CON TENTS
Rider: Alex Rodway Brighton, Utah Photographed by Ben Girardi
10 OPENING ACT 12 CONTRIBUTORS 16 COVER STORY 18
ORIGINS: NOW BINDINGS
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CHARACTERS: NICO NOLAN
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GRAPHIC STORY: PUBLIC SNOWBOARDS
24 PRODUCT TOSS 26-34 SHOOTING GALLERY 38-44
TRAVEL: JAPAN
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ART: ANDY EARL
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INTERVIEW: MIKE RAV
66 SOUND CHECK 68 INSTAHAM 70 END CREDITS
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OPENING ACT
Rider: Bryan Fox & Curtis Ciszek Brighton Backcountry, UT Photographed by Bob Plumb
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Eleven years in any form is a long time, but in snowboarding it is pretty much an eternity. The snowboarding world has changed a lot since 2005 when Bryan Fox’s video parts were more rails than pow, and Curtis Ciszek was still three years away from making his first major video appearance in Down With People. Stances were wide, neon was making its second (or third we’ve lost count) comeback, and Arkade magazine was first hitting the shops of Salt Lake City. In those eleven years SLC’s place as snowboard scene “it” destination has come, gone, and come again yet we’ve always been here to carry the torch. Some of our first readers are now taking their own kids to their favorite Utah resort, and Arkade is still there in the magazine stand waiting for them. It’s been a long ride, a fun ride, and to be frank, at times, a tough ride. Let’s be honest, the past eleven years haven’t been kind to print, but we aren’t giving up. What you hold in your hand is magic, a snapshot of this moment in snowboarding. Hold it, treasure it, share it, save it or cut out the pictures and put them on your wall, your call. The torch is still lit, and the fire burns brighter than ever. Where it will lead no one really knows, but rest assured we will be there to cover it. Welcome to volume 11. - Daniel Cochrane
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CONTRIB UTORS
ANDY WRIGHT
Photographer - @andywrightphoto
Printed snowboard media is sadly becoming an endangered relic of the past. There is no greater thrill for a photographer to see their work preserved in print. Almost every rider will agree. I’m happy to have been a contributor to Arkade from day one, and have nothing but respect for the all of the blood, sweat and tears Paul and his crew have endured to keep this magazine going.
BOB PLUMB
Photographer - @bobplumbphoto
What can I say? Photography and snowboarding have been one of the greatest gifts a person could have. They have taken me all around the world. Allowed me to experience many different cultures. See the world from a different perspective. They have given me some of my best friends. Created many life long memories. This has shaped me into who I am today. My grandpa Plumb told me “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” He was telling the truth!
BEN GIRARDI Photographer - @bengirardi
After borrowing a camera in high school I started shooting my friends snowboarding. I fell in love with capturing action and analyzed the images in every magazine, trying to improve my technique. I studied photography at RIT and moved to Salt Lake after graduating. After four years in Utah, my love of pillows and maple syrup drew me to Canada. I recently became a Canadian Permanent Resident and am now based in Whistler, but can be found chasing winter around the world.
JOSH RUGGLES Writer - @rugglesworth
I’m Josh and I guess you could say I’m a storyteller of sorts. After watching Dan Brisse’s part in Now/ Here, I realized I wasn’t going pro anytime soon, or ever. So I went with option two: to write words about the shred. I’ve had the chance to interview some of the best snowboarders in the world, and many of the most influential brands. When I’m not burning through midnight oil and Red Bull while writing about the snowboard industry, you can find me in search of the white room.
JACOB MALENICK Writer - @thewolftheory
My roots in snowboarding grew from the icy hills of Minnesota to the slopes of Steamboat Springs, CO before finding a home in the chosen land of Salt Lake City. Besides a healthy-ish obsession with Lego, I possess an undying love for art, design, music, travel, and snowboarding and am currently pursuing my passions as a Freelance Graphic Designer & Illustrator under the moniker The Wolf Theory.
