Interviews
(1) Interview With Brian Bishop of ORB (Off Road Boarding Magazine) (2) Justin Rhodes of mountainboardshop.com (3) Frank Bellezza of East Coast ATB (4) Carolyn Kunkel(5)Jason Lee.(6)Evan Lipstein of Mongooseatb
Michael Largent: First things first, how's the magazine going?
Brian: It's going very well. I haven't made a profit with any of the past issues, but, looking at the projections, I think the May/June issue will change that. Much more importantly, I get feedback every day from riders saying they picked up a copy of the magazine at a skate shop or a snowboard shop and got totally stoked on the sport. Then they went out and bought a board. That's my main goal - to turn people on to mountainboarding.
Michael Largent: When can we expect to see you go monthly?
Brian: I don't know if ORB will ever be monthly. It's a lot of work getting the
photos, selling the ads, laying out the mag, getting it printed, distributing
it, etcetera. Plus, it takes a ton of money to put out that many issues each year. However, you might see us follow in the footsteps of some other killer
mags like "Bike" or "Transworld Snowboarding." They put out 9 issues a year,'cause there's an "off" season for each sport.
Michael Largent: How about color?
Brian: I'd love to put out a full-color magazine right now. The main focus though, is to spend the money on increasing ORB's circulation. I want to put a copy of the magazine in as many hands as possible and to really grow the sport.In other words, given the choice of spending money on color or printing an extra 5,000 copies, I'll probably always choose the extra 5,000 copies. But one day, when ORB has reached as many potential riders as possible, then it'll go to full color. Either that or I win the lottery - then you'll see stellar color.
Michael Largent:I see what you mean. We do need to get it to as many people as possible.So, where do you think the sport is going?
Brian: I think we're developing a true lifestyle sport. You know how at the beach you can tell the surfers by the clothes they wear and the attitude they carry? That'll be us, only we'll be a little dirtier, with our own style of clothing. Also, everyone who sees us riding will say something like, "nice mountainboard," instead of "hey, what's that?" Or "did you make that yourself?"
I also believe that the X-Games will be old news. We'll have been in it, but that will be far from our main focus. We'll no longer need the exposure.
Instead, we'll be looking for the "soul" of riding.
Michael Largent:As we grow we should see a lot of new ideas released into the public eye, and all those ideas will change how we ride. so with all that, where is the future in mountainboarding, Downhill, Boardercross,Freeride, or Freestyle?
Brian: In 10 years, unfortunately for old carvers like me, everyone will be into tech riding like the skaters and many snowboarders are now. Variations of kickflips, boardslides, grinds,and Slopestyle, basically. I prefer finding long beautiful lines that go on for miles with big berms, tabletops, and a few gaps.
Michael Largent:Differant styles require differant types of boards. Some are better at this or that.But none are for every thing so most people pick a board that fullfills most of their needs. What preferences do you have in a board?
Brian: I like my boards to have a low center of gravity. I like it to feel a little like standing on a hammock between two trees. Not that loose, but that type of movement. Makes it very much like snowboarding. I also like trucks that are easy to adjust based on the terrain that I'm riding. Not skate trucks though, 'cause they don't have enough suspension. I also like an 8-ply wooden deck instead of a composite deck. The wooden deck flexes, but not too much, allowing me to carve nicely. Also, it's lighter and much quieter than any of the composites that I've ridden.
Michael Largent:So, what do you ride?
Brian: I've got a bunch of boards that I like: Terraboard 117, MBS Grasshopper,Mountain Skate Trail 42, Off Road Boarding Company Tamalpais, "G" Board Grizzly,Earthboard Prolite, MBS Comp 16. I've also got an NPD Stomper coming right now.
I can't wait to try it out.
Michael Largent:A lot of boards don't satisfy the riders completely, so they customize them to what they like. Do you customize your boards?
Brian: Not really. I like to adapt my riding to the board and to the terrain instead of the other way around. Also, when I do reviews of the boards for the "Punishment" section of ORB, I want to give a "straight out of the box" review that will make sense to the person who's not handy with tools.
