{"id":2144,"date":"2008-08-06T17:05:38","date_gmt":"2008-08-06T22:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yobeat.com\/word\/?p=90"},"modified":"2020-11-18T15:55:49","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T20:55:49","slug":"future-left-overs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/?p=2144","title":{"rendered":"Snowboarding’s Barely Legal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t

Archives<\/h1>\t\t

It is sort of sad that one of the Features Future Snowboarding has on the books before it’s untimely demise was entitled “The Teenagers.” After all, these kids are supposed to be the Future of the sport. But one mags loss is Yobeat’s gain, so here are a few of the profiles I did as part of this feature. <\/p>\n\n\n
\"LOOK<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Jamie Anderson
\nAge: September 13, 1990, 17
\nSponsors: Billabong, Salomon, Electric, DVS, Rockstar, Go211.com, Grenade, Sierra-at-Tahoe
\nHometown: South Lake Tahoe, CA
\nNotable: 2008 TTR World Champion, 2007 and 2008 Winter Slopestyle Gold Medalist, 2007 US Open Slopestyle Champ, 2008 European Open Slope Champion, 2008 Roxy Chicken Jam USA Champion.<\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 90%
\nVideo Strength: 35%
\nEditorial Coverage: 60%<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u0080\u0099s hard to remember that Jamie Anderson is still a teenager. Even though she has a mantle full of gold medals, and can often be found at the bar ordering a round, she still isn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t old enough to vote. Of course, when you start your pro career at 14, and crush Shaun White\u00e2\u0080\u0099s record of the youngest athlete to medal at the Winter X Games one year later, well, these things happen. Jamie has already won most of the events people strive for their whole career including those X Games, the US Open and oh yeah, that $100,000 TTR overall prize last season. It\u00e2\u0080\u0099s not all contests for Jamie though — she\u00e2\u0080\u0099s a staple in Runway Films and has turned up on the pages of every major snowboard magazine too. Jamie isn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t ready to slow down anytime soon, she said her goal is to make it to the Olympics, even if they never add slopestyle. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI\u00e2\u0080\u0099ll go for pipe, whatever I can get in for,\u00e2\u0080? she said. Yeah, she\u00e2\u0080\u0099s not known for her pipe riding, but hey, she\u00e2\u0080\u0099s got plenty of time. (edit: She just won her first major pipe contest. wtf)<\/p>\n\n\n
\"FTW!\"<\/a>
FTW!<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Matt Ladley
\nAge: May 17, 1991, 16
\nSponsors: Nike 6.0, Salomon, Bonfire, Oakley
\nHometown: Steamboat, CO
\nNotable: 2007 Chevy Revolution Tour overall champion, 3rd at 2007 Tamarack Grand Prix, 1st 2005 US Open Junior Jam<\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 70%
\nVideo Strength: 10%
\nEditorial Coverage: 55%<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt Ladley looks like your average pre-pubescent 16-year-old, that is, until you see him ride. Whether it\u00e2\u0080\u0099s a US Grand Prix or a regional event, such as Mt. Hood\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Vegetate, Matt can dominate the halfpipe. He boosts big, making technical tricks like back-to-back 1080s look effortless. When he was 14, his lein air was called \u00e2\u0080\u009cthe best in the business\u00e2\u0080? by Josh Dirksen, which makes more sense when you learn he\u00e2\u0080\u0099d already had years of practice. Matt started snowboarding at 7 (then living in Chicago, his mom schlepped him to Colorado every weekend), and now balances snowboarding with school at Lowell Whiteman in Steamboat. Matt was added to the US Snowboarding Rookie Team in 2007, and his performance last season, including a podium finish at the US Grand Prix in Tamarack prompted US coach Mike Jankowski to say he \u00e2\u0080\u009cvalidates the rookie team program.\u00e2\u0080? Matt is well on his way to shedding that rookie status, as a featured athlete in Bonfire ad campaigns, a Nike 6.0 athlete and a staple on the US halfpipe circuit. <\/p>\n

\"Those<\/a>
THOSE PESKY 6.0 KIDS ALWAYS TRYING TO SNOWBOARD ON THE NIKE CAMPUS.<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n
\nRoss Baker
\nAge: August 1, 1990, 18 years old
\nSponsors: Nike 6.0, Ocean & Earth, Smith, K2, Bonfire
\nHometown: Reno, NV
\nNotable: 6th place at 2008 US Open, 2003 USASA National Champion, 2003 US Open Junior Jam champion, 1st at 2006 Chevy Revolution tour at Killington<\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 75%
\nVideo Strength: 15%
\nEditorial Coverage: 40%
\n<\/strong>
\n Ross Baker is one of those riders who can take a cold, icy day and turn it into the best day snowboarding ever, and not just because he hasn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t had time to get bitter. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI remember watching Ross at a Revolution tour event before I ever met him,\u00e2\u0080? mentor Barrett Christy said. \u00e2\u0080\u009cHe was having more fun than anyone, and everyone seemed to be drawn to him.\u00e2\u0080? Ross rides like the entire mountain it\u00e2\u0080\u0099s his park, so when you put perfect manmade obstacles in front of him, the results are spectacular. At Nike 6.0\u00e2\u0080\u0099s 2008 event, the Launch, he was a definite standout and his giant 720 across the entire length of a hip will likely land him in Leeward Cinema\u00e2\u0080\u0099s film My Own Two Feet. He has definite freestyle skills, and is at home in the park and the pipe, freeriding or in competition. But he also has big mountain aspirations, listing Tom Burt as one of his heroes. Ross is basically a perfect poster boy for Nike 6.0, Windell\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Snowboard Camp, and snowboarding in general. \u00e2\u0080\u009cHe has manners, he doesn’t have an attitude, and he rides anything and everything,\u00e2\u0080? Christy said.<\/p>\n