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GOOD TO GO SINCE ‘92
COVER STORY
Written by Jacob Malenick Photograph by Andy Wright Haines, AK
Patience is a virtue people, and while the 5-second attention spans of today may not understand patience, it’s undeniable that pros on Dan Brisse’s level and photographers of Andy Wright’s caliber are among the virtuous. What many don’t realize is that while photos like this may only take a couple of attempts to capture, the process of getting the shot is where those without patience would never prevail. “It took days of building, waiting for weather, getting our guides on board with the plan,” comments Andy Wright, “but when the actual snowboarding started, it was a couple tries.” Many of us who possess sub-par photography skills may not know exactly what goes into setting up for a shot like this, so take notes all you aspiring lens men and women as Andy describes the experience; “The planning for the angles of shooting took a while and a lot of negotiating with guides and heli pilots. The optimal angle was on an exposed slope, below a cornice, and the guides weren’t having it. We got the heli pilot to hover close to this position and shot from there, but it was really tricky to hold the right altitude and be at the proper angle so you could see the gap. I ended up getting a few good ones from here and had them drop me at the top and I rode into the side angle that definitely shows the gap the best, but was sketchy because the lip was set back from the edge and it was risky missing the peak of the
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air. The shot here was the first and only good one I got from this angle. Dan popped up super big on this go and the 2 or 3 other tries I shot after this nothing worked.” This aerial maneuver was on a mission n orth to the shred heaven of Haines, AK to shoot for the Union team movie. While Dan Brisse and Torstein Horgmo were the only two hitting this particular jump, vibes were high since, as Brisse mentions, “Gigi, Kazu and Craven were all down below hanging and cheering us on... they were rad to have at the bottom cause they were real pumped on each hit.” While vibes were high with a crew like that in the grand stands, Andy comments, “Mood was all business. Everyone knew this was the last day of the year, and our only chance. The temperature spiked about 30 minutes after we finished and they made us leave the field because it was too dangerous for cornice failures. There was never another day for 2016, they shut down the next day.” To see this photo in all its live action glory, be sure to click over to Union’s website to witness STRONGER. Thankfully everything came together for an amazing movie and photo as Andy sums up, “In hindsight I can’t believe how many things had to come together to get this shot and it was one of those days where it all worked out.”
“..everyone knew this was the last day of the year, and our only chance.”
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ORIGINS
Written by Josh Ruggles Photographed by Chad Chomlack
Now Bindings
How JF Pelchat Changed the Future It was only about 10 years ago when business was booming and everyone was getting, oh so paid. Kids with talent and drive could find themselves traveling the world and getting paychecks that would put their parents salary to shame. Now that most of the big corporations have pulled stakes and their billions of dollars, the story is a bit different. Some of the best snowboarders in the world who had been living the dream a few short years ago can now be found doing anything from handyman odd jobs to selling real estate. Then there are those who started their own companies within the industry—fighting to thrive ever since. And even fewer are those who altered the industry by making everyone take a step back and rethink what they’re doing. JF Pelchat is among the latter. As owner and inventor of NOW Bindings, JF created not just another rider-owned brand, but a new line of thinking when it comes to strapping in. Four years in, his company is stronger than ever, and if being imitated by others is the best form of flattery, then JF should be feeling pretty honored, and, or pissed right now. The funny thing about those biting NOW’s design now is that they likely had their chance to be a part of the real deal over eight years ago. “I had spent a few years working on the design, testing prototypes. I started to show people and tried to get funding around 2008,” JF says. “I took it to everyone. DC was really on board with the idea, but in 2008, the stock market crashed and that ended up not happening.” At the time, the binding industry had gone largely unchanged since the highback was created. JF had the idea of creating a binding that felt more fluid transferring edge-to-edge, and he kept coming back to the feeling of turning on a skateboard. “When you turn on a skateboard, you’re pivoting on the kingpin of the trucks and that’s what makes it feel so natural,” explains JF. “I thought if I could replicate that feeling in a binding, it could make more natural transition from edge to edge.” So, as with any startup, he began in his garage. Hundreds of dismantled binding parts Frankensteined into dozens of prototypes later, he had something. “At first, I came up with the hangar and kingpin design, but when I tested it, it would almost throw you down with how well it worked switching edges— that’s when I took another idea from skateboard trucks and added
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bushings to dampen energy when changing edges,” he says. “After adding bushings, I was like, ‘Holy shit, this is it.’” To make sure he wasn’t crazy, JF asked for some feedback from some of his friends—but unlike most peoples friends, JF’s happen to be some of the best riders in the world, including big mountain legend Jeremy Jones, Devun Walsh and the YES. Snowboards crew (DCP, Romain DeMarchi and JP Solberg). The responses from all of them confirmed it, his binding was the best they had ridden and it was about to change the game—not to mention he had just recruited a dream team of world-class shreds. And because YES. boards were being built by Nidecker, he joined their family of brands, and he finally had the backing he needed to bring the future of snowboarding: NOW. “When I was thinking of what it would be called, I really liked what DCP and those guys did with the name YES.,” JF notes. “I wanted something simple that also was very positive, active and current,” JF notes. “NOW is in the present. It’s active and short, and it says something about the brand.”
