Palmer free skier sticking star roles

Expect no dissertations.

"Soooo damn sick."

"Biggest wall rides ever."

"This year teasers leaves me speechless. Incredible work."

"Omg! Sick!"

Sense a theme?

Tudor, 21, is one of 23 skiers and filmed at sites from British Columbia to France to Alaska who showcase, according to the producers, "today's raw talents of skiing in a high action, retrospective, yet progressive look at what things are pushing the sport today."

Or who are, simply, sick.

The jumps, the flips, the tricks, the steeps will, likely, amaze even outstanding skiers. And Tudor, listed third on the billing, is one of the sport's rising stars -- named International Freeski Film Festival Male Pro Skier of the Year after his performance last year in the film, "Everyday Is A Saturday."

Which begs the question, now what?

"It's crazy," he said. "Once you watch the movie, you think, 'Man, what are we gonna do now? When's it gonna reach the point we can't go any farther?'

"But I hope there are always better tricks. And you know, every sport progresses."

To ensure that happens, Tudor has purchased an Olympic grade Flybed trampoline to perfect new moves during the offseason.

"It should have a huge impact on training," he said. "You can learn new ticks on the trampoline and get them dialed in before there's snow."

Growing up in Palmer, Tudor was a talented Alaska motocross racer, who raced here in the summer and spent winters skiing at Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, British Columbia, where his mother, Kristine, had a small home. He won often enough at Kincaid's Jodphur motocross track that he dabbled with racing in the Lower 48 -- and the balance and toughness he honed at Jodphur continues to serve him well.

"I love being in front of the camera," he said. "Nobody sees what's going on with you for the season until the movie comes out.

"You have to get stuff done when you're young and make a name for yourself. There are some (freeskiers) out there 35-40 years old -- but it does take a toll on your body."

So he doesn't spend a lot of time with his mother, Kristine, in Palmer. He flew to Seattle for the world premier of "Revolver." He got a booth at the Alaska State Fair to show off a clothing line he endorses called King Underground.

His early season will be spent skiing in Breckenridge Colo., before he heads to Canada to start filming.

"Then film trips pop up and I'm off traveling the globe skiing -- and juggling competitions between film trips," said Tudor, who was home schooled as a youngster to gain more time for skiing.

Portions of the new movie were filmed outside of Haines.

"Even though I grew up in Alaska, this trip gave me such a different perspective," said Tudor, who began skiing at age 2 and racing at 4. "Being able to hover over such massive mountains in a heli(copter) with two of the pioneers of our sport was such an awesome experience. To be able to learn from them and understand how they approach the mountains.

"We had 8 sunny days out of the 15 days we were there. And to get that as a first trip! Sick, I feel honoured by the snow/sun gods! They were on our side. I got to step in to some really fun lines with amazing snow, learning how to charge more and more every time I got to drop in. It's all about being aware and learning, always learning up there."

His mother, Kristine, filmed him often.

"So I got to watch what I was doing, seeing when I was flailing and always trying to improve, to make everything smoother," he said. "Smooth is the ultimate to me and that's what I try to show in my skiing."

Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.