PHOTO: IAN MATTESON
10-11 - OPENING ACT 16 - Burritos & SNOW: community 18 - CALE’S CORNER: preseason 20 - (SLC) HISTORY 101: rail gardens 22-25 - CHARACTERS: bob plumb 28-30 - ORIGINS: coalatree 32 - HI THERE: alex rodway 34 - HI THERE: chris cloud 36 - HI THERE: jeremy thornburg 38- THE GRAPHIC STORY: STEVEN STONE 40 - PRODUCT TOSS 42 - INCENTIVE: cam pierce 46-57 - brandon cocard 60-69 - SHOOTING GALLERY 72-73 - HIGH FIVE: FORREST SHEARER 74 - TALKIN’ SHOP: directive 76 - MY RESORT: alex andrews 78 - INSTAHAMS: utah shops 80 - LAST CALL: NIKE HALLOWEEN
LAURA HADAR IN ALASKA PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW MILLER
PHOTO: ASHLEY BARKER
JESS KIMURA ON HER PRO MODEL
WE DEVOUR EVERYTHING
OPENING ACT
timmy ronin in
salt lake city PHOTO AND WORDS BY ANDY WRIGHT
Seems to be a lot of attention getting paid to photos that are shot on film these days. Almost as if this analog method of image capture somehow
elevates a mediocre photo into something great. I've never been a process sort of guy, I like results. With that being said, I dusted off my panoramic camera last season, which happens to shoot film. The combination of optical quality and perspective this photo taking tool provides is something I can't duplicate with one of my modern megapixel machines. It's refreshing to step back and try and fit the action in it's unique framing. Focusing a range finder can also spice things up a bit, but at the end of the day it's really about the final photo. I hope this doesn't make you like the image any more or less. I hope it makes you want to got snowboarding or high five Timmy for being awesome, or both.
MASTHEAD EDITOR & DESIGN PAUL BUNDY paul@arkadesnowboarding.com
EDITOR & ADVERTISING CORY LLEWELYN cory@arkadesnowboarding.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ANDY WRIGHT, E-STONE, BOB PLUMB, SEAN K. SULLIVAN, TIM ZIMMERMAN, BEN BIRK, ANDREW MILLER, JOEL FRASER, ROB MATHIS, STEVEN STONE, BRYCE PACKHAM, AARON BLATT, ZAC SHEPHERD, DALLAS CASEY, CHRIS BRUNSTETTER
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Daniel Cochrane, Mark Seguin, Josh Ruggles, Rob Mathis, CALE ZIMA SHANE CHARLEBOIS, ANDY WRIGHT, ZACH FRAGER Contributing Artist: Dave Doman
DISTRIBUTION Landon Llewelyn, Cooper Llewelyn, The Norm, Marcus Patterson, Cael Campbell, Laramie Patrick
ARKADE MAGAZINE 127 South 800 East STE #37 SLC, UT 84102 www.arkadesnowboarding.com info@arkadesnowboarding.com Facebook.com/arkadesnowboarding Twitter.com/arkadesnow Instagram @arkadesnowboarding
CHIS GRENIER IN SALT LAKE PHOTOGRAPHED BY E-STONE
COVER: BRANDON COCARD PHOTO: SEAN K. SULLIVAN
SNOWBOARD COMpANiES ShOulD BE OWNED By SNOWBOARDERS.
R O M E S N O W B O A R D S . C O M
I don’t think it is a reach to say that snowboarding’s sense of
community is perhaps its greatest asset. In an Olympic year where everyone from Eddie Bauer to NBC will try to fill your parents in on why snowboarding is so hot right now. It is good to know the real truth lies in the late night rail sessions, DIY jib parks that line the woods of America, and the countless kids that fill theaters each fall to see their favorite snow movies at premieres. Now don’t get me wrong this isn’t an anti-Olympics or anti-contest post. What this is is a pro-community post. The roots of competition in snowboarding run back to the dawn of snowboarding itself, but what is important to remember was that those first contests on the East Coast and in the backcountry quaterpipes of Tahoe were just as much a celebration of snowboarding’s community as they were an event to see who was the best (that day). Those contests were in hand dug pipes without huge corporate money, and they were more about having a great time than they were making sure you got a shot drinking the product of your sponsor at the end of your run. I think as long as we as snowboarders remember that then snowboarding will be in a great place. Having been involved with several events over the last few years at local resorts it is crazy to see the lack of community within the skiing world. It was insane for me to see Stepchild, Rome, Lib, Burton, and other snowboard companies sponsor local comps and listen to skiers either complain that they couldn’t participate or bemoan the fact that they had no contests of their own. I guess that is what happens when your sport is rooted in tourism and generating condo sales vs. community. Yes these insanely elaborate events like The Olympics are a double-edged sword. They put snowboarding on global display but they aren’t what many of us view our sport to be. It is a slippery slope (no pun intended) from local contest to mega-comp run by FIS or some other totally clueless organization but as long as there are kids out there willing to rebuild the BoneZone than snowboarding is ok. As long as there are kids out there getting POW shots at Alta after the first bit of snowfall then snowboarding will be ok. As long as there are late night rail sessions around Salt Lake, not just for video shoots, but because it is just fun to be out hanging with your friends strapped into a piece of polyethylene and wood then snowboarding is ok. This January when the Olympics are in full swing and all the hype and hoopla is piling up do these two things. First let your mom, dad, cousin, or whoever know that yes that is PART of snowboarding but it isn’t ALL of snowboarding. Let them see the Baker Banked Slalom, let them see an Absinthe or a Videograss video, and let them get a small taste of what the larger world of snowboarding is about. Secondly remember that YOU are what sustains that larger world of snowboarding. Be proud of the community that snowboarding is and remember that it all started with a bunch of guys like you who just wanted to go out and have fun with their friends, cameras or not.
WORDS BY DANIEL COCHRANE RIDER IS GUS WARBINGTON PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEN BIRK
RIDE THE
ELEMENT FEATURING
PHOTO // JASON TACKITT
CALE’S CORNER
are all ready to go once it arrives. After speaking with your sponsors and figuring out what video they want you to be in, it is time to see who is filming for that video and what other riders are going to be in it. This way, when the snow starts flying, you know who to gather together to go hit a spot. Also, it’s nice to get everyone on the same page as far as planning trips and getting a feel for what everyone wants to accomplish for the winter. This part of pre-season can be a little stressful, just because of all the people you are trying to get in contact with. Once you get this step done, you are stoked! Now you have a rough mental outline of how your season is going to pan out.