“I don’t want to make something unless it’s going to be great.” For his first production model, NOW’s initial public offering was named just that: the IPO. Now in its fourth year, they’ve added 10 products to the line, including a Jeremy Jones pro model called the Drive by JJ and two women’s models. And while there are plenty of asks for more products and product lines, JF has always been perfectly comfortable doing things his way, and he’s only making what he can put his heart and soul into. “I love every model that we make, I can’t really pick a favorite, because they’re all different and amazing in their own way,” he says. “We get people asking us to do entry-level, low-budget products all the time, but I’m not really interested in making a cheap binding, because cheap bindings are usually just shit. I don’t want to make something unless it’s going to be great.”
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CHAR ACTERS
Written by Daniel Cochrane Photographed by Steven Stone
Nico Nolan Nico Nolan is a man reborn, intent on making the most of second maybe even third chances. In many ways he is completely different from the man I met years ago on the Park City Party Bus after an Absinthe movie premiere. That doesn’t mean Nico isn’t still Nico. He is as opinionated, strong willed, and determined as ever. Now, however, those traits are paired with something new; focus. For Nico it hasn’t come easy, the lessons learned from his self-described, “little rocket ship that almost launched” The Levitation Project came at a hard price. There’s something to be said for learning things the hard way, but only if you’re able to come to grips with it all and somehow make it out on top. Nico and I sat down to talk about his story and somewhere along the way we naturally detoured into talk about the ups and downs of the snowboard industry as a whole. Nico’s story is so intertwined with snowboarding’s story it was a constant shift between personal reflections and industry analysis, but that is as it should be because for Nico life and snowboarding are the same thing. Schweitzer Mountain, just outside of Sandpoint, Idaho, is about fifty miles from the Canadian border, and in the late 80’s it was about a million miles from snowboarding relevancy. However that is where Nico Nolan got his first taste of snowboarding, an outsider from the start. After the family moved to Salt Lake in the early 90’s Nico quickly found his place within the brotherhood of local riders. Friends like Tonino Copene, Brandon Ruff and other Brighton locals were not only constant companions on the hill, but also part of an emerging cadre of riders that were putting Utah on the map. “Ruff was the barometer of what a pro was or should be in Utah. I knew pretty quickly that path was not in my future. I wasn’t going to be professional so I had to figure out other ways to snowboard as much as possible,” says Nico. Like many others Nico took whatever jobs were available to keep him on the snow as much as possible. The jobs ranged from EMT work to seasonal Alaskan fishing, but the lure of snowboarding was too strong for him to solely settle for riding as much as possible, he wanted to participate in the industry as well. Ultimately he decided to pick up a video camera and spent the better part of a decade filming in Alaska. “It was a crazy time,” he recounts “there were seemingly unlimited budgets, and everyone was in it to win it. Looking back we were probably in over our heads, but it was all fun and games until people started dying. At that point I just kind of needed to settle back home, and regroup you know. I have a wife, a daughter Stormy, and I needed to change my focus.” Nico wasn’t the only one going through changes at this time. Snowboarding was entering a rocky period. With bad weather and a bad economy the unlimited budgets were drying up, companies were failing, and the industry was on its heels. It was in those uncertain 20
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times that Nico launched his first venture The Levitation Project. “You know, it was really cool. We had a lot of attention from the industry; it was something that people really wanted to be partnered with, but it just didn’t get off the ground. It was kind of like we had one graduating class, but man all of those people went on to do such amazing things.” Looking back Nico accepts LP’s fate and shoulders the responsibility; “I just couldn’t say no, and that was the downfall. We were trying to do everything, which meant we succeeded at nothing. I was still partying pretty hard too, that of course didn’t help.” It was the bad taste of LP’s demise coupled with a disdain for what snowboarding had become that paved the way for Nico’s newest endeavor DDay Snowboards. Eventual DDay partner Chris Roach was in contact with Nico about the possibility of re-entering the industry, and it was through their conversations that DDay was born. “Roach is one of the originators of style, and here he was barely able to get scraps from the industry he helped create. It’s ridiculous, actually it pissed me off you know. Shit was out of whack; in many ways snowboarding had lost its way, and finally I said to Roach let’s just do our own thing our own way.” With the fire to prove himself after The Levitation Project combined with a vision of an honest snowboarding brand Nico set to work creating DDay. Admittedly he came out of the gate a bit hot (Roach on acid at the TWSnow awards comes to mind), but has since gained a powerful ally, sobriety. “We have an attitude in snowboarding where partying and sending it every night is not only accepted but encouraged, its common place, but at the end of the day it doesn’t make good business sense,” Nico confesses “I just thought is this how we want to represent ourselves and snowboarding?” He also has decided to focus on a single goal, making great snowboards by using the model that made snowboarding great to begin with. “Barfoot, Burton, Sims they all sold boards out of the trunks of their cars, and there is no shame in that. We (snowboarding) need to get back to the basics; support the few remaining true core shops, stop making $1200 snowboards, and invest in the lifeblood of the sport, the snowboarder. We want to roll up to random small resorts, put out the tent, and stoke out the locals.” Nico and crew seem determined to resuscitate snowboarding in one fell swoop by honoring both its pioneers and its new generation. He is a man possessed, full of passion with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear head. He makes no apologies for the rough road he traveled to get to where he is today he just promises to make the best of second chances. Nico Nolan has been reborn, and now he is hell bent on doing the same for snowboarding.
