Commentary

Adam Delorme: Level 1 preview

Adam Delorme talks about the premiere of Level 1's new film, "After Dark"

Originally Published: September 8, 2011
By Devon O'Neil | ESPN.com

Erik SeoLevel 1's "After Dark" premieres Friday in Denver. Location: On set at Sun Valley, Idaho.

Behind the scenes with Level 1


Check out photos from the making of "After Dark" Gallery Photo Gallery

When Level 1's "After Dark" premieres Friday in Denver, viewers will get their latest glimpse of Adam Delorme, a part-time property manager in Breckenridge, Colo., who's become a fixture in the company's annual release. Delorme, 28, has landed parts in four straight Level 1 films, combining versatility on manmade and natural features with a fresh, understated style. But it didn't come easily. Delorme made the most of a small break and still works half the year to supplement the cash he gets from six sponsors. Here, the Kalispell, Mont., native (he grew up skiing freestyle moguls with Tanner Hall) takes us behind the footage and explains what it takes to break in, how to make a career last and why being called "underrated" helps him produce standout segments.

You won the New Zealand Open in 2006 but otherwise didn't have much success on the pro circuit. How'd you get involved with filming?
I always watched Level 1 flicks and that's always where I wanted to be. Gabe Anderson and Pete Drago from Jiberish got me in the door, got me to a spring shoot at Keystone in '08. I turned one park shoot into three park shoots, and I might've had four or five shots in the flick, which was pretty awesome. I got the little cameo with my name on the screen.

Why Level 1?
I always thought those guys had their act together the most. And it was always kind of underdogs coming up; it wasn't the all-star team, like Poor Boyz with Tanner and Pep. Nothing against them, but it seemed more realistic to come up and have a shot with Level 1.

How has your Level 1 career evolved?
The first couple years I was just involved with park shoots and got invited in the spring, because I didn't have a snowmobile. But [Josh] Berman's always hinted at it, "Get a snowmobile, come out with us on some pow trips, we'll get you involved with one or two." In 2009 I got my first snowmobile and started making more and more trips with the boys and earning my keep.

Any favorite memories from last winter's filming?
Parker White and I were in the Beartooth Mountains shredding pillows, and it got to the point in the day where we'd both gotten two or three shots, which is pretty unheard of. So we just started doing the "one more" thing, hitting each other's lines. He asked if he could hit the first cliff I'd hit that day, which I had sent to tranny right below the cliff. It was maybe 25 or 30 feet, and I'd kind of made a mess of it anyway. So I said, "Yeah, get it. Get it better." He hiked way up out of radio range and just bombed into this thing, and sent the sickest backflip I've ever seen in real life. We ended up staying out till sunset. That was my favorite day of the season.

I've seen the word "underrated" next to your name a few times. Does being underrated help?
I think it takes away any pressure that everyone watching your every move would put on you. You get to just go out and ski. You're the underdog, you're the little brother, you're fighting for time.

What would you say to someone who wants to film with one of the bigger companies?
I'd say work hard, man. First chair, last chair. When I first moved to Breck, I'd ski all hours of the day, then I'd go to Keystone and ride all night, until my boots were just molded to my feet. Look at Sammy Carlson. He goes nonstop, and you've got to respect that. I feel like the kids who have that drive will weed the rest of them out.

Devon O'Neil

Writer, Action Sports
O'Neil was raised in the Virgin Islands before dropping anchor to ski, write, and combine the two for profit. He now lives in Breckenridge, Colo.

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