Fall is my favorite time of year in Salt Lake
City. The weather cools down a bit, the leaves start to change color, and most importantly it means that winter is just around the corner. There are a lot of things that I do to get ready for the season: looking for spots around the city, getting things ready for pre-season boarding in Guardsman’s Pass, and figuring out what movie I’m filming for the upcoming winter. The months leading up to winter are times of excitement and anxiousness. Probably one of the most important things I do to get ready for the season is search for spots. There is actually more that goes into this than you might think. In SLC and the surrounding cities, it’s hard to find a new spot that hasn’t been hit yet. The reason I try to look for new spots is to keep the videos fresh. If everyone is hitting the same spots year after year, I feel like people will get bored of seeing the same old shit over and over again when the movies come out. Looking for spots is basically a lot of driving around, so I always make sure that I
have a big ass coffee and some good music to listen to. While looking for a spot there are a lot of different things to consider. For example, what is the speed for the spot? Is it a natural run in? Do we need a wench, car tow or bungee? Also, the bust factor is important to think about. Is it a spot you can hit anytime, or is it a night or weekend spot? On a rare occasion there are spots that you really want to hit but are a high bust risk, so you might have to do them on Christmas morning. I try to go searching for spots as much as I can, but sometimes it’s hard to motivate yourself to do it. Once I have found these spots, I have a little book that I write them down in. My notes include what type of spot it is, the address and when would be a good time to hit it. It’s nice to have this book on you so that you can always have a spot to go to when you are in Salt Lake and the snow is good. When it comes to figuring out what movie I’m filming for, the process consists of a lot of emails and phone conversations. It is good to know what you are doing for the winter so you
The last, and most important, part of pre-season for me is time spent boarding that I try to get in before Brighton Ski Resort opens. Over the past years, a bunch of homies and I have had a fun area to go boarding at up in Guardsman’s Pass as soon as the snow sticks. This place is called the Bone Zone, and almost everyone that snowboards in SLC has heard of this place. It is basically the best place ever created. There are tons of features up there to board on. It has everything from metal rails to tree jibs and barriers to get down on. Even if you just want to go up and hangout, there are numerous fire pits that you can hang around and eat snacks, drink beers and shoot the shit. Unfortunately this year the Bone Zone was destroyed by the police and forest service. This truly is a sad time for everyone who was fortunate enough to experience this wonderful place. R.I.P. Bone Zone. However, as long as you want to board pre-season, you can always find something to do up in the mountains. This aspect of the pre-season is very important to me. It’s nice to get your legs back under you and get all your tricks dialed in before you actually have to go on a filming trip. This way, you are all warmed up and ready for whatever the season has in store for you. Just being out in the mountains with your friends is always a good adventure. So no matter what you do in the pre-season, just make sure you are having fun and getting hyped for a great winter! I hope everyone gets a chance to go snowboarding or skiing at least once this year.
WORDS BY CALE ZIMA PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY JOEL FRASER
Joe Sexton Welcome to the team. Photography by Andy Wright coalheadwear.com facebook.com/coalheadwear
(SLC) HISTORY 101
What can be said about the Rail Gardens? I know that a trip to Utah
is not complete without stepping foot on this hallowed soil. My personal first experience at the Rail Gardens was in 1993 shooting with Blue Montgomery and Andy Wright. (This article would've been a lot more cool with these photos, but for the life of my I couldn't find them!) For those not that adept in math, that's 20 years strong and it shows no shows no signs of slowing down. The fact that it still is a bust free spot is pretty mind blowing. Rail Garden's serves it's purpose as a perfect warm up/meet up spot before an urban mission or a place to ride and chill all day. I have personally been lucky enough to shoot and witness a lot of great moments at this spot. Big gap drops weren't part of the everyday urban scene like they are now when Jeremy Jones launched over the fence down to the parking lot. I remember laying down in the parking lot shooting shooting the image being utterly amazed that Jeremy not only had enough knee power to stomp the straight gap but to hustle back to 180 it as well. This shot ended up on the Snowboarder cover in 2002 with a story on the SLC scene. The rails at Rail Garden's aren't the only spots that get used and abused. The roof was made famous by Mr Nate Bozung. If you're not sure if that front board on the roof sparked a lot of creativity one only needs to look back at this
seasons videos to see it still making the cut some 13 years later. Personally one of the biggest changes came when JP Wallker, Seth Huot and Dawger made the gap rail good to go. I know JP has told this story in the past, but it's definitely a classic that took a full year until it was made doable. Attempt number 1 involved JP, Dawger and Seth with nigh vision goggles and police radios. 2 knobs deep and the cops rolled up leading to a little hide and seek and an aborted job. Fast forward a year later and the crew finished the job with Jeremy and Seth getting the first session. Seth set down a proper gap to back lip and we shot a DVS ad for Jeremy doing the backside 270. JP waited until the next day to get his frontside 270 which was one of the last shots I got of him on a Forum board and ended up as a Future mag (RIP) cover shot. The final bit to the gap rail story is when JP helped make the run out become safer by removing the rail that use to be in the run out. It's safe top say that gap rail has absolutely been annihilated over the years with riders throwing down nearly every variation of on and off possible. These are some of my favorite memories at the Rail Garden's, now do yourself a favor and get in a few sessions this coming season‌‌you'll never be disappointed! WORDS BY ROB MATHIS RIDER IS JP WALKER PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROB MATHIS
CHARACTERS
BOB PLUMB L
et me tell you how these things usually work. If I really know the “Characters” subject well I will write up the piece on my own. If I don’t know them too well I will either schedule some time to sit and talk with them, or I will shoot them a few questions via email. Then I will take the answers and incorporate them into the write up. So that’s what was happening with this edition of Characters with Bob Plumb, a.k.a. The Possum. I sent him a few questions, in a raw form, for him to give me a base in which to write my article. Anyone that knows Bob will tell you that in this article I should have talked about two things: Bob’s amazing photography and his humor. So I was piecing things together in my head and thinking of how I was going to write this article when Bob’s reply email arrived. I couldn’t believe the gold mine that had fallen in my lap. Instead of the usual two or three sentence replies that were common Bob had given me the greatest interview answers ever. In fact so great that I felt to do Bob, and maybe even the world, could only be done justice by reprinting word for word the greatness that awaited me in my g-mail in box. Ladies and Gentlemen … the mind of Bob Plumb.
What’s up with the Plumb brothers and the animal names? Well you have the Big Fish, Lizard King and the Possum. My parents are real into their spirit animals. When we were born a shaman was present to let them know what animal was conjoined with our soul. It's strange but we all represent these different animals in the way we live our lives. Look up spirit animals and you'll find you have a lot of similarities with the species. I personally still feel like I'm more a wolf than a possum but whatever... Too bad your nickname is Burritos. How did you end up a snow photographer with a brother that’s a professional skateboarder? So are you trying to interview me or my brother here, cause I mean I can give you his email if you want. When I was born my family knew I was destined for greatness. At the tender age of 3 months I crawled at 6 months I walked. It was as if I was put on this earth for a purpose higher than my own. When I was 5 I picked up a point and shoot camera. Not knowing what it was I walked around the house and the neighborhood shooting photos. These photos were published in Time magazine. The article was called "A young prodigies view of the world." I was in my teens traveling the Swiss Alps with Richard Avedon, Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz when I found snowboarding. A man in a jester hat riding a snowboard, performing a butter, caught my eye. It's to long a story for this little interview. My autobiography will tell you the rest. It's title? “Possum The Prodigy”.
