{"id":1807564,"date":"2026-03-04T22:36:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:36:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1807564"},"modified":"2026-03-04T22:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:36:16","slug":"jonnie-merrill-the-pro-skier-powdersurfer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1807564","title":{"rendered":"Jonnie Merrill: The Pro Skier-Powdersurfer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DVOcSaQlR0E\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\"background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;margin: 1px;max-width:640px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:99.375%;width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);width:calc(100% - 2px)\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DVOcSaQlR0E\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\"background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row;align-items: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px\">\n<div style=\"color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"341\"><strong>On a good powder day in the Tetons, there\u2019s a decent chance Jonnie Merrill never clicks into his skis.<\/strong> The Victor, Idaho-based pro, known for high-speed, high-consequence big-mountain lines with Line Skis\u2014will sometimes leave the plastic boots in the truck and reach for something most people still think is a novelty toy: a powdersurf board.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"341\"><strong>Related: <\/strong><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/independence-range-nv-trip-report-powsurf-adventuring-and-learning-snowmobiles-with-slednv\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" data-modified-href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/independence-range-nv-trip-report-powsurf-adventuring-and-learning-snowmobiles-with-slednv\">Independence Range, NV, Trip Report: Powsurf Adventuring and Learning Snowmobiles with SledNV<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"343\" data-end=\"706\"><strong>Powdersurfing, at its simplest, is riding snow on a board with no bindings and no metal edges\u2014more like a surfboard for powder than a snowboard.<\/strong> You ride it loose, often with a leash, steering with balance, pressure, and momentum rather than locked-in control. As Merrill puts it, \u201cpeople just think it\u2019s snowboarding, but in reality, it\u2019s way different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"708\" data-end=\"1211\"><strong>Jonnie Merrill is known to most of the ski world as a powerful, technical big-mountain skier.<\/strong> He has filmed in Alaska, ridden some of North America\u2019s most demanding terrain, and built a quiet reputation as a rider who thrives where lines get steep and consequences get real. What far fewer people realize is that one of the purest sources of joy in his winter life no longer involves ski boots at all. It involves a small, edgeless board, a leash, and a patch of snow most skiers would barely glance at.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_394093\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-394093\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-394093 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGrAQMAAABqgLQIAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1tB6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgDIcbAAEnbF1FAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lineskis-1DX_8038-1-1024x683-2028084844.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lineskis-1DX_8038-1-1024x683-2028084844.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lineskis-1DX_8038-1-1024x683-2028084844.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lineskis-1DX_8038-1-1024x683-2028084844.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lineskis-1DX_8038-1-1024x683-2028084844.jpg?resize=600%2C401&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"427\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-394093\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lineskis-1DX_8038-1-1024x683-2028084844.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-394093\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Merrill is an athlete with Line Skis who has a knack for powdersurfing. | Photo: Line Skis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-43472807\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-43472807\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-47117807\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-47117807\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1490\"><strong>Merrill is one of the highest-level powdersurfers in North America, and for him, the discipline is not a novelty or a side hobby.<\/strong> It is a parallel passion that now shapes how he chases winter. \u201cIt\u2019s such a niche thing,\u201d he says. \u201cYou have to kind of do it to respect it.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1490\"><strong>Related: <\/strong><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/jonnie-merrill-sends-cliff-snowbird\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" data-modified-href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/jonnie-merrill-sends-cliff-snowbird\">VIDEO: Jonnie Merrill Sends HUGE Cliff at Snowbird, UT<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1492\" data-end=\"2074\"><strong>He grew up snowboarding from second grade through much of high school before switching to skis after watching friends go bigger and faster.<\/strong> \u201cI grew up snowboarding from second grade pretty much through mid high school,\u201d he says. \u201cOnce all my friends in high school were going bigger than me on skis, I was like, I\u2019m gonna switch to skiing.\u201d That transition led him through Utah, Revelstoke, and into a professional ski career that unfolded naturally rather than by design. \u201cSkiing professionally was never even on my list,\u201d he says. \u201cKind of just something that happened naturally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2076\" data-end=\"2382\"><strong>Along the way, powdersurfing quietly took root after early sessions in Canada nearly a decade ago.<\/strong> What began as curiosity became obsession. \u201cMy first time kind of screwing around with it would have been Revelstoke, like a decade ago,\u201d he says. \u201cI just sort of tried it, and was like, man, this is sick.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2384\" data-end=\"2902\"><strong>Powdersurfing sits far outside the mainstream of winter sports.