Freeskiing Icon Sean Pettit Proves That He Could've Been A Professional Snowboarder, Too

Sean Petit is unquestionably one of the greatest to ever do it on skis. At 16, he was already riding like a seasoned big mountain vet, with the ensuing years seeing Petit push freeskiing to new, previously unattainable heights.

Then, after an incredible run, Petit stepped away from the spotlight, presumably to focus on other aspects of his life. During this intervening period, Petit was spotted at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, snowboarding instead of skiing.

If you guessed that Petit is also a phenom on one plank, you'd be right. His recent Instagram post proves that there probably isn't much Petit can't do.

This is old news, though. Six years ago, Petit shared a full-length edit that showcased him snowboarding better than any skier has the right to.

These videos, alongside the general absence of skiing content on Petit's Instagram, seem to indicate that the Canadian phenom has found a new love in snowboarding, mostly leaving skiing behind.

It's a development I have mixed feelings about. Whatever Petit does -- be it building a stone shack in the woods (not joking), snowboarding, crafting a wooden stool (also not joking), or skiing -- he does it right, meaning his various non-skiing excursions are a joy to keep tabs on.

But man -- I know I'm not alone in saying this -- do I miss seeing Petit on skis, aside from his occasional mountaineer-esque trips. His effortlessness, commitment, and style remain essentially unmatched to this day.

Realistically, my wish for a full-length Petit skiing comeback video part may never be fulfilled, particularly in light of this interview Snowboarder conducted with Petit in 2018.

Petit, apparently, had gotten a little burnt out on skiing at the highest level, with snowboarding providing a lower-consequence alternative that allowed him to feel like "a kid again" while still spending time in the mountains.

It makes sense. No matter how talented or fearless you are, doing the world's largest 360s will eventually take a toll on your nerves. Luckily, Petit has side hits and snowboarding to continually scratch the snowsports itch -- without all that risking your life business.

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