FALL/WINTER 2012-13 VOL 4 - ISSUE 5 WWW.BLUNTERMAG.XXX
W E LC O M E
TO T H E T E A M
H O W L S U P P LY . C O M
N ICK DI R KS JAKE KUZYK GUS ENGLE J O E S E X TO N DAN NY LAR SE N JED ANDERSON
J O N A S M I C H I LOT JAKE OLSE N-E LM K E E GAN VALAI KA D A R R E L L M AT H E S DESIREE MELANCON L A U R E N T- N I C O L A S P A Q U I N
O SEE JOE
JOE SEX TON IS STILL AM
IN
PREMIERING STEPCHILDSNOCTOBER 1ST OWBOARDS.C ON OM
JP WALKE R
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RLAIN / MARKKU KOSKI / AM: JOE SEXTON STIAN SOL / SCOTT BERG WITH VINE REVERSE CAMBER
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FREDU SIR
VIO / RISTO RUOKOLA
TAPERED
Where’s E-Man
TUNING. ???
Joe: YoYo Darrell: Yo J: So darrell how are you doing buddy? D: haha... fucking awesome buddy.. just chilling in Andy’s basement watching Xgames J: hell yeah, where are you salt lake? D: Sugar house J: so this interview is for Blunter magazine, have you ever heard of it? D: yeh... pretty dope magazine J: so if you can remember do you know how many video parts you have filmed? D: I think this will be my 10th or 11th video part. First part was Gen Pop FODT films J: Damn thats awesome, so after all those years and going into filming another part this year where you pull inspiration to keep it going? D: Young bucks like yourself keep me inspired the most.. straight up J: haha oh come on! Im not looking for a ego boost haha, but other than young bucks where else do you pull inspiration from? Like tricks? How do you keep it fresh? D: watching video parts are my main inspiration and its always making me think of different ways to push myself and create new tricks for myself J: so not to bring up a sore subject but you recently got let go from Ride Snowboards after many faithful years and a really good video part last year. Can you talk about what happened and how that all transitioned into you riding stepchild boards D: Ride claimed they did not have enough money to resign me? Im pretty sure thats bullshit! Im pretty sure Matt Sickles boss isn’t a big fan of mine and when i turned 30 he probably thought i was washed. Hes done this in the past with Hebbel, Regis and JJ thomas J: yeah thats harsh D: yeah... pretty harsh for sure, but im stoked to know StepChild have my back. They were teh first ones to reach out to me and have nice things to say about me and my riding, Always feels good when somebody out their still appreciates your riding J: So going into this year do you feel like you have a bit of a fire lit under you? Like prove to them they were wrong? D: Yeah for sure! I want people out there to know that Ride fucked up for cutting me and that i still have fire under my ass J: hell yeah! From what i havev seen so far they are definitely going to be regretting it D: haha.. thanks G J: So a while back you started videograss and now you are working on howl. Where does the motivation to start a company as opposed to just riding for one come from? D: i’ve always wanted to start a gloves company since i was a pro snowboarder. I was never satisfied with they way they looked, always crazy colors and horrible fits. Thats why I started a glove company. J: how are things going with howl? D: things are going really well, really stoked on the team and all the product this year. Finally found a legit factory that is willing to work with us and make the best gloves possible J: so what is the goal with howl? What you like to accomplish with it? What does the future hold for howl? D: my end goal is to help support the team and to the snowboard industry. Theres only so many cool brands out there for snowboarding and i want HOWL to be one of them. Make product for snowboarders and actually listen to what the team wants J: nice man, well i think that pretty much does it bud, anyone you want to thank? D: like to thank StepChild for this interview and yourself buddy. Peace the fuck out.
Blunter: So you met Joe at highland several years ago? Did you guys share crackers in the lodge or how did you meet him? John Hodge: The first memory of Joe I can remember is years ago, when we were 15 years old or so. We always thought it was super cool to hit rails in the summer, so one day a bunch of us met at a local ice rink and Joe happened to be there. Everyone had to put a bit of snow in their trunk and drive it to the spot. Joe ended up hopping in my car, and that’s the first time we really started talking.
