There's very little hesitation when people call Tom Wallisch one of the most electrifying slopestyle skiers in the game. The jibmaster made his start building and hitting jumps back on the bunny hill in Pittsburgh. He eventually made the move to bigger hills, taking his talents west to Park City while attending the University of Utah. After getting his name out with a series of high-octane ski video edits, Wallisch amassed a huge freeskiing following and caught the attention of major ski film companies, who then recruited the progressive skier onto several productions. Wallisch eventually made the transition to competitive freeskiing, winning the Dew Tour overall cup and finishing first in the AFP slopestyle World Rankings in 2010 and 2012. His 2012 campaign featured seven podiums and two X Games medals - gold in Aspen and silver at Euro X – earning him the spotlight as ESPN’s Action Sport Athlete of the Year.

The 2013 season challenged Wallisch, who suffered a minor knee injury in early January that forced him to take it easy. But while filming for his own unique movie project, (coming to iTunes in the fall of 2013) he had enough time and strength to win his first FIS World Ski Championship title in Voss, Norway. Keep your eyes on this solid Sochi contender.

TOM SAYS
This season was filled with ups and downs for me. My torn MCL slowed me down right in the prime time of the season. I got to spend more time filming this season than I have in the past, however, which was amazing. I’m really looking forward to showcasing all of my footage from the season in my first solo project. Next season it’s on! I’ll be skiing as much as possible and looking forward to the opportunity to compete in Sochi!

FIRST TRACKS
Wallisch’s parents first got him into skiing when he was around three years old. He grew up skiing weekends at a small resort in Maryland called Wisp, and when he was 15 he started competing in local big airs and rails jams. The biggest move of his career came in 2006, when he moved to Utah and started competing in major contests.

OFF THE SNOW
Wallisch spends about nine months a year on snow, which is “awesome.” He has been going to college at the University of Utah in the fall for the last five years and has about five credits to go until he earns his marketing degree. When he’s not skiing he loves being outside and in the sun. He likes wakeboarding, skating, mountain biking, hitting up beaches, and pretty much anything fun and exciting. Recently, he inherited a wakeboarding boat from his parents and he is excited to spend some time wakeboarding and boating during his down time. He grew up playing on a lake in the summer and in the mountains in the winter. He says, “It’s a great way to stay fit and active. I really enjoy being outside as much as possible.”