“I was still partying pretty hard too, that of course didn’t help.”
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A GRAPHIC STORY
Written by Jacob Malenick Photos provided by Public Snowboards
Public Snowboards
Josh Manoles is a curb-skatin’ corgi-lovin’ friend maker from Chanhassen, MN, but more pertinently, he’s the Art Director behind the launch of Public Snowboards. With a solid 12 years of art making behind him, including a degree from the prestigious Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Josh was a perfect fit for Public’s first offering. His initial involvement with Public occurred roughly 2 years ago when his good friend from the home hills of Minnesota, Joe Sexton, reached out about the project, “[Joe] had mentioned briefly before that he wanted to do a board brand and had asked me questions about it and wanted me to do a board or two. I told him I was really interested and when the time came around I wanted to be more involved than just two boards, I wanted to take on more of an Art Director role and he was into it. It kinda snowballed from there to where it is now.” “Public imagery is what Public is based off of. It is meant to convey an idea of what the rider and the world around them is about,” Josh begins to explain of the boards’ inspiration. “The first seasons boards are based off of our first two riders, Joe and Darrell. Joe’s board features imagery of his right ear which he went deaf in after slamming really hard a couple years back and the other imagery is more loosely based around texture and images found in public spaces. I pull inspiration from a lot of different sources and I like to create a library of images, scans, and built vector graphics to pull from to build the line with. It varies a lot, like
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sometimes I’ll be interested in digging through boxes of books and sometimes I’ll be more into drawing and turning those into vectors. Then I will show stuff to the guys and explain how I got there and we’ll go back and forth and figure out what they like and what we think works until we have it all dialed. It really comes down to be a team effort in the end for sure.” And with a tight knit team in place with a lifetime’s worth of experience between them, the future is immensely bright for this rider-driven company; “I have really had a good time working on all of it and I am excited to show everyone what we have in store for the future as well!” exclaims Josh before offering a glimpse at the aforementioned bright future. “Next season’s boards are more reflections of the riders and give them a board that they feel speaks of them when seen in public. The line also will feature a more general board series with graphics based off of public signage and symbols. Public can have so many different meanings and sayings that go into it that it really is universal.”
PRODUCT TOSS
Rome Double Agent Splitboard ($679) romesnowboards.com Dakine Poacher Backpack ($185) dakine.com 32 Jones MTB Boots ($599) thirtytwo.com Dragon MountaineerX Sunglasses ($220) dragonalliance.com Karakoram Prime SL Splitboard Bindings ($779) splitboardbindings.com
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T H E
B I N D I N G
I N T R O D U C I N G H E M L O C K
N E W
\
+
E D I T I O N
APRIL
C A M B E R A P R I L
FRANK
W E S T M A R K F R A N K
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P :
P :
s e a n
R ya n
b l a c k
“ H u g g y ”
H u g h e s
SHOOTING GALLERY
ERIK LEON January 2016 - Park City, UT Photo: Andy Wright
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SHOOTING GALLERY
BLAKE PAUL January 2016 - Brighton Backcountry, UT Photo: Bob Plumb
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TYLER NICHOLSON February 2016 - Logan, UT Photo: Ben Girardi
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SHOOTING GALLERY
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CORINNE PASELA
BRYDEN BOWLEY
December 19 2015 - SLC, UT Photo: Cole Atencio
February 2016 - Ogden, UT Photo: Tristan Sadler
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SHOOTING GALLERY
TED BORLAND January 2016 - Snowqualmie, WA Photo: Tim Zimmerman
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PURCHASE YOUR COPY OF RIDE LOCAL FIRST AT CROSSROADS SKATESHOP FEATURING: CODY LEE, BRYDEN BOWLEY, TRISTAN SADLER, CHASE BURCH, ZEKE GREER, TRISTIN HEINER, KC RUSSELL, JAKE FERRELL & SKIER JERRY 251 W 12TH ST OGDEN, UTAH 84404
Pat Sarnacki
@patsnack
Zach Siebert
@zsiebs
Brighton has seen plenty of change over the past 80 years but Milly laps on a powder day will never get old. Thanks for making us Utah's favorite place to ride.