Michael Largent: Channel trucks, skate, or shock trucks - Which one do you think is the best?
Brian: I'm not big on skate trucks 'cause they don't give me any "pop" back to horizontal after I've laid down a big turn. The channel trucks certainly do, but they don't adjust easily according to the terrain that I want to ride. The shock trucks also lack some of the "pop," but the extra "finger" off the inside of the truck adds a new pivot point that provides decent suspension and heel-to-toe movement. However, I don't think we're anywhere near having the best design for trucks. I hope the manufacturers will continue to put plenty of time and money into R&D to come up with a truck that everyone will agree on. I really want parts to be interchangeable. Any deck with any trucks with any wheels.
Michael Largent: What company do you think will come out on top?
Brian: I don't think the most powerful company has entered the market yet. In a few years, look for K2, Burton, Sims, and other snowboarding companies to develop killer decks at a low price. Look for truck companies like Tensor,Independent, and others from skateboarding to make dope suspension systems.
Michael Largent: Do you think Mongoose is copying MBS?
Brian: If they are, good. I say that because it's a step in the right direction for part compatibility. Remember when Macintosh computers first came out? Apple wouldn't let anyone "clone" their designs. As a result, they almost fell off the face of the earth. IBM on the other hand, let everyone clone them, and as a result, almost everyone in the world (except graphic designers) uses an IBM PC-type computer. There's a lesson to be learned. In that light, I really think that mountainboard manufacturers should not be offering full boards. Instead,they should each focus on the parts that they do best, and let us pick out the
setup we like.
Michael Largent: What is the biggest trick you got?
Brian: As you've probably gathered, I like carving up boardercross courses as fast as I possibly can. I like the feeling of flowing like water through a
course. However, I really enjoy finding quarterpipes (usually at a skatepark)and trying to bust epic frontside air with grab variations.
Michael Largent: What is your favorite trick?
Brian: To see or to do? My favorite trick to see is pretty simple, but it looks so smooth: what I call a 90-stalefish-rewind. Don't know if that's the actual name. The trick that I like to pull is a nollie-to-nose poke that helps me clear a tabletop on a boardercross course.
Michael Largent: Anything you're working on?
Brian: Honestly...shhh...don't tell anyone, but I'd like to place in the top 3 amateur spots in boarderX at the nationals this year. I'm also working on establishing the "North American Mountainboard Association" or NAMBA. It will be an association that gathers the heads of the manufacturers together to unleash a nationwide public relations campaign that gets mountainboarding in front of the masses. Like the "Got Milk?" campaign that the dairy farmers put together. I'm also organizing Mayhem in Moab, the National Championship at Sleepy Hollow in Des Moines, Iowa, and, of course, producing the magazine.
Michael Largent: What is your favorite aspect of mountainboarding?
Brian: Its untapped potential and my opportunity to make a difference in sports across the globe.
Michael Largent: Any final comments?
Brian: I wish that riders would quit thinking about themselves and getting sponsored in order to get free stuff. They should start thinking about what they can do to turn other people on to the sport. When the sport is bigger, there will be more of an opportunity to get much better free stuff.
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(2)
INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN RHODES OF MOUNTAINBOARDSHOP.COM
David Whitehead: First off, hows the shop doing?
Justin:The Shop's doing well. The Attacks and the slow economy have slowed our sales along with other mtboard companies. We seem to be through that now and things are beginning to pick up. We're still waiting for the mountainboard boom. I see signs and I think it's just around the corner.
Michael Largent: Cool. So, how did you hear about mountainboarding?
Justin:Thanks to MBS I saw my first mtboard in a local ski shop in Asheville in 1996. It was a 132 frame board. I was a snowboarder and this looked awesome! I had never seen anything like it but had an idea this is what I needed. Unfortunately the board was more than and the Ski shop wouldn't let me test it out or rent it. I didn't have the money and I didn't take the chance. I kinda forgot the whole thing for a while. Then, thanks to MBS again, I saw a mtboard ad in a snowboard magazine. I called for the catalog. It was MBS's big 1997 cataglog The thing was 1 foot wide and 1 foot tall and featured all frame boards. Boards were still over so I waited. Finally it came time for catalog 98. I couldn't hold out any longer. Boards were still over but I took the chance. It was worth it and the best purchase I ever made. I've been board riding all terrain since. I even aprreciate mtboarding much more than snowboarding now because of all the possibilies.
