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Non-binary shred
Hank Stowers thrives at the intersection of queer culture and ski culture
The latest “Pack Heavy Chase Light” episode from Db puts the spotlight on Portland, Oregon-based skier Hank Stowers and their mission to increase representation and diversity in the mountains.
Hank, who uses they/them pronouns, is a skier, creative director, and co-founder of Open Slopes PDX, a Portland-based group that works to expand representation of queer, black, brown and indigenous people in snow sports.
Hank Stowers breathes the maritime air.
After college, the 29-year-old from Durango, Colorado relocated to Portland, a thriving hub of queer culture, which also happens to be located not far from a thriving hub of ski culture: Mount Hood. In the city, on the snowy slopes of Hood and the mossy rainforests in between, Hank found fertile ground for their passions to thrive.
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Portland, Oregon, a thriving hub of queer culture.
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Mount Hood, a thriving hub of snow sports culture.
As a media creator, they first found their footing with “Maritime Air: A Queer Ski Film.” Released in 2022, “Maritime Air” in Hank’s words “combines queer culture with a mixtape-style ski edit,” interspersing glimpses of Hank’s life in Portland with their antics on the mountain.
"Maritime Air: A Queer Ski Film" by Hank Stowers
Hank Stowers YouTube
Hank’s new profile piece with Db takes a deep dive into their unique personality, which thrives at the place where queer culture and ski culture intersect. Through their work with Open Faces PDX, it’s a space that they hope to grow and expand by bringing more inclusivity and diversity to the traditionally stuffy world of snow sports.
Hank at Mt. Hood Meadows, a resort that's fostered the talents of riders like Eric Pollard, Sammy Carlson and many others over the years.
“Skiing has a history that’s pretty awful,” Hank says. “When ski resorts started [in the United States], virtually all of them were segregated and for rich white people, so it makes sense that a lot of skiing now, some of the culture is quite stuffy and doesn’t allow for a lot of experimentation because it has a tradition of that. It’s a big part of ski history – being exclusionary. It applies to people and identities but it also applies to like style and what people are doing on skis.”
Hank’s “Pack Heavy Chase Light” episode is a fun watch for a few different reasons. Firstly, it’s enjoyable and inspirational to see the unique perspective that Hank brings to skiing, and to watch as they and their friends work to carve out a space for themselves within snow culture. Second, Hank’s unbridled joy in seemingly everything they do, from walking down the street to hiking in the forest, is a pleasure to watch. At the same time, this joyful outlook is paced in equal measure by a deep-thinking, eloquent expression that proves that Hank contains multitudes.
Last but certainly least, they’ve got some serious chops on the planks! That’s evidenced by shred footage from all over the mountain, from cliff-hucking at Mt. Hood Meadows to cornice lines at Timberline Lodge, with some booters and park footage tossed in for good measures. Shoutout out to that cork 7 over the Skibowl cat track gap—if you know, you know!
The subject appears to seek momentary weightlessness when presented with correct environmental criteria.