“Backside wallride sloth roll out on our last day in Oslo, Norway. We were supposed to fly home the day before, but we extended the trip and hit this spot with Vizz, Benny Milam and [filmer] Kevin Nolan at sunset.” Photo: Keke Leppala Words Kevin Nolan there was ever a snowboarder who embodies the saying “they let their rid-ing speak for itself,” it’s Austin Visin-tainer. Austin, aka Vizz, isn’t a big talker. But over the last few years, Vizz has slowly been coming out of his shell. His newfound confidence compliments his rising notoriety. At 28 years old, Vizz has been a well-known figure in the Pacific Northwest snowboard scene for at least a decade. More recently, thanks to a steady stream of notable video parts, he’s also emerged as a force to be reck-oned with the world over. Vizz is far from the first pro snowboarder to come out of Wash-ington state. Multiple generations have cut their teeth in the pow-dery meccas of the Cascade Mountains and gone on to become stars. The western part of the state is known for its big, beautiful terrain and some of the deepest powder on the planet. But Vizz grew up in Spokane, which is 200 miles east of the Cascades. It’s drier over there and more famous for the Gonzaga University basketball team than any nearby snowboarding. Rope tows and small, family-run ski areas are the norm there. But Vizz didn’t need to grow up in a mountain town or attend an elite private academy. In a snowboarding sense, he’s a self-made man. From modest beginnings, he’s carved out a place for himself amongst some of the biggest names in the industry. It’s the culmination of his raw talent and, more importantly, consistent effort. Through filming snowboarding for the past five years, I’ve spent quality time with dozens, if not hundreds, of snowboarders. Vizz operates on a level I’ve rarely seen. His work ethic is unparal-leled. When we set up spots, he’s consistently shoveling the hard-est. When it’s time to ride, he’s getting more hits on a feature than anyone. Despite his tenacity, he holds himself with humility. It keeps him cool, level-headed and continually striving to progress. And the results, well, they speak for themselves. S nowboarding is full of clichés. But if AUSTIN VISINTAINER 075
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 22.1: Page 75