Michael:How did you get started in the mountainboarding buisnes?
Justin:I'm an entreprenuer, business man and mtboarder. I just wanted to blend them all. I've been running businesses since I was 14. I've had a lawn business, candy machines, wood cutting, cow raising, st.bernard breeding. I firt wanted to start a local mt.board club, but saw there wasn't enough demand. Fortunately internet existed and I kinda understood it because I was in College. I ordered a book about having an internet site and I went from there.
David: What was your first mountainboard?
Justin:1997 MBS 132 Frame board. I still have it. It's in my museum.
Michael: How good did it do?
Justin:Well, it was a frame so it was heavy. It did well building my board riding strenght. I acually learned my first 180 on it.
David: What board do you ride now?
Justin:The Terraboard FL 117 and the Earthboard Prolite
Michael: How have the boards changed since the first ones?
Justin: They've become lighter and shorter. Some boards now have multiple spring settings and more binding settings.
Michael: How have the boards changed since the first ones?
Justin:They've become lighter and shorter. Some boards now have multiple spring settings and more binding settings.
David: Do you preffere freestyle, downhill, or boardercross for compitition?
Justin:I love it all. I do more Freestyle than anything now. There are unlimitted possibilities. The fealing of learning a new trick like a 5 that has taken months to learn just feels great when accomplished.
Michael: What kind of trucks do you like to ride, shock, skate, or channel?
Justin:Shock, because they turn and feel like a channel truck but adjust easily like a skate truck.
David: I know you've got the 540, are you working on the 720 or anything else?
Justin:I'm officially doing 5's now (I can land them at will). I'm working on adding grabs to my 3's and 5's. I'll begin work on 7's and flips soon. I also have a few tricks I'm keeping under wraps.
David: What do you think about the deal with Outback going bankrupt?
Justin:It's unfortunate.
Michael:Simply stated.
David: Do you think that Mongoose is copying MBS? Justin: No
David: Where is your favorite ride spot?
Justin: The holler. This is my own mt.board park. I like it because I have a little bit of everything: Trails, boardx track, freestyle jumps, rails etc...
David: What do you think of team underline?
Justin:I think they along with other mt.board groups will be largly responsible for mt.board growth. So many kids just won't ride by theirselves. I think it will take thousands of mtboard groups across the country to make this thing happen.
Michael: How do you feel about posers who claim to know everything?
Justin:I feel they balance everthing. You have the quit humble rippers and you have the loud mouth know it alls. Who knows who's right? I hope I'm in the middle somewhere.
David: Any thing else you want to add?
Justin:Keep forming groups and spreading the word. Come to MountainboardShop.com for all your mt.board needs. Don't forget to compete in all events possible and subscribe to MVM (Mountainboard Video Mag)
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(3) INTERVIEW WITH FRANK BELLEZZA OF EAST COAST ATB
Elizabeth: So Frank, tell us a little about you first.
Frank: First off, if my wife didn't let me get an MBS Blade 3 years ago we wouldn't be having this interview right now. I thank her everyday for letting me spend all that money.br>
As for me,I am a teacher by profession. I teach Computer Science and Applied Technology to Middle School students here in NJ. Teaching is one of the reasons I have been able to get involved in projects like ECATB. I am also an active member of the NJSC (New Jersey Surf Club), and I am starting to compete in NCDSA Slalom Skateboard Events here in the East. My schedule allows me to travel and ride everyday. Plus I get holidays and the entire summer off,while still getting paid a full-time salary.
Elizabeth: Exactly what is ECATB?
Frank: Simply put,ECATB is a ever-changing network of Mountainboard Riders from the East Coast that are constantly striving to help the sport grow.
