I JUST LOVE SNOWBOARDING, AND I LOVE ALL THE PEOPLE AND PLACES WE GET TO TRAVEL TO. AND I WANT TO KEEP DOING THAT, FOR THE LOVE OF IT. You’re an active part of your community. You put on a rail jam at Mount Spokane? The park manager at Mount Spokane hit me up and asked if I would want to do an event up there. I was super into the idea. I hit up my sponsors to see if they would support it and they were down. We hosted a rail jam at Mount Spokane and basically made it a trick list on this down-bar. You had to do every single trick and whoever did it first won. It hadn’t snowed all season, then on the day of the event it snowed a foot—classic rail jam situation. If you want a big snowstorm, plan an event. It was really cool to see so many people, even in the midst of this snowstorm, show up and hike this down-bar. It felt full circle in a sense, growing up as a kid going to contests or seeing people that you look up to paving the way and now, it does feel really cool to inspire people and try and be that guy that people look up to in that area. You’re also skating there in the summer, with a pro model [on Spokane brand The Space Program], and I heard you’re sort of a problem on the golf course? I’ve been really into golf the last few years. I’ve always golfed because of my dad and when I hurt my knee a few years ago and couldn’t skate at all I got super into it. When I’m home, I’m just trying to golf most of the time. I got a job at a golf course this summer, washing carts, doing whatever, so I can play for free. Golf is a lot like skateboarding, except it doesn’t wreck your body. It’s the same mindset—it’s super technical and you try something over and over, and when it finally clicks, it’s like you just got your clip. “At home at Mission Ridge, WA, and loving a big old spring hip jump with a half-dozen riders. Vizz was blasting huge methods and enjoying the quick tow back up as seen at bottom, with Joey Fava and Matt Wainhouse.” Photos: Colin Wiseman Do you have aspirations to enter some amateur golf competitions? I’ve definitely thought about it. Not right now, but if I could get really good, I think it would be pretty sick to do that. Maybe when snowboarding is wrapped up. It’ll always be there. I’ll probably be a good golfer when I’m 50. Has going pro as a snowboarder felt like validation for all the work you’ve put into it? It’s a pretty crazy feeling. It shows that all the work that I’ve put in over the years really has paid off, but at the same time, it feels like nothing’s really changed either. Growing up you think there’s gonna be this moment, but at the end of the day, it’s just a label. I’m lucky to be where I’m at right now. We’re still out here chasing the dragon. My level of motivation is still the same. I just love snowboard-ing, and I love all the people and places we get to travel to. And I want to keep doing that, for the love of it. It’s surreal, the life we get to experience. 082 THE SNOWBOARDER’S JOURNAL
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 22.1: Page 82
