What were you doing before you started to answer these questions ? What are you going to do when you’re done?

                  I was bouncing back-and-forth between doing some office work for LIB-tech and reading about my favorite food, sushi.  When I finish I’d like to meet up with a friend and go biking, but I’ll probably get back to working on LIB-tech budgets.

 

What was the craziest thing you did this summer…

.or at least crazy to other people?

                  I don’t know; it’s all relative.  I like to push myself; for me, the challenge is what makes it fun.  You’d probably think the craziest thing is something like spinning a quint flip (5 flips and spins) in a B.A.S.E. jump off the bridge in Twin Falls, ID (485-foot-high), but that wouldn’t seem crazy to other B.A.S.E. jumpers.

 

How did your last season go? What were your highlights and what were the down sides?

                  Last season was awesome.  My friend, Kyle Georgeson, skied with me filming most of the season and we had a blast.  I got a lot done, and had more fun than ever before.  I got to hit a lot of big jumps, ski some epic powder, and spent a lot of time at my home mountain Squaw.  The down side?  I got my first injury in 4 years, a concussion.

 

What was the last thing you laughed at?

                  Myself, I’m sure; but I couldn’t say specifically what for.

 

 

 

 

 

 What are your plans for this next season …Or is it TOP SECRET?

                  I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. No, but I’ve got BIG plans, so keep watching.

 

If you could be any character from a horror movie who would you be?

                  The dude from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, ‘cause I love chainsaws.  Plus, that’s how I’d kill someone if I ever wanted too.  Or maybe the dude from Saw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, you’re not a skier; you’re a Narrow Ass Snowboarder? What’s that all about?

Lib-tech is known for being a super fun company, so since Lib-tech is a snowboard company we make NAS (Narrow Ass Snowboards), instead of skis.  I’m a skier, but I like the mindset of snowboard companies. We wouldn’t have parks or “shaped” skis if it weren’t for snowboarders and snowboard designers. You throw a new idea at a ski company and they’ll tell you why it won’t work; a snowboard company will try it and see if it does.  Consequently, LIB-Tech developed “magne-traction”, the biggest tech breakthrough since sidecut, and they’ve developed Recurve technology, the biggest improvement to powder skis since fat skis for skiing.  They also invented the “banana technology”

(reverse camber) wave for snowboards.

I ride a lot with snowboarders, and sometimes ride a board.  At Squaw we just say as long as you’re on the snow and having fun, it doesn’t matter what you ride.

 

What exactly is your role over at Lib-TECH?

I play a lot of roles. I ride their products, I design skis for them (They have another killer big mountain ski designer named Tory Bland), and I manage their NAS team and help come up with marketing ideas.

 

 

 

 

 

How much time do you spend designing skis and what goes into it? Do you spend a lot of time at the factory?

I’ve been to the factory a handful of times, but most of it can be done by e-mail, or phone.  I work with a few guys at LIB in their EXPERImental division, who make it really easy for me.  They know everything there is to know about materials and their effects on a ski.  I explain what the dimensions should be, and how I want them to feel on my feet, and they figure out what materials go in and what doesn’t.  Once I get the skis, I test them, and if anything needs to be changed, we talk it over and they make the changes.  We do that until we get it right, but I’ve never been through more than 3 or 4 generations of a ski before they get it perfect.  It’s nice working with them because nobody else can do that.  I spend my whole season testing them to make sure they’re all dialed in.

                  A few years ago, I thought I was brilliant when I explained that I had figured out how to make a reverse camber ski that wouldn’t suck on groomers like most companies, and when I showed LIB my idea, they already had drawings of it, it’s called the ReCurve.  There’s not much that they don’t know about building skis.

 

 

 

 

 

What is it like to ride for a shred company as opposed to a ski company?

                  LIB is rad.  They let me make up the program, so there’s no pressure.  But the crew at LIB is just so into what they’re doing and in finding the next breakthrough, there’s an incredible energy.  There’s no one who works for LIB who feels it’s just a job. Our mission is to build and ride the best snowboards made.  Our ReCurve powder ski just won a Powder Magazine “Readers’ Choice Award.

 

 

If you could sit down and have a talk with anyone from past, present or future…who would it be?

                  Maybe Newton, so I could tell him to move before the apple fell on his head.

 

What are your thoughts on the ski industry?

                  There used to be a lot of influential people (Jason Levinthal, Mike Nick, the 3 Phils, the new Canadian Airforce) who were in it for the fun. Now, it seems to me, that some of the most influential people in freeriding are more worried about raking in sponsorship dollars than about the sport.  I think people need to step back and look at the bigger picture. A few years ago (after an epic pow day full of big cliff jumps at Squaw) a few people came to me and mentioned that I’m one of a small group of riders who pushes myself every day I ride.  Most guys won’t do it unless there’s film rolling or money involved.  That’s why I’m backing guys like Jossi Wells and Colby West; those guys are doing it ‘cause they couldn’t stand not to.  That makes them fun to be around, and that’s what’s going to get the sport back on track.  I watch the comps and hear all the riders talk about how we’re “progressing the sport” while most of them are doing the same tricks they did 5 years ago.  Jossi’s out there learning new tricks; we need more true innovators.

 

Why do you ride for the Levitation Project?

                  Aside from the high-end clothing?  They like the way I approach skiing, and what I’m all about, and I like the way they approach snow sports and I support their vision.

 

If you could have a super power like one of the X-men what would it be?

                  You didn’t know I can fly?

 

What advice do you have for an upcoming kid that wants to become a pro?

                  It’s the most fun job in the world, but it’s hard work if you’re going to be good.  In an office, you can get away with turning in your spreadsheet on time and doing your job as well as is expected.  In skiing, no matter how well you ride, someone always expects more.  And there’re plenty of talented guys out there. If you want to win, you have to be willing to work a lot harder than anyone else, and there’re plenty of others working hard. Simon Dumont got to the top by working himself harder than anyone else to become the best at pipe. He was, and is, one of the most driven athletes in the world, and he wouldn’t be winning if he weren’t.  Tanner Hall is the best skier in the world because he works a whole lot harder than anyone else, and it shows.

 

Approach it as a business, but never think of it as a job.  You need to promote yourself and your sponsors, but the moment you start being obsessed with how you could be making more money, you’ll never have fun skiing again.

 

If you were in an action movie what would your “one liner”be right before you were about to jack someone up?

                  There’s only another fist behind my beard.

 

 Who do you need to thank for getting you were you are today?

                  My parents and family have been there for me the entire time.  Jason Levinthal and Mike Nick, for getting me into it.  Everyone else who kept it fun; Lib-Tech especially.  My friends Kyle, Timy, Michelle, and all the great skiers on Squaw who inspire me.

special thanks to the Wilson family for all the pics

Check out some new NAS graphics and how rad Mike is