We just got off the phone with new ZEAL Athlete and Pro Skier Mark Kogelmann with SoulRyders to shoot the cold breeze out in SLC. The results? Remarkable.

“Last week was thought to be the end of the season…our last real dump in a less than fruitful winter. I say this to you now as I look out my window and downtown SLC is hammered with snow.

As the storm cleared throughout the night the bluebird kicked in, and I decided to wake the iron horse from hibernation. With my boards, boots and poles strapped to my back, I followed Photo Journalist Louis Arevalo up Little Cotton Wood Canyon to Alta Ski Area. My Zeal Forecasts saved my vision every time Louis sprayed me with his windshield wiper fluid for following too close.

I was toasty warm in my ski gear with the exception of my hands. The wind screaming at ya at 8am riding up the canyon proved to be way colder than I thought. Waving my hands all about in fear of frostbite drew more stairs than an already weird dude riding a motorcycle after a fresh storm through the canyon. Add in the fact that I have a pair of skis flapping around in the wind on my back raised 3 Ft above my head…..man I should have used a surf rack instead!

I’ve toured throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia on my Triumph Scrambler but never took it through snow. People were pulling up next to me taking photos with there cells along with the occasional honk followed by jeers from the peanut gallery!

Louis parked by the Rustler to snap what would later be Alta’s Pic of the Day. Cruising by Louis trying to look cool for the shot, I caught some ice and went down like a sack of potatoes. No damage was done but I did look like a horses ass as Louis helped me get the bike up.

We had a killer end of the season powder day hardly shooting and mostly free skiing. The ride down in the afternoon was much warmer and way more fun as I took the scenic route back to the avenues in SLC.”

-Mark Kogelmann - SoulRyders // We are the Coterie

Photos by Louis Arevalo

Goggles by ZEAL Optics