Elizabeth: How did you get ECATB started?
Frank: ECATB aka East Coast ATB is something I had been playing around with in my head for about 2 years before I decided to invest the startup money and get it going online. Basically I was looking for people to ride with in my area and it just wasn't happening. To be honest, nothing was happening! So I decided to outline a plan to get more riders involved in the sport that would encompass a wider area with out stepping into areas that already had an established presence (for example the DIRTHEADS). So in April 2001, I paid the bills and gave ECATB life on the Internet hoping to attract as many East Coast riders as possible.
Elizabeth: How productive is ECATB?
Frank: You tell me.in my eyes ECATB is the second strongest presence here in the East next to MountainboardShop.com. I think measuring productivity is relative. We are getting events created here in the East, we are getting riders to know about events and happenings here in the East, and we are getting into doing demos and organizing youth based ATB Clubs here in NJ and hopefully in other East Coast areas throughout 2002 and 2003. We are just turning 1-year-old this April 2002,we're doing a lot.
Elizabeth: Do you feel that you are reaching your goal to get more people out to events?
Frank: Yes and No. We have established a unique relationship with MountainboardShop.com. Justin Rhodes and I have become good friends, and when we decided to get together and produce the East Coast Mountainboard Race Series for this summer I knew only good things could come out of that. However, the Northeast still doesn't seem to have the rider population that the Southeast does. So even though I am expecting more people to attend our Northeast events this year.I know when I go South this summer for some of Justin's events there will be tons more people around.
Elizabeth: What does it take to become a sponsored rider by ECATB?
Frank: The most asked question EVER! Here's the short answer. The number one prerequisite is that I need to ride with you. Plain and simple. It is not so that we can match skills...it is to find out more about you as a rider and a person. Unlike other teams who choose their riders for their "tricks", I choose my Team Riders because of who they are, and how they can help me with ECATB.
Elizabeth: So now that you have an ECATB gear line, do you think that your products will sell well?
Frank: Actually I am phasing out the online gear sales, and saving the t-shirts for the actual events. People definitely buy more gear when I am on the road than they do online from us. So that will be your only way to get our gear this season.
Elizabeth: What do you expect for ECATB during spring/fall 2002?
Frank: I don't really have expectations.I never thought ECATB would grow as fast as it has in less than one year. I hope that we can be used as an example of how hard work actually pays off, and that loving what you do is infectious to other people. I also hope to show that the growth in Mountainboarding is apparent in all markets because of the exponential growth we have experienced over the last 11 months.
Elizabeth: What will be some of the major events this year, where will they be held?
Frank: I can't pick and choose, mainly because there are just too many! Every event this year is "major" because of the weak season we had last year. The best events will be at places where the competitions are amongst the riders. The event in Moab is going to be a prime example of this. But every event this season will have its place.
Elizabeth: Any final thoughts?
Frank: Ride everyday! It is truly the only way to increase your skills. When I was younger, I traveled to California every year and surfed with my friends, and the best advice I ever received was from a 75 year old surfer who told me "the best way become a better surfer is to surf more". So from me to you,"the best way to become a better Mountainboarder is to Mountainboard more".
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(4) INTERVIEW WITH CAROLYN KUNKEL
Elizabeth: First things first, tell us a little about yourself.
Carolyn: Well let's see I'm an all around athlete that grew up playing all different sports in my free time. I grew up in NY then moved to Colorado soon after college in Vermont.
Elizabeth: What got you into Mountainboarding?
Carolyn: I got in to mt boarding through a couple of my friends who were actually partners in the original MBS company.
Elizabeth: What is your perspective on being a woman mountainboarder?
Carolyn: It's nice because I meet a lot of cool people that are interested in knowing about the sport and wanting to participate them self I also help open the door for other women so they don't think this sport is just for boys.
Elizabeth: What do you like better? Freestyle , Downhill, Boardercross, or Freeride?
Carolyn: I like it all
Elizabeth: How often do you ride with other women?
Carolyn: Only at some competitions so not that often
Elizabeth: What's your best trick?
