There are some people in the world that one hears about well before they ever have the chance to meet them. The type of person that does things for themselves and that’s it, end of story. It’s a simple criterion that serves the purpose of the doer and one that often leaves these people unnoticed.

Long before Telemark skiing was cool and kids were getting sponsored, there was a crew known as the “Andy’s” that were ruling the Utah Backcountry leaving skin tracks everywhere and dropping gnarly lines you would pee your pants just thinking about. One of those three amigos is Andy Jacobsen, a laid back dude that has put in his time in the Wasatch Mountains and surrounding ranges of Utah. A place where he has honed the skills that have taken him to the finals of several Telemark Big mountain competitions and podium finishes. More recently he has stepped in front of the camera for appearances in Tough Guy productions ‘Incognito’ and then for his first big appearance in PW05, a film by his fellow Powderwhores.

This season Jacobsen will have a full segment in the sophomore release by the Powderwhores, called PWO6, possibly this season’s most anticipated Telemark movie. It is an action packed segment of great lines, pow, and technical mountaineering.

Q&A:

Fhl: Why do you live in the Wasatch in the winter time?
AJ: Where else could a true Powderwhore live? I live in the Wasatch in the winter because of all the fluffy white stuff that is so generously deposited here. The backcountry terrain and accessibility are also big factors.

Fhl: Favorite BC route to ski?
AJ: I always enjoy touring in new and remote areas. Somewhere I can feel a sense of discovery or exploration. The Bearthooth's near Cooke City definitely fit that bill.

Fhl: Scariest line you have ever skied?
AJ: The scariest line I have ever skied is the tram line at Snowbird. (Although Lightning Bolt and Medusa's face take a close 2nd and 3rd)

Fhl: What are you looking forward to this season?
AJ: I am looking forward to working on the next Powderwhore movie, staying healthy, progressing, scaring myself, Alaska, skin tracks with good friends, checking a few more sketch lines off the list, etc.

Fhl: How much mountaineering do you like to incorporate in your skiing?
AJ: I try to incorporate as much mountaineering into my skiing as possible. Climbing was my first love. Long before I ever picked up a pair of pins I was mountaineering. Ice climbing all winter and rock climbing all summer. Before I ever traveled to ski I was traveling to climb. Cordilera Blanca Range, Peru; Alaska Range, AK; and throughout the Tetons. So anytime I can put mountaineering and skiing together I love it. I enjoy lines that require the use of ALL of my skills and ALL of my knowledge and ALL of my focus.

Fhl: What would you say to someone that is interested in getting into the backcountry and ski mountaineering scene? Any advice?
AJ: My advice for anyone wanting to get into the backcountry or ski mountaineering would be to DO IT!!! Get out there, take some avalanche classes and try to hook up with more experienced skiers so they can show you the ropes. There is so much to learn in ski mountaineering as far as belay systems and anchors...and you can never learn too much about snow and avalanches.

Fhl: Who do you think are the next ‘Powderwhores’? Anyone we should keep an eye on these days?
AJ: Nick Devore has a stompalicious segment in PW06. Nick is a super solid Big mountain ripper, who hikes, hucks, spins and stomps everything. Nick is supposed to move to Utah this winter so he should spend a lot more time filming with Powderwhore this coming winter. I'm sure we will all be seeing a lot of Nick Devore for a while.

Fhl: Thoughts on the competition scene?
AJ: I have always had a great time competing in tele comps. Everyone one is always super cool and it is just fun to free ski around with a huge posse of ripping freeheelers. I hope the tele comp scene never gets to serious. It should always be a place for people with a passion for the sport to meet and ski together.

Fhl: What do you do in your down time between filming and all that jazz?
AJ: Down time? I don't have any down time. Right now I am doing a big remodel on a home in Salt Lake. I guess I spend my time working on the house, the movie, climbing and training for the winter. I also want to get back on the water ramps this fall.

Fhl: Who’s hooking you up these days?
AJ: Karhu, Ground, Black Diamond, Leki, Fortress watches