There’s a saying in the industry that Xander Guldman is your “favourite big mountain skier’s favourite big mountain skier”. The essence behind this idea could be as simple as the word “fun”. Guldman brings a childlike playfulness to big mountain lines, mixing high-acuity alpine capabilities with unbound enthusiasm, passion and bounce, culminating in a unique style that can’t help but make you smile and want to get out on the slopes. But there’s much more to the 26-year-old than an over-simplified verb. Beneath his playful approach is a thoughtful and introspective athlete who moves with intention guided by a sense of self — well beyond his years.
Guldman grew up in Truckee, California, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada mountains and a stone’s throw from Lake Tahoe. Developing an early reverence for the outdoors, as instilled by his raft-guide parents, rivers and mountains were equally formative environments for Guldman, who now spends his summers raft-guiding on the Tuolumne River. The outdoors was imbued as an inclusive place to cultivate community, and nearby Sugar Bowl Ski Resort was Guldman’s conduit.
While there are affluent homeowners from the Bay Area in Sugar Bowl, it’s not to the same degree as many of Lake Tahoe’s more upscale resorts. Independently owned, Sugar Bowl radiates a grassroots, family-friendly atmosphere with a rich history dating back to 1939. It’s not the highest or largest resort, but its terrain greatly influenced Guldman’s style. “It’s technical but bite-sized pieces of terrain so that you can interpret it in many different ways, and if you want to catch transitions, you need to pop,” comments Guldman. The short, steep pitches, intersecting benches and endless cross-court features taught Guldman how to maximize the available terrain, seeking out the obvious features and even creating his own when a subtle shadow hinted at the possibility of a lip. “I’ve tried to ski more and more from the heart, and if it feels good, I go for it. Popping and bouncing around is the essence of that for me,” says Guldman.
Self-described as “bouncy”, Guldman’s playfulness exudes the carefree joy of youthful skiing.
As a bright-eyed, energetic ten-year-old, he gravitated towards the local freeride circuit. “Competitive skiing early on was my first opportunity to make my own decisions … for many young people, it’s the first time they’re given that creative space,” says Guldman. Ever astute, Guldman began to recognize what it took to impress the judges. As he earned results, accolades, and exposure, the formulaic strategy that worked so well with the judges began to feel restrictive and inauthentic. “There’s a recognition of where it stops feeling like a pure expression of self and a means to an end. That process is a little tainted,” reflects Guldman.
Injuries added to his growing disconnection from organized competition, and Guldman refocused his energies by enrolling in International Relations and pre-med studies at the University of California at Davis. The relaxed course schedule still allowed him to ski, but only as a weekend warrior. The distance from professional skiing was cathartic, liberating and transformative.
Xander Guldman
Paradoxically, the release of his ambition in professional skiing and competition freed him from the boundaries to achieving that very thing — but with a new outlook. “I was drawn back to that childlike curiosity where I’m not going to plug into the formula, I’m not going to try to ski for other people, and I’m going to revisit my roots,” Guldman continues. “If I’m going to be skiing in front of people, I want to do that authentically.” His ironic new approach led to renewed competition results. After graduating from university, Guldman qualified for the 2023 Freeride World Tour after finishing second in the Challenger Qualifying Series.
A robust internal compass combined with his burgeoning natural talent to produce the secret sauce during an intense 2023 season. Guldman was skiing on the Freeride World Tour and filming with Matchstick Productions for Land of Giants and Head Freeskiing’s first feature film, Unified, directed by Jeff Thomas. The creative freedom and collaborative approach to filming segments deeply resonated with Guldman and continually stoked his fire while grinding it out on the FWT. His celebrated performance in Unified earned him the prestigious Break Out Skier of the Year award at the longstanding IF3 (International Freesports Film Festival) that same year.
The quest for creative expression, which drove Guldman’s competitive career, has blossomed in filmmaking. Veteran filmmaker Jeff Thomas comments, “I was immediately drawn to his stoke, enthusiasm and professionalism but also to his high IQ when it came to looking at lines and discussing filming.” Guldman’s video segments are built off the back of his competitive career. “Even if what I’m trying to show is lighthearted and playful, there’s a lot of discipline to get there, and engaging in that competitive space taught me a lot about that process,” says Guldman.
In addition to many ideas waiting to burst onto the big screen, Guldman is returning to his roots at Sugar Bowl, helping revitalize the Silver Belt Classic. Launched in the 1940s, the off-piste giant slalom race attracted the best skiers of the day, pushing the boundaries of competition until the 1970s. Its latest incarnation is an inclusive community backcountry slopestyle event where riders customize the course, shaping features and hits, similar to the well-known mountain biking event Red Bull Rampage. The self-judged revamped Silver Belt Classic promotes “progression without perfection” and was a great success in its inaugural year.
Guldman constantly engages in self-reflection and evaluation in search of a long and healthy ski career built on passion and intention. The death-defying, boundary-pushing skiing that inspired a young Guldman has taken a backseat to the pure joy of making turns from an authentic place — like dancing as if no one is watching. Promoting the relatable, unbound joy of skiing that transcends ability levels, cliques, and stereotypes makes him a true ambassador for the sport — and he’s just getting started.
