Words Ben Shanks Kindlon t’s a sunny June morning in Bend, OR and the Ponderosa Skatepark is still pretty much empty when Mike Ravelson arrives. He lays a thin blanket down in the grass next to the mini ramp where he’ll spend a solid 20 minutes chilling, doing a little grapevine sidestep and stretching before setting foot on his board. The 31-year-old deliberately moves at a slow, thought-ful pace and is as laid back as they come. It’s a stark contrast to the self-described “hyper” manner of his younger days. I From humble beginnings on the East Coast to becoming a globally recognized rider, Mike has carved out a presence in the snowboarding world. He’s an antihero of sorts; a smooth, street-savvy snowboarder known for his eccentric approach to spots where other riders might not see potential. Mike’s ingenuity, beautiful board control and drive have led to numerous video parts and sponsorships with Vans, Volcom and more, and even his own signature snowboard with Capita. This was always Mike’s dream. These accolades, this sense of acceptance and praise were the pieces of the prize puzzle he’d conjured up in his youth. He’d done it. With all the boxes checked, surely Mike had obtained the treasure he needed to feel content. Or so he thought. Mike attributes some of his success to the fast-paced approach of his past, but over the course of his decade-plus career, he’s come to realize that patience often prevails. He’s been trying to slow his roll in every aspect of life, whether it’s selecting snowboard spots, mak-ing music, writing poetry, nurturing relationships, or otherwise. He’s actively learning to be more present, humble and patient with himself and what the world has in store for him. “I’ve always been a dreamer,” Mike says. “Just a classic dreamer looking for their treasure. What I’m trying to instill in myself these days is that it’s OK to take things slow and navigate through a dream, to not claw at it. You use so much en-ergy clawing at a dream and it’s usually at the expense of others. The people we love the most we end up hurting the most because they’re the ones closest to us and our total delusions. It’s always at their ex-pense, which comes at your own expense eventually.” It took a little late-night manicuring to get this spot in Minneapolis, MN ready. Mike came back early the following day to ollie up to the pad and lipslide down a previously unapproachable rail. Photo: Oli Gagnon MIKE RAVELSON 035
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 19.1: Page 35