Carolyn: not getting hurt
Elizabeth: Your favorite trick?
Carolyn: back side 180
Elizabeth: With so few of us women riders out there, how do you suppose we go about getting more women into the sport?
Carolyn: Tell all sick snowboard and skater girls about it and hook them up with a board and tell them to call me up.
Elizabeth: What board(s) do you ride?
Carolyn: MBS Sol & Razor & comp
Elizabeth: Are you working on any new tricks lately?
Carolyn: no
Elizabeth: What events do you hope to compete in this year?
Carolyn: hopefully the world if it ever happens and maybe try and get out to england to check out the country side.
Elizabeth: What is your favorite memory during all your years of Mountainboarding?
Carolyn: just meeting all different people from all over who are all in to this great new sport and also the response from the general public who never even seen a mt board and freak out when they see it. you should see what happens in NYC.
Elizabeth: Is there anything you have to say to women out there who are wanting to ride?
Carolyn: just get out there and try it but make sure your wearing the proper safety gear
Elizabeth: Any final comments?
Carolyn: keep riding peace out.
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Interview With "The Man" Jason Lee
michael:So tell me a little about your self.
Jason:I'm 33, married for 11 years and have two daughters, Aja 6 and Jade 4 - Born in Denver but have lived in Durango,
San Francisco, Raton, NM and Colorado Springs.
My favorite things to do other than MTB is Mountainbiking, Skiing, Snowboarding,
Surfing, reading, and listening to and seeing live music.
michael:How did you get Mountainboarding started?
Jason:Myself and Patrick McConnell were brainstorming about things to do in the summer and thought that if we
had a product we could sell even to just 10% of the snowboard market it could fly. 5 million snowboarders at the time
means 500,000 potential users.
michael:Was it difficult creating the first boards?
Jason:Yes it was, we had no prior experience in manufacturing - but I had a background in graphic arts and Patrick had a background in sales
and then we enlisted my father in law to help with the first welding and before long we had something you could actually carve on. The first R&D trip
to Moab was in 93 and we sent the boards off cliffs to test the durability.
michael:What problems did you run into?
Jason:Working real jobs and doing this on the side at first was the real challenge - keeping the faith
michael:What were the first boards like?
Jason:clunky frame boards - but they worked and gave us something to go off of
michael:Do you have any shots of the first boards that we could use on the
site?
Jason:sure do.
michael:Did you ever see the sport comming this far?
Jason:Well, yes - and I see it going even further
michael:How far do you think it will go?
Jason:5 million mountainboarders by 2010
michael:I've heard that you sold the company. Is that true?
Jason:Yes - we used to own a big slice of a small pie and now we own a small slice of a big pie - plus now it's serious
michael:Any new innovations in the boards we can look forward too?
Jason:yes - a lot of them
michael:Can you tell us anything about any new boards?
Jason:not yet - but things to make the boards lighter, faster and more affordable
michael:How about grind plates that run along the edges of the alluminum trucks to prevent damaging during grinds and impacts with rocks? I mentioned
that too you guys and no one would tell me if they could do it and I came up with it.
Jason:-That's a good idea - we used to do that - but as far as offering it as part of our product line right now it's not in our plans - skateboards used to have grind plates back in the day but you don't really see them anymore.
michael:How do you see the sport changing?
Jason:more people - bigger jumps and drops - more complex tricks and rail slides - bigger races - more corporate involvement - more fun
michael:Do you ever get tired of riding all the time?
Jason:well i really don't ride more than a couple times a week with my work and family obligations - but once the summer starts I ride quite a bit
and never really get tired of riding - one thing that I work on is being is in better physical shape than anyone that I'm competing against - not that I will always be able to go toe-to-toe with every freestyle rider but in any event that requires
endurance I should be able to keep up.
Michael:Any chance we could see you at the "Holler" April 13 at Justin's?
Jason:Not in April but most likely at one of the next events there
Michael:Any one we can expect?
Jason:not sure
michael:Who do you think will come out on top in terms of riding ability?
