Beau knows the Whistler, BC backcountry. Switch backside 180 in 2013. Photo: John Scarth As Beau laid foundations, he dropped an edit that caught the snow-boarding world’s attention. The #PointOfBeau Movie defied POV axi-oms, managing nine minutes of compelling action. It offered an unfil-tered view of the Whistler scene. “ #PointOfBeau really captured what it’s like being a pro boarder in Whistler because it shows how all the different crews fit together and how much fun we all have boarding,” Chris Rasman says. “In a way, it’s more real than some of the high-production-value stuff we create, and it lets people connect to what we’re doing out there. Once the industry noticed that Beau’s riding blurs all those boundaries between ManBoys, D.O.P.E., Out of Ser-vice, even underground park riders, I think they turned on to some-thing we knew all along: Beau’s one of the most noteworthy shredders in Whistler.” Today, Beau’s known for his polished, flowing freestyle. He doesn’t stray far from the fall line, and he’s open to opportunities that come his way. “I don’t exactly have a crew,” he says. “My program is really just going out with [filmer] Dave [Craig] and whoever’s available or hit-ting up other crews like the ManBoys and seeing if I can jump in with them. I went to Japan this winter with Danimals [Dan Liedahl] for his movie. There was a while where I wasn’t sure if I’d ever reach that level where I could ride with Jake Blauvelt for a week or go to Japan with Pat Moore. It’s an honor when guys like that hit me up.” Beau’s a self-made snowboarder. He’s built himself a life in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and come into his own as a business owner. The office work that used to take him hours now happens quickly, he’s able to employ his friends, and he and his partner Angela recently bought a home in Pemberton. He’s crafted a rare existence in the Whistler scene, living the pro-rider lifestyle without the financial pressure of snowboarding solely for a living. His approach allows him the freedom to ride more powder than most, and so he does. Beau speaks humbly about his future. “This has been such a sick ride, and if it ended tomorrow not much would change, to be honest,” he says. “If all my sponsors dropped me, I’d be like, ‘Well, that was fun.’ I really don’t think it would stop me from doing what I’m doing.” BEAU BISHOP 055
The Snowboarder's Journal frequency 17.1: Page 55
