Brent Wm. Gardner grew up skiing the icy hills of western New York, calling Swain his home mountain and instructing there in the late 90s. Those wind-scoured ridges and small but mighty slopes shaped his love for skiing in its rawest form. After an extended break due to a knee injury, he returned to the mountains with renewed passion, determined to make every turn count. From Vermont’s steep tree lines to the wide-open bowls of Utah, he has chased snow across the country, rediscovering the joy of early lift rides and the steady rhythm of carving turns. Now based in Washington, DC, Brent skis with his wife and children, passing on the rituals and traditions that defined his own youth. He founded Savage Mountain Collective, a media and culture project celebrating skiing in all its forms—articles, podcasts, gear, and travel. For Brent, skiing is more than a pastime; it is a lifelong conversation with gravity, a ritual of resilience, and a way back to the people and the mountains that feel