Jason:really depends on what format of riding but....
freestyle: Leon Robbins and Dave Sansone
boardercross: Austin Robbins, Leon Robbins, Saer White, Dave Sansone
freeride: Austin Robbins, Leon Robbins, Saer White, Dave Sansone
freetech: Dave Stiefvater
michael:So what's your best trick?
Jason:depends on the jump but I think my main trick is just going big with all my tricks. backflips and 3's with at least 30' distance - cliff drops and real technical freeride lines
michael:Any tricks you're working on?
Jason:5's and 7's - double backs - barrel rolls
michael:What is you favorite trick, both to see and do?
Jason:I think a basic huge method speak volumes
michael:How has your riding changed over the years?
Jason:well it has kind of evolved as the boards and sport has evolved - faster more burly lines - bigger air - less carving right now
michael:What board/s do you ride?
Jason:a modified MBS Comp 16
michael:Have you seen the team site, www.underline.freeservers.com? We know it's not much but we do what we can.
Jason:It's really great
michael:What's going on with the Ambush series?
Jason:Ambush and Ambush Warrior are aimed at a more entry to intermediate crowd who doesn't have more than 200 dollars to get into the sport -
-It's really the part of our line that will grow the sport the fastest - These boards go toe-to-toe with every other manufacturer out there with skate trucks
-plus they both are brake compatable and the Warrior comes with a sick brake built in
Michael:Got any words of inspiration for the younger riders?
Jason:the world is your playground - respect it and you will go far
michael:Are you still world champion?
Jason:sure - since the last two Championship races had two pro-classes there are actually two official champions - Leon and Me
-but there shouldn't have been two classes - there should have been only one pro-division - not a 29 and under and 30 and over - but other so-called
pros thought there should be an age division cut off and that was how it was ran.
michael:Well, i think thats about it. Anything else you want to add?
Jason:This is going to be the biggest summer the sport has ever seen. It makes all the hard work we did in the early 90's pay off.
Michael:Thanks a lot. Maybe we'll see each other riding out somewhere.
Jason:You bet.
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INTERVIEW WITH EVAN LIPSTEIN
David Whitehead: First off, how did you get into mountainboarding?
Evan Lipstein: I was in a snowboard shop during a vacation to Vail Colorado
in 1994 and was talking to some of the guys who worked there about
Snakeboards (which I have been riding since I first learned about them a year
or so earlier) one of the guys says to me, "Ever hear of a mountainboard?" I
replied that I didn't know what a mountainboard was and he told me about an
off road skateboard fitted with lawn mower tires and that could ride on grass
and dirt. Having actively skateboarded since the early 1970s I was really
interested. I asked him where I could buy one and he told me that he didn't
know but knew a guy in Vail that owned one-he handed me a business card of a
guy named Whitney Lewis. I called Whitney and he referred me to Jason Lee in
Colorado Springs. Jason and I got to know one another and we started talking
about the mountainboards he had made. At that time he and his brother Joel
and Patrick McConnell (all still with MBS) had just made a few boards for
themselves and a few friends. They were not selling boards at that time. I
told Jason that I was totally stoked on what they were doing and asked if I
could buy a board. They didn't have any to sell and further had no immediate
plans to start selling them, they wanted to but didn't have enough money to
make a full fledged business making mountainboards. I told Jason that I was
interested to get involved. At first I acted as a consultant, Helping Jason
and Patrick to get more organized, I wrote a business plan for MountainBoard
Sports and even loaned them some money to complete some molds and tooling
that they needed to get boards made using their own designs. Within a matter
of a few short months Jason, Patrick and I became business partners, I acted
as the Executive Vice President, Whitney Lewis who originally introduced
Jason and I was hired to act as our production manager and MBS was off and
running.
David: How long have you been boarding?
Evan: I have been riding Skateboards since 1972, Skiing since 1966 (I'm 38
years old and started skiing at age 3), riding ATB's since 1995, I wakeboard,
ride Snakeboards, attempt to surf some (it's a hard sport to learn unless you
have a lot of time to dedicate to it). I own more than 50 skateboards- I am a
collector of vintage skateboards and also alternative style
skateboards-that's kind of what got me involved with ATB's.