\"All<\/a>
ALL CANADIANS LOOK LIKE THIS<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>
\nSebastian Toutant
\nAge: September 11, 1992, Age 15
\nSponsors: Nitro, O\u00e2\u0080\u0099Neill, Smith
\nHometown: L\u00e2\u0080\u0099Assomption, Quebec
\nNotable: 1st place at 2008 Tellus Festival Big Air, 1st at Empire Shakedown 2006, 2nd at Empire Shakedown 2008, 1st place European Open Jr. Slopestyle<\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 85%
\nVideo Strength: 80%
\nEditorial Coverage: 48% <\/strong><\/p>\n

It must be the youthful energy that comes with being 15 that enables Sebastian, more commonly known as \u00e2\u0080\u009cSeb Toots\u00e2\u0080? to enter, and dominate, 10-15 contests a year and still film for multiple videos. At the wee age of 13, Toots won the slopestyle-mayhem known as the Empire Shakedown and then took second in 2008. Backside double cork 1080 to backlip on a double kink anyone? He\u00e2\u0080\u0099s been referred to as \u00e2\u0080\u009cthe next French Canadian Shaun White,\u00e2\u0080? by fellow countrywoman Dominique Vallee and at 15, has already filmed for two seasons with Alterna Films. Check him out in last year\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Apples and Oranges or this year\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Knock Out. Of course being young, and French Canadian, Seb could easily be, um, difficult to work with, but he is not. A mellow, motivated and talented kid, according to Nitro team manager Tonino Copene, Seb \u00e2\u0080\u009cis going to snowboard and snowboard good, whether he is sponsored or not.\u00e2\u0080? <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bryn Valaika <\/p>\n

Age: 16 06\/19\/92
\nSponsors: Gnu, Volcom, Oakley, Nike 6.0
\nHometown: Laguna Beach, CA
\nNotable: 2007 Overall Volcom PB &J Rail Jam Champ , 1st at 2007 San Diego Supergirl Jam, 1st in Pipe and 3rd in Slope at 2008 Burton AM Series at Bear Mountain <\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 77%
\nVideo Strength: 9%
\nEditorial Coverage: 66% <\/p>\n

Bryn is not the kind of gal you picture when you think of Laguna Beach, nor would you expect one of Snowboarding\u00e2\u0080\u0099s best teenagers to hail from Laguna. But such is the case with Bryn. Furthermore, she is not anything like LC or Kristen, but quite the opposite. She is level headed, bright, respectful, confident, talented, and a rising star in the world of women\u00e2\u0080\u0099s snowboarding. Of her school Bryn tells us, \u00e2\u0080\u009cI\u00e2\u0080\u0099m just like everyone else. I keep my grades up to straight A’s, take a few honors classes, and participate in some school sports and activities. I probably look to be the average kid to anyone in Laguna that doesn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t know I snowboard.\u00e2\u0080? Her older brother, pro rider Keegan Valaika, may have started forging the trail for Bryn, but it\u00e2\u0080\u0099s not the case anymore. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI have learned that I\u00e2\u0080\u0099m always going to have those few people who know me from knowing my brother. But I\u00e2\u0080\u0099ve learned to meet people and show them that I\u00e2\u0080\u0099m not just Keegan\u00e2\u0080\u0099s little sister, I\u00e2\u0080\u0099m a girl snowboarder.\u00e2\u0080? At 16, Bryn\u00e2\u0080\u0099s almost finished paying her dues and ready to blaze trail. As her mentor Barrett Christy will tell you, \u00e2\u0080\u009cBryn knows where this sport came from and I think she knows where she wants to take it.\u00e2\u0080?– ARR<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Brennen Swanson
\nAge: 18 03\/13\/90
\nSponsors: Ride, Dakine, Smith (Bern, Kicker Audio?)
\nHometown: Stillwater, Minnesota
\nNotable: 4 podium\u00e2\u0080\u0099s on the 2008 Chevy Revolution Tour including 1st at the Spirit Mountain Halfpipe, 7th at Tamarack Grand Prix <\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 91%
\nVideo Strength: 0%
\nEditorial Strength: 20%
\nFor a kid who learned how to ride on a River Bluff outside of Minneapolis, Brennen Swanson has come a long way. Brennen\u00e2\u0080\u0099s a good \u00e2\u0080\u0098ol boy from the Mid-West who has proved himself a legitimate force on contest circuit with his pipe prowess. He knows when to dip into his bag of tricks in the clutch, effortlessly linking boosty BS to FS 9\u00e2\u0080\u0099s and capping off his runs with FS 1080\u00e2\u0080\u0099s into a Half Cab McTwist, which he consistently executes. His cool demeanor and impressive runs landed him on the podium more times than anybody else this last season on the Chevy Revolution Tour. We can be sure the U.S. Snowboard Team has been eyeballing this rookie for a few years now and expect to see him training and traveling with them more in future. When asked what riders influence him the most, Brennen modestly gave the credit to his friends. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI look up to my friends more than I look up to the pro\u00e2\u0080\u0099s. I like being able to ride with them with no stress.\u00e2\u0080? — ARR<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nPhoto Courtesy of Zak’s Myspace.<\/p>\n

