We are excited to welcome Brooklyn Bell to The Faction Collective. Brooklyn started skiing as a kid, and after graduating from high school, she turned her attention to freeskiing, learning to drop cliffs in the Mount Baker backcountry. These days Brooklyn can be found lacing big lines and stomping pillows on shoot for her next film project or ripping down mountain trails on her bike when the snow melts.
Brooklyn, welcome to the team! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
B: Hey! I’m Brooklyn Bell and I am a mountain biker, skier, and artist from the Pacific Northwest.
How did you get into skiing, and what does the sport mean to you?
B: I skied a bunch as a kid, but I didn't feel like I fully got into the sport until after I graduated high school. All my mountain bike friends liked to ski so when the snow started to fall, I just went with the flow of things.
Can you tell us something about yourself most people wouldn’t know?
B: Some people know this, and others don’t, but I have ADHD. It makes me want to do things and be things all the time. I am always looking for activities!
Which skiers inspire you the most?
B: So many skiers! Honestly anyone who likes to play. Someone I love skiing with is Vasu Sojitra! He’s always pushing and trying new things on skis and his ability to try makes me want to try too.
Any standout memories from last season?
B: Probably skiing spines in Alaska with Vasu.
You’re also an artist. How do the mountains and skiing influence your artwork and vice versa?
B: I think being an artist helps me have a sense of imagination and special awareness that translates well to skiing. Skiing has taken me to so many new places. I think the terrain in skiing and seeing new terrain helps me expand my landscape vocabulary when sitting down to create a piece of art from my imagination.
What challenges have you faced on your path to becoming a professional skier, and what would you like to see change within the skiing industry?
I think that skiing is the easy part, but the culture still needs to catch up. I’d honestly love to see people listen more. Listen without needing to fill space. I think if we could listen more, we might actually be able to see the big picture and make change. Overall, I think my path has been to avoid ski industry and partner with brands/people who see me for who I am.
What have you got coming up for this season?
B: Aww I can’t wait! Hopefully more sled-skiing and pillows.
What does it mean to you to join The Faction Collective and what are you looking forward to?
I am super honored! Faction makes amazing skis and they support other people that I look up to and enjoy spending time with.