INTERVIEW BY DANIEL COCHRANE PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVEN STONE
When you're at a spot do you use your winning personality and jokes to compensate for lack of shoveling ? When I get to the spot, everyone knows an artist has arrived. It's a gut feeling. The energy changes. People know it takes a lot for me to pull out my camera to shoot them. The time has come to dance down that handrail FOR ME. Not for their video part but for my art. Artists don't shovel. You know why? I'll tell you. It takes so much passion, creativity and energy to make art. Can you imagine giving every ounce of your soul to a photograph? To create something out of nothing is truly a gift. Only a select few have it. Often after a long day of shooting, I can barely carry my equipment back to the house. I'm mentally drained and physically exhausted from making these people look so damn good. Do you think some photogs take themselves too serious? Well the Iphone instagramers do. NO ONE cares about your shitty Instagram photos. GIVE IT UP. People and their fucking Iphones and hipstermatic bullshit think they are photographers, it's ridiculous to me. All they care about is likes and double taps on their phone. What amateurs. Do these people know how to shoot a real camera? Do these people know what it feels like to be so exhausted from making art you can barely get out of bed in the morning? Knowing that you must get up! You must go on because it's your destiny! Bahahaha I highly doubt that. Best and worst thing about the snow photographer game.. It's a fucking war out there. Everyone gunning for one another. Back stabbing, Spot leaking. It's insane. Photographers taking the athletes to rails they know someone hit yesterday urging them to one up the last guy. Cutting handrails, knobbing rails and sabotaging spots is all part of the game. Double and triple booking crews. The end of the year exposure meter isn't going to shoot it's self. You need to be the best and this is what it takes. Want some advice kids. Get the photo from one spot and go to the next. They don't have sponsors so why waste you time! So and so just called you, you’re late for the 1 pm appointment. This crew is all sponsored and they're jumping off buildings!!! You leave the crew your currently with, you know why? Because you don't have time for the little down bar. The down bar is DEAD!! You don't care about their cute little tech tricks. Why shoot a sequence, that's not art and it's not gonna run. The sequence is dead. You know what the people want... STUNTING. If it ain't 3 kinks why bother. If it's not dropping from a couple stories who cares. Coach them on what trick to do. Tell them what trick you want. I tell them not to look me in the eyes until they have landed their trick and the job is done. Until this moment they are shit to me and are wasting my time. Tell the filmer to get the hell out of your photo. Make them work around you. You and you alone are the reason for inspiration. You’re inspiring greatness. Push the progression. Push the monkeys, MAKE THEM DANCE!! Shoot photos that people will remember. Photos that will last the test of time. Push your creativity to the limits. Push yourself to greatness. You’re doing everyone a favor by gracing them with your presence. With your button pushing skills. WE ARE ARTISTS!! Public Service announcement: Thank you for your time. If you don't know me and you believe any of this interview you've mistaken me for an asshole. My apologizes mahahahahahahaahahahaahhahha! Two final notes on my end... 1) I still stand by the Burritos name. 2) Bob is a fucking genius.
ORIGINS
For a business to find a solid niche and unique approach is difficult these
days, and carving it out through genuine passion and determination is even more rare. In early 2010, two Salt Lake City roommates Cavin Nicholson and Jake “Charlie” Bessey decided to venture into the Wild West known as the clothing industry. Both having experience in the skate and snow industries, they had no intention of building a business half way. The industry doesn’t need any more dead companies. The two had intentions of doing more than surviving. They wanted to do a lot more than just survive. It didn’t happen over night—but over the next few years COALATREE found its feet. Not afraid to get filthy, Bessey and Nicholson built something as sustainable as it is unique: a brand that is focused on the nature first and product second. Seriously. COALATREE is the first brand to combine organic farming with fashion-forward street wear. In terms of brand maturity they are not even done teething, but COALATREE has taken a completely different approach to clothing. Their path is definitely less traveled—more accurately, never travelled. But with the reactions the young brand has been getting from shops and customers internationally, the unknown roads are looking much more promising these days. FICE Gallery and Urban Boutique in Salt Lake City has been working with COALATREE for over a year, and co-founder Laura Hadar has been stoked from day one. “I think the thing I like the most about COALATREE is what they stand for,” she says. “They have a really positive message, and it’s cool to see a company like that do well.” Before Nicholson and COALATREE ever took to the drawing board on their new idea for a clothing line, they had come to understand that the planet and its people are headed down a sketchy road. Between the processed grub continuously stuffed down America’s collective windpipe that’s more science project than actual food, along with the immense environmental damage associated with most industries—they felt they had to do something to combat the current state. The late-night brainstorms began. “We kept taking the idea of making a clothing line, and we just kept revisiting it, using only organic materials within that clothing line,” notes Bessey. Over the next six months the two kept their idea alive, and by May of 2010 they were ready to jump in head first with their apparel brand, which for them meant moving to Colorado and building a farm. As with any new concept, there are plenty of risks that have to be taken and people to say no. Predictably, their business plan was difficult for many to swallow. The farm seemed too far removed from the threads. As a result, they had several friends and consultants advise them against it. “We had some different consultants come in which were pretty well known in the industry, and they kept coming back to, ‘I just don’t know how your going to
tie a farm into a clothing line, its not that it can’t happen—I just don’t know how it will be done,’” Bessey recalls. But with the stubbornness of Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, they forged ahead, following their instincts—and listening closely to whispery voice of Ray Liotta saying, “If you build it they will come.” Except in COALATREE’s case, they took the high road and built a farm, instead of tearing one down so the kids could watch homeruns and choke on hotdogs. For Nicholson and Bessey, deleting the farm from the business plan was never an option, as Bessey puts it.. “We felt that if we were going to be preaching about growing your own foods, the benefits of it, and the eco-consciousness aspects—we should know what we’re talking about.” With limited experience, some newly purchased dead land, and a dream, Bessey and Nicholson began to dig, plant, grow and repeat. And for the next year, they were so close to Amish they could have changed their label to Mordecai & Mordecai. “When we went out there, we dove full in. The whole outside world didn’t exist. We changed our numbers, changed our address—sort of went off the map.” Initially giving full devotion to the farm, the two realized that the “clothing” part of their clothing brand wasn’t really getting any love, Bessey notes. “We were working from five or six in the morning until it got dark, then we would try to work on the clothing line, but we were always so fried from being in the farm all day that we had to make some changes.” After putting more focus on product and bringing on some new hires, COALATREE began to sprout into the clothing brand that others said was not doable. “The two of us not being able to do the farm and clothing line simultaneously actually helped our purpose. We ended up bringing on some good people that have helped us take it to the next level,” notes Bessey. Between honing in the style of their line, grappling manufacturing issues, and maintaining the farm, COALATREE’s small crew got a heavy dose of what it means to build a company in the cutthroat industry of apparel. Bessey recalls the stresses during COALATREE’s first steps. “When we first got going actually designing the clothing, we had no idea about how intense the program of developing clothing was going to be. There were a lot of times I would be laying in bed just thinking, ‘Is this even going to work?’” Over the next several months, COALATREE began hitting shops on an international scale—completely undeterred by the fact that they had no product to show. Even for companies with a box of product fresh off the line, building positive relationships and ultimately getting goods on the shelves is not easy, according to COALATREE Director of Sales Lars Reber. “Going into some of the shops in the very beginning was crazy. We’re talking some of the most respected shops, who are nationally recognized and really difficult to get product into. I was super intimidated,” says Reber. “But we ended up not even really talking about product in our initial visits.” Instead of trying to
