Eric Phillips

• Title: Gear tester and reviewer, professional photographer, certified drone pilot 
• Email: Eric@phillips-photo.com
• Location: Crested Butte, CO
• Social Media Links: www.linkedin.com/in/eric-phillips-photo, https://www.instagram.com/phillips_photo/, https://twitter.com/_eric_phillips

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise: Snowboarding, splitboarding, snowmobiling, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, camping, motors, outdoor gear, photography, politics
• Years in This Expertise: 10+
• Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested: Many

Education & Certifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation & Outdoor Education, Western Colorado University
• Years of Writing: 1
• Certifications: AASI Level 1 & 2, Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche 1 & 2 
• Club or Association Memberships: Crested Butte Mountain Rescue, Gunnison County Planning Commission, Crested Butte Avalanche Center, Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association
• Awards or Recognitions: Eagle Scout
• Previous Publications: Gunnison Times, 5280 Magazine, Crested Butte Magazine

Experience

Eric Phillips grew up in Wisconsin as an avid angler, waterman, biker, and snowboarder. He spent summers as a watersports instructor for the Boy Scouts and winters as a snowboard instructor at both Wilmot Mountain and Granite Peak. Eric moved to Gunnison, Colorado, in 2016, to pursue a degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education from Western Colorado University. He joined the Western Mountain Rescue team, started instructing for Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and fell in love with mountain town living.

Upon graduation, Phillips moved to Crested Butte, where he launched his adventure photography business and continues to deepen his outdoor skillsets. While no longer working as a snowboard instructor, you can find him winning the local snowboard comps and setting lines in the backcountry. He spends his days exploring the mountains of Colorado with his camera by bike, foot, motor, or board.

Career Highlights

• 3 Years and countless successful missions with the Western Mountain Rescue Team
• Recognized as one of Colorado’s top landscape photographers in 2019

A Word From Eric Phillips

At a young age, I developed a love for being outside and a knack for jumping off of things. From my first backpacking trip through Philmont Scout Ranch at 14 years old, I knew I wanted to spend my life in the outdoors, particularly in the mountains. Since then, I have done everything possible to be a professional in the outdoor industry.

I began my career teaching watersports and working as a ranger for a Wisconsin Boy Scout camp before working my way up the ranks as a snowboard instructor and finally launching a career utilizing my degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education from Western Colorado University. My personal passions range from snowboarding and photography to splitboarding, river surfing, mountaineering, hiking, camping, hunting, and motorsports.