Zak Hale<\/p>\n

Age: 15 11\/07\/92
\nSponsors: Nitro, Sessions, Celsius, Monster, Big Bear (Skullcandy, Raidens, Neff, DVS?)
\nHometown: Big Bear, CA
\nNotables: Finals at the2008 NYC Union Street Sessions, Podium at the last two years Sessions Lumberjack Log Jam (1st and 2nd respectively), Footy in this years Bozwreck, Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Show Winner <\/p>\n

Zak Hale runs with the hyper-talented crew out of Big Bear aptly named \u00e2\u0080\u009cThe Midget Mafia\u00e2\u0080?, a bunch of mini rippers who have annihilated Bear\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Park day in and day out since their inception in 2002. A self proclaimed \u00e2\u0080\u009cPipe Hater\u00e2\u0080?, Zak sticks to the rails and the park consistently and with mad style, but has recently discovered the glory-hole of backcountry riding and is currently salivating over sleds. Zak established himself as a prodigious talent years ago, and has backed it by keeping up with elders like Chris Bradshaw, Johnny Miller and Louie Vito. \u00e2\u0080\u009cZak is down to ride whatever, whenever. The kid has ill style and is just stoked on Snowboarding.\u00e2\u0080? says Vito. Although last season saw him at that awkward teen stage of stepping up his game to compete against the big boys in pro-invitational\u00e2\u0080\u0099s, Zak proved that he can take the pressure at the NYC\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Union Square Street Sessions by making it into the finals. More importantly though, Zak isn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t one of those kids who lets the competition scene burn him out when it comes to Snowboarding. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI just love to have fun. I hope I get to do this as long as possible.\u00e2\u0080? — ARR<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nPhoto Courtesy of Exit Real World<\/p>\n

Alex \u00e2\u0080\u009cLil\u00e2\u0080\u0099est\u00e2\u0080? Sherman<\/p>\n

Age: 18 01\/21\/90
\nSponsors: Rossignal, Dakine, Vans, Smith
\nHometown: Park City, Utah
\nNotable: Goofy Vs. Regular 2008- Member of Final Goofy Team, Filmed with Turnin\u00e2\u0080\u0099 and Burnin\u00e2\u0080\u0099 2007, Filmed with Team Thunder, The upcoming Park City Movie, and The Variety Pack 2008 <\/p>\n

Contest Strength: 0%
\nVideo Strength: 82%
\nEditorial Coverage: 35% <\/p>\n

The lil\u00e2\u0080\u0099est Sherman has been put through the ringer during his teenage snowboard career. For example, waking up in Hood to a mouth full of Easy Cheese courtesy of Scotty Arnold, or having Transworld announce it when he lost his virginity. Not to mention the fact that the nickname \u00e2\u0080\u009cLil\u00e2\u0080\u0099est\u00e2\u0080? has stuck with him throughout his fragile pubescent years since he joined up with Team Manager Alex Pashley over 5 years ago. Lil\u00e2\u0080\u0099est always kept it real and never lost his cool, instead choosing to learn from the riders who bullied him, which has proved ultimately rewarding. \u00e2\u0080\u009cHe is definitely a smooth character. When rolling on the mountain he has got some super smooth jibby style. (He\u00e2\u0080\u0099s) bouncing all over the mountain, it is really fun shedding around with him and his posse.\u00e2\u0080?Rossignol TM Pashley tells FSM. Lil\u00e2\u0080\u0099est has opted out of the competition scene when it comes to proving himself. In return he\u00e2\u0080\u0099s found himself filming and shooting with some of the world\u00e2\u0080\u0099s best photographers and videographers, which is a feat within itself for such a young rider. — ARR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Future Snowboarding recently folded. Here’s the crap I wrote for them that I couldn’t sell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":91,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[2251,2194],"tags":[1109,75,1111,1112],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2144"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91864,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2144\/revisions\/91864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/91"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brookegeery.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}