This scene is sure to make your heart race, and it's all thanks to three legendary figures in extreme skiing: John Jackson, Travis Rice, and Mark Landvik. All in their early thirties, these three have nearly two decades of skiing experience under their belts.
Scott Serfas, a friend of the trio and the photographer they called in to witness history, said, “Skiing downhill in a place like this is really risky. So you have to make sure you’re as prepared as possible before you go, because if something goes wrong, no one might be able to save anyone.”
The dangers of this ski descent lie mainly in two aspects: the steep slope of Alaska’s Mount Redoubt, and the threat of avalanches caused by the high-speed descent.
Mount Redoubt is an active volcano, with its last eruption dating back to June 1992. Over the past decade, there have been daredevils who attempted the feat, but they were either thwarted by the volcano’s slopes, which exceed 50 degrees, or bad weather such as continuous snowfall. The fear of triggering an avalanche by racing down the slopes forced many to turn back — in short, no one had ever succeeded until now.
John Jackson, Travis Rice, and Mark Landvik — this super team of extreme skiers from Canada and the U.S. — have finally broken the years of silence. As they sped down from Mount Redoubt at an altitude of 914 meters at speeds of 80 miles per hour, everyone lucky enough to witness it was left in awe. At the time, photographer Scott Serfas was in a helicopter, capturing the moment from above: “It was absolutely breathtaking. In that moment, I knew I was witnessing the birth of a new skiing record.”
It was during Alaska’s snow season, and out of respect for the risk of avalanches, the helicopter had to keep a safe distance while observing the brave attempt on Mount Redoubt — while Scott Serfas’ gear included a camera with an ultra-long telephoto lens.
Whether it’s John Jackson, Travis Rice, or Mark Landvik, these three are top-tier athletes in the world of extreme skiing. As someone close to them put it, “If anyone can do it (conquer the vertical limits of Mount Redoubt), it would be them.”
Of course, as mentioned earlier, despite careful terrain assessment and taking personal safety precautions, if an avalanche or other accident were to occur, they’d essentially be at the mercy of fate. Take a look at the gear this group of skiing daredevils brought: aside from their regular skiing equipment, they only carried an extra snow shovel, an oxygen tank, and a satellite receiver for emergencies.
To increase their chances of success, and after learning from the failures of previous attempts, John Jackson and his team chose to begin their descent from the ridgeline edge of Mount Redoubt. As we all know by now, these “madmen” succeeded, once again leaving the world in awe.
Skiing or Not, Boarding on a Volcano is Always a Thrill
The tool used by John Jackson and his trio to set the record is a snowboard. Snowboarding as a sport originated in the mid-1960s in the United States and has deep ties to surfing. In 1965, inspired by surfing, a young man named Sherman Poppen tied two skis together and accidentally discovered the joy of sliding on a single board with both feet. Volcanoes, vertical snowy slopes, and a group of daring adventurers — John Jackson and his team pushed the limits of alpine downhill skiing, while for others, a newer thrill awaits: volcano boarding.
Standing atop an active volcano, with an unpredictable crater behind and a steep slope ahead, what would most people do? Getting away is probably the common answer. But on Nicaragua’s Cerro Negro volcano, thousands of people do the opposite every year, bravely sliding down on specially made boards.
Volcano boarding is a relatively new sport. The necessary environmental conditions aren't just about having a volcano — the steepness of the slopes, the fineness of volcanic ash, the height of the volcano itself, and overall safety are all crucial factors. Because of these challenges, Cerro Negro, with its ideal setting, has become the favorite and dream destination for volcano boarders around the world.
Cerro Negro is the youngest volcano in Central America, only discovered as recently as April 1850. It is also one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua, with its last continuous eruption occurring in 1999.
Boarding on a volcano isn’t the same as on flat ground. To adapt to the unique terrain, boards are currently divided into two main types: the first is designed for professional riders and resembles a snowboard; the second is suitable for beginners and features a larger surface area, often equipped with a tether rope so riders can sit and slide down more safely.
What’s the risk level of sliding down a 725-meter-high active volcano at speeds of 70 miles per hour? “Standing on a volcano, most people worry about falling into the smoking crater, but with proper safety measures, you can enjoy the thrill of this exciting sport safely,” says Phillip Southan. In the world of volcano boarding, there are few who haven’t heard of this name. If you want to take on Cerro Negro, you’ll need a place to stay and a guide — Bigfoot Hostel and its owner, Southan, are the right choice for many. And he’s also the founder of volcano boarding.