Cole Richardson, a sponsored athlete for ARC'TERYX, is currently holding an exhibition called "INTERMISSION in Tokyo," which proposes new forms of expression to people through collaborations with three artists.
The STEEP editorial team visited the gallery and spoke with Cole.
Art x Video/Photography: Skiing becomes art
"Skiing deserves to be exhibited in a gallery as art."
This exhibition, which brings this idea to life, is a new proposal in which Cole collaborates with three renowned artists to express his unique worldview through the intersection of skiing, art, video, and photography.
At "T-SITE GARDEN GALLERY" in Daikanyama, Tokyo, a uniquely artistic space is created where dynamic skiing action, beautiful natural scenery, the mystery of snow, sound, light, and their textures blend together.
What kind of background led to the creation of this unique exhibition?
To understand that, we first need to get to know Cole Richardson.
Who is Cole Richardson?
Cole Richardson is a 21-year-old from Lake Louise at the foot of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Born to parents who were world-class alpine racers competing in FIS races, he started skiing at the age of two and spent his childhood racing through gates, competing against the clock
Incidentally, his sister also competed in the FIS W-Cup, making them a truly distinguished family in alpine skiing. Cole was a thoroughbred
"I never thought I wanted to race myself, but my parents put me in a racing club from an early age (laughs). Whenever I went to the mountains I would take a different set of clothes with me, change into them during my lunch break and skate in the park. Even during practice I would sneak out of the gates whenever I could. My coach would often scold me
I always wanted to ski big mountains and backcountry. I knew long ago that I wanted to be a freeskier for the rest of my life. So, when the time came to stop racing, I did (laughs). And I'll never go back to alpine racing again."
Cole won the North American Junior Freeski Circuit at the age of 14. He then spent a year focusing on slopestyle and halfpipe.
"Why? Because I wanted to be an all-around player. I wanted to hone my trick skills, and that required more park training. But after a year, I missed powder, so I went back to the big mountains."
The following year, Cole returned to the world of big mountain skiing with new tricks, and in 2019 he competed in Young Guns Ski, a competition for skiers aged 13 to 18 hosted by former slopestyle king Sammy Carlson to discover future star skiers, where he took home a stunning victory. The contest, held in Revelstoke, BC, Canada, combined air tricks with big mountain skiing skills, and was exactly the format Cole was looking for. Selected from over 1,000 video entries from around the world, Cole's skiing stood out for both its ability and potential
You can see highlights from the contest here ↓.
The awards ceremony and Cole's riding are particularly highlighted from around 08:30. Be sure to check it out!
Winning this contest brought Cole into the spotlight and propelled him to stardom.
His name became known throughout the skiing world, leading to filming opportunities with "Blank Collective," a Canadian-based company that enjoyed popularity comparable to major ski labels such as MSP, TGR, and Salomon TV, and his career as a professional freeskiier began to take shape.
The riding
After "Young Guns Ski," Cole's friendship with his best friend and idol, Sam Kutch, led to him appearing in an MSP (Matchstick Productions) movie, and he has now become one of the most notable up-and-coming skiers in the world, even having his own segment on MSP, one of the most established ski movie labels
"MSP is my favorite ski movie, and I grew up watching it from a young age. It was my dream and goal to have my own segment there, so I was really thrilled and grateful when I was chosen."
An example of a segment of Cole featured in the MSP movie can be seen below
Cole Richardson's riding is intentionally loose and playful. He can also draw the fastest turns with perfectly calculated lines when asked,
but Cole isn't interested in that. What interests him is how to use natural objects on the big mountains to draw free and creative lines. Cole's signature style is a combination of flowing, wave-like surf riding and daring air tricks.
Cole's strengths, such as his superior aerial technique and exceptional stability, are largely due to his background in gymnastics from a young age.
"Just like with alpine skiing, my parents forced me into a gymnastics club even though I didn't want to, saying it would be good for skiing (laughs). But I admit that my spatial awareness and ability to move my body in the air came from gymnastics."
