Whitewater aficionado, arctic explorer and Teton Valley (ID) resident Erik Boomer has won the 2026 AlpinFilm Poster Contest with his image of fellow Teton Valley resident Brady Johnston launching on a midnight ski descent of the 3,770-foot Polar Star Couloir on Baffin Island.
Growing up in Idaho, Boomer learned how to kayak at a young age. A self-supported kayaking trip down the Colorado River at the age of 15 convinced him to pursue kayaking as a profession. This in turn led to first descents of some of the world’s toughest rivers. He has descended the Stikine in northern British Columbia eight times, circumnavigated Ellesmere Island on a 104-day expedition and been nominated for National Geographic’s “Adventurer of the Year” award.
As a professional photographer, Boomer’s work has appeared in Outside Magazine, The New York Times, and Macleans magazine. More recently, he has been drawn to Arctic explorations in Baffin Island, where he learned to climb on its big walls. His film, Baffin Vacation, was featured in the very first AlpinFilm, in 2023, winning the People’s Choice Award. His current film, Baffin Vacation: Love on Ice, has been selected for the 2026 AlpinFilm Festival as well.
Boomer’s image will be featured on the official 2026 AlpinFilm poster and across festival promotions. He will also receive $500, two all-festival passes, and social media exposure via AlpinFilm’s platforms.