The Intersection of Free Skiing and Jazz

Form is a shared project between Xander Guldman, his sibling Jordan, and their childhood friend Colter Fellows. This trio grew up together in Truckee, California, and took their lives in three different directions: Jordan as a jazz musician, Colter as a filmmaker, and Xander as a skier. Form is about returning to their roots, and exploring the intersection of their three crafts.

The entirety of this project was filmed within a small, personally meaningful zone on Donner Summit called ASI. This was the first place that Xander backcountry skied, and Donner Summit was this crew’s childhood gateway to the outdoors in general. By limiting themselves to a single zone, they wanted to explore how many distinct ways they could interpret and ski the same piece of terrain. Over two weeks of filming, Jordan wrote an original song which was inspired by the natural landscape and informed by the crew’s shared experience. Colter’s experience in shooting music videos offered a unique perspective of this familiar landscape, and his keen eye for dynamic shots proved to be integral in merging the worlds of music and skiing.

This piece culminated in a five stop tour where the Jordan Guldman Quartet played live alongside the film. Form serves to remind us that the magic of both skiing and jazz lies in the spontaneous. That instinct should guide our movements in moments of inspiration.

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RELATED | Read the story about FORM — The intersection between free skiing and jazz.

Behind the Scenes