David: What was your first board?
Evan: I have an original 1st generation MBS Green frame model (preceded only
by the older red frame boards and earlier protypes)- It has an Old School
thick wooden deck and I think it has 10" trucks-in those days the boards did
not even use top hats to retain the springs. It was made before MBS offered
boards for sale in stores.
David: How did you come to be president of MongooseATB?
Evan: I left MBS in early 1998 and started HYLINE All-Terrain Boards, we sold
about 500 frame boards in 1998 and then in January of 99' we entered into a
licensing agreement with MONGOOSE bicycles.
David: Where are some of your favorite places to ride?
Evan: Since I live in NY City I ride in Central Park a lot, there are lots of
good spots in the park. I like riding out on Long Island in Cold Spring
Harbor with Whitney Lewis and Chris Mancuso, we have a posse of riders on
Long island, I have done some excellent street carving in CA in places like
Yorba Linda. The most fun places to ride though are Ski resorts that are lift
serviced. I have ridden in Japan a number of times at assorted Ski Resorts,
Ski resorts here in NY and also in CA. In Colorado-High Drive in Colorado
Springs is pretty kick ass. There are so many great places to ride it's hard
to narrow it down...
David: Where do you think mountainboarding is going in the line of
competition, freestyle, boardecross, or downhill?
Evan: Certainly the skill level is progressing big time. There are a number
of riders who are getting inverted (upside down) off of big jumps and even
combing this with spinning maneuvers-this is some really aggro sh_t! All the
different grab variations are now so common that jumping and grabbing is very
basic these days for so many riders. In terms of competitions, since there
are both Freestyle and Racing disciplines you already see riders who
specialize in one or the other, many do both. Boarder-Cross is the most
exciting racing discipline and as more tracks get built all over the world
expect to see some very competitive riders emerging. My personal belief is
that the worlds best ATB rider has still not even heard of a mountainboard
yet. Our sport is pretty young and under exposed so many of the riders who
will kick some serious butt have not even stepped onto a board yet.
David: Which do you like best?
Evan: Which what? You mean racing or freestyle? Both are very cool but I am
not a competitive rider. I ride for fun and to carve turns whenever I want,
wherever I want, Racing and freestyle are both cool but for me it's free
riding. Freestyle is awesome for the spectators though-especially when you
consider that the riders are getting so high off the ground-SOLID GROUND-not
snow or water- the risks involved add up to a helluva thrill factor.
David: Do you have any new board designs coming out in the near future?
Evan: We do have a lot of new designs in the works but will release them in a
timely manner and not just release them to release them. You have to realize
that most people aren't even familiar with frame board designs, much less
Unibody construction designs. We have lots of good stuff in the works but as
you can imagine it all costs big money in research and development to turn
designs into board models that are offered to riding consumers.
David: Do you like the uni-body designs more than the frame boards, the other
way around or do you like them about the same?
Evan: Unibody is the direction that all of the companies seem headed towards.
Frame boards have there place too. I sold a board to a guy today who is 6'3"
tall and weighs 300 pounds. What Unibody board would hold him? Probably none.
He is built for frame boards, there isn't a Uni made that's designed to
handle someone of this guys size. I like to ride my old MBS 183cm sometimes
but I mostly ride Uni's these days (like our UniCamb 117cm Pro Comp or the
HYLINE V12-Six), except at ski resorts where I'll ride a frame board. I like
riding different boards for different riding scenarios.
David: What's the biggest ramp you've ever hit?
Evan: I am not really a ramp rider or jumper. I usually keep my board on the
ground and if I do jump it's a straight air. I'm too old and too beat up to
get crazy in the air- I've had back surgery from an ATB related injury and a
dislocated shoulder I received at the Snow Valley Dirt duel in 1998. I keep
my wheels down mostly these days-I'm a carver not an air guy.
David: What are some of the tricks you pull?
Evan: Very few, I don't know-roll Over and play dead I guess.