coerce potential buyers by getting poetic about proprietary tech this, breathable materials that, flashing their salesmen grins and hoping for a miracle, they brought plants and food. Without the pressure of thousands of dollars in product waiting to be sold, they focused on building relationships. “For us to be able to promote this message while our clothing line was on hold with taking the farming approach was really helpful,” says Bessey. “We would take grow bags with watermelon plants to get our foot in the door, since there is so much screening in this industry, and shops are so hard to get product into.” This approach has landed them some of the most sought-after shelf space in the action sports and outdoor industries. With the companies vision now in focus, Bessey recalls a conversation with Shaun Neff, founder and owner of Neff Headwear and one of Bessey’s mentors. “When I told him what we were doing with the clothing line and the farm, he just said, ‘You’ve found your niche. It’s good, and don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Just stick with it.’” Bessey and Reber feel that their message resonates so well because people are beginning to shift and become more aware of their consumption, and how their decisions play a role in their life and their environment. Happy to share their knowledge, COALATREE always welcomes anyone to visit their farm, learn about organic growing and a life more considered. “It’s not an easy thing to eat organic, for us just to be able to spark that interest in someone and have them check it out for themselves is the best thing for us,” Bessey explains. According to Reber, running a farm can be much more expensive than expected, and as theirs is a non-profit operation there are times when it’s difficult to justify continuing a project that makes no money directly. “It’s actually a struggle for me sometimes to see the money we put into the farm, which is pretty big amounts,” he says. “We just have to keep reminding ourselves about the benefits, because it does translate for us in terms of sales and success.” From their first year to now, COALATREE has seen exponential growth. And as they develop the lines for this coming year, they plan to expand their reach even further, according to Reber. “Were making a big push with outdoor technical pieces with waterproofing and breathability,” he says. “Next year were going to drop our Tree line, which is going to be our technical line made for every day use.” With the use of recycled polys, cof-
fee grounds and other eco-friendlier elements, COALATREE is staying true to what they set out to accomplish, to only uses recycled and natural fiber materials for their entire line. As demand for their clothing rises, and under constant pressure to solidify their brand— COALATREE needed a home base with better connections. They chose to re-establish themselves where it all started—and landed near downtown Salt Lake City. As the mecca of mountain sports, it was an easy decision for Bessey. “For us to get back to Salt Lake was just a huge thing for the brand as far as support and logistics and getting connected with the right people. It has allowed us to be able to grow at the right pace for a brand,” he says. While COALATREE continues to have heavy involvement in snowboarding, and skateboarding—they don’t consider themselves specific to those industries. Something several people advised against. Instead, they want everyone to take part in nature, life. Through the farm, COALATREE is connecting several diverse skills and sports, such as fishermen, hikers, snowboarders and mountain bikers with a common goal. “Our riders and ambassadors will come out and learn how to farm if they don’t know how, learn new ways to farm, or learn new plants they can grow. It’s really rad to see how stoked everyone is on being a part of COALATREE and being involved with nature,” Bessey says. As they move forward, they are excited to see the momentum that they have built. Their COALATREE logo is popping up seemingly everywhere, and people are paying attention, according to FICE Gallery and Urban Boutique Founder Corey Bullough, “One thing I really liked is their street presence they had in such a short amount of time,” he says. “There are shops carrying them, and stickers in the streets of big cities around the world.” But more important than street cred, is their dedication to what got them there. They want their consumers to become producers, and to experience what mother earth offers up daily. “The COALATREE name comes from references to growing or gardening. Nothing is better than having good things that are good for nature,” explains Bessey. He goes on to explain that the top-center of the plant is called the main cola. It’s where the best produce comes from, and is how they came up with their name, and drive for the brand. “The inspiration behind COALATREE is a desire to live a lifestyle centered around sustainability and living the high life.”
HI THERE
PHOTOGRAPGH TAKEN BY BEN BIRK
Name: Alex Rodway Nick Name: Rodway Age: 21 Home Mountain: Saddleback Maine Years Snowboarding: 16 Backing You: Giro, K2, Evo, Monster Energy Gloat: Filming with Volcom for IP3, Transworld Park Sessions and I Ride Park City media were my highlights. Besides Snowboarding: Surf, Bodysurf, Skate, Fish, Beer Inspired By: Seth Huot, Wiley Tesseo, Chas Guldemond and Bill Enos Hardest “Easy” Trick: Rodeo Short Term: Film a backcountry part. Long Term: Make a movie. Three Favorite Video Parts: Johnny O’connor: Holy Smokes, Hampus Mosesson: After Lame, Greg Maxwell: Apples and Oranges.
WORDS BY MARK SEGUIN
R
iding within the comfortable boundary lines of a resort is good enough for many snowboarders. However, there are riders who don’t settle for good enough; Alex Rodway doesn’t settle. Getting out and exploring new places to ride keeps him motivated and always looking to progress his riding. His snowboarding career began thanks to his father. Days that were once spent following his dad’s carving downhill have now been replaced with days learning every nook and cranny of mountains like Brighton from industry veterans like Seth Huot. Though life in Salt Lake City may be a bit of an adjustment for Alex, he certainly looks right at home in the Wasatch Range.
HI THERE
The biggest Utah winter in fifty years rolled out the welcome mat for Chris in 2010 and the hook was set. Salt Lake’s proximity to pristine hikes, great camping and of course world class resorts make it a second home to him. He has built a reputation here as a great snowboarder, but more importantly, a great person. Watch for Chris to be stepping up to some heavy lines and tech street spots this year...and he’ll do it all without spilling a drop of his coffee. Name: Christopher Cloud Nick Name: Cliss Cloud, G-Code, Cloud, Bro, Dude, Man Age: 22 Home Mountain: Brighton, Utah / Snoqualmie Pass, Wa Years Snowboarding: Eight Backing You: Capita, Coal, Union, Milosport, 686 Gloat: I’m just a normal guy, doing normal stuff, enjoying myself. Besides Snowboarding: Camping, hiking, skateboarding, making coffee, pouring coffee, drinking coffee, building stuff Inspired By: Mouse, ¬Scott Stevens, Jesse Burtner, Corey McDonald at High Cascade, Duane Sorenson at Stumptown Coffee, Trevor Brady, Brandon Hammid, Tranny Finders, my fuck boys in WA, Riley Goodwin, Dave Graves, my girlfriend Adi, the entire Capita team, Matt E. Ryan, House of 42069, Gary Abbederis, everyone at Milo, everyone at C-3, Jon stark and Parker Duke. Hardest “Easy” Trick: Back 270 Short Term: Ride pow, continue welding school, film a little, work a little, learn a lot. Long Term: Keep snowboarding, keep working, keep creating, keep listening, keep working. Three Favorite Video Parts: Thanks Brain – Stevens, Respect Your Elders – every part, Skeleton Crew 1 – the whole movie.
PHOTOGRAPGH TAKEN BY JOEL FRASER
snowboarder. Chris Cloud grew up ditching the Seattle rain by haunting the indoor skateboard parks and skiing, yes skiing, Summit West at Snoqualmie Pass. However, it only took one turn on a snowboard to convert him to the ranks of sideways standers. These days he spends his time bouncing back and forth between coffee shops in Seattle, working as a digger at High Cascade and taking park laps at Brighton.
