Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Snow.
Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a small town in the midwest, where I first discovered freerunning at the age of 14. From there, I became the first sponsored American Pro athlete and started traveling the world. I was on Madonna’s world tour, worked with the US Embassy in Beirut, and competed as the youngest contestant in CBS’s Survivor history when they did their first season in China. After meeting a beautiful, genius designer from California, I moved West and settled in LA where I helped her develop our first business together, Clark & Madison, a handcrafted American-made heritage goods brand which got us features in Forbes, Esquire, and on the Today Show. I was also working as a stuntman and choreographer for Nike fashion shows, Jet Li movies and competing on American Ninja Warrior where I set a record for the fastest qualifying time. My company Tempest Freerunning opened several state of the art training facilities across California, released innovative footwear for the sport, and shot award-winning content for companies like BMW, Hypebeast, and countless Hollywood films.
When my wife moved to NYC to start a new business, I followed her, helping to get it off the ground while it was featured in the New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes, Playboy, and accrued numerous design awards. Meanwhile, I was building a career as a public speaker, hosting events for Red Bull TV as a presenter and building a motivation speaking tour now sponsored by United Way, and a creating a card game called Canyons to help others facilitate their own more meaningful conversations.
By the time the pandemic rolled around, we moved back to LA to be with family. That’s when we had our son Luc. Tempest launched an online competition saw thousands coming together to participate in vote, and now has turned into a massive live event called Kings of the Concrete. My brother and I launched an agency called Out to Lunch that produced its first film that was nominated for an Emmy. After borders opened up again, our family couldn’t wait to hit the road so we have been traveling ever since, jet-setting through Italy for the food, Portugal for the surf, the coast of Spain, the South of France, the Greek Islands, the Cotswalds in England, Vienna for the summer, then Bangkok, Bali, and at the moment New Zealand springtime as Europe gets cold for the holidays.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always struggles in life. But if I have learned one ridiculously cliche metaphor from freerunning it’s that if you turn your obstacles into opportunities, then you’re going to enjoy the journey a whole lot more.
I am grateful to have lived a very privileged life where I have been able to adapt to almost every new set of circumstances and enjoy most of the path that led me to where I am today. When the pandemic hit and the Canyons events we had planned with SoHo House all got canceled we were able to work with our friends from ilovecreatives to shift to online meetups for people who desperately needed human connection during a tough time.
To reference another overused platitude, in the glass half empty/half full scenario, I see a cup waiting halfway closer to being finished so I can pour another glass. Ideally, a nice aged whiskey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a self-proclaimed “multi-hyphenate” I think my work has always been about setting myself apart from others while simultaneously realizing that I need others to help me realize my vision. When I was a budding athlete/performer, I was never actually the best. Even from my small hometown one of my best friends and teammates was always “better” than me when it came to doing high-level tricks so it made me realize I could never keep up with that. I looked to the audience instead and stopped focusing on what I could do myself and instead thought about what I could give them. I perfected the art of excitement, bringing myself closer to them until I literally broke the barrier, stepping out into their world, incorporating them, making them a part of the experience.
In my work now, I have the opportunity to direct others, specifically some of the most talented athletes and performers in the world as they display their craft. It is a balance of influencing their creative direction and creating space for their energy to shine. Now I see that almost everything in life is a collaboration. Between an artist and an audience, a person and the world, life and death. Sounds heavy because that’s what makes it matter. Without the balance, there would just be one long road in one direction, nothing to look forward to, nothing to be excited for.
What matters most to you? Why?
the most important thing in the world to me is love. Love for myself, love for my family, love for the world. If we all loved ourselves a little more we would be happier, healthier, and more inspiring. If we loved our families more we would care more about the community we live in, the way we build our lives, the space and energy around us. If we loved our world more we would care about the future, the environment, the culture of our society. The more we love the more we care. The good times are better. The bad times are more meaningful. The whole big picture looks a little bit brighter.
Contact Info:
- Website: frostifresh.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/frostifresh
- Youtube: youtube.com/tempestfreerunning
- Other: outtolun.ch
Image Credits
Little Shao instagram.com/littleshao littleshao.com
