By Myung Jin Lee

Skiers and extreme sports fans gathered at West Village Quad Thursday.

Tanner Hall, 23, a freeskier and Winter X Games medalist, premiered his new film “Believe” and fielded questions from the 130-person audience.

“Tanner is a good representation [of a person] who is following one’s dream,” said Cat Armato, vice president of programming for the Resident Student Association, who sponsored the event. “It can be a good example for other students.”

Hall spoke to students about his outlook on life.

“I don’t know much about college, but life is a challenge,” he said. “One thing I notice is what I want for my life and just keep going at it.”

Hall said he started to ski when he was three years old.

“Every day after school, my mom brought me to go skiing,” he said. “[The] mountain was my playground and I loved it.”

In March 2005, Hall was severely injured while trying to land a jump.

“I just hit the wall,” he said. Hall broke both ankles and heel bones in the accident.

His doctor said he would never compete again. Though he could not walk for the first three months, Hall returned to freeskiing 10 months later and went on to win the Winter X Games.

“All my future plans got erased five minutes after I hit the wall. I wasn’t even able to walk. It was the biggest disappointment I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said.

However, he could not give up the hope. “This is my life and skiing is what I love to do,” he said.

Chris Ahern, a freshman criminal justice major, said he was impressed by Hall’s recovery.

“When his ankle was broken people thought he would never ski again, but he was back in 10 months. It was awesome,” he said.

Students had the opportunity to have Hall autograph a poster, greet him and watch the movie.

“I’m a huge fan of Tanner Hall. He is doing something other people are not even trying,” said Corey Tilton, a middler music industry major, who got Hall’s autographs on a poster and a helmet. Tilton said it was a great chance to talk to him and watch his new film.

“He pushed the limits,” Tilton said. “It is just amazing. I watched his video over and over again.”

Hall said he likes to find places nobody has gone to ski before. He hikes mountains and rides helicopters to search for new territory. He said his plan is to continue skiing.

“I want to be trying to get [my] first gold medal half pipe skiing in the 2010 or 2014 Olympics,” he said.

Hall also offered advice to students.

“Keep trying to grasp what you want no matter who tries to pull you down,” he said.