WORDS BY MARK SEGUIN
Seattle has gifted Utah (and the world) some pretty cool things: good coffee, good music and now, another highly talented
HI THERE
JEREMY THORNBURG WORDS BY DANIEL COCHRANE PHOTOGRAPGH TAKEN BY BEN BIRK
You may not know the name Jeremy Thornburg but if I said “Jerm from Lick The Cat” a little light bulb would probably go off over
your head. DIY is a huge aspect to snowboarding and that also includes the filming of snowboarding. Jerm began his film career a few years ago when bought a handycam and started filming. “I just started making videos with funny songs and shitty snowboarding and that’s kinda how it all started,” says Jerm. Well it is definitely working out well for both he and the entire LTC crew. After the success of a few self-made movies (Spring Break 1&2) Jerm and the crew have recently found themselves on trips sponsored by Snowboarder Magazine, at Superpark, and this summer with their own signature session at HCSC. Jerm says the LTC crew is just a bunch of friends having fun, snowboarding, and partying. I don’t think anyone that sees any of Jerm’s edits could disagree with that.
Name: Jeremy Thornburg Age: 19 Hometown: Park City Current Projects: It is going to be a surprise In the gear bag: HVX and a Handycam School or Self Taught: Self taught, usually winging it YouTube helps and I also learned stuff from friends. Favorite projects you've worked on: Spring Break the Movie 1 & Spring Break the Movie 2 Describe your process for making an edit: I try to keep it simple, film for a few days, find a hot track to use, and then just put it all together. It usually works out. What other mediums do you like to work in?: Instagram. Favorite filmers/photographers/artists (in any industry): Pat Raichur is my favorite filmer.
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THE GRAPHIC STORY
Snowboarding is full of stories that, if you’ve been around it for any length of time, get you smirking
The “Happy Hour” has been in K2’s lineup for a few years now and has is pretty self explanatory theme: a great all around board, visually pleasing graphics and good times. K2 recognized Steven’s ability to convey a novel’s worth of words with a single image. His work also happens to mesh well with the desired theme: “I shoot what I love... bikes, booze, babes, and open roads.” After spending countless hours perusing his archives, Steven and K2 settled on a handful of images they felt conveyed the message appropriately. While the topsheet of each deck in the lineup is clean and richly colored, the base graphics are where these snowboards truly stand out visually. Raw yet composed, classic and gritty photos ranging from the mysterious warmth of a beautiful woman to the solitude of the open road, each one tells a story about an unforgettable moment in time without using a single word. Just like a proud parent, Steven proclaims to love each one, although, he admits he has a favorite, and his reasoning is right on point: “I'm probably most partial to the 161 with the open freeway shot. It's simple, it's clean, and it kinda represents everything I love about my job, my life, and why I do what I do. And it's probably the most universally relevant image for any kid buying snowboards... we're all out there, lookin' for somethin'. Open roads clear our heads and help us find it.”
WORDS BY MARK SEGUIN IMAGES PROVIDED BY K2 SNOWBOARDS
and nodding in agreement. Tales of white knuckle AK lines, sketchy street missions, endless road trips and unforgettable parties are just a few examples. Needless to say, there are plenty of good times to be had in this industry. It is also full of unique people who tell these stories. Steven Stone is one of those individuals; though his stories are not told with words. “I love things to be technically proper, I love photography as a craft; but more than anything, I love making images that tell a story”. Inspired to pick up a camera by legends Andy Wright and Rob Mathis, Steven’s work eventually transcended the world of snow and skate, though his presence in those worlds still abounds.
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PHOTOGRAPGH TAKEN BY BRYCE PACKHAM
JACKET: 686 Smarty Command ($240)
AGE: 26 STANCE: Regular, 23” HEIGHT: 5’10” HOME MOUNTAIN: Brighton FAVORITE UTAH SPOT: My bed FAVORITE SPOT TO EAT AFTER RIDING: Spedelli’s WHICH ONE OF YOUR VIDEO PARTS IS YOUR FAVORITE: Probably Vacation. Had a lot of fun that year. WHO IS IN YOUR CREW: The Beergoons, anybody that’s cool. SPONSORS: Endeavor, 686, Airhole, Electric, Recess
INTERVIEW BY DANIEL COCHRANE
//
PHOTOS BY SEAN K. SULLIVAN AND JOEL FRASER
I
first met Cocard a few years back when he was in town filming with Absinthe for Resonance. We were both at Spedellis and I passed off the Cale Zima issue of Arkade to him. Well a few years later we have come full circle and now I sit down with Cocard for his own Arkade interview. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with him a few other times and he seems like a pretty low-key guy. Of course if you see his video parts starting with DOA and going through the last few years with Absinthe you know his riding is anything but low-key. Cocard is the new breed of snowboarder. He’s not big mountain, he’s not a jumper, he’s not a rail kid, and he’s not a pow slasher. Instead he is ALL of these things rolled into one; in short he’s a snowboarder. He is able to get shots on any of the terrain mentioned above and then some. Sometimes before an interview I shoot a text to guys and ask them if there is anything specific they would like to talk about. Cocard’s reply was “movies, music, booze, girls etc.” It was that point that I knew this was going to be fun. Arkade: What’s up Brandon? How are you doing? Cocard: I’m doing well! Just hanging out at our house in Portland. Arkade: How has Portland treated you this summer? Cocard: It’s good, actually I haven’t been around too much but whenever I am its nice to just chill. Arkade: For sure. Portland is pretty chill in the summer, but just a bit too rainy in winter. Cocard: Yes it’s starting now. Its been raining for the last couple of days.
SEAN K. SULLIVAN PHOTO
Arkade: We got our first valley snow here this week.
Cocard: Snow in the city!? Arkade: Yeah, but not enough to do anything with. There is a good bit in the mountains though. Cocard: Nice! Arkade: So let’s start going down your list, what was first? Music? No, movies, movies were first right? Cocard: Hell yeah! Arkade: Well what’s up on the movie front? You must be a movie kind of guy to put that on your list. Cocard: Well, tis this season for me because I’m kind of a horror movie buff.
Arkade: Oh yeah? Cocard: Yeah, so like all of October it’s an awesome time to watch movies. Arkade: Ok, so what kind of horror movies are you in to? Like gory slasher flicks or the kind that screw with your head? Cocard: I’m not really into the gore, like gore porn, movies that are super crazy just because of the special effects, or like people being tortured and stuff. I like classic horror. Classic slasher films are good but I’m mostly into things that creep you out with cinematography and good stories. You know like I’m big into ghost stories I like that style. Arkade: There’s a rad movie on Netflix called “The Awakening” have you seen that one? Cocard: I haven’t seen that one, no. Arkade: It’s pretty good. You should definitely check it out. It is one of those suspense type movies where it keeps you guessing until the end. Cocard: That’s cool when movies do that. Like dude I loved “The Shining”. Any kind of ghost story like that. I watched “The Ring” the other night, that movie still messes me up. Arkade: Do you watch the original Korean one or the U.S. remake? Cocard: Remake, I watched it for Halloween. I recently saw one called “The Conjuring” and it’s a new movie but it is done in a classic style. It’s genuinely creepy… scary as shit. Arkade: I’ll check it out. I’m not into ghosts in “real life” that shit freaks me out, but I’m down for ghosts in movies to scare me. Cocard: Well I think that’s why I enjoy ghost movies. I’m genuinely scared out of my mind when I watch movies like that. Other ones, like slasher films, are more funny to me. Like I’m yelling, “don’t go in that door!” Arkade: The ones that definitely get me are the ones that mess with your head. Like I go to work at 3 a.m. and its all dark and I’m like “What was that noise?” Cocard: Oh for sure. Those definitely play into your environment too. Maybe ghost stories get me because I grew up in a big house that was in the woods. You’d hear the wind and trees against the window. So like for you being out super early in the morning you start thinking about that. So what is scary is different for everybody, but it always exploits everyone’s natural fears, which is what I like about them. Arkade: So what about your girl? Is she into them? Cocard: Oh dude she hates scary movies. She has been watching with me anyways. Yeah dude I have to always hold her hands so when scary parts happen she doesn’t punch me in the head or anything. Arkade: So how deep does it go? Do you have all kinds
SEAN K. SULLIVAN PHOTO
SEAN K. SULLIVAN PHOTO
of like horror movie stuff or do you just keep it low key and watch the movies and stuff?
