4FRNT skis to sponsor freshman

To an action sports athlete, sponsorship is huge. It’s a necessary component in establishing a future in the industry. This is especially true for Liberty freshman Jonathan Steltzer, who recently signed a sponsorship contract with 4FRNT skis.

Steltzer fell in love with 4FRNT’s products after having to use the Snowflex Center’s rental 4FRNT skis the entire fall semester.

It wasn’t until a demo day at the Snowflex Center last fall that the 4FRNT guys laid their eyes on Steltzer’s skiing.

“They offered me a discount and I told them about a previous offer that was a better discount,” Steltzer said. “I asked if they could beat (the original deal) because I liked (4FRNT’s) product better. They were like, ‘Send us your resume and the competitions you’re doing,’ and then I got sponsored by them.”

The amount of new tricks that Steltzer was able to learn in the short amount of time he spent riding Snowflex while visiting his brother drove him to come to college at Liberty.

As for other sponsors, Steltzer is currently working with getting signed by a few outerwear companies and just signed with Nightrain, a free-skiing clothing company.

Steltzer has been competing this season in a few circuits — the Collegiate Freestyle Association, the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association and the Appalachian Ski Mountain Series.

Steltzer grew up near Sunday River Resort in Maine and learning how to ski as a 3-year-old, but it wasn’t until he was in his teens that he started freestyle skiing.

“I started freestyle skiing when I was about 15 years old,” Steltzer said. “My youth group leader was really into freestyle skiing, and I thought he was like a pro because he could do a 360. So after that, I got really into it and about a year later, I was better than him. It surprised me.”

Inspiration is a huge part of the action sports culture and for Steltzer, his skiing inspiration is drawn from Phil Casabon and Henrik Harlaut.

However, he also notes his father and Jesus Christ as the biggest inspiration for his life.

Steltzer has a lot of season left. He’ll be competing in a few more collegiate competitions this season and will end at his home mountain of Sunday River in Maine for the USCSA Nationals.