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TRAVEL
Japan
By Darrell Mathes
There are always certain places in the world where you are excited to just strictly snowboard. While every mountain town and urban metropolis have unique things to do that the locals swear by, the main attraction for most trips is snowboarding. But with Japan there is definitely much more. Not only is the snowboarding amazing but everything else that comes with it, besides maybe the beds and the small rooms, feels like another world that’s ripe for exploring. With that mentality in mind, I knew getting the opportunity to head to the North Island with the Vans team was going to be an amazing trip. Being my third time to Japan but first time to the North Island, I knew that even though urban snowboarding was the mission, the culture would prove to be the most memorable. The following photos are from my two week excursion with the best crew in the best place to be.
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BRIGADE WE AR E WE L C OMI N G TH IS FREESTY L E ASS K I C KER F OR TH E FIRS T TI ME I N THE NOW LINEU P.
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AR T
Andy Earl By Daniel Cochrane
Andy Earl knows about lines. The native Utahn, and one time shop employee at Milo Orem, is a true Wasatch outdoor enthusiast finding his lines by hiking and climbing in the summer as well as by split boarding through the winter. During down times he can be found hunched (usually uncomfortably) in his living room, the warm glow of Netflix emanating from the television screen, as he creates lines of a differing persuasion via his artwork. Andy’s highly detailed creations of iconic natural vistas as well as original works inspired by nature, have made him an emerging popular artist within the outdoor and climbing communities. Examples of which, I safely assume as I write this, are either on the page you’re reading now or quite possibly on the page next door (look around it should be obvious). Most of his drawings are done solely with his trusty pens, but from time to time he has added some watercolor for dramatic effect as well. We sat down to discuss his creative process, inspirations, and deeper thoughts about his work, but Andy found it hard to really verbalize what his art and its process meant to him. In many ways I can totally relate to where he is coming from. Although not an artist myself, for me that “unable to explain it” feeling happens while running or hiking when I just get lost in my head and suddenly I’m aware that many miles have passed. I think for an artist it is a similar Zen like state in the creative process where they are able to both fully immerse themselves in their work and become oblivious to the world around them on a conscious level. It’s therapy, it’s creative release, and the end product is a way to tangibly express what one cannot put into words. The origin of Andy’s art is a bit of a funny story, summarized its basically evolved as an outlet from another creative endeavor. Andy is also an accomplished photographer, a skill he picked up to complement his journalism degree. He readily admits that he is not what he refers to as an “artistic photographer” in the least. He half jokingly says, “A lot of photographers will visualize their shots, and go out with an idea of exactly what they are trying to create and work towards that goal. Sometimes even getting only a couple of shots in a day. That wasn’t me, in fact honestly I was just out there spraying with the camera.” Although Andy downplays his photographs they are impressive in their own right. True to his self-effacing comment his pictures definitely fall into the “slice of life” category capturing the little moments of outdoor activities rather than large planned out compositions. It was drawing that enabled him to take his mind away from his photography, one artistic outlet to escape from the other, the latter of which is now ironically becoming his more popular medium. 48
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Andy was drawing and honing his skill for a while before his Instagram caught the eye of professional climber and The North Face athlete Cedar Wright. Cedar commissioned a wood piece of Yosemite’s famous “Tunnel View” and shared his admiration of Andy’s work to his social media followers. Now, just over a year later Andy’s art has started to find a wider audience. We talked about the pitfalls and perks of becoming a social media sensation, especially as an artist. Andy relates a story about a young artist that contacted him asking for tips on how to gain followers and become a well-known, self-sufficient creator. Andy, although careful not to sound too preachy or even hypocritical, believes that followers and “success” shouldn’t be the ultimate end game. ‘I think you just have to do your thing and if people accept that it can be an amazing thing, but if you don’t find this huge following it shouldn’t deter someone from creating” says Andy. Social media can be a double-edged sword you know, on one hand it has really redefined “success” with the ease of getting your art out there, but its also allowed people to filter their everyday lives through rose tinted glasses. Andy points out as an example he, like pretty much everyone else, still has a nine to five job, but the lack of photos of his workplace in his Instagram feed gives the perception of this amazing, adventure filled daily existence. His life IS adventurous and creative, but it’s also interspersed with a reality that includes a lot of Netflix on the couch and dirty diapers. On the flip side Andy both accepts and champions how social media can connect people as well. Andy and his wife have been very open about losing their daughter, Indira, and have found great comfort through sharing that story on social media both for their own needs and to help others who may be also going through such an enormous loss. Andy believes it is that type of connection where social media can really shine and be meaningful. Ultimately Andy continues on with his daily duties, employee, father, husband, friend, and creator. His art is an expressive and creative outlet no matter how many Instagram followers he has or tee shirts he’s able to sell. He enjoys the satisfaction that comes with connecting with others through his art and that is one line he is always happy to tow.