<\/strong> Without bindings or metal edges, every turn depends entirely on balance, snow texture, and momentum. From the outside, it can look slow or limited. From the inside, Merrill says, it is one of the most demanding and rewarding ways to ride snow. \u201cIf you\u2019ve never done it, then it\u2019s hard to actually understand what you\u2019re looking at,\u201d he says. \u201cUntil you\u2019ve kind of screwed around with one a little bit, you\u2019re not really gonna have all the perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/C6b3dSCu-6E\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\"background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;margin: 1px;max-width:640px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:99.375%;width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);width:calc(100% - 2px)\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/C6b3dSCu-6E\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\"background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row;align-items: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px\">\n<div style=\"color:#3897f0;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:550;line-height:18px\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-start=\"2904\" data-end=\"2925\"><strong>Stoke Per Vertical<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2927\" data-end=\"3248\"><strong>For Merrill, the defining metric of powdersurfing is what he calls \u201cstoke per vertical\u201d\u2014i.e., how much joy, flow, and fulfillment a rider gets from a small amount of terrain.<\/strong> In skiing, meaningful excitement often requires big objectives, long approaches, and serious commitment, especially for seasoned pros. Powdersurfing flips that equation completely.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"3250\" data-end=\"3431\">\u201cThe smallest, dinkiest, like 200 vertical-foot pow field can be like the time of your life,\u201d Merrill says. \u201cFor me to put plastic boots on my feet to do that is like a nonstarter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"3433\" data-end=\"3782\"><strong>A simple 200-foot pow field can deliver the best run of the day.<\/strong> Low-angle trees that skiers might dismiss become canvases for endless turns, slashes, and creative line choice. Terrain that would never justify ski boots suddenly becomes irresistible. \u201cIt makes all of the in-between and all the low-hanging fruit way more fun and exciting,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3784\" data-end=\"4144\"><strong>That efficiency is everything.<\/strong> Living in Victor, Idaho, Merrill can work a full day and still sneak in multiple laps on Teton Pass before dark. No skins. No long climbs. Just movement, flow, and snow. \u201cI could be working during the day and go out for like an hour at the end of the day and get several laps,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s just so easy to go get a few laps.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4146\" data-end=\"4431\"><strong>It fills the tank in a way that modern big-mountain skiing rarely can on a daily basis.<\/strong> And that shift matters more as the years pass. \u201cAt this point, it just takes quite a bit for me to get excited on skis,\u201d he says. \u201cThe threshold of excitement is so much lower with powsurfing.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_394095\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-394095\" style=\"width: 474px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-394095 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAdoAAAJQAQMAAAAT6TfPAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADlJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgiD\/r25IQAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArwaNEAABOI\/eswAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt width=\"474\" height=\"592\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-1578541237.jpg?resize=474%2C592&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-1578541237.jpg?w=474&amp;ssl=1 474w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-1578541237.jpg?resize=240%2C300&amp;ssl=1 240w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"474\" data-eio-rheight=\"592\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-394095\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-1578541237.jpg?resize=474%2C592&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"474\" height=\"592\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-394095\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Merrill skis professionally for Line Skis but in his spare team he is often surfing powder on his powsurfer. | Photo: Jonnie Merrill Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 data-start=\"4433\" data-end=\"4460\"><strong>From Play to Big Terrain<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4462\" data-end=\"4800\"><strong>While powdersurfing thrives in low-angle terrain, Merrill has also begun pushing it into bigger, more serious lines\u2014including Alaska.<\/strong> That progression comes with harsh lessons. Unlike skis, a powdersurfer cannot sidehill through danger or outrun slough. The rider is tethered to the board, and violent crashes carry real consequences.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4802\" data-end=\"5008\"><strong>\u201cIt becomes hard because you\u2019re just so vulnerable,\u201d Merrill says.<\/strong> \u201cSometimes you\u2019ll get trapped in that mindset where you\u2019re thinking you\u2019re on skis, but in reality, you\u2019re not that capable on that board.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5010\" data-end=\"5277\"><strong>He has learned that vulnerability firsthand, including a heavy impact to the face from a recoiling board that very nearly caused devastating injury.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve been hit in the face, like right below my eye socket,\u201d he says. \u201cTo this day I can still feel where it hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5279\" data-end=\"5628\"><strong>The risk is real, and it rises quickly as terrain steepens.<\/strong> Conditions become everything. Powdersurfing is far more snow-specific than skiing. Some days it simply does not work at all. Other days unlock a kind of flow that borders on spiritual. Merrill compares it directly to ocean surfing\u2014completely dependent on timing, texture, and alignment.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"5630\" data-end=\"5915\">\u201cIt\u2019s such a condition-dependent sport that will either just completely not work,\u201d he says, \u201cor it\u2019ll be the best day of your life.\u201d And when it\u2019s off, there is no forcing it. \u201cIf the waves are shitty\u2026surfing just doesn\u2019t even work,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s not even something that you go do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-start=\"5917\" data-end=\"5949\"><strong>Alaska Changed Everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5951\" data-end=\"6251\"><strong>Among all the places Merrill has powdersurfed, Alaska stands alone.<\/strong> Coastal snowpacks allow snow to cling to walls, spines, and banks in a way interior ranges simply cannot. That creates room for continuous carving, repeated slashes, and long, flowing lines that feel closer to waves than mountains.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6253\" data-end=\"6553\"><strong>\u201cThe best powdersurfing I\u2019ve ever had has been in Alaska,\u201d Merrill says.<\/strong> \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a question at all.\u201d In the Tetons, powdersurfing often becomes a rock-dodging exercise. \u201cI\u2019m hitting rocks all the time,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m breaking boards.