Cocard: Yeah I saw some photos online. That should be sweet. I think they fucked up when they made Dumb and Dumberer …
Cocard: I’m just into the movies. The whole Halloween time of year is great.
Arkade: Just trying to get that money…
Arkade: Well there’s not really that many Thanksgiving horror films so I guess you’re done for a while. Cocard: Yeah, exactly. Well see Thanksgiving for me was like we’d go to my grandmothers and there wasn’t a lot to do there and she had two movies; Terminator 2 and Dumb and Dumber. So those are Thanksgiving movies for me and I get stoked to watch them this time of year because it reminds me of grandma’s house. Arkade: They are making another Dumb and Dumber.
Cocard: For sure but getting the original cast together it should be sweet. Arkade: When you’re out on filming trips do you make people watch your horror movies? Cocard: Nah, usually we just surf the T.V. and hope we get lucky. Even Cale (Zima) is like crazy about movies. Like he says he buys four or five a month and he’s been doing that for years. You go to his house and it’s like so many movies there. On tour when we chill at a hotel or whatever and just scan the T.V. and see what movies are on. Sometimes we get lucky and get some classic Jim Carey.
SEAN K. SULLIVAN PHOTO
Arkade: So what’s up with you and music? Most people probably don’t know this but I was watching “Respect Your Elders” the other day and noticed you had music credit for the film. What’s the story with that? Cocard: Yeah. We had this awesome opportunity. Usually a lot of a films budget goes to buying music rights so instead of doing that we decided to spend half of that money and get studio time. We went into the studio and made that whole soundtrack. Arkade: And then your Beastie cover at the end of Absinthe’s Dopamine this year.. Cocard: Haha yeah. I was surprised. I didn’t know Justin (Hostynek) was going to use it. That recording was done at (Absinthe filmer) Shane
Charlebois’ house at like 3 a.m. he had heard me play that and he was like “dude let me record that” and I was drunk enough to agree and it just kind of happened. Then when it was in the end credits of the movie that was a major surprise to me. Arkade: How has filming with Absinthe been? Dopamine is your second film with them, right? Cocard: Yeah Resonance and then Dopamine last season and it was one of my best seasons for sure. Arkade: Absinthe is a pretty big deal; your only other part was in Defenders of awesome. Did you feel any pressure going in to Resonance or did you just do your thing and let the chips fall where they may? How did you approach it?
SEAN K. SULLIVAN PHOTO
Cocard: At first I felt a bunch of pressure because I didn’t know what to expect. Like for me I’d always followed the movies and been a huge fan and it definitely messed with my head a bit. I thought “Man I’m jumping in with one if the gnarliest crews in snowboarding. How is this gonna go? How am I gonna fit in?” Then from, day one I just felt comfortable and that made it easier to work and get shots. It ended up easy to jump in because they were all easy to work with. Arkade: They really are. Justin and Shane too are both two of the most genuine guys in snowboarding. Cocard: Yeah Shane kind of took me under his wing and he taught me so much about snowboarding over the past two years just hanging out with him.
Arkade: So this year new Capita movie right? Cocard: Yep. New Capita film. Arkade: That’ll be cool “Getting the gang back together!” Cocard: Haha yes it is like getting the gang back together. Defenders was my first real film project. The first time I dedicated all my footage to one project. DOA was a blast so I’m totally looking forward to this season. Arkade: I’m sure everybody will be looking forward to that movie. Cocard: For sure, haha.
and start talking to them and they buy us shots. Then like the next thing you know I am HAMMERED. I was like “fuck I got to go home” and my girl was already out. I was on the verge of being out too and was wondering if I could even make the walk home. It was so sudden and I don’t know if we were drugged or roofied or what but I always imagined that’s what it was like. We were totally chill and then all of a sudden it was just like “whoa”. So the bar is by the house and we start to walk home and we both black out on the way. Like I woke up the next day and like had on different clothes. She was out on the bed I was out on the couch and there were like beers there I didn’t remember drinking. Dude it was such a mystery. After that I was like yeah I’m done I need to be more careful haha. Arkade: Yeah that’s sketchy. Cocard: Yeah sketchy for sure. Like you always hear about that happening but all of a sudden it became a reality. You have to watch your back in sketchy bars. So now I don’t try too hard to “go get wasted” and when it happens it’s more by accident. Arkade: I’m old; I keep it low key too. Maybe the Absinthe premiere after party or the big industry Halloween party that Amber Pena throws every year, but other than that I’m pretty low key. Cocard: Yeah it’s a fine line between cutting loose with everybody, and also keeping a level of sanity. The booze can get the best of you so fast and next thing you know you’re not even yourself haha. Arkade: So I guess at this point you’re just waiting on the snow to start the filming? Cocard: Yeah I’m pretty much ready now to you know hit the road and start the adventure. Arkade: Is it still like that for you? Are you hyped every fall to get going again? Like I know a lot of guys that finish up filming in the spring and toss the gear away and never really think of riding again until the snow starts coming down. Cocard: Oh for sure October and November are definitely the two months that you just like anticipate it the most. September you know you can still get your summer on but come October 1st I’m usually ready to go. I think once you step away from snowboarding it’s easy to get out of that mindset. Some people for whatever reason get jaded and step away but that makes it difficult to get back in it you know. Everybody that’s ever snowboarded and loves it kind of becomes a fanatic about it. You just need to keep the stoke in the summer at Hood or wherever. There you can still fish and skate and do all that fun summer stuff but you still get to snowboard too. When you have snowboarding year round it is a blessing for sure. Arkade: Well let’s get back to the list … booze what about the booze. I guess we know now it gets you singing but does it get you in trouble at times?
Arkade: We go every year to Hood just for a few days and it is so awesome. Like not even trying to do anything more than just being up there and being so stoked that it’s August.
Cocard: Nah not really. Like from here out I’m really expecting to play pinball at the bars. I have a bit of a pinball addiction so I’ll go to the bars for that and drink a few beers and have a good time. Actually the other day my girlfriend and me went to Buffalo Exchange because we just moved into this apartment and we have a bunch of stuff. She works for a snowboard company, and I ride for a bunch of companies so we had all these clothes we don’t wear anymore. So we go to Buffalo Exchange, get a couple extra bucks, and we are like “Well let’s stop at the bar” and we stop at this bar called “Barebones”. So we are playing pinball, drinking just hanging out and the next thing you know we meet these older guys, and one was being kinda creepy on my girl so that was weird. So I step in
Cocard: Yeah, exactly. Just being out on the mountain in great weather with a bunch of cool people is amazing. Arkade: Cobra Dogs! Cocard: ALWAYS Cobra Dogs! Arkade: So Capita vid, two years with Absinthe and now another Capita vid... that’s a long time to let Cale Zima ride on your coattails... Actually scratch that. Since we are talking let’s just embarrass Cale. Do you have a good Cale Zima story?
