How long have you been sponsored by Rossignol?

L: My names Logan Pehota, I’m from Pemberton, British Columbia and I’ve been riding for Rossignol since before I could walk. My dad was sponsored by Rossignol and I guess it’s just passed down through the family and here I am.

You joined the Rossignol Apparel team this season, how was the first year with the new gear? 

L: This was my first year being with Rossignol apparel, after wearing Oakley apparel for my whole entire life I was a little timid about the switch, but I soon came to realize it was definitely the right thing to do! My gear goes through a lot with all the snowmobiling and sled skiing I do throughout the season. Everything held up to the test through wet raining days to freezing cold days it got me through the winter no problem. The water resistance is superior and the durability was excellent all while being some of the most light weight apparel I’ve worn.  I can say I’m definitely looking forward to the new pieces that are coming out next year.

How did you get your start in competitive skiing? Where you a part of a team or ski club when you were younger? 

L: I started ski racing when I was 9 with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club and I did that for a few years, then transitioned to slopestyle skiing for the British Columbia Park and Pipe team for another few years. After my park phase I found myself transitioning into the big mountain side of things and by the time I was 19 years old I was on the Freeride World Tour traveling the globe for big mountain competitions. Combining the skills I learned from racing and the tricks from slopestyle in the big mountain arena was a natural evolution in my skiing.

How was your time on the Freeride World Tour? What was your Favorite venue and best memory from the FWT?

L: My time on the FWT was a blast! I got to travel the world and met so many good people and had so many good times throughout my 4 seasons on the tour. Although I never won the overall title, I had memorable top finishes. One of favorite memories was my second competition ever when I came in second at the Chamonix event. It was pretty crazy walking through that amazing ski town after that event. There is such an amazing history and freeride culture in Chamonix and to be able to be a small piece of that history is something I will never forget. Other great memories include winning the Alaska event in my first season on the tour and of course winning the event on my home soil in Kicking Horse, British Columbia.

Why did you make the decision to leave the tour when you were at the top of your game?

L: After a while being on the tour started to seem more and more like work and the novelty of traveling turned into a hassle. I was always away from home waiting for weather windows to open and competing in variable conditions. I would miss out on the good storms back in BC and opportunities to ski with friends and family. In the end I really just wanted to spend more time at home skiing and snowmobiling. Being at home gave me the opportunity to film more and I was able to focus on shooting segments that I am really proud of. 

How has the transition to film skiing gone? Do you have to have a different mindset when skiing for the camera versus skiing for the judges?

L: Oh yeah! Comp skiing vs film skiing is a night and day difference. In comp skiing you get to pick your line but the event is run when the weather is best for the cameras and the judges. The conditions are not always ideal but you really don’t have much choice. You have to go do things you wouldn’t normally do in conditions you wouldn’t normally do them in. It’s definitely a bit stressful and takes a toll on you. On the flip side, when you’re filming you always have a choice and don’t really have to put your body on the line like you do for comp skiing You can wait for ideal snow and lighting and drop in when you are feeling it.  In the end it’s just a lot more chill and you get to ski so many more cool things in a season filming than a season competing.

Your Dad, Eric Pehota, was a Freeskiing pioneer, what influence has he had on your skiing? 

L: Well my dad pretty much taught me everything I know about skiing. Being in the mountains with him, I’ve learned a lot about safety and how to read different situations. Skiing and learning from my dad has helped me evolve into the skier I am today.  At a young age my brother and I would go out with my dad and he would take photos of us. We would look at the photos and he would critique our technique in every photo. He would say, “See how your hand is too high on this side in the turn or look at the angle of your poles in the air on this one.”  The feedback, tips and pointers we received from him definitely morphed me into the skier I am in front of the camera today.

How was this last winter for you? 

L: Last winter for me was short, very short. With our season in British Columbia not starting till January because of the lack of snow and then being cut short with the outbreak of Covid-19 I unfortunately only got just over two months’ worth of skiing in. Still managed to capitalize on the short window and got some solid shots. Looking forward to a full season next year!

You had a breakout segment with Matchstick last year, what are your plans to follow that up? 

L: I spent all last season filming for a movie called “KINSHIP” with my good buddy Kye Peterson and filmer Leo Hoorn. It was really exciting to work on such a cool project with someone I grew up with. Everyone should check it out when it drops.

How have you been handling quarantine?  What have you been doing to keep yourself busy? 

L: I’ve been mountain biking a ton and also bought my first dirt bike so that been an interesting learning curve to say the least. Sure is a lot different than snowmobiling, I’ll tell you that much. Also have been working out lots and playing some video games. Jumping on Warzone with my buddies helps with the social distancing. 

What are you doing to stay positive in these uncertain times? 

L: Just staying active really does a lot for my positive mindset. Getting out on my mountain bike and dirt bike helps things feel a bit more normal.

What are you looking forward to next year?  Any trips or projects you are going to be working on? (Given the current situation starts to get better)

L: Myself and some good buddies have been brainstorming like crazy since quarantine and social distancing started and we’ve come up with a bunch of sick ideas but unfortunately I can’t share them quite yet!