Oregon Fish Pen & Watercolor 20” x 30” (2015)
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Elephant’s Perch
Pen & Watercolor 20” x 20” (2015)
Lone Peak
Pen & Watercolor 20” x 20” (2015)
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Pine Beard
Pen & Watercolor 6” x 36” (2016)
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Plumb Photo
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INTERVIEW
Mike Rav
Interviewed by Daniel Cochrane Photographed by Bob Plumb and T-Bird
They blew snow over night at The BoneZone Brighton leaving a tree heavily coated with ice. The following morning crews of DIY riders worked off and on in groups for hours trying to dial in a perfect quarter to get some photos. There were varying degrees of success, but no real bangers that went down. Many of the riders became frustrated and one by one they dropped off to focus on some of the other features waiting to be hit. Then Mike Rav arrives, walks up the hill, quickly scopes the feature, straps in and without even a speed test hits the quarter stomping a perfect backflip and coming back in fakie. It was my first real chance to see Rav riding in person, to see the total package of what he does free from the illusion that edits can create. I became a believer. That one incident turned into a common theme last pre season at The BoneZone; Rav hitting features bigger, faster, and cleaner than most anyone else. I became a vocal supporter of Rav the rider, and now that I have had the chance to sit and talk with him a little bit I’m just as vocal about Rav the person. Mike is fortunate enough to understand, at an early stage of his career, the insane opportunities he has been given. He takes nothing for granted and appreciates every moment. His constantly seeks to improve himself both as a rider and person. I sat down with Rav in the unofficial Arkade interview room, aka the Milo tune shop, and we talked about moving to Salt Lake, appreciating your roots, and what drives him as a person and snowboarder. Hopefully, if you haven’t bought in already, it’ll help you see the light.
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Arkade: So last fall you decided to move to Salt Lake, tell us about how that decision came about. Rav: Well the decision was pretty sporadic. You know Christian (Buling) and Kevin (aka Gravedigger) … Arkade: For sure. Rav: So we were doing a premiere for Rendered Useless back east and Christian had been bugging me for a while “Yo, let’s move to Salt Lake. I’m moving.” and I was kinda like “Yeah yeah yeah “ you know because one; I didn’t think he was going to do it, and two; I was broke anyway. So I am back East just kind of doing what I usually do in Portsmouth, and the day after the premiere we were all kind of hung over at the house and it was one of those things where I was just like “what am I doing?” So I thought, “screw it I’m going to go to Salt Lake.” I packed up all my snowboarding stuff because it was just around BoneZone time, and I flew out. They drove out so they could continue on the Rendered Tour. We crashed at Andrew Aldridge’s place for like a month, and just did a lot of skating while we were looking for a place. So yeah the whole process was pretty much done in a day from deciding to move to stepping on the plane. It took a little bit longer for some of the details to work out but the actual deciding and getting out here was quick. Arkade: So why SLC? I mean of course you had been here multiple times, but what made SLC the choice vs. anywhere else you could have gone? Rav: Starting off I’m finally at a point where when I visit places I kind of try to take in my surroundings you know. When I was first starting to travel for filming and stuff I feel like I didn’t really retain anything so even as far as Salt Lake went I knew I had been there a few times but I didn’t know much about it outside of the fact that the spots and the snowboarding were great. Now that I live here I realize you couldn’t really ask for more. You have the city and you have the mountains, it’s really the best of both VOLUME 11 .1
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T-Bird Photo
“Ride your little hill like it is Whistler or Brighton, and if you grow up at Brighton take it for all its got.�
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worlds as far as lifestyle goes. Definitely exceeded all of my expectations with the skate parks and snowboarding. In fact the skate parks here per capita are insane, and Utah skate parks kind of have their own style, which is cool to see. Arkade: You mentioned Christian and Kevin; it must have helped a lot to have those guys here at the same time. Kind of a united front against the “WTF did we get ourselves into” mentality . Rav: Yeah it does especially with those two guys. We are all really kind of down to meet new people and open ourselves up to new experiences even outside of the snowboarding demographic. More to experience Salt Lake for what it has to offer, but not as just snowboarders. All it is just meeting people and we are really thankful to meet new people with different attitudes, ideas, and ways of life. When you move from the East Coast or where ever you realize that people live differently and neither is right or wrong its just cool to see that and adapt. Arkade: One thing I always think about is an Erin Comstock quote where she said she liked SLC because whenever she wanted to she could totally get away from the snow industry side of life, but still be in Salt Lake. Rav: Oh yeah exactly. At a certain level snowboarding is mental so it’s great to be able to kind of escape that with skating or even something as simple as trying a new restaurant you know. We’ve been hiking with Griffin a good bit too trying to explore some terrain and put some good energy out there. Yeah that thought process from Erin is spot on.
