Samsung Deep Winter Photo Challenge Returns To Whistler January 6, 2018

January is storm season at Whistler Blackcomb, which means plenty of snow and deep powder days on the mountains. The Samsung Deep Winter Photo Challenge Products celebrates storm season each winter by showcasing the work of six top ski and snowboard photographers. Now in its twelfth year, the event continues to pay homage to this sacred occasion and to the skiers, riders and photographers who cherish it.
 
“When it's storming, there aren't many photographers out there on the mountains. Without doubt, that is one thing that impresses me most about The Deep Winter Photo Challenge,” says head judge, and original King of Storms, Paul Morrison. “Virtually none of the images created would ever exist without the event happening on those given days. This event has forced every competitor who has taken part over the years to push their limits in every respect.”
 
The Samsung Deep Winter Photo Challenge  gives six professional photographers 72 hours to shoot in-bounds at Whistler Blackcomb, capturing athletes in their natural mountain habitat of powder-filled bowls, glades, and après bars. Each photographer will then create a montage of their best images from the three days, and their slideshows will be shown in front of a live audience on January 6, 2018 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The slideshows will be judged by a panel of industry professionals, with the top finisher taking home $5,000 and the coveted King/Queen of Storms trophy. Each photographer will receive a Samsung GALAXY Note8 courtesy of Samsung Canada for participating.

After the judges have made their decision and announced the 2018 King/Queen of Storms, the Deep Winter Photo Challenge People’s Choice Award Contest will go live on Facebook allowing the public to vote for their favorite competitor’s image. The contest will be active for 72 hours following the Deep Winter event, and the photographer with the most votes at the end of the three days will win a trip for two with Whistler Heli Skiing, $1,000 and a new Samsung device.
 
“This year’s lineup of professional photographers is really diverse—both in their backgrounds and shooting styles,” says Chris McLeod, senior brand equity specialist at Whistler Blackcomb. “Competing under the pressure of this event has lead to some incredible creativity by competitors over the years and I am really excited to see what this group creates during these stressful 72 hours.”
 
This year’s competitors are:
 
Jeremy Bernard – A freelance photographer born and raised in the French Alps, Jeremy spends most of his time up high in the mountains, looking for the best light and aestheticism.
 
Jessika Hunter – Jessika grew up exploring, snowboarding and travelling through the mountains. Since her first '3 frames per second' film camera, she has been documenting this mountain adventure lifestyle and the spaces in between. 
 
Justin Kious – Raised in the Pacific Northwest Justin fell in love with the mountains at a young age. His goal of shooting photos is to convey action in a natural way, like he is not even there.
 
John Entwistle – John is a lifelong skier and self-taught photographer born and raised in the mountains of British Columbia. He is now based out of Whistler, where he spent much of last winter shooting for Whistler Blackcomb's Magnetic Movie. 
 
Florian Breitenberger – Growing up south of Munich, Florian was always highly influenced by the Alps. Now based in Innsbruck, Austria, he has had numerous photos published in magazines all over the world.
 
Rob Lemay – Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rob is the senior content creator at King Snow Magazine.
 
Tickets to the Samsung Deep Winter Photo Challenge  Products on January 6 are $25 and are available online at whistlerblackcomb.com/deepwinter. Doors open at 7pm and the slideshows start at 8pm.

The Deep Winter Photo Challenge is presented by Samsung Canada, Gore-Tex Products, and Whistler Blackcomb. Additional sponsors included Kokanee, Smirnoff, Coast Mountain Culture Magazine, The Pique Newsmagazine, Atomic, Whistler Heli Skiing, The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Mountain FM.