Mowich Face

In the early 1970s, Holbrook's interest turned to the budding sport of freestyle skiing. He excelled in high-flying aerial events and, in 1978 and 1979, was the USSA Freestyle National Champion. College, and then a tour of duty with the US Navy, took him away from skiing for a while; but his love of skiing and climbing did not diminish.

In 1992, while working at Black Diamond, Holbrook met Andrew McLean. They talked about skiing and one morning went on the Alex Lowe-inspired "Dawn Patrol." These early morning outings started at 5am, usually in Little Cottonwood Canyon and, equipped with headlamps, they'd meet the rising sun on top of a local peak. Quickly skiing down the slope, they'd usually make it to work by 8:30. One turn led to another, and Holbrook and McLean became avid backcountry skiers. Their powder skiing evolved into ski mountaineering and the thrill of skiing steep chutes filled their heads.

Since this meeting, Holbrook has skied some of the steepest and most remote chutes in the United States, including the Messner Couloir on Denali, Ford/Stettner Couloir on The Grand Teton, Mt. Mendel's Mendel Couloir, the Mowich Face on Mt. Rainier, and numerous first descents in the Wasatch Range.

Holbrook is also a class IV whitewater kayaker, as well as a rock and ice climber. He also enjoys windsurfing and mountain biking.