Yo, shredders! While most of us were probably struggling to crawl out of bed on New Year’s Day, nursing a hydration deficit from the night before, Norwegian pro skier Nikolai Schirmer was out there setting the bar impossibly high for 2026.
We’re talking about a run that sounds more like a video game stat than real life. Schirmer dropped into a pristine powder line and didn’t let off the gas until he’d devoured 2,000 vertical feet. The kicker? He did it in exactly one minute flat.
The Need for Speed
Usually, when I find a stash of untouched pow, I’m savoring it. I’m taking those big, sweeping turns, slashing the lip, and trying to make the moment last. Getting faceshots is a spiritual experience, right? But sometimes, you just gotta point the sticks downhill and let it rip.
There are two types of skiers in this world: those who farm turns, and those who want to feel the G-force until their legs turn to jelly. Schirmer is definitely in the second camp. Doing 2,000 vert in 60 seconds is absolutely gnarly. That’s an average vertical drop of over 33 feet per second. That isn’t just skiing; that’s controlled falling with style!
The Gear You Need to Charge
If you’re going to try and keep up with speeds like that (good luck), you can’t be riding wet noodles. You need gear that stays stable when you’re breaking the sound barrier. Here is what I’d recommend if you want to charge hard in the backcountry:
- Stiff Freeride Skis: You need planks that won’t chatter when you hit Mach 10. The Atomic Bent 110 Skis are a solid choice for floating while charging.
- A Brain Bucket: Seriously, don’t send it this hard without protection. Grab a Smith Vantage Helmet to keep the noggin safe.
- Backcountry Safety: Speed is sick, but safety is key. Never head out without a beacon, shovel, and probe. I’m a fan of the Black Diamond JetForce Pack for that added peace of mind.
"Leg Burner"
When Schirmer finally met up with his riding buddy at the bottom, he summed it up in two words: “Leg Burner.” No kidding, dude! The lactic acid buildup from holding an edge at that speed must have been insane.
Funny enough, Schirmer usually sticks to the metric system (being Norwegian and all), but for this run, he went with the Imperial system. His reasoning? “2,000 feet sounds like a whole lot more than 609 meters.”
He’s not wrong. 2,000 feet sounds massive. It sounds epic. And frankly, it was.
Kudos to Nikolai for waking up early and kicking off 2026 with a run that puts my entire season to shame. Time to wax up the boards and get out there!
Source: Unofficial Networks
