“There are only a handful of riders I trust enough to put myself in the line of fire. Forest is one of them. After COVID put an abrupt end to the season in March, we were all eager to get back on snow in 2020. The fates aligned and Mt. Baker, WA got early snow. Forest made the four-hour trek north from Portland, OR for the November 2020 two-day season-pass-holders-only opener, and day two went blue. We both knew this tree tap would shoot best in tight, but only with the rider facing downward, so I weaseled in and Bailey did the rest: popping off the tree backside wall-ride style.” Photo: Brad Andrew Words Ben Shanks Kindlon orest Bailey doesn’t need to be the loudest in the room to be heard. He’s approachable but direct, opinionated yet open. He’s accepting of new perspectives and experiences and likes to see both sides of any coin. And one thing’s for sure: Forest operates on his own terms. F An accomplished artist with both board and brush, boldness emanates through Forest’s riding and painting. He describes these avenues of expression as extensions of himself, and the aesthetic of each is synony-mous with its creator. These complimentary outlets have become in-creasingly intertwined over the course of the 29-year-old’s professional snowboarding career, which already spans well over a decade. His artis-tic and athletic work resonates deeply with the snowboard community, and there’s good reason for that. Of course, it’s only explainable to an extent. The rest is open to interpretation. Recently, Forest told us his story—one of rapid success coupled with patient exploration in public spheres and on personal levels. From his early days as a Vermont grom to becoming a globally renowned all-terrain aficionado, from days spent drawing rudimentary doodles to creating beloved board graphics, outerwear and more, Forest’s influ-ence starts with well-balanced self-ownership. In similar fashion to his avenues of expression, Forest came through colorfully. FOREST BAILEY 047
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 18.4: Page 47