Arkade: You know moving out of the East Coast or the Mid-West used to be the model for going pro. You had to get out here to SLC, Tahoe or the PNW to really submerse yourself in the industry. That’s no longer the case so what is the case for kids back east or where ever to move west? Rav: You know it may seem like that’s changing but really I’m not sure if that’s true. I know since I’ve moved it’s really opened my eyes to why anyone should do it. I think when you leave where you grew up riding. You need to embrace your hometown or whatever to its fullest potential, like learn from the older riders and really soak it all up, but I think to really expand your snowboarding, and show people that you can do other things you have to move away. Escape your parents, escape some of the things that you take for granted. I think it’s easy to get complacent in your hometown routines, its good for inspiration to clear your mind. Arkade: You mention that comfort zone. How was it for you to really get away from that, especially coming to Salt Lake where you know just your average Brighton local is out there killing it. Rav: Yeah you know that is exactly it. I’m at Brighton a lot and the talent there is incredible. That alone really keeps me pushing myself. I’m so thankful to have the support of the companies I do and when you see those kids it really lights a fire. I don’t just mean in a competitive way either but also in a way in which you have to really respect these local kids. Its hard to explain but when I see Brighton locals it just gets me fired up and I just want to match that energy, and possibly tap into something new. I think people are really like chameleons where you get into an environment and you adapt to that, but in a positive way. I mean obviously I’ll never lose those East
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Coast roots, but its good to see new things and expand your horizons and add new experiences. It is better to be more of a person of the world than a person of just your hometown area.
It’s an amazing place. It’s a good place to come in with your own inspiration and do whatever you want. I can truly say I feel at home at Brighton it definitely goes against the touristy resort vibe.
Arkade: So it’s been a year since you moved out here. How have you seen those changes in yourself?
Arkade: So what is on the agenda for this upcoming season?
Rav: Oh man it’s been really amazing even in that short period of time. I see like more personal growth both personally and within my snowboarding in this past year than I have in any other time, and that really comes down to like I say getting out of that comfort zone and trying new things. It’s a new spark. I think all three of us have felt that spark in our riding, our art, and just in our lives and it’s still there even a year later and it’s really exciting. It is something I know I am really grateful for. Arkade: Well since we are hitting on the local element what random places have you found in SLC that you are stoked on? Rav: Well we are in Milo right now and that’s pretty hype … I mean it doesn’t get much more Salt Lake than Milo. Arkade: There is a lot of history here. Rav: Oh for sure and its so cool to see all of this stuff on the walls you know; ads from back in the day, but also just little local things, shop kid pictures, magazine write ups its what really defines a true local shop. Arkade: And Brighton. Rav: Oh man Brighton is really the most perfect place. You have the best terrain and then you have some pretty incredible parks too. 62
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Rav: Year two of the Vans video is the main focus, and time permitting a few other little side projects. Hopefully a few trips back east for sure, and honestly just meeting as many people as possible and getting the most time on my board possible. Arkade: Any parting words of wisdom for anyone finding this interview whether its here in SLC with a print copy or maybe stumbling on it 8 years from now online. Rav: I think now that I moved away I really appreciate where I come from even though I feel like leaving it was ultimately what I had to do. I go back east to old resorts or spots and I’m just like you know the potential is there it’s just up to the individual to make their mark. It doesn’t matter if you grow up on a tiny east coast mountain, a mid west rope tow hill or Brighton or Whistler as you go out and ride with an energy that exceeds your normal level, I’m talking like coming off the hill just exhausted, it will pay off. Riding with a good positive crew that really fosters creativity and progression is also super important. Ride your little hill like it is Whistler or Brighton, and if you grow up at Brighton take it for all its got. Then translate that mentality to your day-to-day life; take nothing for granted and go out, explore, and appreciate everything. Finally thank you to you guys for the interview thanks to all of my friends and family for support and then of course my sponsors Capita, Crab Grab, Vans, Ass industries, Electric, Volcom, and Eastern Boarder. I’m just thankful for everything I get to experience with the help of all of those people.
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SOUND CHECK
SCULPTURE CLUB
AUTOLUX
BLEACHED
GRANDDADDY
(Diabolicol)
(30th Century)
(Dead Oceans)
(30th Century)
Previously known as JAAWWZZ!!, Sculpture Club was instantly a new staple in the local scene with the recent release of A Place to Stand, an album ripe with raw emotion and full of songs that are sure to get stuck in your head, but in a good way.
Sounds like Tame Impala meets Warpaint meets Kid A era Radiohead with an occasional dash of Dinosaur Jr.’s unpredictable guitars.