David: Which is your favorite?
Evan: I like watching the top riders get inverted and do multiple spinning
tricks.
David: Do you have any that you can't get but are working on?
Evan: Nope- I like to practice my switch stance riding.
David: Is MongooseATB planning any competitions for 2002?
Evan: We hope to attend some of the East coast events this summer and other
events that we can. We don't have a huge team at the moment so riders that
show up on our boards-we consider our team members.
David: Is Mongoose looking for any new riders to sponsor?
Evan: We are interested to try to sponsor riders who help us promote our
products and the sport. We only sponsor riders within our working financial
framework-many, many riders want free equipment and more...We are not K2 or
Salomon where they have big budgets for team riders-we barely have a budget
for this at all as our sport is young and there is not a whole lot of money
made in the ATB business yet.
Most companies want the top pros riding on their equipment. Of course we
would like to see our riders placing in competitions, this is always good,
but does that directly assist our company to sell more of our brand of
boards?
A good team rider gives their feedback on the board design and how to improve
performance, they offer themselves out in a friendly way to newcomers and try
to turn people onto the sport and their sponsors brand, they represent our
sport in a positive and constructive manner and act as ambassadors of
goodwill for the sport and their sponsors brand. Ultimately what a company
seeks from a sponsored rider is more boards sold as a result of sponsoring
this rider, the pro rider should add value by improving designs, representing
the sport in a positive way and promotes your brand. Devin Fritz is a rider
we have sponsored-he has opened stores for us in his region, turned on
countless riders into the sport, set up newspaper interviews, given positive
research and developmental feedback and done other very positive actions that
helped to promote our brand and the ATB sport-this is an example of a great
sponsored rider.
Given the present state of the ATB sport, competitions are important,
especially to help expose the sport on TV and in print and web based
publications but I believe that working on promoting our sport to other
action sports enthusiasts and attracting newcomers into the ATB sport is more
important. We focus on getting new entrants into the sport, getting them
actively participating and enjoying our sport and turning on their friends
and family as well as passers by / spectators and retailers. This is what
helps the sport most, getting more people carving.
What it all really boils down to is if a company sponsors a rider and gives
them free equipment, a paycheck even, pays their expense to travel to events
and represent their brand of boards-what is the board brands objective? To
have the very best and most high profile riders on their brand? To have
someone who is personable and a great asset for public relations purposes, a
good salesmen to try to get people to buy the brand? Different companies have
different motivations depending upon what their objectives are. Ideally a
company has clearly identified what they are expecting from their sponsored
riders and how much support they will provide to the riders.
My best advice is to ride for the fun of it, if you want to get more involved
in the sport and offer your services to a board brand think about what you
are prepared to offer and what you can realistically do to add value. If it
is to compete and win competitions, that's great, but the value that you add
can possibly be quantifiably measured as more by simply going out regularly,
having fun, turning on new entrants and selling the stoke of carving turns on
all-terrain.
David: Any final thoughts?
Evan: Ride for the fun of it and not for any other reason. It doesn't matter
what brand of board you ride, if your sponsored, if you can get huge air or
you can barely get down a small hill without wiping out, if your having fun
and enjoying riding is all that really counts. ATB riding is a new sport,
pretty much anyone who rides mountainboards at this early stage of
development of our sport is kind of a pioneer and is helping to spread the
good word about ATB riding. Rider should consider trying to represent the
sport positively to newcomers, explain to them that this is a really fun
sport, it's very accessible and while the boards can be a little expensive,
once you own a board-it's free to use. If you want to act as an ambassador of
goodwill for our sport and portray the sport positively that'd be awesome,
not everyone is interested to be a role model for the sport, do what makes
you happy and ride for yourself more than anything else. Wear your pads and
helmet, if not for your own protection, to set a good example for others,
especially the littler kids. Oh and Ride HYLINE / MONGOOSE. Hahaha- just
kidding. No seriously.
Have a comment?
Send me an Email I'd love to hear from you! e-mail us at sicklittlemonke@hotmail.com
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