For those that have been around the Freeheel scene since the late 1990’s, you will have heard of BJ Brewer. BJ is an amazing person both on and off piste and has inspired so many to take up Telemark skiing. His graceful style is hard to match and he has had several full length segments in some of the biggest Freeheel movies ever made. FHL was able to sit down and find out what has been going on with one of the legends of the sport. Enjoy!
FHL: Thanks for taking the time to sit down and catch us up with what you’ve been doing lately.
BJ: My Pleasure, Hope this finds the FHL crowd waist deep & havin fun.
FHL: So let’s get right to it. Freeheel skiing is as Hot as it has ever been, new movies, magazines, and incredible growth every year. You were one of the guys breaking ground on this movement years ago. How do you feel about where things are going with the sport?
BJ: The sports growth and movement is fueled by people who seemingly love to have fun and ski hard, I really don’t think the growth and attitude could be much better. I admire all of the people pushing the sport further each winter, weekend or whenever they get out.
Contributed by Josh Madsen
FHL: You have seemed to have kept a lower profile in recent years in terms of competitions and filming. Can you tell us a little about what you’ve been up to?
BJ: I have been trying to get into studio photography, human interest stuff and portraiture. I have also been climbing a lot more than in years past. Skiing is still a huge priority and passion and I’m still shrugging daily responsibilities all the time to go out but I guess my own natural life progression is changing a bit.
FHL: A couple of years ago you and Molly Douma began a program called T.E.L.E. Kids. What exactly is the program all about? Will this program be happening this year?
BJ: TELE Kids will be happening this year. We received an incredibly generous grant from Smartwool this year; this is going to allow the program to flourish in ways and means by which we have yet to explore. For those of you unfamiliar – TELE Kids is a free tele ski program for underserved youth. We teach them to tele and in turn get to hang with some pretty amazing kids a few weeks out of the season.
FHL: We heard that you have moved back to SLC to pursue a career in photography. Ski photography or a variety of work?
BJ: Oops I guess I kind of answered this on earlier – I am interested in shooting ski stuff, but I don’t want to become another Cohen or Clark you know. I am very interested in shooting alpine climbing and big mountain stuff soooooo hopefully in the next year or so you will be seeing my work published.
FHL: Do you have a website that displays your work?
BJ: Syloet Photography should be up and running soon. Please everyone check it out and let me know what you think. Go to syloetphotography.com in about a week! I would love some feedback – email feedback to bj@syloetphotography.com
FHL: There are a lot of young kids on FHL that are pushing the limits of freeheel skiing. What would be your advice to both the recreational rider and maybe someone that wants to pursue a career in freeheel skiing?
BJ: I would say that anyone’s vision into the sport, into the moves or tricks they are trying or vision and for sight into what they would like to do in the sport is the most important thing to hold onto and pursue. If you know how you want to be marketed, how you’re going to gain exposure, most importantly how your going to stomp everything, your half way there. Props to all of the people out pushing themselves in the park and big mountain scene, I truly believe you guys are some of the most gifted athletes in the world.
FHL: Thank BJ for taking the time to sit down and chat with us about what you’ve been up to. It has been a pleasure.
BJ: Oh man! Pleasures mine. I love what you guys are doing on the site. Josh – nice segment in Powderwhore’s latest flick, that is the best park segment I have ever seen. Thanks again fellas.