It’s time to put my bragging pants on: I have the pleasure of knowing some great people here in Montana. Folks who are talented, smart, nice and funny. One such person: my friend Collin. Not only is he kind of ridiculously smart, outdoorsy and cool (as in he makes me look like an even bigger nerd than I already am), but he is hands-down one of the nicest gentlemen in the state of Montana.

Collin trail running in Glacier National Park last summer. Photo: Joe Johnson
Collin trail running in Glacier National Park last summer. Photo: Joe Johnson

During the past few years, I’ve gotten to know Collin through mutual friends and he has also helped me out on a few work projects. For example, this last summer I enlisted his help with a photo shoot. Little did he know that this would mean diving into the cold water at Tally Lake 20 times in a row at the crack of dawn. And you know what? He did it without one word of complaining. (Side note: I think he may be part super hero).

An early morning dive session at Tally Lake.
An early morning dive session.

But now onto the real reason I’m bragging on him…

Collin works as a graphic designer at Outside Media in Columbia Falls, a place where he’s able to put his ridiculous talents to work. One of their clients is Montana Ski Company, a company based in Whitefish that makes handmade custom wooden skis. This year, Collin and the crew at OM (as I lovingly refer to them) worked with Montana Ski Company on some one-of-a-kind designs. The best part? The designs drew inspiration from some of Western Montana’s history and culture, with the finished product resulting in incredible Montana-lovin’ skis. 

Take a look…

The inspiration for "The Gunslinger."
The inspiration for “The Gunslinger.”
The gunslinger model can be found in Whitefish at The Toggery.
“The Gunslinger Model” can be found in Whitefish at The Toggery.
The sketch for  "The Canyon Creek."
The sketch for “The Canyon Creek.”
"The Canyon Creek" model can also be found at The Toggery in Whitefish.
“The Canyon Creek” model can also be found at The Toggery in Whitefish.

To read more about Collin and these skis, check out Outside Media’s blog here.

As for me, I can’t wait to see what Collin comes up with next, especially with Western Montana’s Glacier Country as his muse.

xo,
TT

February 20, 2014

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Comments

Laura @Travelocafe
Oh, I love the sketch for “The Canyon Creek.” I would love to see more of these. So cool.
tiatroy
I do too, Laura. Collin is a ridiculously talented artist.

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