Ski Major Ian Hamilton is Athlete of the Week

Ian Hamilton has had a crazy season so far this year. We were able to sit down and catch up with him and see what he's been up to along with what his plans are for the rest of this year. Check out what he had to say below.

What is new and exciting in the busy life of Ian Hamilton? Where are you currently living, skiing?

It has been a pretty crazy year so far. I spent the fall finishing up my International Business degree at Westminster college in Salt Lake. I foolishly saved all my upper division classes for my last semester, so it was a rough one. It was easy to stay motivated, however knowing that a winter of skiing was on the horizon, I managed to keep my nose to the grindstone and get through with a 4.0. Since school ended in December I have been on the road between contests and filming.

You have been competing in some big events this year. How is the competition level this year and how have you been doing?

The level of skiing in contests this year has been insane. Almost everyone has multiple double flips in their bag and have the potential of putting down a winning run. It is just about who is on their game that day. I had some trouble early season, as I hadn't trained any of my large tricks before the first couple contests due to lack of large jumps in Utah. Luckily I got to train at Breckenridge in early February and I managed to get my act together in time for Aspen Open. I was able to put down one of my best contest runs ever despite poor conditions in finals. I ended up in 5th place which is the best I have ever finished at the Aspen Open.

You have also been competing in freeride events this season as well. What is the difference in freeride events, and what style event do you like better?

In freeride events there is much more emphasis put on technical skiing ability which plays in my favor since I grew up skiing moguls without a terrain park. An event that is focused on jumping and steep skiing ability plays to my strengths nicely. I was able to win the Cold Smoke Freeride Event at Lost Trail MT by spinning a 360 off a cliff and putting down a smooth double grab rodeo 720 on the kicker. It was a great event with an awesome atmosphere and I can't wait for next year. Both slopestyle and freeride are super fun events and I enjoy a balance between them.

Have you learned any new tricks this season?

It was one of my big goals this year to learn an unnatural double flip. I really needed one to balance out my natural double flips in my slopestyle runs. So I put a lot of effort into my switch unnatural rodeos early season to prepare for the switch unnatural double rodeo. I didn't work up my courage until the weekend before aspen open in Breckenridge, but I managed to land my first attempt at the switch unnatural double rodeo 1080. I used it in my qualifying run in aspen, but unexpectedly and accidentally learned the switch unnatural double rodeo 900 in practice for semi-finals. I ended up using the 900 because I could link it to my natural double misty 1080 and that is the run that got me 5th place!!

Anything up your sleeve we should be expecting from Ian Hamilton ending out the 2015 ski season?

I have been filming a solo project short film with my friend Bobby Jahrig that will compare backcountry skiing to contest skiing and show why I love and need both aspects of the sport to keep me excited and motivated. So look for that coming out later this year. I will also have a part in the Revision Skis team movie, which will be mostly filmed on an upcoming trip to Fernie Wilderness Adventures Catskiiing. Other than that I have two more big events, Dumont Cup and AFP world tour finals coming up in the next month and that should be a blast. I will also be entering the Poor Boyz Productions "Undiscovered" video contest, so look for a heavy 90 second video of my best all mountain skiing coming soon and vote it up!!

What are you plans for summer? Are you going to any camps, etc?

I have never been to New Zealand, so I am hoping to make it down there for some early season contests and filming. Other than that I am moving back to my hometown of Missoula, MT for the summer to work, relax, and enjoy some summer activities. I might be headed to Woodward at copper for a Revision Ski Team week so come out and ski with the team!!

Who would you like to thank?

Big thanks to everyone at Monster Army for the constant support for not only myself, but lots of up and comers who wouldn't be able to pursue their dreams without the support provided by Monster Army. Another big thanks to all my other sponsors that keep me performing at my best with fresh gear. And finally thanks to my parents, my amazing girlfriend, and all the great people that make life interesting and enjoyable.