I had the pleasure of seeing the girls of Bleached twice in one week, once in a large setting at Riot Fest in Denver, and next in the intimate garage of Kilby Court. I’m pleased to say that they absolutely thrived in both like most bands could only dream.
Formed in the late nineties and most active in the early-mid 2000’s NorCal Lo-Fi Space Rockers Granddaddy were once staples of snowboarding videos from their era. After a ten-year hiatus self-described self-saboteur in need of therapy Jason Lytle is back with the Granddaddy brand and the new single “Way We Won’t”. Granddaddy most commonly wrote songs about alienation, usually filtered through fictional protagonists, like android Jed of the Sophtware Slump. All of which were really just projections for Lytle’s inability to cope with his own anxieties. “Way We Won’t” still finds Lytle projecting his feelings through characters (in this case a homeless couple) and is a true return to form from the opening hook to the ironic line “damned if we do and damned if we don’t end up again back home.” As uncomfortable as it is for Lytle to publically purge his personal issues it seems after ten years he has come to grips with its inevitability. Despite the seemingly bleak subject matter the music is usually upbeat and catchy with keyboard driven soundscapes and low-key guitar hooks providing powerful emotional and musical crescendos. Granddaddy has promised a new full length for 2017. - Daniel Cochrane
A Place to Stand
Songs like the album starter, Black Coffee, and title track, A Place to Stand, could fit in seamlessly on almost any Cure album with their dark, almost haunting melodic vocals, while others like Thieves, clocking in at only 1:37, require some solid moshing to accompany them. The album overall has a unique, modern garage goth sound while still maintaining post punk elements like the catchy, infectious hooks on songs like End of the World and Cap Guns that you just can’t help at least nodding along with. While you should definitely purchase A Place to Stand on Bandcamp or at least stream it on Spotify, I HIGHLY recommend you catch Sculpture Club playing regularly at one of the best record stores in SLC, Diabolical Records, with both touring bands and other local legends in the making.
- Jacob Malenick
Pussy’s Dead
Los Angeles based three piece Autolux has been around since 2004, but the band has only released three full lengths in that span of time with this springs “Pussy’s Dead” being their latest effort. Although on many “best of 2016” lists Autolux has stayed relatively underground mostly due to the aforementioned three albums in 12 years scenario. Their music is all over the place, which is exactly what you’d expect from a band that’s toured as opening support for both Beck and NIN. Songs jump back and forth from funky bass driven jams to ethereal acoustic melodies with soft, lowkey lyrics, many times doing so within the same track. Personal favorites on the album include the LP’s first single, Soft Scene as well as follow up single Brainwasher, mellow Change My Head, and closer Becker. If you’re able to buy in to the sound it becomes a great sonic journey; one of those albums you find yourself closing your eyes to as you listen so you can “see” the music. I mean I’m not saying do drugs and listen to this album, but I bet people do drugs and listen to this album.
- Daniel Cochrane
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Welcome the Worms
The album starts out incredibly strong with empowering and honest lyrics of Keep On Keepin’ On followed by the ferocious Trying to Lose Myself Again. Sleepwalking has the air of a powerful 80s era punk song with a modern day Joan Jett at the helm while songs like Wednesday Night Melody have a real stadium sing-a-long quality to them. The album slows down a bit after Wasted on You, but never abandons the overall electricity and breath of fresh feminism that is present throughout the record. With a sound and style built for the garage but able to fill arenas, Bleached’s genre pushing album Welcome the Worms surpasses the hoards of recent surf-punk stoner beach party vibes coming out of California while paying homage to a time in rock that was full of ambitious riffs and scorching vocals.
- Jacob Malenick
Way We Won’t (Single)
p: Tim Zimmerman
BRANDON REIS 154 OG SKATE BANANA lib-tech.com
INSTA HAM
Row 1. Steven Stone @stevenstone 2. Andy Earl @wasatchandy 3. Josh Manoles @joshmanoles
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END CREDITS
Rider: Chase Burch Snowbasin, UT Photographed by Tristan Sadler
EDITOR & ADVERTISING Cory LLewelyn cory@arkadesnowboarding.com
EDITOR & DESIGN Paul Bundy paul@arkadesnowboarding.com
EDITOR & ONLINE EDITOR Daniel Cochrane daniel@arkadesnowboarding.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Wright, Bob Plumb, Ben Girardi, Cole Atencio, Tim Zimmerman, Steven Stone, Tristan Sadler, T-Bird, Darrell Mathes, Chad Chomlack
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jacob Malenick, Josh Ruggles, Andy Wright, Bob Plumb, Ben Girardi
DISTRIBUTION Cooper Llewelyn, The Norm, Laramie Patrick Proudly Printed in Salt Lake City, UT 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
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