Meet the Wanderist: Dean Hill

Meet the Wanderist: Dean Hill. As a multi-sport athlete and coach based in Colorado, Dean takes adventure to the next level. Surfing, skiing, snowboarding, skimo racing, mountain biking, gravel and road cycling...is there anything he can't do? Read on to learn more about the man himself, Dean Hill:

Dean Hill Salt + Snow Ambassador


HOMETOWN:

Aspen, Colorado


SALT OR SNOW:

Both definitely!


SPORT OF CHOICE:

Surfing, skiing and snowboarding, skimo racing, mountain biking, gravel and road cycling


FAVORITE DESTINATION:

Skiing - Revelstoke British Columbia

Surfing - Oaxaca Mexico


WHAT DOES ADVENTURE MEAN TO YOU?:

Packing light to move quickly with a friend that is easily led off the beaten path and to a place that is new and unchartered


WHEN SEEKING ADVENTURE, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO?:

Search the target zone for snow conditions and recent snow totals or surf report for swell size and wind conditions


THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT:

Optimism, local currency and the right equipment/surfboard or skis for the location


HOW YOU GOT STARTED SURFING:

Grew up in Sydney Australia where at 12 years old I bought a surfboard and then annoyed my parents enough to have them drive me to the beach. If they said no it was an hour train ride at 4am every weekend where we would surf our brains out before the one hour return leg home. Pass out Sunday night and then repeat each and every weekend until getting a driver's license which opened up all sorts of opportunities for new surf and snow adventures.


TIPS FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO START SURFING:

Find an idyllic location that has great beginner waves and search out a reputable surf school


FAVORITE SNACK TO FUEL WITH:

Honey Stinger Stoopwaffels because they taste good and are packed with energy to get back in the water or on the mountain quickly


PUMP UP SONG:

Tempest by Tool


COOL DOWN SONG:

Promise by Ben Howard


WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?:

Reinhold Messner - First solo ascent of Mount Everest. First ascent without supplemental oxygen along with Peter Habeler. First person to climb all 14 of the 8,000 meter peaks. He achieved many of the greatest achievements in mountaineering while never searching for fame or fortune but simply for the challenge of testing the human spirit.


THREE FAVORITE BOOKS:

Touching the Void by Joe Simpson, Terra Nullius by Sven Lindqvist, In Search of Captain Zero by Allen Wesibecker


IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPERPOWER WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?:

Anti-Aging because life is simply too short


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATOR AND WHY?:

Health/ longevity because life is both too good and the list of things to do too long to only be around for a short while


FIVE FAVORITE SALT + SNOW SELECTS:

Matuse Men's Chapter 1 Jacket

The Adventure Continues! Read On...