-down one of the nicest guys you’ll find on the mountain and is very much responsible for helping the Spread Stoke crew fall in love with Solitude Mountain Resort. Born and raised in Park City, Utah, Harrison grew up competing in freestyle moguls on the Park City Freestyle Team. He then started competing on the Freeskiing World Tour and continues to compete on the Freeride World Tour this season. Between competitions and work, he also spends all season making us drool with his pow shots on Instagram.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Solitude, Utah | Photographer: Eric Dyer

Spread Stoke: Where is your hometown?

Harrison: Park City, Utah.

SS: Who can you usually find yourself on a chairlift with?

Harrison: My good buddy Eric Dyer aka Derr, Benny Mikes, the Spread Stoke ladies or any other members of the Solitude MYST.

SS: Conditioning off the mountain is an essential element to performance on the mountain.  Do you have any training techniques (whether physical or mental) you would like to share?

Harrison: Hate on it as much as you want, but CrossFit has gotten me in the best shape of my life. I haven’t been to any other gym other than Alpenfit in Park City so maybe other gyms fit the “bro” mold that is associated with CrossFit’s negative image, but the coaches at Alpenfit are nothing short of amazing! They focus on knowledge and progress in life outside the gym, making you a better athlete in whatever discipline you enjoy. If you want to get in shape for skiing give it a shot, I swear by it.

SS: What’s been the most challenging aspect of being an athlete?

Harrison: The mental aspect of competitions is by far the most challenging aspect. Nerves can really take over when you are competing. I always say that the worst feeling in the world is standing on top of a comp venue waiting for your start and the best feeling ever is being at the bottom after stomping a good line. Focusing on skiing and having fun in comps always seems to help me ski better.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Solitude, Utah | Photographer: Eric Dyer

SS: Besides shredding the white wintry wave, what else do you enjoy doing?

Harrison: In the summer I love to mountain bike and whitewater raft. Mountain biking helps me keep in shape and there is nothing like rafting to help escape reality.

SS: What is your life motto?

Harrison: “Send it before you send it”. The phrase was created while on tour with my good buddies Connor Pelton and Connery Lundin. It basically means don’t let the present hold you back from the future or vice versa, live life to the fullest, do it all!

SS: What fuel goes into your body before and after a day on the hill?

Harrison: Before skiing: Coffee and a smoothie. After skiing: Beer and mostly pizza.

SS: What does skiing do for your soul?

Harrison: I love getting away from crowds by exploring the mountains which is often the case while skiing (especially since there are no crowds at Solitude), but I don’t see skiing as anything ‘spiritual’ like many people talk it up to be. I think it was a quote in an old TGR or Matchstick movie that said something like “everyone talks skiing up to be this spiritual cleanse, but I look at it more of a funny concept that we hike up a mountain just to go back down and if we are lucky we will have sh!t hit us in the face the whole way down”. I guess I always try to keep things light and comical while on the hill. I’m not very mature.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Grand Targhee, Wyoming | Photographer: Jasper Gibson

SS: Solitude, it’s all in the name.  What are some of your favorite attributes of Solitude and how is it unique from other Utah resorts?

Harrison: More powder per person. There is never the powder panic you get at other resorts where people freak out, push and shove, cram like sardines into trams or track an entire mountain out in an hour. The overall atmosphere is laid back and fun, which is exactly what skiing should be. You can ski untracked snow in Honeycomb days after a storm or get into some of the steepest most challenging inbounds terrain offered anywhere in the world.  If you disagree go hike Fantasy Ridge.

SS: What goes through your mind before, during and after executing or capturing a technical line or feature?

Harrison: Before: Nerves. During: Blackout and/or concentration, I usually can’t remember. After: Stoke! Or a need for redemption. Or, where are my skis?

SS: When you’re not on the hill or working out, what can we most likely find you doing?

Harrison: I bartend at Highwest, so come stop by and grab a delicious Old Fashioned from me and I’ll tell you how much better of a skier I am than you. Just kidding. But really, the Old Fashions are delicious!

SS: Let’s talk 2017 Goals: What can we expect from you for the rest of the year?

Harrison: #1: Stay healthy. #2: Ski often. #3: Defend my title at the PCMR Chinese Downhill.

SS: As athletes, you serve as role models in the outdoor industry.  Any advice, reflections or ideas on the types of things you would like see the outdoor industry strive for?

