Hump Day Goes on Vacation with Stevie Bell

Stevie Bell has spent the past few seasons battling injury, but this year, he managed to stay healthy for an entire season. This feat means he was able to actually put together a full video part, and you ain’t seen nothing yet. But enough about actual snowboarding, we’re Yobeat so we asked the really important questions, dug for the dirt and since it’s Vacation Week, asked him all about vacationing. So did anything scandalous happen on Forum’s trip to Cabo? You’ll have to read to find out.

B: So you were born and raised in Salt Lake, right?

S: Yea, born and raised, west Jordan, Utah. I lived in Dallas for just a little bit when I was younger, but most of my life I’ve lived in Utah.

B: Are you the only black person in Utah?

S: Well, nah, there’s a few of them, haha, but they’re few and far between. There’s definitely a few.

B: So, do you have any black friends then?

S: Eh, yea, I got a lot of black friends actually.

B: I heard you’re dating a white girl from Vermont…

S: Yeah…affirmative.

Well, we know he’s not a vampire. Photo: Tim Peare

B: So as a black professional snowboarder, do you look up to Russell Winfield?

S: Yea I do. I mean, obviously he came before me, and I respect everything he’s done. I’m actually good friends with him, he’s one of my homies. I really respect his riding and I know he respects me, he’s a good guy.

B: Has he ever gotten you into trouble?

S: Negative, haha, no trouble…I don’t know what you heard about trouble, but it’s not me.

B: So who’s gonna have the best part in Vacation?

S: I think everybody had a good year this year, so it’s hard to say. No one really got hurt this year, other than John J, so everyone was able to really ride and push it. I can’t really say, I don’t really have an opinion on that one cause there were so many riders that had a good year and so many tricks that went down, so I guess we’ll have to find out when the movie drops.

B: Alright, well who blew it? Who’s gonna have the worst part?

S: Ummm, I don’t have anything to say about that one either.

B: Oh, come on, you gotta have something.

S: Haha, alright, I got an answer. John Jackson, because he was injured all year. He didn’t blow it, but he didn’t have a chance to snowboard this year.

Seven Springs. Photo: Ian Ruhter

B: So, you managed to stay healthy this season, were you just not trying as hard?

S: Me, nah, I was definitely trying harder. I finally got it good, I did an injury prevention program with my trainer, and I was focused. I definitely felt a lot better, I just hit it good.

B: But now you’re hurt, right?

S: Yeah, but I did that just riding around with friends on my dirtbike. I just had surgery last week, got a pin put in it and have about six more weeks in a cast and then I’ll be good to go. I’ll be ready for winter, no worries.

B: Do you ride moto regularly?

S: Not regularly, just sometimes. I have a bike, so I just like to go out with my friends. It’s just fun.

Gloves and goggles. Safety first.

B: So do you do any actual black sports? Like golf or basketball?

S: I play golf. I used to go play a bit, but I gave it up to go skateboarding. I also used to play football with some of the homies, and we like to get together and play a bit of basketball in Salt Lake, too. So yes, I do more black sports too.

B: I saw you skating at Windells this summer, you’re pretty damn good. Have you ever considered trying to be the black Shaun White?

S: I mean, it’s crossed my mind. It’d be cool, but I mean, I don’t know if have the time to go skate, and still be a professional snowboarder. It’s kinda hard to do both sports. I don’t know how he does it, I give him a bunch of credit. It would be cool if I could do it, but I’m gonna have to pass.

B: What’s the craziest thing that happened while filming for Vacation this year?

S: Well, probably the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life was when we were stepping down this gap in Minnesota with a winch, and the winch tangled around [Jake Welch’s] feet as he went over the bleachers. He just missed tumbling into the bars at the bottom, it probably would have killed him if he did. Craziest thing I’ve seen in my life.

B: Yeah, those winches are dangerous, the ropes move fast!

S: Yeah they’re crazy! But they work so well.

B: What happened in Cabo?

S: Nothing too crazy, we had a lot of fun, going out, had a lot of drinks with some of my good friends, but nah, nothing to wild.

B: Peter Line didn’t do anything weird?
S: I didn’t see him do anything weird, but I didn’t see Peter too much while I was there. I don’t know where he was. But no one got arrested, no one got kicked out of the hotel. It was kinda calm, I mean we had to work the whole time.

B: Well that’s a boring vacation…

S: Uhhh, it wasn’t THAT boring, it was just not that crazy, I guess.

Having to choose between this many jumps seems complicated. Photo: Ian Ruhter

B: What was up with the wifebeater shot I posted in the do’s and don’ts? Someone asked if you were wearing a Shaun White skin tank top…

S: Where did they see that!? Ok, mainly me and a couple other homies thought it would be kinda funny. The FCC got mad at us for something we did in THAT, so we thought it would kinda be funny to make it so I was whiter when I got tan, instead of darker when I got tan. So we did that and hopefully they’ll get mad at us again.

B: Alright so it’s vacation week, what would be your dream vacation if you could go anywhere, do anything?

S: Can one be summer and one be snowboarding?

B: Ok, you can have two dream vacations. What are they?

S: The snowboarding one would be catching winter for a full year. Just chill in the Northern Hemisphere, travel, shred, have fun. Then head down to Argentina for another full winter, then come back and catch more air, hang with friends, heli time. That’s probably the best vacation for snowboarding. And for the summer vacation, it would probably be going to Maui for like a month, and just party, chill, hang out with girls…

B: 90s hip hop vs. today’s hip hop. Go.

S: Ahh man, they’re way different. 90’s hip hop was hardcore, a lot of the rappers were killing it with lyrics that had to do with their actual life. Nowadays most rappers get a dope beat, no lyrics, just a catchy hook and they’re one-hit club bangers. There’s a lot of shitty artists, just in it for the money, like Solja Boy for instance. Like the crap Cam Pierce listens to. Tell him I said that, by the way.

B: Why are you wearing headphones in almost every picture? Are you listening to books on tape?

S: I mean I listen to music all the time. So that’s why I’m always rocking headphones.

B: So not books on tape?

S: Haha, no, no books on tape.

B: So do you have any big plans for the near future?

S: Yeah, I’m leaving tomorrow for the catalog shoots, and then we’re doing the Vactaion World Premiere September 28th — next week in California. Then we’re leaving for Europe to do a little tour over there and then I’ll be back and go to the American tour, I’m sure. Then after that then I’ll be filming for another video, I’m hoping.

B: Sponsors?

S: Special Blend, Park City, Forum, DVS, Matix, Stance, Celtek, Skull Candy, Spy

Speaking of Special Blend, you can win a kit including an After Party Pullover and SB Mitt in Red Rum. It’s easy, so click here for all the deets.

Vacation Week is brought to you by Vacation, the new team film from Forum, Special Blend and Foursquare, premiering Sept. 28th in Huntington Beach, CA. Click on over to http://forumsnowboards.com/ for the full North American tour schedule and teaser.