Cocard: A Cale Zima story? Yeah I got one from Switzerland. I t was the last day of us trying that super long rail. Cale came off early, and this is actually in Dopamine, but he goes into the staircase and whacks his head super hard. I saw him waiting at the bottom and was just like ‘oh no” but then I also had it in the back of my mind that it’s Cale and I know he’ll be alright. So I ran to the bottom and he was super out of it for a while. He definitely hit his head pretty hard and probably had a concussion but he came back into it and started being Cale again so we were like “we dodged a bullet there”. So we call the shoot and go back to the house we were staying at. Anyway we go out to this contest and meet a bunch of people and start drinking and were telling Cale you know you shouldn’t be drinking but of course it all started happening and we were all a bad influence. Anyone it was one of those nights you know and I woke up the next day with the worst headache of my life. The dude that we were staying with his name was DayDay. (Arkade note; after conferring later with Zima we couldn’t decide on how DayDay’s name was spelled. So we went with the phonetic spelling which we are almost 100% sure is wrong) DayDay comes walking through the living room, and he speaks very little English but he just looks at me saying “blood?” So DayDay is just tracking this trail of blood that goes from his front door through the house. We follow it and it goes all the way to Cale’s door. We just like “what the hell happened to Cale?” So I try to remember if he came home with me or what and I’m pretty sure we had gotten separated. We still don’t really know exactly what happened but Cale had these huge cuts on his hands. So there’s blood all over the house and we are trying to put together the pieces and Cale is no help at all. He was so out of it still; he had no idea what happened. What we think happened was there was this “shortcut” to the house that involved a barbed wire fence and Cale must have taken the short cut and wrestled the barbed wire fence. I was pretty bad at watching Cale’s back that night. That might not be that great of a story but it was crazy. There was blood everywhere and Cale was sick as shit. Cale didn’t leave the bed for like two days and I don’t think he even ate anything. He was the most hung over I had ever seen. Arkade: Cale will appreciate that. Cocard: Haha Arkade: So you said your girl works for a snowboard company who does she work for? Cocard: She is a rep for Ride. Arkade: Does that make your relationship easy? Because she totally understands how your world works? Cocard: Yeah. I met her during the spring at Superpark. Me and lots of dudes were camped down by the river in Bend Oregon, and one of my friends invited her down because she was the only girl at camp. We met there and she started telling me this story of how she was travelling the U.S. over the summer on this whole soul searching kind of trip. So I was kind of into it and the next day she stuck around and wanted to hang out and then after Superpark she came up to Portland for “a couple days” and that turned into about a month. So after that time she was like “ok I want to continue my trip” and the whole thing sounded rad. Like drive across the country with no plans, staying with friends, and just be on the road. That was something I immediately identified with from snowboarding where you just put yourself out there and see what happens. So she invited me and that’s what I spent the rest of the summer doing; driving the country and camping out of the back of her truck. We did the whole east coast from Maine to Florida. We cut through the south and neither of us had been on a road trip like that. At the end of the road trip we just kind of looked at each other and were like “well we didn’t kill each other all summer” so just decided to be together.
JOEL FRASER PHOTO
JOEL FRASER PHOTO
JOEL FRASER PHOTO
Arkade: Dude that is rad. Cocard: Yeah. Arkade: So what did you think about The South, I’m from Alabama but don’t worry you won’t offend me at all haha. Cocard: The South was awesome but we did end up hitting every more liberal minded city; Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin. All the really laid back places. It was sick we had such a good time. I really enjoyed New Orleans. We didn’t want to be like those super drunken French Quarter Tourists with the plastic drinks but of course next thing you know were wasted in New Orleans. Arkade: That city is crazy. That French Quarter is a free for all. They just kind of block it off and let people go ape-shit pretty much all year round. Cocard: Yeah. Were staying in this three-story art studio off Bourbon Street that was her friends. We pretty much had it to ourselves. Next thing you know we are roof hopping and tossing bricks through abandoned buildings it was one of the funnest things I’ve ever done. The city has really come back since the hurricane, but there is still large parts that are just abandoned and it really was kind of a free for all. Arkade: That sounds like an awesome summer. Cocard: It was a great summer for sure. I was never around Portland and I think that is really what I needed to hang out and not think about shit back home and just be in the moment. Arkade: So now that the season is here are you the kind of rider that sets goals for yourself?
Cocard: I don’t set concrete goals, but I do have ideas of what I’d like to do. Like doing this with you guys is one of those things, getting a feature in a magazine, so I’m really stoked on that. Obviously film and stack tricks but as far as planning tricks or spots I don’t do that. I just have loose ideas in my head of where I want to be this time next year. Loose goals, nothing specific, but just plans you now. I know some guys have spot lists and trick lists and that is so had to plan like that and I feel like it is almost limiting yourself to do that. Arkade: I feel you and that’s a good way to approach it because you don’t get so upset when every little thing doesn’t go as planned. Cocard: Yeah totally. Keep it open, no real plans, but lots of ideas. Arkade: Well good luck with it and I’m sure it will turn out awesome this year. Cocard: Thanks and I’ll be in Salt Lake a lot this season and looking forward to seeing you guys. Arkade: Yeah man we are always around. Let’s go get some Spedellis and beers. Cocard: For sure. Arkade: Any last words? Cocard: I’m glad this is actually happening and its rad. Thanks to you guys at Arkade for giving me some words, and to all my sponsors and I can’t wait for the season to get going.
BRANDON
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R: CHRIS BERESFORD L: RED MOUNTAIN, BC P: TIM ZIMMERMAN
R: JUSTIN BENNEE L: PROVO, UT P: ANDY WRIGHT
R: NICK RUSSELL L: ALASKA P: ANDREW MILLER
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R: ANDREW BREWER L: DENVER, CO P: E-STONE
P: CAM PIERCE L: SLC, UT P: BOB PLUMB
HIGH FIVE
F
orrest is always down for an adventure. It doesn’t matter if it's in the ocean, the Mountains or anywhere in between. He's driven to explore this planet and inspire others along the way. Forrest has been ripping for years. When he came out and stomped Chad's gap, second try, in crappy snow, 10 years ago... that was insane. Nowadays he's out with the likes of Jeremy Jones, exploring the mountains around the globe on the endless search for big lines. Forrest is tapped in to programs and groups of great minds that are educating people about taking care of our planet, making a difference and living consciously... that is rad. He's living by example and a great guy to go on any adventure with.
