Freeride Godfather Mike Douglus Inducted into Canadian Ski Hall of Fame

Mike Douglas created freeride skiing with his friends in the late 1990s and has been a powerful leader and supporter of the scene ever since. As a top rider, film producer, and ski businessperson, his contributions to the ski industry are immeasurable. In recognition of his achievements, he has been inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame in 2025

Achievements recognized by the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame

By the way, what is the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame?　

Founded in 1982, the non-profit organization honors athletes and those involved in the Canadian skiing industry who have made significant contributions to the sport. Past inductees include Jean-Luc Brassard, Canada's first gold medal winner in the freestyle event at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, and Sarah Burke, a pioneer of women's freeride who died in a half-pipe accident at a young age

https://skimuseum.ca/about-the-canadian-ski-hall-of-fame/

For Canadian skiers, induction into the Ski Hall of Fame is an honor on a par with the USA Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Mike Douglas' impact on the world of skiing is undeniably enormous

In the late 1990s, he was involved in the development of SALOMON's world-first twin-tip skis, the SALOMON 1080, and became a central figure in the global freeski movement as the New Canadian Air Force. While leading the scene as a rider, known for his unique D-Spin trick, he also demonstrated his talent in video production, launching Switchback Entertainment in 2007 and producing SALOMON Freeski TV for the next 14 years

His success as a ski entrepreneur has also been recognized, and he has naturally been selected as the "Male Skier of the Year" and one of the "48 Greatest Skiers of All Time" by the US ski magazine Powder Magazine

Mike's message of joy

"I am truly honored to receive this accolade. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such an incredible career spanning so many different aspects of skiing - product development, competition, big mountain skiing, filmmaking... Skiing has given me so much in my life: friendship, travel, adventure and achievement - it's all of it

My career began in Japan. It all began with the support of Kneissl Dachstein, and I'm truly grateful to the Japanese people who believed in me when no one knew me. Japan has always held a special place in my heart. I love not only the powder snow, but also the warmth of the people, the hot springs, and the food. I hope to ski in Japan every year if possible

In fact, I will be taking a long trip to Japan this winter starting on January 25th. It will be a three-week trip, starting from Hakuba, going to Tenjindai (Mt. T), skiing down Lotte Arai, and then returning to Hakuba. If you see me out and about, please say hello!

-Mike Douglas

A message from Mike's friend, world-renowned photographer Matthias

When a legend of the freeskiing world skis, there are bound to be photographers eager to capture his photogenic moments. His friend and photographer Mattias Fredriksson, who has spent many years with Mike Douglas on the snowy mountains, also sent a message of joy. Mattias is a Japanophile who frequently appears in photo shoots for Japanese magazines such as BRAVOSKI and FallLINE

"No skier I've ever known has had such a profound impact on modern freeriding, and I'm thrilled that Mike has been inducted into the Hall of Fame. From developing twin-tip skis to tackling the challenges of big mountains and contributing to the ski community through his SALOMON Freeski TV footage, Mike has been an inspiration to the ski world for over 30 years, and he's a legend that continues to grow.

He's been with me since I was just starting out as an aspiring photographer, decades ago, and we've worked together for over 20 years. He's given me so many opportunities and so many wonderful memories. I wish Mike all the best in his brilliant career and many happy times."

Mike Douglus x Mattias Fredriksson Gallery

We asked Matthias Frederiksson to select some of his best shots from the journey that Mike Douglas and photographer Matthias Frederiksson have taken together, and we'd like to present them to you along with his comments on the shoot

This black-and-white portrait of Mike sitting in a chair holds a special meaning. The source of inspiration was the 1972 classic, "The Godfather." I tried to find in Mike the same profound, quiet tension that Al Pacino and Marlon Brando exuded in the film. I'm not sure if it's a perfect reproduction, but what's certain is that this photograph captures a different expression on Mike's face that symbolizes his long career as a skier 　　　　

The backflip photo at the top of this article was born from an unforgettable train trip to Engelberg in the Alps for SALOMON Freeski TV. On this trip, Mike was both a producer and a rider. Despite the many responsibilities he had, he didn't hesitate to head to the cliff and perform tricks. This photo remains one of the most treasured shots of my career

This photo was born in February 2008. It was the last day of a two-week shoot for SALOMON Freeski TV, and we were already pushed to our limits. Our first attempt wasn't perfect, so I called Mike over the radio to ask him to come again. He was clearly exhausted, but I told him it would pay off, and he climbed back up. On the next try, everything clicked, and that moment was captured forever. This photo would go on to appear on the cover of Bravo SKI 2009 Vol.1 and in Powder Magazine and other publications. That final climb was undoubtedly worth it

- Words by Mattias Fredriksson