Home Mountain Range: The Tetons
What was the highlight of your season?
A split mission in Yellowstone was the highlight for me. It was my first split-boarding experience as well as my first time winter camping. The initial approach to our camp was roughly 11 miles pulling a 50lb gear sled... I'd truly never felt so excited and exhausted at the same time. It was a totally new interpretation of snowboarding to me. Posting up for days in the snow, waiting out storms, walking up everything I wanted to ride down, and really taking the time to assess the snowpack. I came away from that trip with a stronger appreciation for the mountains and just stoked on life. Big thanks to Murph, Guch, Jeff, and Ralph!
Where did you ride this year?
Jackson Hole, Montana, Yellowstone, Snowbird, Mt. Baker, Crystal, Kirkwood, Squaw
Product: Airblaster Ninja Suit
Boards you used this year and for what conditions.
I stuck to the Mountain Twin 159, solid and split, ever day. I really like the idea of having one board that does it all, I feel like the more you ride one shape the more your body gets to know it thus the more natural your movements become. The Twin did it for me this season. It's nimble enough for in bounds buttering and tree runs yet still has plenty of brawn for big drops, kickers, and high speed run outs. ( I did put a few days on the hovercraft... if you haven't you should. The name says it all.)
Favorite board.
The Mountain Twin 159.
Why do you snowboard?
When I snowboard I feel completely in the moment. There is no abstract thought, nothing going through my mind except for what my next move is or where I'm going to land. I don't really feel that focus in any other aspect of life.
What is your goal in Snowboarding?
To create a sustainable life for myself by doing what I love.
How do you train for snowboarding?
Skateboarding, hucking into lakes and rivers, and for serious training/ nutrition I meet with my good friend Scott Smith at 121 Wellness (http://www.121wellness.com/)
Why do you love to freeride?'
Bryan Iguchi passed on a good piece of wisdom to me this spring. He compared a couple of lines we had just left on a face to graffiti on a wall, or a painting. He said something like "sometimes you create a masterpiece, and other times you leave a mess." Your tracks left are undeniable evidence of how you felt riding that line. I think it's rad how you can simply look at someone's track and tell if they had a blast, or dodged a bullet. It's that same 'blank canvas' analogy, the freedom to leave your mark however you choose. I guess that's what puts the "free" in free-riding. That's why I love to snowboard in general, freedom.
When did your start splitboarding? Do splitboards work? Has splitboarding changed snowboarding for you?
I started split-boarding in March. They work great. It's like hiking, but faster, less strenuous, and you don't have to carry your board because you walking on it. Before I tried it I assumed that the board would ride noticeably different do to it being sliced down the middle hot dog style, but I honestly don't notice any difference in the way it rides beside it being slightly heavier. For me splitting has opened up a lot of terrain that I wouldn't have been able to hike or snowmobile to.
