Instagram story viewer> @instasteney> Tagged

Brian Stenerson

@instasteney

3.5K

followers

1076

following

@westonbackcountry
@zealoptics
@ptrevolution_tahoe
@sparkrandd
@dissentlabs
@thermic_usa
👇🏼Split | A Splitboard Project 👇🏼

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Some ski trips start with a particular line or snow forecast. This one started with the idea of going somewhere far outside the usual world of resorts, familiar destinations, and the ski culture we knew.

That idea brought @ericleeobrien, @audreysnowclimb, and @instasteney to Gulmarg in the western Himalayas, partly inspired by Eric’s connection with Sarfaraz, a skier in Kashmir who had long encouraged him to come ski the mountains and spend time with the community there.

The sense of leaving the familiar behind started before we landed. On the flight into Srinagar, distant peaks on the horizon grew into a wall of mountains rising nearly 25,000 feet. That feeling continued on the ground as we settled into a place with a different rhythm, culture, and relationship to skiing than anywhere we’d traveled before.

Then there was the skiing.

Gulmarg offers a rare mix of lift-accessed skiing and huge backcountry terrain: alpine faces, long ridgelines, conifer forests broken up by Himalayan birch, and descents that disappear into the horizon. One particularly clear, sunny day started near 14,000 feet on Mt. Apharwat and ended nearly 7,000 vertical feet below in the Drung Valley.

But the further we got into the trip, the less it felt like skiing was the whole point.

There were fewer crowds, less resort infrastructure, and less emphasis on everything built around skiing. The mountains felt closer. It was stripped back to something simpler: vast landscapes, friends, shared meals, and getting to know a place through the people who live there.

Along the way, we learned more about Kashmir’s history and culture, ate lamb rogan josh, drank saffron kahwa tea, had our belongings pilfered by a marauding troop of monkeys, and spent time with a local ski community whose passion for the sport was undeniable, even from a very different corner of the world.

We went to the Himalayas expecting incredible mountains and found plenty of them. What stuck with us were the people, the conversations, and the reminder that sometimes the best thing skiing gives you is a reason to go somewhere you never would have experienced otherwise.

📷: @dusty.cressey

891

62

spring recap!
- lil more snowboarding; finally did a couloir and got a proper good bye to the season at abasin
- @boottanfest aka bikini bottomless aka best weekend of the year
- caught a fish!
- olive visited <3
- parks and food and laughing
- lots of dancing!!
- friends + mtns + music + camp bfast + party bike = rly good 24hrs

142

5

CHALLENGERS 2026!!!

Major takeaways: so stoked for a 3rd at Stop 2 (my best result yet!), I love this community (nothing new there) and finally feeling like I understand the intricacies of this sport (and how much more there is to learn).

A moment that stands out to me was the impromptu huddle of the snowboard gals after our final run. Everyone was so proud of each other and of how much the women’s snowboard field has progressed in recent years - it’s certainly time for two spots on the Tour. It was so freaking sick to see the support the entire group has for each other at the highest level of competition across two continents.

I’m so grateful to be part of Challengers for a second year; it was really cool to see how much not only my riding has grown this winter, but also my line planning (see pic 5, plus pic 6 is the view from the yellow star). But just like in physics, the more you start to understand something, the more details appear to dive into. Definitely feel like I made it to the top of a false peak - but in a good way! There’s so much more to learn!! Excited to keep pushing.

Biggest highlight is for sure the creeeew, huge thanks to everyone whether we had one convo or we cried together. Love y’all 🥹 It’s really special to be part of this community full of people who have worked so hard to be here, largely on their own dime, because they love it.

Aaaand of course a whole lot of fun was had exploring Nelson & Golden, jumping in freezing water, learning important Canadian culture, a solid introduction to mechanical bull riding, general silliness and if you make it all the way to the end some very cool volcanos.

Thank you @nicamp_ for the photos!! (1, 3, 11, 16)

Shoutout @westonbackcountry @drinkfabric @ifsafreeriders for making it happen 💪

312

18

Finals day 2 of #rahlvesbanzai presented challenges with snow, wind and difficult visibility, but with a can do attitude and a collective positive energy among the competitors, race dept, event crew and mtn ops the event prevailed! So grateful and proud of all who helped make it happen. Thanks to @stellar_media crew led by @siryancis_bacon for braving the storm and capturing the vibe and action.
#weareskiing #waxedbywend #givesyouwiiings #givesmewings

493

36

Pow Banzai 💥❄️⛷️🏂
#rahlvesbanzai
@daronrahlves

Check please!
@thenotorious.d.o.g_v2
@shad_to_the_bone
@nick_cohee
@instasteney

420

6

This might sound crazy but in Gulmarg you can ski in the Himalayas.

A small village with a thriving ski community, half way around the world from home. We spent 5 days riding and exploring here and were blown away by the in-bounds terrain and sidecountry access straight from the lift.

The second phase of the gondola drops you off around 4000m with 360 views of the Pir Panjal Range, a sub range of the Himalayas. Look east and you’ll see Kashmir and the main Himalayan range, look west and you’re staring into Pakistan.

After seeing this place in ski movies many years ago, it feels surreal to finally have got to ride here.

Thanks to the awesome crew tha made it so memorable @ericleeobrien @audreysnowclimb @instasteney @skiifreak_ @hestragloves

#skiing #kashmir #travel #gulmarg

1k

44

3 stooges go touring…

75

1

Hakuba matata! #boysbandpose

83

0

Monkey broke in and destroyed our hotel room in Gulmarg, Kashmir.

We had not opened the window the first three days we were there so the previous guests must have left it unlocked and the monkeys found out and snuck in while we were skiing.

#monkey #travel #gulmarg #kashmir #india

2k

61

Kashmir through my lens 📸

Gulmarg, Kashmir has been a Bucketlist ski destination for me since I saw it in a ski movie over 10 years ago. I finally had the opportunity to visit with an awesome crew and this is what I captured.

Such a surreal feeling to ski in the Himalayas.

Locations include:
- Gulmarg
- Srinigar
- Dal Lake

Thanks to @skiifreak_ for welcoming us into his world and sharing the resort with us!

#kashmir #india #travel

2k

100

Your Region 2 @fwtqualifier Challenger Series by @orage89 snowboard wild card, Brian Stenerson!

Residing in Lake Tahoe, Brian has spent the past decade competing on the Qualifier circuit. In 2024, he earned a spot on the Freeride World Tour and is determined to make his way back again. When he’s not competing, Brian seeks out remote and unconventional terrain around the world—most recently returning from a splitboarding expedition in India. We’re stoked to have him back on the Challenger circuit!

#ThisIsFreeride
#FreerideFamily

424

25

Untill it's too late.... 🙄

19

0