Cole has always admired Sean Pettit and Sammy Carlson, and was drawn to their freedom of expression and the way they created their own style
"Sean told me, 'Cole, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. You have to forge your own path. You can do whatever you want.'
And I've also been greatly influenced by Sammy's style, not just in skiing, but in his way of life. Sammy taught me about playful, unconventional methods and how to approach the ski industry. It was Sammy who recommended the Young Guns Ski contest to me and gave me a great opportunity."
In recent years, Chris Benchetler, Fernando, and Sam Cucci have also become riders he greatly admires and respects.
Yet Cole states this clearly.
"While I'm inspired by athletes I admire, I've never tried to imitate anyone. I've always tried to add my own unique touch to my skiing. However, I haven't fully established my own style yet, and I'm constantly experimenting with new approaches.
Conversely, I think that continuing to pursue this throughout my career will convey to the skiing scene, and to the next generation of kids, that there can be many different approaches."
The biggest crisis and turning point in life
A turning point for Cole came during the 2023-2024 season.
While filming a movie in Niseko, Hokkaido, he crashed into a tree during a jump landing. He suffered a life-threatening injury, with three of his internal organs partially destroyed, and his shoulder and arm also sustained serious damage. He was rushed to a hospital in Sapporo, where he underwent surgery and was forced to spend a month in the hospital. However, this life-threatening injury brought a new perspective to Cole's life and career.
This is also the origin of "INTERMISSION."
For Cole, the word "INTERMISSION" refers to a period of time, like a "gap," in his life and career, when it is temporarily interrupted.
"Looking back on the past and resetting myself allowed me to change and gave me time to think about new ideas and approaches. Even in the midst of a physically and mentally demanding situation, INTERMISSION gave me a positive perspective and brought me the belief and hope that I could fully recover to my original state. I also came to the
realization that in order to understand things more deeply, it is necessary to take some distance from them."
The answer is here
Here we present Cole's thoughts and feelings from an interview he conducted at Daikanyama T-SITE GARDEN GALLERY
Q. What led to the holding of this "INTERMISSION" event?
—Last season, I suffered a serious injury on a filming trip in Hokkaido, and I almost died. I didn't even know if I would recover.
My life and my career as an athlete came to a complete halt. I was so lucky, and it was truly miraculous, that I recovered, but the fear I faced at that time—the fear that I might never be able to ski again, let alone become a professional skier—was immense. It was terrifying.
Every day I would look out the window of my hospital room... I thought about so many things during this stagnant period.
Even if I could never ski like before, I couldn't imagine a life without a sport that I loved so much and that was so important to me. I wondered
if there was a way to share my passion for skiing in a different way than as an athlete.
I've always been interested in and love art, film and magazines, and I even collect ski magazines, but I was inspired to combine skiing and art, add a different perspective and create a new form of expression
Q. Did that lead to a gallery exhibition?
-The idea of holding an exhibition in a gallery came from wanting to express skiing as "art" in a new way, fusing it with art and video. Above all, I wanted to create an opportunity and space where people could feel more connected to skiing with their minds, bodies, and whole bodies
It's not just about watching ski movies or videos from social media on a digital screen. It's important to be able to walk around the gallery space on your own two feet and enjoy the experience at your own pace, in the way you like, rather than just mindlessly ignoring the images that come into your eyes
Besides, I thought a gallery would be a great way to introduce skiing to new people in town.
A lot of people like art, right? Even if they don't know anything about skiing, they can naturally come across a gallery in town and encounter skiing. And that, too, as art. Even if they don't know who I am, and even if they don't go to the mountains to ski, if they can feel something from this world, don't you think that's valuable?
Q. How did the collaboration with these three artists come about?
- Actually, I had never met any of the three of them before this project. I learned through HARDPACK magazine, which is sponsoring this project, that they all have experience working with skiing in their respective fields, and that they have incredible sensibilities, talents, and expressive skills, so I contacted them
There are three rooms in this venue, each with its own exhibit of different works. You are free to visit them in any order, come in and out as many times as you like, and spend as much time as you like; just enjoy it at your own pace, however you like. So, let me introduce the three rooms
ROOM 1
is a white space displaying photographs and videos by Alex F Web. On display are Cole's favorite powder shots, documentary photos from last season when he suffered a serious injury, and works depicting Hokkaido landscapes. A CRT monitor with headphones is set up in the center, allowing visitors to freely watch videos. You can also listen to a raw interview with the surgeon who operated on Cole in Hokkaido, describing the severity of his injury.
