March 2022 - Vol. 16 | Issue 02

from March 2022 - Vol. 16 | Issue 02

JEFF HOLCE

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE ATHLETE

It's hard to describe Jeff in such a short space here but I’ll try. A lot of people try and claim this, but I think Jeff might actually care about snowboarding more than anyone. Besides snowboarding, he also really cares about his friends. He’s the first person to help someone whether they’re trying to get a clip or just need help working on some mundane project around the house. He is dedicated to sharing his athleticism with his homies. For example, when the Bone Zone was moving to Brighton around 2014, Jeff was the first volunteer to help. He started helping from the very first day and then showed up every day after that - for the next 7 years. Jeff quickly after that first day became one of my favorite people on earth and is now someone I consider a very close friend. I can’t think of a bigger snowboard nerd out there and it's been an absolute pleasure to nerd out on snowboarding with him, look for spots, watch videos, get to point a camera at him, and now get to see him join the pro ranks. I’m sure it's a dream come true for him, but I like to consider it a dream come true of mine as well. Jeff is pro as fuck. If he would have never turned pro, I woulda been pissed. He knows everyone, goes to everything, coaches kids how to snowboard all summer, organizes events, lifts up his homies, and stacks a-grade video clips all winter long. Jeff Holce is the definition of what a professional snowboarder should be and we should all be lucky that he exists in this space.

Intro by Ted Borland

Interview by Peter Harvieux

Photo by Peter Limberg

PHOTO: Gill Montgomery

CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

LOCATION: Salt Lake City, UTARKADE 16.2

Hey Jeff lots has been going down, hyped to connect to talk about it all. I’ve been thinking about all the years of messages, comments, and a few in person chats. I feel like you’ve been on the scene for such a good portion of time doing your thing your way kind of all over. Let’s start from the beginning. Where did you grow up riding and who were some of the first people that help build the passion?

Hey! I grew up riding mt hood. My family was huge into spending time on the mountain so I was a weekend warrior for the longest time up there! My parents love the mtns and exploring around hood. So thanks to them I got into snowboarding. Growing up in the Northwest I wasn’t really aware of the scene other than there was a snowboard camp called Windell’s. For a really long time we just went snowboarding since it’s what a lot Oregonians just do in the winter time. I think DC Mtn Lab and Patchwork Patterns got me hooked into snowboarding in a way deeper way and introduced to me to that type of scene.

How did the you get the moniker “Jeff the athlete”?

I had a friend who called other skiers “athlete” and I thought it was the funniest thing ever. He would be dead serious and I would start calling other snowboarders that has a half joke and then it backfired and everyone started calling me that hahaha.

At one point you we’re in Denver, how was that scene and how did you get there?

So I’ve never lived in Denver or Colorado but I know this might be a crazy stance but I’m pro Colorado haha, but to get back to your question, I was on a insanely long road trip with Kevin Hanson and Garret Read (garret filmed suzerainty green berg). We went to Toronto and it went bad so we trying to make it back to PNW and stopped in Colorado to break up the drive. Garret and Kevin flew home and then I just ending up staying for like 3 weeks hanging with Brendon Barry. Meet him through Instagram DMs and I stayed with him earlier in the winter when filming in Winter Park area. But basically, Denver was having the best winter ever. They had been stacking like crazy there. Brendan is the plug for Colorado and the best dude out. He let me sleep on his floor and we filmed almost every day. He named his movie called boys nite! Very lucky to have some clips in there. But all those dudes are the best! Wish I could see them more!

You’re posted up in Utah now and seem like you have made a lot of impact on the scene. What drove you to SLC?

I saw some park edits and there was a 2-page article in TWSnow about snowboarding at the rail gardens so that’s the main reason I moved there! I wanted to ride urban and it seemed like Salt Lake City had that! Growing up in the Northwest it’s really hard to jib in the streets since it doesn’t snow that much in the city. In recent years it seems that has changed but growing up it rarely snowed. Ended up really liking Salt Lake and didn’t want to move anywhere else.

What about the Bone Zone and that relationship, it seems to be something you’re very involved with and passionate about since you’ve landed in SLC?

Yeah, ummm when I 1st came to Utah, I got kicked out of the Bonezone but it was way different back then. I brought a shovel but no one knew me so I was asked to leave. Then 2 years later I went there with Ted one day and it was a good time but you had to know someone to go there. Then the forest service destroyed it so Ted and AA worked it out with Brighton to have it there. It’s been amazing since it’s moved there. It’s open to everyone! Please bring a shovel but it’s really special now and helps bring the scene together in a really positive way! Teds still around and a part of it in a big way which is awesome but he and Brighton have been letting me lead it now which is pretty crazy. Lucky to have so much help up there too. This year we only had to close 2 days since we had so much shovel by power from everyone. Thank you, Wasatch snow community! I love being around people. I’m not the most social person but I really do love doing stuff with people if that makes sense.

