About
Entrepreneur, Adventurer, Producer
Stein Retzlaff
ABOUT STEIN RETZLAFF
When I was 22-years-old, a mentor sent me to the Arctic as an Expedition Leader for a three-week expedition in Svalbard, Norway. I’d never been to the Arctic, but my mentor believed in me and I soon found out that the film crew I was guiding happened to be Leonardo DiCaprio’s team for his climate documentary Ice on Fire. That project ignited a new world—and since then, I’ve worked on over 38 film and ski expeditions across the Arctic and Antarctic.
I’m an adventure athlete, filmmaker, and director who’s spent the last decade chasing raw stories from the farthest corners of the planet—skiing in Antarctica, filming in Greenland, bushwhacking through Patagonia, catching piranhas in the Amazon, and diving with sharks on Cocos Island. From the summit of Denali to the ice of the North Pole, I’ve followed my gut wherever curiosity leads. My passion sits at the intersection of adventure and storytelling—blending cinematic energy with remote logistics to create visual journeys that, hopefully, feel as real as the terrain. For me, every person I collaborate with becomes a character in a shared narrative, united by a mission to transform how we see and experience the natural world.
My goal is to live one hell of a story with great people on this awesome planet. Onward!
– Stein
Key Highlights:
The Adventure:
- At 22-years-old, Stein was sent by a mentor to lead his first Arctic expedition for the HBO documentary, ‘Ice on Fire’, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. Equipped with a compass, map, he navigated Svalbard’s remote arctic terrain, kicking off what would become a career of over 38 expeditions, and counting, across the Arctic and Antarctic.
- From skiing first descents in Antarctica to battling the jungles of Patagonia, Stein thrives in environments that are off the beaten path. He has been involved in global expeditions including filming the first disabled ski descent of Denali, sailing to 89°54’ North aboard the Pangaea on a North Pole Crossing, and skiing iconic peaks in Patagonia, Svalbard, and Peru.
Storytelling on the Edge:
- Whether skiing remote peaks in Antarctica, diving with hammerhead sharks in Cocos Island, or battling Patagonia’s jungles, Stein’s work blends bold action with raw energy. His films and photos have been featured by BBC, Vogue Travel, Departures, National Geographic, OutsideTV, and Warren Miller Entertainment, among others.
Innovation and Business:
- Co-founder of Mosaic Studios, Stein Productions, and the Intrepid Adventure Film Festival. Stein is a leader in adventure media, specializing in creating high-end content and managing complex production logistics in the world’s most remote environments.
- At Stein Productions LLC, Stein’s team excels at providing comprehensive solutions for high-profile brands and organizations by handling everything from production logistical coordination to on-the-ground production in the most challenging environments. Whether it’s Antarctica, Greenland, the Amazon, or in Lake Tahoe, Stein brings a unique ability to thrive in all conditions while delivering compelling stories.
- Through Mosaic Studios, Stein and Matt Hardy re-imagine adventure storytelling through visual content style and remote workflows, helping people experience nature in its rawest, most immersive form, while encouraging a more present approach to the great outdoors.
The Planet:
- Stein has proudly worked with over eight (8) international non-profits around the world in an effort to inspire positive change for our planet. In 2018, Erich Roepke, Thor Retzlaff, Taylor Zehren and Stein co-founded the non-profit Do Good Shit. Preserving the wild places that inspire his work will always be an important aspect of his life.
