Hadley Hammer might just have the best name in backcountry skiing. Despite growing up in Jackson Hole, however, her path to becoming a professional skier did not follow a linear track. She dabbled in ski racing, figure skating, cross country skiing and other sports before deciding to pursue competitive freeskiing.

Her career got off to a rocky start with a last-place finish at a Freeride World Tour event in Argentina. But Hammer is nothing if not determined and, as she says, stubborn. So she dedicated her life to improving her skiing, whether in the gym or following heavy hitters around Jackson Hole’s legendary terrain. She learned through osmosis, absorbing the skills and tactics they used to navigate the steep and deep. 

She lived the classic ski bum lifestyle, working as much as possible during the offseason to then fully dedicate herself to skiing in the winter months. That ultimately led to sponsorships and eventually being able to support herself through her skiing career.

When the love of her life, alpinist David Lama, died in an avalanche in 2019, Hammer withdrew and moved to Innsbruck to mourn his passing. She lived in David’s apartment and grieved. She struggled to eat and sleep, spending most of her time in solitude. Eventually, she left the loneliness of Innsbruck for Chamonix, where she had a community of friends on which to lean.

Today, love, loss and reflection have led Hammer to reexamine her path. Her skiing speaks for itself, but she’s now using her platform and writing skills to have an impact that reaches far beyond the skintrack. 

This episode is brought to you by Gordini

Backcountry Magazine

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Host: Adam Howard

Guest: Hadley Hammer

Producer + Engineer: Mike Horn

Photo by Nodum Sports