Mark Abma

Home Town: Whistler, BC

First Mountain: Sasquatch Mountain

Hailing from Pemberton, BC, Mark Abma is an absolute legend of the freeskiing world. From filming with Poor Boyz Productions, Matchstick, to Warren Miller, Mark has over 20 iconic film parts under his belt. Coming from a park background, Abma brought a fresh perspective on how to ride the backcountry. What resulted was a 20+ year career that is still going strong. Mark’s influence on the ski industry has shaped how up-and-coming athletes ride, and he continues to set the bar higher each year. A true sensei.

What’s the reason you started skiing?

My dad thought skiing would be a fun way for the family to hang out. Our family of 6 would pack in the motorhome and travel to different ski resorts in his RV and stay in parking lots. We ended up getting a cabin at what's now called Sasquatch Mountain and it was there that I honed in on some skills.

If you weren’t a pro skier, what would you be doing?

My dad was a welder, so I probably would’ve followed his footsteps and surfed when I wasn't working.

Top tip for staying healthy?

Exercise(gym, bike, hike), stretch(yoga), cold plunge, sweat(sauna), and eat non-processed and ideally organic food.

What’s the last book you read?

Legacy. It’s the story of the All Blacks (NZ rugby team) and how their tactics, work ethic and camaraderie can help with turning a vision into action.

What are 3 things you can’t leave home without?

A smile, a good attitude and a willingness to learn. Haha, I pack way too much shit to keep track of. I’m definitely not a light packer. I usually travel in my vehicle and generally stuff it with all the creature comforts.

You could have one superpower, what would it be?

To see into the future.

What’s your favorite trick to do?

A 3 off a natural feature in the backcountry.

Where’s your favorite place to travel?

This year, Japan was my favorite place to travel to.

What’s your favorite thing about skiing for BlackStrap?

Access to the raddest looking base layers on the market and working with a great team of people working at BlackStrap.