The Voice of Local Utah

Utah Stories

Life on the Slopes

Making a life from the things you love.

by

Connie Lewis

|

extreme skiing 1
Photos of Thayne Rich by Sam Watson

Whether he’s on the slopes, filming other skiers or building skis, Thayne Rich’s life revolves around skiing. Thayne makes a living and a life from the sport he loves.

“My parents brought me up skiing. I’ve been skiing since I was two. I was born and raised in Salt Lake City. I started skiing at Snowbird, but once I got too old for the “Ski Free Under 12” pass I moved to Alta,” Thayne says.

Thayne dreamed of pursuing a career in skiing, but didn’t think it was a realistic goal. He attended several semesters of college straight out of high school and took it seriously because “it cost a lot of money.” He had an epiphany that he was only “half-assing” the thing he loved most, skiing, because he was stressing about school, so he dropped out when he couldn’t decide on a major and decided to follow his passion.

Thayne started making ski films and doing  photo shoots. “Even though it paid only a little in the beginning, I realized I could make a living following my passion. I felt that if I followed my passion things would eventually work out.”  

Thayne travels the country and the world making ski films, webisodes and taking ski photos for magazines. He’s been to Canada, Montana and Idaho, among other places. Last year he went to India. He is financed by Strafe Outerwear and 4FRNT Skis along with Good Company, a production company. He says they give him “an allowance” each year and he then goes out and finds the best stories. “I figure out where it is snowing, drive there in my truck and then start filming.”

Of all the places he’s visited, Thayne says he is a homeboy at heart. His favorite spot is– drumroll please–Alta. “I love being home because I know the slopes and the community is pretty stellar. I feel like I know every inch of that place and enjoy the people I grew up skiing with. Just knowing the terrain, getting creative and finding different ways to hit things every year is a lot of fun.”

In summer when the snow melts, Thayne builds skis for 4FRNT. “I got into it when they first sponsored my films and started learning ski-building by hanging out and watching. After you build a couple of thousand, you get the hang of it.” He is now the manager.

Asked about his life, Thayne says, “I’m happy for sure. People say ‘You just go out and have fun every day,’ but it can be exhausting. With all the social media out there you constantly have to improve to separate yourself from the crowd.”extreme skiing2 resized

 

Story by Connie Lewis

, ,

Connie Lewis

Connie has been with Utah Stories since 2013, and has enjoyed learning everything involved in producing a monthly magazine. In addition to writing, Connie performs administrative tasks, coordinates writers, photographers and editors, and oversees a million little details. Her least favorite word is ‘deadline.’ A journalism class at the University of Utah sparked Connie’s love of writing. Finding it hard to narrow her interests to just one major, journalism allowed her to explore a wide variety of topics and disciplines. When she is not writing, Connie loves spending time with her family and traveling with her dogs. “It has been a pleasure learning new things about the state I was born in and meeting the people who make Utah great,” she says. Connie plans to continue her love of learning and improving as the magazine moves onward and upward.

Join our newsletter.
Stay informed.

Join Utah Stories Newsletter

  • Utah Stories

    How I Lost 120 Pounds and Changed My Relationship With Food

    Throughout most of my life, I used food to cope with chaos, depression, and pain I did not yet understand. By my early twenties, I weighed over 320 pounds and felt trapped in a body that limited every part of my life. This is the story of how learning about food, mental health, and habit-building helped me lose 120 pounds and rebuild stability.


  • Utah Stories

    Highway 6 and the Midland Trail: Utah’s Transcontinental Highway History

    From Price Canyon to Delta’s desert stretch, Utah played a central role in building the Midland Trail, one of America’s earliest transcontinental highways and the foundation of today’s Highway 6.


  • Podcast

    When Main Street Burned: The Aftermath of the Salt Lake City Fire That Hit Downtown Bars

    Fire doesn’t respect zoning, property lines, or even the most popular block on Main Street. On the evening of Monday, August 11, 2025, a blaze that began around 8:40 p.m. on Main Street. It moved quickly through a row of aging, interconnected buildings that had become the heart and soul of Salt Lake City’s fledgling bar district. By the time firefighters brought it under control, multiple businesses were damaged, dozens of workers were displaced, and one of the city’s most active stretches went dark.

    The fire started at London Bell and spread into neighboring structures, severely damaging Whiskey Street. White Horse never caught fire, but smoke, water, and a partial roof collapse caused extensive interior damage, forcing a full rebuild. Other nearby businesses were affected as well, including some that had helped turn this part of Main Street into one of its most active and economically stable stretches.


  • Utah Stories

    Utah Acquires US Magnesium Assets in $30M Deal to Protect the Great Salt Lake

    Utah leaders announced the state has successfully won the bid to acquire key assets of the defunct US Magnesium facility on the Great Salt Lake, including its associated water rights and property.