Harrison: Being from Utah, I would love to see the state recognize the value of its open spaces. This article by Black Diamond Founder, Peter Metcalf perfectly sums up my point.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Solitude, Utah | Photographer: Eric Dyer

SS: What’s bumpin’ in your earbuds?

Harrison: I like my beats like I like my cereal, crunchy.

SS: Spread Stoke’s values are: Do what you love, leave this world a better place than you found it, and spread stoke to those around you.  How do you demonstrate these values?

Harrison: On the mountain I always strive to be the person who brings the morale of the group up. That may be pumping a buddy up on a cool line or most often cracking terrible jokes. Everyone talks about not leaving a footprint on the world insinuating a footprint is a bad thing. I think everyone should strive to leave a footprint on the Earth, but have that footprint be an improvement in whatever you enjoy.

SS: Do you have any shout-outs to sponsors?

Harrison: Sego Ski Co., Soul Poles, Solitude Mountain Resort and Spread Stoke for putting this together. Looking at the list above, I guess anyone else that has a company that starts with an “S” please contact me for sponsorship.

We hope you enjoyed our Frame of Mind interview! Be sure to say “What’s up!” to Harrison on the hill this season and give him a follow on Instagram @harhoghol (seriously though, he ALWAYS gets the shot!).

Stay tuned for our next Frame of Mind interview. If you know someone who should be featured, let us know.

A few weeks ago, we launched our Frame of Mind Series where we highlight local ambassadors of different ski resorts. For our first series of interviews, we are focusing on Solitude Mountain Resort, nestled in awe-inspiring Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Get inspired, learn what makes these local pros tick, and introduce yourself when you see them in the lift line. Know someone that you think should be featured? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

For our second interview of the Frame of Mind Series, we spoke with Solitude Ambassador Heather McPhie. As a former gymnast, Heather brought her aerial skills and athletic determination to the U.S. Ski Team where she crushed Freestyle Moguls. In 2012, McPhie became the first moguls skier ever to pick up a Red Bull sponsorship! Heather leveraged those new wings and proceeded to add four more World Cup podiums on her way to finishing fourth in the moguls standings, then at season’s end, took her very first U.S. National title. Not too shabby!

Spread Stoke: Where is your hometown?

Heather: I grew up in Bozeman, Montana. I moved to Park City in 2004 and have been in the area ever since. My husband and I recently purchased a home in Salt Lake City, UT.

SS: Who can you usually find yourself on a chairlift with?

Heather: Graham Watanabe, Annika and Zac Kay, Emily Cook, Rob Lauer, Tim Akers, and many more!

SS: Conditioning off the mountain is an essential element to performance on the mountain.  Do you have any training techniques (whether physical or mental) you would like to share?

Heather: Off-hill conditioning is extremely important to being able to continue to play in the mountains. When honing in on the most important aspects, I think it largely depends on your body type. I naturally build muscle pretty quickly, and get tight even quicker, so for me I think maintaining my flexibility is one of the most important things. Ideally I go to yoga 1-2 times per week. Also, as a woman, maintaining hamstring strength is really important as well for injury prevention.

SS: What’s been the most challenging aspect of being an athlete?

Heather: When I was competing on the World Cup and Olympic level, I think one of the most challenging things was living out of a suitcase for approx. 6 months/year and skiing rain or shine. I absolutely loved my sport, but when a course was bulletproof, it became a job. Now, if it’s icy, I go home!

SS: Besides shredding the white wintry wave, what else do you enjoy doing?

Heather: I love to PLAY! Some of my favorite things to do besides resort skiing are: rock climbing, mountain & road biking, yoga, skate skiing, backcountry touring, reading books, and anything with friends.

SS: What is your life motto?

Heather: Happiness is a choice. I’ll always take luck, but hard work is more consistent!

SS: What fuel goes into your body before and after a day on the hill?

Heather: Most mornings I eat organic slow-cook oats with a bit of molasses, cinnamon, chia seeds, and peanut butter. I usually put fresh berries and/or pumpkin seeds on top as well. I find that I stay full longer and have plenty of energy for whatever the day brings. I also make overnight oats quite a bit with greek yogurt and coconut milk.

SS: What does skiing do for your soul?

Heather: It might sound cheesy, but being in the mountains is the closest thing I have to a religion. The beauty of the mountains, and the play time is absolutely key to my wellbeing. I love connecting with nature and disconnecting from my phone (it dies in the cold in about 10 minutes, and I love it!). Beyond that, I’m almost always skiing with some of my favorite people.

