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Jess McMillan

@jmcmillan

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Adventures from a mountain girl.

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Throwback to the good old Freeskiing days 🤩
Some blurry photos but the monents are shiny🙏
Good memories and amazing people ❤️

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When I first stood in a @freerideworldtour start gate, competing at the Olympic Games wasn’t even something we could dream about.

Back then, the Tour was the dream.

The FWT gave me a life I never could have imagined: goals to chase, a platform, the chance to travel the world and turn my passion into a career. I built a decade around competing on the Tour.

But looking back, it isn’t the results that stand out most. It’s the people.

Countless winters and seasons spent travelling together. And the outrageous parties—those who were there know. 😄

I especially remember our “rat pack” sessions: no bibs, no judges, just chasing snow, learning from one another and pushing each other.

The FWT didn’t just give us a competitive circuit—it gave us a community. As one of relatively few women in the sport, it was especially meaningful to connect and ski with female freeriders from around the world. Some of my closest friendships simply wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

I’ve never believed competition makes freeride less “real.” My concern is what happens when decisions move away from athletes and into the hands of governing bodies, commercial interests and politics. The athletes are the ones taking the risks on the mountain. They should have a meaningful voice in shaping the sport.

What I loved about the Tour was that, once you dropped in, it didn’t matter who your sponsors were. It was a level playing field, and the spotlight went to the best athletes—not the best connected. I hope Olympic freeride preserves that.

What excites me most is what this means for the next generation. Young freeriders can now dream not only of reaching the World Tour, but of representing their country at the Olympic Games.

For women, this feels especially significant. Our field was small, and we often had to fight simply to be seen. Equal Olympic quotas show how far we’ve come.

I’m proud to have helped shape freeride into the sport it is today.

Congratulations to @nicolashalewoods, the FWT team and everyone who helped bring freeride to this moment.

Our generation helped build the foundation. Now the next generation gets to take freeride further than we ever could have imagined. ❤️🏔️

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In between sessions at Gold Ray sending the dam and shralping the wave – much to the anadromous Salmon and Steelheads’ dismay – the Ashland Mine crew and Jeffy “the Bear” were living our finest days. While they ended too quickly when our beloved Bear passed away, the memory of him and them still resonates so loudly in my mind as if it were yesterday. While our community was never the same the remnant that persisted around his love and stoke was bolstered by his incredible deep rooted Nor Cal family’s support . It made it possible to continue living with his great passion and love for rivers, family, and friends. 📷 @jeffreywishard

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With everyone looking back at 2016, we wanted to share some of our favorite moments from “Here, There & Everywhere” 🤙

What’s your favorite Warren Miller film from the last decade?

#WarrenMiller #Outside

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Looking for that special gift for the skier in your family, nothing says Merry Christmas more than a week at @tordrilloheli on a new pair of @wagnerskis 🤘🤘….. We still have limited availabilty so book now and come send it in Alaska!

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Is heli-riding in Alaska fun…. I have some seats available this season. Come find out for yourself…. @tordrilloheli @wagnerskis

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Warning: December at Jackson Hole may cause extreme joy. Plan accordingly.
December is packed with tons of fun events like Ski In Jeans Dec. 5, Kids on Snow Dec. 12, 60th Day Dec. 19 and Winterfest Dec. 19-31. For more on the upcoming events and how to maximize your time in Jackson Hole, checkout our blogs.

#jacksonhole #jacksonhole60 #jacksonholedecember

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Episode 20 - 2012 - FLOW STATE
@warrenmillerent

This one marks my 20th year with Warren Miller. Crazy to think that it all started with the simple job of carrying backpacks.

FLOW STATE was not only memorable for me, the entire movie franchise took on new faces and the sport was quickly evolving with proper pro skiers populating the mountain tops. A new generation…

Technically the movie was changing too, this was the first year I shot digitally with the beast @arri Alexa. The images were stunning.

I had a productive winter with a cool Camp Hale visit to ski amongst the tracks of the historic 10th Mountain Division I joined @chrisanthonyski Scott Kennet and another great soul that left us far too soon, Tony Seibert. The boys braved the vintage gear and honored the troops as best as they could.

Then a sunny trip to @powderbirdheliski with new faces that would carry on to become great collaborators @kaylinrichardson @keelykelleher @juliancarr @blake.nyman I went nuts with the super slow motion digital cameras from Phantom.

More airborne action would then take me to @telluridehelitrax with @steepskiing @jmcmillan @daronrahlves @joshrbibby

Of course Alaska was on the menu, with a @chugachpowderguides trip guided by none other than @leltone . I joined US Team extraordinaire, now Alaskan big mountain charger @ted_ligety - showing Ted some tips was Swiss big mountain hero @philmeier75 - However, it was Ted that may have “launched“ a ski career for his buddy. You see, Ted was nice enough to bring along a friend @marcuscaston who blew me away within his first three turns, I was thrilled to see someone ski like he did, Marcus and I went on to film many times over the years, and I would say that Marcus continues to make a very inspiring impression on the sport.

I was certainly in good company for this movie, both in front and behind the camera with @loganschneider and @haskimoto helping with the gigabizzles.

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We’ll always love this footage of @ingridbackstrom and @jmcmillan skiing The Sphinx in Cordova, Alaska 🤩

How do you think you would do on this pitch?

🎞️: 2014’s “No Turning Back”

#WarrenMiller #Outside

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The Crags, Jess McMillan, 2008 @jacksonhole @jmcmillan The Arc of Skiing #skiphotography #wademckoy #jacksonhole #45yearsbehindthelens #digitalphotography #skiing #powder #ski #wyoming #protectourwinters @protectourwinters @volklskis_usa #scottskipoles #scottgoggles @dakine @dakine_ski @markerproducts #markerbindings

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@keegankilbride | Mammoth

@mikkelbk | Sugarbowl

@edjoy__ | Sugarbowl

@renerinnekangas | Crans Montana, Switzerland

Space | Venice

Creativity Inc

@jossiwells | Sugarbowl

@quinnwolferman | Park City

@thedingoinsnow, @jmcmillan | Jackson

@hharlaut | Switzerland

@lame.downer | Kläppen, Sweden

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March 24, 2007, Jess McMillan on Cody Peak @jacksonhole @jmcmillan Congrats to Lindsey Vonn, who stood on podium in SunValley yesterday, March 24, 2025, with a 2nd place finish in super-G. @sunvalley The Arc of Skiing #jacksonhole #45yearsbehindthelens #wademckoy #powhub #digitalphotography #skiphotography #skiing #powder #ski #wyoming #protectourwinters @protectourwinters #backcountryskiing

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