1. Tell us about your roots. Where are you from? Roots run deep. The snowboarding history in Utah is rich with rad stories of shredders that carved paths for myself and future generations. I was born in the ocean and moved to the mountains to live the dream. Do whatever I have to do to ride every day. 2. How did you get in to snowboarding? Through skateboarding and surfing. It was a natural progression 3. What made you pick Utah? The snow and the mountains for sure. I like the vibe here. In the whole grand scheme of things, the options are endless. Whatever you want to ride, there's a spot for it. 4. Where are you planning to go on your snowboard? Where ever my snowboard takes me. I want to be spontaneous and do what the mountains tell me to. If avalanche conditions are gnarly I'm going to pull back and ride the trees in some mellower terrain. If its prime out and the stars align anything is possible. There are still a lot of places out there in Utah and around the world to explore and tap in to big lines. 5. How do you make a difference, and what can people do to help? Be part of the solution not the problem. Live by example. There will be plenty of snow in my lifetime but will it be around for kids growing up? I don't know. The world is filled with forward thinkers; I think the future is bright in terms of protecting our winters. Support renewables like solar and wind power and start moving away from coal fired power plants that contribute to global warming. Speak to our senators in Utah. We need to speak up and as a whole our voice is huge. There are lots of little things we can do which you probably already know about but just try and live in moderation. We only have one planet we don't need to waste it. We need to make a change, our time is now.
WORDS BY SHANE CHARLEBOIS PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW MILLER
TALKIN’ SHOP
T
he snowboarding community is tightly knit one. Small, passionate shred communities are the backbone of our industry. Even at the global level, it feels like six degrees of separation is actually closer to one or two. So it should come as no surprise that a small town shred scene can feel a lot like family. That sentiment is exactly what the Cache Valley skate and snow shop, Directive, has built their business and reputation on. According to shop owner, Zach Shepherd: “We have the ability to really connect with the community. Cache Valley is so tight knit that you start to know everyone. Most of our customers become friends.” From the early days of doing business out of the basement of a ski and bike shop, they have come a long way. In 2003, Directive was born. No longer stuck in the basement, the shop continued to grow. Zach has been part of Directive since the basement days and when the previous owners decided it was time to move on, he took over stewardship in 2008. More recently, to keep up with the growth of the business, Directive has moved into an excellent new space, double the size of the previous location. Part of that upgrade is a gallery/café right next door, called The Weekend. Aesthetically, the shop is somewhere between modern and retro. With a nearly completely glass storefront, it is easy to see the clean layout of the
shop. This growth would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Zach and his crew; however, they firmly deflect the credit to the loyalty of the Logan locals. “The store has always had a good following but there are definitely those who make it a priority to rep the shop. Most of the shops’ success comes from them; the shop wouldn't be here without them.” Loyalty doesn’t stop with the customers, however. The Directive team is made up of people who are fully committed to the shop. “I don't care how good they are. Everyone has to come up through the ranks, and being a shop rat is definitely the first step.” Though Logan, Utah might not have as large of snowboarding population as other places in Utah, the passion they have for snowboarding and community up north more than makes up for any deficit in numbers. Zach summed up that passion pretty well: “Logan is rad! The backcountry here is probably the best in Utah and there's always freshies if you know where to look. Also, the Logan skate park is tight, you never have to push.”
WORDS BY MARK SEGUIN
PHOTO BY ZACH SHEPHERD
Shaun McKay P: Jesse “Wet Rat” Johnson
(MY RESORT) ALEX ANDREWS
POWDER MOUNTAIN
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owder Mountain is THE hidden Utah gem, and no matter how much people talk about the mountain it still seems empty every time you pull into the parking lot. Locals will tell you of fresh tracks days, even weeks, after a storm and it is true. All told when you include Cat Touring, Powder Country, and lift accessed terrain Powder Mountain covers 7000 acres with only four lifts and a rope tow. Let me put that in writing one more time so it can sink in … 7000 acres with four lifts and a rope tow. Powder Mountain is obviously well named. Alex Andrews was lucky enough to grow up in this northern Utah paradise and we sat with him to reminisce about those days… I feel so fortunate to have had Powder Mountain in my backyard growing up. I started snowboarding their in 1996, my uncle was a shop tech for years, and I spent most my youth shredding their. I wouldn't be the rider I am today without Pow Mow! Old School vibe, Amazing snow, and the funnest side hits. - Alex Andrews. How was it coming up at Powder Mountain vs. some of the other Utah resorts that get more “industry attention”? It was good and bad; Good because the terrain makes you a strong rider, who appreciates all types of shredding. Also the people who work and ride there have such a positive mindset and that really makes you appreciate your time in the mountains. Bad because it's hard to leave that place! Powder Mountain is well known for having fresh powder days after a storm. What are some of your favorite spots to hit for “left overs”?
Wouldn't you like to know... It is the truth though! Powder Country or Cat Riding? Cat Riding for sure, but both are amazing, I just love James peak and Lightning ridge. Have you ever seen a crowded day at Powder Mountain or maybe better yet can you describe a “crowded “ day at Powder Mountain? Presidents' Day is crowded everywhere, other than that it's always pretty mellow... Hopefully it stays that way... In your opinion what is the best thing about Powder Mountain? The vibe no question, the vibe of Pow Mow is my favorite thing. Honestly it’s like the movie Out Cold ha-ha. Locals, good times, and good snow. Last thing after you're done getting pitted at Pow Mow, you have to stop by a place called the shooting star saloon, they have the coldest beer, the best burger and its the oldest bar west of the Mississippi, nuff said. WORDS BY DANIEL COCHRANE ALEX ANDREWS PHOTO BY DALLAS CASEY POWDER MTN. PHOTOS BY ANDREW MILLER
INSTAHAMS
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LAST CALL
Twhohisyouyear,ask)thehave 25th of October marked quite a big anniversary for partygoers of Salt Lake City. Yes, for the past decade now, Utah’s finest (depending been coming together for the city’s annual Halloween Party. Nike Snowboarding, through the hands of Amber Peña, took charge of
the event’s 10th anniversary, creating an unprecedented buzz that no one could’ve predicted. The speculations and planning started almost instantly. “I wonder how many Miley’s were gonna see?” “You better not go in that dumb 70’s disco outfit again!” “How big do you think it’ll be this time?” This year’s venue, Metro Bar, was a packed house by 10pm, all 700+ guests fighting to get their hands on a PBR Tall Boy, or whatever was even left at that point. DJ Matty Mo had some help from Nike’s own DJ Justin Bennee, and together the duo killed it, despite the lack of personal dance-favorite, Bubble Butt. As expected, we did see a portrayal of our favorite half-naked twerk queen, however outside of that, guests seemed to get a bit creative with their attire. Tim Kronenberg from SLUG showed us his take on a “Sexy Heisenberg” and Justin Bennee came as a Juggalo, something that I wrongly assumed we’d just all erased from our minds. Chris Grenier gave us a taste of SLCPD and Stevie Bell kept it simple with a soccer jersey aptly reading “Bell”. Some of our other favorites included a trio of Taco Bell sauce packets, a human version of Cast Away’s Wilson, and Always Sunny’s Frank (Danny Devito), a weirdly accurate portrayal by a pregnant woman I might add. As the night came to a close, beer-stained, sweat-drenched patrons funneled out, leaving 2nd South with a stampede of faces looking bummed it was over. I’m assuming it was that, or maybe it was just all the alcohol catching up with them. Altogether, the Nike Halloween Party hands down lived up to it’s hype. Rumors even have it that next years is already in the works. Do I hear Energy Solutions Arena maybe? No, not at all, but wherever it may be, I can assure you it will be Salt Lake’s party of the year.
WORDS BY ZACH FRAGER
PHOTOS BY CHRIS BRUNSTETTER & PAUL BUNDY
Team Rider TYLER MORTON
Snowboarders serving snowboarders since 1987. We have gear you won’t find anyplace else!
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