SS: Solitude, it’s all in the name.  What are some of your favorite attributes of Solitude and how is it unique from other Utah resorts?

Heather: Solitude is unbelievable. It has great terrain for all abilities, and such a mellow vibe. I also love that some of the best terrain is a bit of an effort to get to. A 5-10 minute effort can get you to amazing runs that feel secluded and peaceful.

SS: What goes through your mind before, during and after executing or capturing a technical line or feature?

Heather: My best runs have been when nothing is going through my mind during besides pure joy and focus on exactly what my body is doing in that moment. Before I usually just take a deep breath and remind myself of one or two technical skills that help me ski my best. After, I just enjoy the adrenaline rush!

SS: When you’re not on the the hill, what can we most likely find you doing?

Heather: Working my day job in wealth management, and when I’m not doing that PLAYING outside or in the climbing gym or yoga studio. I’m such a believer in an active lifestyle and I do my best to do something active every day, even if it is just for 20 minutes.

SS: Let’s talk 2017 Goals: What can we expect from you for the rest of the year?

Heather: You can expect me to be up at Solitude any chance I get, sharing my love of the resort with others, and smiling underneath my buff with every turn I make.

SS: As athletes, you serve as role models in the outdoor industry.  Any advice, reflections or ideas on the types of things you would like see the outdoor industry strive for?

Heather: I think it might be worth considering pushing the competitive season back a bit. It seems like at the beginning of the comp and recreational ski season we are always fighting mother nature (blowing snow, doing everything possible to get open), ideally we could start once we get enough snow, and play in the mountains later into the spring when we often have plenty of snow. I realize this might not be economical though, as everyone seems to be chomping at the bit for the snow to fly in the fall, and ready to move on by April. But me…I’m always ready to ski, and if we had snow in July, I’d still be playing in it!

SS: What’s bumpin’ in your earbuds?

Heather: Absolutely nothing. I used to listen to music all the time when I was on the slopes, but I’ve come to love the peacefulness, and the feeling of life slowing down that I get on the mountain when I relax into the silence or the presence of a good friend with no distractions besides powder!

SS: Spread Stoke’s values are: do what you love, leave this world a better place than you found it, and spread stoke to those around you.  How do you demonstrate these values?

Heather: Those are some great values. I do what I love both on and off the slopes. One of my promises to myself when I retired from competitive skiing was that I would take the time to really find my next passion path. I’ve found that in the opportunity to help people with their finances and decreasing their stress around money. By doing something that I love, I’m not living for the weekend, I’m living for every day. I do my best to be a positive in the lives of others, and I spread the stoke through my contagious enthusiasm for life and the activities I choose to participate in.

SS: Do you have any shout-outs to sponsors?

Heather: Although I am no longer a sponsored athlete, I have so many sponsors and friends that helped me throughout my ten years on the U.S. Ski Team and through 2 Olympics. Red Bull: Who took a chance on me and a new sport, and supported me at an unbelievable level with life changing experiences, high performance coaches, and much more. Moment skis: Which I still play on every time I’m on the slopes, and have provided me with countless amazing turns! POC: Over ten years of sponsorship and incredible opportunities. lululemon: For keeping me comfortable, functional, warm, and stylish…still not a day goes but that I’m not wearing lulu and that includes at my job in finance! Solitude: For the opportunity for Graham and I to be ambassadors and spread our love of the mountains and particularly the resort with those around us. Oakley: My longest sponsor, anyone who isn’t seeing through Oakley lenses is at a disadvantage in my opinion. And finally, Full Tilt boots: The most comfortable alpine boot I’ve ever worn.

We hope you enjoyed our Frame of Mind interview with Heather McPhie. Be sure to say “Hey!” to Heather on the hill this season and give her a follow on Instagram @HeatherMcphie!

Stay tuned for our next Frame of Mind interview. If you know someone who should be featured, let us know.

Every ski hill has them. Local heroes. Homegrown rippers. Ski resort die-hards. You see them sprinkled in the lift lines, hooting and hollering from the trees on pow days, dropping cliffs you’ve wanted to hit all year, and layin’ out high fives all day long. These are the locals that make ski resorts special. They know the stashes, they have their own names for certain runs, and they’re the best friends to have when you’re looking to push yourself.

