The U.S. Ski Team’s Bryce Bennett epitomizes the persona of a gentle giant. The young American Downhiller is an intimidating character at first as his 6-foot-7-inch frame towers over crowds and his deep voice conveys seriousness in interviews, but once you scratch through the surface, you’ll find a laid back California kid, who has a penchant for riding his bike, visiting his favorite fishing spots, and has an undeniable love and talent for throwing himself down mountains really, really fast.

Last season, Bennett earned a career-best World Cup finish, snagging sixth place in Val Gardena from bib 57, and his career is only just beginning. The folks over at Outside Television caught up with Bennett to shed some light on what makes him tick.

Video from Outside TV