“A classic front board on a nice new rail in Denver. Out of frame is a guy named Ross who had just gone inside after bringing us coffee and cookies and letting us use his stoop for a drop in. If you can, try to find a Ross for your session because he doesn’t kick you out, but instead he gives you snacks and offers life advice while thanking you for your company.” Photo: Ian Boll Is that where the title of your new movie Quiet came from? That’s part of it. There’s something to be said for speaking less and listening more. The older I get, the more I realize that. You don’t always need to chime into every conversation—sometimes it’s better to be quiet and listen and get someone else’s perspective. Also, snow-boarding is my quiet place. I can go escape into my own little world and just zone in. It’s like meditation. When did Quiet drop? Quiet came out in the middle of November. Instead of making a video that’s just one or the other, I wanted to blur the lines between street and backcountry snowboarding. I don’t want to be put in a box. I feel like it’s not as common anymore to see people doing both, but I always like to see the people who are able to make both look good; it’s something I really appreciate. I just love snowboarding and it really doesn’t matter to me if I’m riding in a city or on a mountain, I’m just as excited either way. Last winter got cut short, but I’m really proud of what [filmer Brendon] Hupp and I were able to make. You’re living in Portland these days? Still in Portland, I moved here eight years ago and never left. I have my house here, my girlfriend, Nadia, lives with me and I have a great community. It’s a good size city for me, not too big, and it’s close to the mountains and the ocean. It’s got all the things I need. I get to be kind of anonymous here in a way, which I like. A lot of my friends here don’t snowboard, and it’s nice to exist in a community outside of snowboarding as well. Why’s that? You don’t like the spotlight? It makes me so happy to see people enjoy my snowboarding and the things I create, but it also makes me pretty nervous. I’m pretty shy sometimes, so I try to avoid the spotlight. I feel like I’ve kept a little on the exterior of snowboarding in a way, but also always been in the mix. I’ve been where I want to be. Honestly though, I feel like I’m just as hungry to snowboard as I ever have been. Once you think that you’ve made it, you don’t hold yourself to as high expectations. I like to pretend that I’m still a young kid coming up, it makes me work harder. I’m pushing 30 but I feel like there’s still so much I want to accomplish on my snowboard. Now more than ever you see these older people in the industry who can still keep it going, which gives me inspiration. I just need to take care of my body and keep the hype alive. And I don’t think I’ll ever not be hyped to go snowboarding, so I’m going to keep doing the things I love until my body won’t let me. Then I want to put more into my creative work and live a simple existence. 056 THE SNOWBOARDER’S JOURNAL
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 18.4: Page 56