This month we are launching our Frame of Mind Series where we highlight local ambassadors of different ski resorts. For our first series of interviews, we are focusing on Solitude Mountain Resort, nestled in awe-inspiring Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. Get inspired, learn what makes these local pros tick, and introduce yourself when you see them in the lift line. Know someone that you think should be featured? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

To kick off our Frame of Mind Series, here is our interview with the über talented photographer and athlete Eric Dyer. Eric has an incredible natural ability of always catching the perfect photo. His shots consistently make you feel like you are experiencing the exact moment he’s capturing and his photos always have perfect composition. Not only is he skilled behind the camera, but put him in front of the lens, and you can see his passion for skiing really shine. Eric considers himself a skier first, then a photographer. Needless to say, he’s plenty skilled in both.

Eric Dyer in Kiroro, Japan | PC: Kade Krichko

SpreadStoke: Hey Eric, where is your hometown?

Eric Dyer: I grew up in Reading, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, about 15 miles north of the city. I moved to Salt Lake City in the Spring of 2013 after I graduated from Northeastern University in Boston.

SS: What is your main snow sport discipline?

Eric: Skiing! And shoveling…

SS: Who can you usually find yourself on a chairlift with?

Eric: With other members of the #SolitudeMYST, of course. Oddly enough, I find myself skiing alone a lot. I actually enjoy interacting with new people on the chair, especially those from out of town. It’s always refreshing to hear about different people’s experiences in a place that I now call home.

Eric Dyer in Kiroro, Japan | PC: Eric Sales

SS: Conditioning off the mountain is an essential element to performance on the mountain.  Do you have any training techniques (whether physical or mental) you would like to share?

Eric: These days, I bike a lot in the offseason. I got into biking at the tail end of the historically low snow year of 2014-2015. I find myself pedaling a lot through the spring, summer, and fall months. It began as a few rides here and there on a borrowed mountain bike, however, I started down the slippery slope and shortly purchased a mountain bike of my own. Since then, I’ve gotten into road and gravel cycling as well. Can’t beat just being able to ride off from my garage in Sugarhouse for 50 miles through all the canyon and mountain passes! Off the saddle, I spend some of my offseason training at AlpenFit in Park City.

SS: What’s been the most challenging aspect of being an athlete/photographer?

Eric: Being a winter sports athlete/photographer, the hardest challenge for me is to get out of a warm bed on a cold morning before the sun rises. Coffee always helps! I definitely see myself as a skier first, but I have recently began to transition to the other side of the lens. In terms of photography, the hardest challenge for me is deciding when to ski and when to stop and snap a few photos.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Solitude Mountain Resort | PC: Eric Dyer

SS: Besides shredding the white wintry wave, what else do you enjoy doing?

I love food, and I love to cook. Besides eating, I enjoy going on hikes with my girlfriend Megan and her three-legged dog, Todd (#ToddTheTripod). I also love music, specifically going to live music events where you can really see the talent of the musicians on-stage.

SS: What is your life motto?

Eric: Alex Lowe once said, “When you remove the risk, you remove the challenge. When you remove the challenge, you wither on the vine.” I stumbled upon that quote when writing a term paper on risk tolerance in college. That was before I even knew who Alex Lowe was. That quote kinda sums up how I try to live my life, to challenge or scare myself every day.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Solitude Mountain Resort | PC: Eric Dyer

SS: What fuel goes into your body before and after a day on the hill?

Eric: I try to eat healthy as best I can. I’d say my diet coincides with where I am. If I’m home in Utah, my diet is probably 75% raw & organic, 25% cooked & organic. On the road, it becomes a little tougher and I usually survive on a diet of granola, coconut, whole grain toast and almond butter. If I’m heading out for a big day, I typically make two eggs over-easy, toast, spinach, and an avocado. When I get home, I just want a pizza.

SS: What does skiing/snowboarding do for your soul?

Eric: To me, skiing is just all about finding the missing piece to a puzzle, except the puzzle has many different solutions and is ever-changing. I really like the freedom, freedom to go anywhere and leave your signature in the mountains.

Harrison Hogan Holley at Solitude Mountain Resort | PC: Eric Dyer

SS: Solitude, it’s all in the name.  What are some of your favorite attributes of Solitude and how is it unique from other Utah resorts?