The Expeditions:
Polar Expeditions:
- Antarctica (2017 – 2024) // Twelve (12) expeditions to film and ski on the Antarctic peninsula
- South Pole – The Grand Traverse (2024) // Supported a first crossing of Antarctica from Union Glacier to the Leverett Glacier via the South Pole in Hilux trucks
- North Pole Crossing with Børge Ousland and Mike Horn (2019) // Producer & sailing crew member for the North Pole Crossing 2019 (the grand finale of Mike Horn’s Pole2Pole expedition w/ Borge Ousland). Sailed across the Arctic Ocean from Nome, Alaska to 85°34’N (the highest latitude ever reached by a non-ice-breaking vessel in history) then to Svalbard via the Northeast Passage, over Russia (31 days)
- Svalbard – Atomfjella Mountain Range (2019) // Expedition Leader and ski guide on an expedition to Atomfjella in Svalbard at 79°36’N (14 days)
- Svalbard Ski & Sail (2019) // 28 days of sailing on the West coast as expedition Leader, ski guide, and producer for Ice Axe Expeditions Ski & Sail expedition in Svalbard
- Svalbard Ski & Sail (2023) // 12 days of sailing and skiing on the Northwest / West coast of Svalbard as a ski guide for Ice Axe Expeditions
- Svalbard Polar Training (2019 & 2023) // Polar training expedition leader and guide for 7-day polar training course outside of LYR – 140 km each trip
- Sea Legacy x National Geographic Svalbard (2017) // Producer on an expedition to the Northern fjords of Svalbard with SeaLegacy, Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier (35 days)
- Greenland (2023) // Expedition cameraman on 3 weeks of Ski & Sails in the Southwest fjords of Greenland
- Pyramiden, Svalbard (2017) // Snowmobiled to Pyramiden from Longyearbyen
- “Ice on Fire” – HBO (2017) // Expedition Leader and polar guide for film team in Svalbard (27 days)
- Northwest Passage – Baffin Island (2017) // Producer on an expedition with the non-profit, SeaLegacy, Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier in the Northwest Passage / Baffin Island (30 days)
- Greenland (2022) // Expedition cameraman and ski guide (14 days)
- Iceland (2022) // Expedition cameraman and ski guide (10 days)
- Northwest Passage (2023) // Expedition cameraman (20 days)
Ski-Mountaineering & Climbing Expeditions:
- Denali, Alaska
- 6,190 m / 20,310 ft
- Skied from summit
- Cordillera Blanca, Peru
- Tocllaraju (6023) – No summit due to extremely high winds. We turned back at ~5960.
- Ishinca (5530) – Summit
- Urus (5420) – Summit
- Pisco (5752) – Summit and ski descent
- Yanapaccha (5452) – Turned back at 5,200 due to ridge cornice – ski descent
- Atomfjella & Veteran Mountain Ranges, Svalbard, Norway
- At 79°36’N, a few hundred miles from the North Pole
- 6 first ski descents of mountains we do not know the names
- Corcovado, Patagonia
- Ski expedition with Erich Roepke, Rafael Peace, Thor Retzlaff to ski the Patagonia Volcano
- Ocean, jungles, canyons, mountaineering, ice-climbing, skiing…
- West Coast of Svalbard to Lilliehöökfjorden (79°36N)
- 60K of vertical ft of ski mo in Norwegian mountains and glaciers with very long names
- Disko Island, Greenland (2022)
- Nuuk, Greenland
- Skied from 8 different summits (2024)
- Japan
- Hokkaido 2024
Warm Weather Productions:
- Brazilian Amazon (2016, 2023) // Producer and expedition cameraman on a SUP adventure in the Amazon
- French Polynesia (2022) // Producer, expedition and underwater cameraman
- Raja Ampat (2023, 2024) // Producer, expedition and underwater cameraman
- West Papua Highlands (2024) // Producer and expedition cameraman
- Costa Rica (2023) // Producer, expedition and underwater cameraman
- Panama (2023) // Producer, expedition and underwater cameraman
- Greece (2021) // Producer and cameraman for a science and research project to film the largest passenger ship on the ocean floor – The Britannic
- Dominican Republic (2021) // Kiteboarding project
- Kenya (2024) // Filming a new marketing opportunity in the Borano Nature Cinservancy and Manda Bay for Expedition Terra.
Certifications:
- BA in Economics from Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
- Eagle Scout BSA, Truckee, CA (2012)
- High-altitude glacier travel and crevasse rescue (SIET)
- Avalanche Pro 1 & Rescue course with AAI
- Wilderness First Responder (2016 – present)
“The world is only as big as you think it is”
- Mike Horn
Mountain Is My Studio
The WHY
Stein isn’t just an adventurer—he’s a storyteller with a mission to share the soul of our planet. Whether navigating glaciers, skiing Arctic powder, diving beneath the waves, or camping in the mountains, his work inspires bold adventures, deep connection, and a commitment to protecting the greatest playground: our natural world.
Partners
Athlete, Entrepreneur, Filmmaker
Stein Retzlaff
Stein Retzlaff is a professional adventure athlete, filmmaker, and director, who blends dynamic action with an ability to capture the raw beauty of untamed landscapes. Stein is driven by story—where the world remains wild, untamed, and full of wonder. From Antarctica to the Amazon, he captures moments that ignite curiosity, demand grit, and inspire a fresh perspective on our planet. For Stein, every person he collaborates with becomes a character in a shared narrative, united by a mission to transform how we see and experience the natural world.