\u201d In Alaska, he says, \u201cyou can treat it like a wave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6555\" data-end=\"6973\"><strong>Even so, Merrill laughs at the irony that he sometimes chooses to powdersurf on days when his ski friends are scoring some of the best turns of their lives.<\/strong> \u201cThere were days where the conditions to be skiing were so good,\u201d he says, \u201cand here I am going out trying to find powdersurf terrain.\u201d To outsiders it can seem irrational. To him, it makes perfect sense. \u201cIt\u2019s different,\u201d he says. \u201cThe feeling is different.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_394094\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-394094\" style=\"width: 474px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-394094 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAdoAAAJ4AQMAAAD4FrCUAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADxJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20LL6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAeBqWmAABM\/xl+AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt width=\"474\" height=\"632\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-973535669.jpg?resize=474%2C632&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-973535669.jpg?w=474&amp;ssl=1 474w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-973535669.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"474\" data-eio-rheight=\"632\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-394094\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/OIP-973535669.jpg?resize=474%2C632&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"474\" height=\"632\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-394094\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Merrill started taking his powsurfer into the big terrain of Alaska and what he discovered only elevated his froth. | Photo: Jonnie Merrill Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-4-12234225\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-4-12234225\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-3-68282211\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-3-68282211\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"3\"><\/div>\n<h2 data-start=\"6975\" data-end=\"6998\"><strong>The Longevity Factor<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"7000\" data-end=\"7290\"><strong>At 32, Merrill is far from done skiing big lines, but his priorities are evolving.<\/strong> After years of crashes, close calls, and heavy impacts, the idea of sustaining joy without constant trauma has become increasingly appealing. \u201cThe older I get, the more I like safety and just fun,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7292\" data-end=\"7646\"><strong>Powdersurfing offers adrenaline without repetitive violence.<\/strong> Feet rarely leave the snow. Impacts are minimal. And the psychological payoff remains enormous. \u201cTo get the same amount of adrenaline out of something that\u2019s a little bit more mellow is pretty legit,\u201d he says. \u201cYour feet don\u2019t even leave the ground most the time; there\u2019s such little impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7648\" data-end=\"8013\"><strong>For Merrill, powdersurfing now feels like skiing did when he was a teenager\u2014creative, lighthearted, social, and driven by curiosity instead of outcome.<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s like how I felt about skiing when I was, like, 19,\u201d he says. \u201cOnce you have a community of people that are that passionate about it with you, it\u2019s all about just finding flow with your buddies out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"8015\" data-end=\"8463\"><strong>He is careful not to position himself as a savior or spokesperson for the discipline.<\/strong> Powdersurfing communities have existed quietly around the world for decades, especially in Japan, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest. He sees himself not as someone trying to blow it up, but as someone trying to ride it honestly and document it with respect. \u201cI don\u2019t see myself as, like, this revolutionist,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m trying to be as respectful as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"8465\" data-end=\"8485\"><strong>A Quiet Evolution<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"8487\" data-end=\"8715\"><strong>While the ski industry continues to chase steeper lines, faster speeds, larger tricks, and bigger moments, Merrill is chasing something else entirely\u2014efficiency of joy.<\/strong> Less vertical. Less impact. More connection. More repetition. More flow.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"8717\" data-end=\"8796\">\u201cLess effort goes a lot further,\u201d Merrill says. \u201cLess is more on the pow surf.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-start=\"8798\" data-end=\"9187\" data-is-last-node data-is-only-node><strong>Powdersurfing does not replace skiing for him.<\/strong> It complements it. It balances it. It keeps the spark alive when the stakes of big-mountain riding grow heavier. And in an era where performance often overwhelms play, Jonnie Merrill is quietly proving that the most meaningful progression in winter might not be measured in feet or degrees at all. It might just be measured in stoke per vertical.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_312913\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-312913\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-312913 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHgAQMAAAAPH06nAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAD1JREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4M8Al+AAAUvMG0oAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"480\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-312913\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_4934.jpg?resize=640%2C480&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-312913\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cPeople just think it\u2019s snowboarding, but in reality, it\u2019s way different.\u201d | Photo: SnowBrains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 2 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>View this post on Instagram On a good powder day in the Tetons, there\u2019s a decent chance Jonnie Merrill never clicks into his skis. The Victor, Idaho-based pro, known for high-speed, high-consequence big-mountain lines with Line Skis\u2014will sometimes leave the plastic boots in the truck and reach for something most people still think is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1807564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1807564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1807564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1807564\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1807564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1807564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1807564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}