Eric: bought a pass to Solitude my first winter in Utah on the recommendation from my friend Harrison (@harhoghol). He told me, “If you want to ski powder all day without having to wait in any lines, go to Solitude.” In that aspect, Solitude truly lives up to its name, and is the reason I keep coming back year after year. Aside from the solitude of skiing at Solitude, the terrain and access at the resort, in my opinion, is second to none. Nothing is obvious and you have to work for your lines, which makes the skiing that much more rewarding. I’m still stumbling upon new features and hidden zones to this day.

SS: What goes through your mind before, during and after executing or capturing a technical line or feature?

Eric: My mind kinda goes blank, or rather clear. Nothing else in the world matters except for the challenge in front of you. Whether it’s boot packing up an icy couloir in the wee hours of the morning, or standing on top of a ridgeline with thousands of vertical feet of untouched powder in front of you, it is a very introspective and meditative state that I find myself in. When I’m skiing, that heightened state of awareness really makes me feel like I’m in touch with the world around me. Afterwards, of course, that all washes away with a huge smile, a few hoots and hollers followed by a, “let’s do THAT again!”

SS: When you’re not on the the hill, what can we most likely find you doing?

Eric: Probably in front of my computer screen, with Lightroom and Spotify open.

Eric Dyer in Rusutsu, Japan | PC: Kade Krichko

SS: 2017 Goals: What can we expect from you for the rest of the year?

Eric: This is my first year since I moved to Utah in which I don’t have big travel plans. I’ve checked Alaska, Japan, and British Columbia off of my bucket list, and would love to return to all of those beautiful places, but my focus this year is to stay local and really explore my backyard more. Outside of exploring the Wasatch and Uinta backcountry more extensively, my big goal at Solitude this year is to ski every named/numbered line on Fantasy Ridge.

SS: As athletes, you serve as role models in the outdoor industry.  Any advice, reflections or ideas on the types of things you would like see the outdoor industry strive for?

Eric: Being a winter athlete and just a normal human being, it is difficult to ignore the environmental impacts that we as humans are having on local and global climates. The earth will be here long after we’re all gone. In what shape we leave the planet is up to us. I believe that the outdoor industry, as one of the most visible industries in human interaction with the natural world, needs to be a leader in promoting sustainability and clean energy. On the sustainability side, I’d like to see more outerwear and apparel being made from recycled materials as well as companies striving to create sustainable supply chains. On the clean energy side, think about all that valuable roof space on manufacturing facilities or warehouses. Hello solar panels. The dark side of skiing is that most resorts operate their lifts using power from diesel generators or are pulling from the grid which is still largely generating its power from coal power plants. In Utah, when it isn’t snowing or about to snow, it is bright and sunny everyday. How cool would it be if each resort had a solar farm in the West Desert?

Eric Dyer in Rusutsu, Japan | PC: Kade Krichko

SS: What’s bumpin’ in your earbuds?

Eric: Even though I love music, I usually leave the earbuds at home when outdoors. I just feel like you don’t need to block out nature’s soundtrack. In my car, however, it’s a melting pot of artists and genres from around the world. One day it could be 90’s hip-hop in the morning, and new age country in the afternoon. The next day, you might hear Die Antwoord or Steely Dan.

SS: Spread Stoke’s values are: Do what you love, leave this world a better place than you found it, and spread stoke to those around you.  How do you demonstrate these values?

Eric: Every day, I take out my knife, open the jar of stoke and spread it all over my toast. Kidding aside, every day I try to limit my footprint the best I can. This could be something as simple as sharing rides up the canyon to reduce our vehicle emissions or not using plastic bags when shopping at the grocery store. I also strive to start the day with a smile on my face and keep it on throughout the day. Smiles are infectious and I think having a positive attitude has a positive effect on those around you. Be humble and support all of those that are close to you. A smile and high five to a stranger goes a long way, be it on the hill or walking down the street.

SS: Do you have any shout-outs to friends, family or sponsors?

Eric: I just want to thank my biggest supporters, my parents (Hi Mom!). They got me started on skis at a young age back on the big hills of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. I still remember those three to four hour car rides to go ski a single day on icy man-made snow! They didn’t second guess me when I decided that I wanted to move across the country to pursue a different way of life. I know they probably didn’t think it would morph into a full-on lifestyle back when they dropped me off at Wachusett Mountain in 1996.

We hope you enjoyed our Frame of Mind interview with Eric Dyer. Be sure to say hi to him if you see him on the hill this season and give him a follow on Instagram @EricDyer.

Stay tuned for our next Frame of Mind interview. If you know someone who should be featured, let us know.