ROOM 2:
In the center of the pitch-black space sits a long, narrow lightbox. Mysterious images of snow appear on its surface one after another in a slow, rhythmic motion. A world captured by Leo Hoorn. This scientific space stimulates intellectual curiosity, drawing you in and making you want to keep peering into the box.
Room 3
are covered by screens on three sides, displaying artistically edited footage of Cole's riding, which transforms in countless ways. A powerful cinematic art experience unfolds, where sound, light, and visuals intertwine to convey a powerful message. Standing in front of the screens, you feel enveloped in the art, immersed in its world, and so engrossed that you forget the passage of time. This room features artwork by Marvin Leuvrey, a renowned artist based in Paris.
Alex, Leo, and Marvin have all captured skiing from their own unique perspectives, and I think they've breathed new life not only into my story, but into the ski media as it stands today. I also think that this exhibition, as a form of expression, has the potential to make a splash in the ski scene
Q. What did you think when you saw the venue in Japan?
―Amazing! First and foremost, I'm thrilled by the incredible work done by the Arc'teryx Japan team and everyone involved who shared my vision. This would never have been possible without everyone's support.
Seeing this venue makes me feel incredibly fulfilled and rewarded. To think that
an idea born from such a terrifying experience that threatened my life and career has taken shape in such a beautiful and fresh way, and across the ocean to Tokyo no less. It's especially meaningful to be able to return to the origins of a project that stemmed from an accident in Japan. And I'm so grateful for all the help I received from the Japanese people, so I'd love to give something back to Japan.
Q. Aside from visual arts such as photography and video, are there any new forms of expression you would like to try?
—The most important thing is to make viewers feel something, especially a connection. Much of the media and art is one-sided when viewed through a screen, and it tends to get buried in a lot of information.
That's why I thought it was important to propose a "space" where people can feel a connection at their own pace, in the form of media and art that leaves a stronger and longer-lasting impact. Furthermore, it would be great if people could not only appreciate the artwork but also actually become a part of it. I think the feeling of being in control is empowering.
Q. If you were to bring in a new perspective from a different industry like this time, what kind of person from what industry would you like to collaborate with?
- I'd definitely like to use the power of art. Not just something that's projected onto a screen, but something like sculpture or something that you can actually touch and explore. It might also be good to share the process of creating a video
Q. Can you tell us about ARC'TERYX, who supported this exhibition?
-ARC'TERYX is an amazing brand, the coolest in the world. They always give me strength and support. I do a lot of unconventional and creative things, but even if it doesn't always work out 100%, they have the generosity to accept that. For this project, they understood and cooperated with a unique idea like a gallery, which I don't think any other brand could have done
Q. So what does skiing mean to you?
—It's something that connects me to nature and the outdoors. A tool that takes me to the mountains. And perhaps a means of self-expression.
Skiing is certainly a sport, but for me, it has more value than that. It broadens my world and allows me to travel.
It's completely free, allowing me to be myself at my own pace. Just like this gallery.
Q.Finally, what would you like to say to Japanese skiers?
—I want to tell all skiers in Japan and around the world:
Always do what you think is best, and trust your instincts. I believe that will definitely pay off. You can never make an impact on the ski scene by doing the same thing as everyone else. Believe in yourself and go your own way. That's something you have to forge with your own hands.
Everyone, please come to the exhibition!
[Event Overview]
"INTERMISSION in Tokyo"
Date and Time: February 8th (Sat) - February 11th (Tue, National Holiday), 2025,
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM *Closing at 5:00 PM only on the final day, February 11th (Tue, National Holiday)
Location: Daikanyama T-SITE GARDEN GALLERY,
16-15 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo [MAP]
(5-minute walk from Daikanyama Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line)
Admission: Free
Information
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