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](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/collin-running-296x300.jpg)
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.](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/photo1-300x300.jpg)
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."](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/gunslinger_inspiration-300x267.jpg)
![The gunslinger model can be found in Whitefish at The Toggery.](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/gunslinger-253x300.png)
![The sketch for "The Canyon Creek."](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Canyon-Creek_Inspiration-300x294.jpg)
!["The Canyon Creek" model can also be found at The Toggery in Whitefish.](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/canyon-166x300.jpg)
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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