Nikolaj Vang Snowpack

Ski expert Nikolaj Vang

The story of a versatile and passionate skier.

Since he was five years old, Nikolaj Vang has had more than 800 weeks of skiing under his feet. In his very young years, as part of Glostrup Ski Club's youth initiative, he competed in slalom and giant slalom and was at the same time coached in skiing in all the mountain's different terrain and snow conditions.

As a young teenager, Nikolaj was on exchange in a ski town in the Rocky Mountains, USA, where he got a taste for freeskiing in the form of hump and freeride. From here things took off and since his time in the USA he has had 15 years as a professional skier with freeskiing as his main focus.

Nikolaj Vang currently lives in Copenhagen from where he runs Packyard, which is a concept store in Elmegade in Nørrebro, and is an active partner in Playground ApS, which is a Nordic distribution company. He is a ski expert on Danmarks Radio (DR3), where he comments on freestyle skiing in connection with, among other things, X Games and the Olympics, he is chairman of the Playground Snow ski club and on his CV there are 10 ski films with Playground Production, participation in the WC in Halfpipe, 17 x Danish champion in freestyle and more than 30 DM podium places in the disciplines Freeride, Slopestyle, Halfpipe , Ski-cross and Humpback piste.

Nikolaj Vang's search for the world's best ski area

A freeskier's ultimate "Travel Bucket List".

During his years as a professional freeskier, where film tours with Playground Production and a busy competition calendar characterized Nikolaj Vang's daily life, in addition to trips to the traditional ski destinations in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, he has had the pleasure of Sake, Oncen and heliskiing in bottomless powder in Japan - razor sharp snowparks and off-piste adventures in the USA and Canada - minus 30 degrees and rock-hard superpipe in Finland - hookah, kebab and freeride in the powder snow in Iran - Pisco, big steaks and backcountry freestyle in Chile and Argentina - sperm whales , expensive pizza and epic ski touring in the northernmost Norway - Sangria and sunny freestyle obstacles in Andorra... And we could go on.

But despite these unforgettable trips with good friends to countless exotic ski resorts, there are still two places that need to be crossed off Nikolaj's personal list of ski destinations that must and must be experienced in the near future:

1. Heliskiing in Alaska

2. Touring and freeride in Patagonia

We are looking forward to following Nikolaj Vang's attempt to get the last few destinations chopped off.

NEVER STOP CHARGING!

Ski equipment according to Nikolaj Vang

Good gear saves the day.

When Nikoaj Vang is skiing, he usually just uses the prepared and marked pistes as transport pieces to get to where the powder adventure and the fresh powder are. And although the most beautiful and memorable freeride experiences are found deep in the desolate backcountry, he is just as happy with the easily accessible off-piste close to the slopes. It is, as he says, "a good way to ride with a larger group of friends, where not everyone has the equipment, desire and/or level to ride off-piste. And then you just meet at the bottom of the lift and everyone have driven the terrain that makes them happiest"

But regardless of whether you are looking for deserted backcountry or riding fresh powder right next to the piste, it is vital to have control of your off-piste equipment - avalanche equipment and local knowledge are quite simply a "must".

For a day on the off-piste, Nikolaj Vang recommends the following equipment: "In addition to avalanche gear, I ensure a stable and wide ski, strong bindings, durable telescopic poles and dress in sweat-wicking, breathable and waterproof layers. Backpack, boots and goggles are the three points I never saves money, because if you choose the cheap solution there, it will very likely ruin the day in the white gold."

Below you will find Nikolaj's first choice for a good day with as many turns in the off-piste as possible...