Junior Max Anthes prepares for his upcoming winter ski season starting next week. Each season draws Anthes closer to his dream of being a professional freestyle skier.
YEAR ROUND: Not a day goes by that skiing isn’t on Anthes’ mind. He practices all year long, on and off the snow always aspiring to get better. In the off snow seasons he spends time on the trampoline, in foam pits, and perfecting his “balance mojo.” Last summer he spent 2 weeks in Oregon at Windells Camp learning unnatural flip tricks and perfecting the style he already has. Camps like these help him to improve and prepare for upcoming seasons. During the winter he is on the snow daily, practicing at Mulligans Hollow Ski Bowl in Grand Haven, and Cannonsburg Ski Area in Grand Rapids. His weekends are spent either at competitions or up north at his condo in Boyne, Michigan practicing.ARMADA: Anthes stands with his newest pair of Armada Skis, one of his three sponsors for the sport. It’s not uncommon for him to go through up to 8 pairs of skis in one season. They have to be replaced when the edges get too beat up or they are damaged trying new park and urban tricks. “Last season I snapped one pair of skis in half doing a dub cork 10,” Anthes said. His sponsors really support him in maintaining good equipment which doesn’t come cheap, allowing him to travel and participate in many camps and competitions.FULL TILT: Each season Anthes gets new boots from one of his sponsors Full Tilt. He got this sponsor after a sponsorship with Slope Style which is partly committed to the company.“Once they heard about me and saw some of my edits full tilt had to pick me up,” Anthes said.ON TOP: Two years ago Anthes began competing in freestyle ski competitions and has been winning ever since. He almost always places and often comes out on top. Anthes began skiing when he was 3 years old and raced as a child. When he was 11 he fell in love with freedom of freestyle skiing and has been competing the last 2 years. “It’s such an amazing feeling to win,” Anthes said. He plans on continuing the sport he loves and putting hard work into seeing his dreams of going professional come true, that may not be too far down the road.IN THE ZONE: Music is his calm during practice, before trying risky new tricks, and while participating in competitions. “Wu Tang gets me in the zone,” Anthes said. Out on the slopes he enjoys Red Bull to fuel his energy and get him hype. “Before I hit a jump I’m in a very calm mindset and all I’m thinking about is me stomping the trick.”THE COLLECTION: Max shows off his unique sweatshirt collection which has accumulated over the years. He often wears a big sweatshirt in place of, or over his jacket. He admits it’s all about the style. “I’ve got mad flowy style, I like baggy stuff,” Anthes said. He often represents his nickname “Shabba” as known by many of his friends and fellow skiers.SENDS IT TO THE SLOPES: Anthes goes out of state year round for his ski career. He travels several times during the year to Colorado, Pennsylvania, Utah, Oregon, and California. Next week he will be out in Colorado to begin his intense season training. “I’m going to Colorado for the park city united camp, they’re out of Park City, Utah but we’re going out to Colorado because they have bigger jump lines and the coaches live out there,” Anthes said. This camp will prepare him for big competitions this season. Anthes is looking forward to competing in the Aspen Open this February with his skiing “family” and other professional skiers he looks up to. He is hoping this will be his most successful and career staking seasons yet.