B:: Sounds like a career ender. He didn’t mention anything about the Whistler “S” chutes did he? John Hodge: No Ha-ha! He probably hated my look anyways B: Lets talk 1817 now so you can get to bed. Basically what is 1817? John Hodge: 1817 goes back to 2008; it was a livable attic space at the top of an old renovated apartment complex. Ha-ha, in other words, a shitty apartment.
B: So was Joe eating junk food and worshipping skaters’ wardrobes back then too?
B: I thought that's what it is now!
John Hodge: Junk food, definitely. He worshiped snowboarders more than skaters in the beginning
John Hodge: But we did have a real bat living there at one point and jack o lanterns going moldy from staying year round.
B: Who did he worship in regards to snowboarders in the beginning? John Hodge: From what I remember, it was people like JP, Justin Bennee, Wittlake, Micah McGinnity, and some others, pretty much everyone man, seriously B: Cool, sounds like you guys were on the same page. Who were some of your first sponsors? John Hodge: Yeah, I rode for Forum and Foursquare for a bit, and Electric but that faded out pretty quick. B: Have you ever cashed a check for snowboarding? John Hodge: Forum actually paid me a bit for a video part I had years ago. That was super exciting. It was for a video called Bad Ideas, I got like 600 bucks I think
B: Is that where the spooky shit comes from? John Hodge: Nah man, spooky shit comes from Halloween, horror classics, Duh. But yeah, that’s pretty much where it was from and we brought it to the 1817 blog we ran. B: So who is involved and what are you guys making? Besides the blog. John Hodge: Joe, Riley Erickson, and Myself are running it now. We are starting to make clothing and some accessories. B: So its just you three. What's the team situation-you sending out 600 bucks video incentives now too?
B: 600 bucks Damn that’s more than we pay Joe for his video parts! Bad Ideas-sounds pretty good to me. I can’t picture you riding a Forum board though. Who was the team manager at the time?
John Hodge: Pro dudes are Joe Sexton, Jake OE, Chris Bradshaw, Laurent, and Gus Engle. Am dudes are Danimals, Justin Fronius, Cody Beiersdorf, Brandon Hobush, Mike Rav, and Yusaku Horii. If you get a contract with 1817, its all about burritos and beer
John Hodge: Ha-ha, dude!! Forum would pay Joe SO MUCH if they were still in business. Oh man, I forgot his name now, he was with them for a while. Joe would be able to tell ya!
B: Yeah StepChild isn't much different-ha-ha! Now we're talking! What have you guys made so far?
B: Was that team manager Bryan Knox or Kevin Keller?
B: Don’t play like you don’t know man!
John Hodge: We have made a bunch of beanies in the past, that’s probably what we have made the most of. Made some facemasks, hoodies, tees, and a lot of one of a kind shit our homies are making all the time. We have some really awesome filmers editors in MN too, along with Riley, Jake Durham helps with a lot of 1817 edits movies and we are always trying to get those out there. We have a line coming to some local stores and a few stuff online over early February too
John Hodge: Ha-ha! I didn’t!
B: And where can we buy this stuff if our local shop doesn't carry it?
B: how did Kevin Keller terminate your sponsorship? Give us the goods dude!
John Hodge: Well if you live in America, you can get it online at www.houseof1817.bigcartel.com.
John Hodge: My buddy called him from my phone when we were at a party and said some shit to him, and he thought it was me. So then like a couple months later after that Bad Ideas part, I hit him up like “Hey dude, you see my part? I wanna ride with the big dawgs!” He was like, dude, you said some fucked up shit to me, your not going anywhere on Forum.
B: Sounds pretty cool with a bunch of the right people involved. What are the plans for the future?
John Hodge: Kevin Keller!! Yeah that’s it
B: What did he you say-like how did the conversation end? Did you kick Keller in the tits or did you put your tail between your legs and sulk away? John Hodge: I didn’t say shit to him; I just talked a bunch of shit behind his back. I told him it was my buddy and not me though. He didn’t care or believe me though.
John Hodge: We really are grateful for all the hype and support we have had! We want to keep making more clothes and keep getting it into more shops. Having unique events is important too. B: You think that Keller will send you a resume some day? John Hodge: Ha-ha-ha! I hope so!
Joe Sexton Jake Olson-Elm Chris Bradshaw Laurent-Nicolas Paquin Gus Engle Dan “Danimals” Liedahl Cody Beiersdorf Justin Fronius Brandon Hobush Yusaku Horii Mike Ravelson