Whistler Blackcomb is gearing up to host the 8th edition of the Arc’teryx Deep Winter Photo Challenge, presented by GORE-TEX®. Six ski/snowboard photogs have been invited to compete in the event, each given a 72 hour window to shoot in-bounds at Whistler Blackcomb and create a montage of their best images. Each photographer’s work will be presented as a slide show to a live audience on Saturday, January 18, and judged by a panel of industry professionals. On the line? The title of “King/Queen of Storms,” and a $9,000 prize purse.

The six photographers competing this year are as follows:

Jason Hummel – a Northwest native who has been skiing in the backcountry since he was six years old and shooting photos professionally since 2009.
Chris Brown – an ex-professional snowboarder who found a passion for being on the other side of the lens.
Nicolas Teichrob – an award-winning action sports photographer and filmmaker who works as a geoscientist in his spare time.
Zoya Lynch – a professional ski photographer based out of Revelstoke, BC who specializes in capturing backcountry and self-propelled adventures.
Cameron Hunter – a passionate photographer with a lifelong love of action sports and the outdoors.
Erin Hogue – a Whistler-based snowboard photographer with a determination to get the shot, no matter the situation.

New this year, a People’s Choice Award contest will take place via social media directly following the judges crowning of the 2014 King/Queen of Storms. Going live at www.whistlerblackcomb.com/deepwinter, fans will be able to vote for their favorite photo— each of the 6 photogs will get to choose their favorite shot to post as part of the contest — with the winning photo earning its owner a trip with Whistler Heli Skiing. The contest will be active for 72 hours following the Deep Winter event.

Additionally, a Deep Winter inspired Instagram contest will take place in tandem with the Arc’teryx Photo Challenge, with users invited to post a ski, snowboard, or mountaineering photo using the hashtags #DeepWinter and #Arcteryx. The contest will run from now to the end of February and all tagged photos will appear on the Deep Winter website. A panel of Arc’teryx photographers will choose their top 5 photos every month, which will then be posted to the Arc’teryx Facebook page where fans can vote for their favorite. The photos with the most votes will win Arc’teryx gear, including a Qunitic Back Pack. 

Read on for more info on each contest, in the press release below:

WHISTLER, BC January 6, 2014 – Skiing and snowboarding are more than just hobbies to the locals and guests of Whistler Blackcomb – it’s a way of life. It is a culture defined by those with a passion for sliding on snow and a love of the mountains. Many have tried to capture and explain this sacred tradition, but never is it more artfully documented than at the annual Arc’teryx Deep Winter Photo Challenge, presented by GORE-TEX®.

Six professional ski/snowboard photographers have been invited to compete in the Arc’teryx Deep Winter Photo Challenge, presented by GORE-TEX® for the title of “King/Queen of Storms”. The photographers are all given the same 72 hour window to shoot in-bounds at Whistler Blackcomb, to capture athletes in their natural mountain habitat of powder-filled bowls, glades, and après bars. Each photographer will create a montage of the best images from the three days and their slide shows will be shown in front of a live audience on Saturday, January 18 at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The slideshows will be judged by a panel of industry professionals and a total prize purse of $9,000 will be awarded.

“I’m really excited about Deep Winter because it forces you to work within the confines of the contest,” says Deep Winter competitor and photographer, Nicolas Teichrob. “It forces you to be creative and come up with new things you may have overlooked. It’s a really good celebration of winter in Whistler.”

Acr’teryx is also currently hosting a Deep Winter inspired Instagram contest to coincide with the event. Users are invited to post a ski, snowboard, or mountaineering photo using the hashtags #DeepWinter and #Arcteryx. The contest will run from now to the end of February and all tagged photos will appear on the Deep Winter website. The top five photos from each month, as selected by a panel of Arc’teryx photographers, will be posted to the Arc’teryx Facebook page where people can vote for their favourite image. The photos with the most votes will win Arc’teryx gear, including a Qunitic Back Pack. For more information, visit www.deepwinterphoto.com/instagram-contest.