PHOTO: Gill Montgomery

CAMERA: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

LOCATION: BoneZone, Brighton, UT

PHOTOS: Peter Limberg

CAMERA: Olympus Stylus

LOCATION: Park City, UT

You’ve been on Hood for how many years? MHSC is kind of the underground camp on Mt. Hood, it appears from my perspective. What’s the story behind that relationship?

I did about 7 summers working up there. Growing up they had a camper staff program where one week you’re a normal camper and then the next your dish washer. Started doing that and the next summer I was a snowboard filmer. It’s a smaller camp so you can work a bunch of different jobs throughout the summer. You get paid hourly so it comes down to how much you want to work there. It’s really sweet. It’s a summer camp that has snowboarding. It’s so much more than just summer snowboarding if you’re a camper because of the off hill activities. Gave me some of the best summers of my life.

When did you link with Dinosaurs Will Die?

Meet Geno and Jeff at mission ridge 7 years ago. I was so nervous I don’t even remember talking to Geno since I would black out the conversations hahaha. Then my good friend Dylan Trewin was repping for them and wanted to flow me boards. I’ve ridden them before then too and thought they were amazing. I really didn’t think I was cool enough or good enough to ride for them. Their team back then was so stacked so it was crazy to even flowed boards from them back then.

It was great to see your part in the Tangled, seemed like you had kind of broke a glass ceiling with that part. How’d did that come about and how did you feel after that released?

I was always filming with Ted and Des throughout the years. I would go on long trips with them and just help make things happen for their projects and get some clips along the way. Des and Ted wanted to film with me and I was so grateful that they let me. It’s been so long that I’ve had all my footy together in the same spot too! The rest of the crew was amazing too!

After the release I personally felt like nothing changed. I was super narrow minded and didn’t appreciate it at the time. As time went on, I notice that it did open a lot of doors for me. This year I have the chance to film with Ted and Des again and I’m trying my hardest to redeem myself. I had more than I could handle while filming for Tangle so I felt like I was just trying to get through it. I was on auto pilot for most of that year and I was burden for the crew. I’m extremely thankful they were there for me. If I wasn’t able to hang out with them, I really don’t know how I would of end upped. Thank you Tangle crew for being there for me!

As we’ve transitioned thru the last two seasons of a worldwide pandemic and social changes what or how has that influenced or effect your snowboarding and life?

The 1st thing that comes to mind is that I can’t go to Canada to visit the Canadian homies. Miss riding mtn mtn! I just think socially there was a big swing for 7 months where you were supposed to just hang out alone and then in Utah it slowly went back to somewhat normal. Utah is really loose when it comes to covid restrictions compared to the rest of the country. I think not being able to do Bonezone one year was the biggest change to me. I missed it a bunch that year.

Cover boy.

PHOTO: Jack Reid

CAMERA: Nikon D3

LOCATION: Butte, MT

39Speaking of that, recently at the Bonezone there was a surprise for you? Share that moment with us, it looked so magical.

Haha so Jack Reid (batwing) wanted to throw this event called the suck fest at Bonezone. We built a really cool course for it and gave away almost 1000 free hot dogs. Anyways Joey Fava called a group shovel ten minutes early and I was pissed. I wanted to keep riding and I was like whatever I’ll do a tarp lap (dragging a bunch of snow down to the zone on a tarp). While I was up there everyone who flew in or drove in to surprise me was waiting in the parking lot. When we were dragging down the snow, I saw so many people walking up to the zone. I was thinking damn that’s so many people I hope they brought shovels. Then I saw my friend Brendan and Geno. Then I was like something is up. This isn’t right. Then Tucker Brown lifted a board above his head with no bindings and then I just started crying. I couldn’t talk correctly for like 15 minutes. The entire zone was shut down for half hour when it happened. So many of my friends came from all over the country to be there. No one snowboarded until I set up my new board and took the 1st run on it! I had no idea I was turning pro that day and they got me so good haha.

Well Jeff, hyped to be able to connect, what’s instore for this season and beyond?

This season I’m filming with Ted and Des again! I’m going to try and get out with Jill, Katie, and Jack for 6040 too! But just want to film when I can and keep riding a lot too! Just keep trying to see the world thru snowboarding!

Sounds awesome, that’s the dream, hyped to see new footy. Let’s shout out the true heads, who you got?

Major shout out to Ted Borland, Des Melancon! They have had my back so much over the last 5 years. My family! Kent and Karen for taking me to the mountain so much growing up! Brendon Barry, Tucker Brown, Dylan Trewin! The Tangle crew! Sean Genovese and Jeff Keenan for believing in me! Paul Osborn and hazel for being the best! Dylan Oaktree, Griff and Jack Reid for being down to do stupid stuff! So many more people to shout out and I’m really sorry if I forget you but Claire too! Brighton even though it has gotten way bigger it still feels like a family resort and it’s the home of the Bonezone! Shout out to my sponsors Moron wax, Airblaster, Dang Shades, Salmon Arms, Union bindings, Batwing and Milosport for being the best shop in the Salt Lake! DWD for life!