MARIE-FRANCE ROY (AKA: MFR):
Do you have a favorite sticker job and do you have any tips for making the best sticker jobs?
I actually suck at sticker jobs! I paid my roomate 20$ once to do it for me!
What plans and goals do you have this year?
I should be filming with absinthe again. I want to ride lots of pow and learn new tricks.
Do you like filming or contests the best?
I prefer filming for sure but I don't mind contests. I just like to be prepared for them which never happens, ha!
There is more to this interview but it got off topic quickly and I can't post any further, sorry! ;)
ANDY FINCH:
Hey, How are you? As a pro, are you allowed to say who your favorite sponsors are? How do you train? Do you train all summer and then just snowboard all winter or train throughout the year in addition to snowboarding? Will you have any film parts this year?
Hello Carrie, favorite sponsor huh? Well, I don't think in the contract it says I can't have favorites. I would have to say RipCurl because of the surf side is a big bonus! Monster got me into the Baja 1000 which was insane! They all treat me really rad though otherwise I would not ride for them. I train in the summer by Surfing, Mtn. Biking, and skateboarding. I always do a couple snow trips too, but make sure I get a proper summer. During the winter I am booked with contest and photo shoots. I try to sneak a couple freeride days in there though. Those are what keep my heart in it. May sure you check out the movie "OneYear"! GO211 has a teaser posted right now. It is produced by Nations Foundation. Dang, felt like I just wrote an essay! Enjoy!
Sorry about the essay earlier..but here's another odd couple of questions: Have you ever had a hard time with sponsors supplying you with decals/stickers especially back when you first started out? Also, I know that you love surfing, so I am wondering why you don't duel-sport like alot of other snowboarders?
Hey Carrie, you keep asking good questions, I'll keep writing essays! But don't blow it, lot of pressure;) Never had a problem with sponsors not supplying product or stickers. I do know the industry and you need to just bug them until they tell you to go take a hike or they get you your product/ stickers. Tough industry right now is though because of all the budget cut backs. I wish I could surf and snowboard for a living. But surfing is a full time gig to make it your profession on top of snowboarding. Surfing being my passion, I wouldn't want to ruin that making it my job. Surfing gets me away from the hype, pressure, injuries. Love it!
In your opinion, which genre (Big Mtn, halfpipe/quarterpipe, slopestyle, slalom, big air) of snowboarding is the hardest to learn, hardest to master, easiest to learn and easiest to master?
I would say Slalom is the easiest because you are just making turns. Boardercross is fun, but has gotten really serious and can be a bit of a wax race sometimes. Sometimes crashes are out of your control too. Big Air is just one jump so you can send it and either you land it or you don't. Not the most difficult, but can definitely have its consequences. Slopestyle and halfpipe are both very tough because you have to put a whole run together and if you fall, you don't have speed usually for the rest of your run. Halfpipe has the element of edging skills and keeping speed. Transitions are also a tough thing to master. Halfpipe takes the most practice out of all of them. Today was my first day in a big mountain event, so I must address that part of snowboarding. Big Mountain is by far the closest to snowboarding roots and what it is all about! It might get your heart pumping, but by far the most fun. Pretty high consequences though!
What has been your greatest achievement?
Finding my Wife.
What's your opinion on Global Warming? Have you noticed any changes in the climate that would affect the sport?
I definitely think that the climate of earth is changing. I don't think it has really anything to do with humans on the earth. I think God is changing the earth as it has changed in the past. We recently have seen some of the coldest temps all over the world, but you can not deny that the glaciers are shrinking, which would cool off the ocean dropping the temps of all of earths climate. I think it is a big cycle and it is truly in Gods hands.
What's the worst injury you have ever gotten snowboarding?
There is a few answers to this question. The most painful was a really bad lower back contusion. The most serious was a couple days spent in the hospital in Sweden which just turned out to be a sprained sternum and bruised lungs. The injury in my opinion that was the worst and I will feel the rest of my life. I crushed my right knee when I was 18 and have had 3 surgeries on it since. By the grace of God it keeps working!
What's your best memory, best road trip story, scariest thing that happened to you and favorite places to ride?
memory: wedding Road trip: Shasta Lake in a old beat up car with and exhaust leak and reaked of gasoline. scariest thing: landed on my head overshooting a 70ft. jump and woke up in the hospital. favorite places to ride: Northstar/ Lake Tahoe and Sierra Summit
If you had to end your career tomorrow, what would be your next career choice?
Massage Therapist or Contractor Would you ever become a snowboard instructor? Definitely not! But some guys love it.
What's the first thing someone needs to know if wanting to learn to ride the halfpipe?
How to control their edging. Pipe riding is all edging and holding your speed. Can't do airs without speed.
What's NZ like? I have always wanted to go there even before I knew what snowboarding was.
I would say it is California and the Swiss Alps mixed together. The best of two worlds!
Is there a requirement for a pro snowboarder to enter contests or can they choose to just film. Does an up-and-comer have the same option?
Every snowboarder has the choice. Some choose to do both. But you just have to find where your value it. Where is your nitch?
How and when did you first get into snowboarding?
I was 12 and just saw the snowboarders having more fun when I would go skiing with my Dad. I was a weekend warrior
Besides getting flowed gear and some sponsors providing travel funds/reimbursement, is there anything a pro snowboard has to pay out of pocket?
All depends on how a contract is setup. If you set up your contract for all salary then everything is out of pocket. There are no rules in this business. So get creative.
When does a snowboarder go from an amateur status to being considered pro?
PRO mean a profession. So when you are making a living at it.
How much money per year would you say the average pro snowboarder brings home?
There is no way of knowing for sure cause we don't really talk about it. But the top 2 or 3 are in the millions and it goes down to 2k a year. Some pros loose money, but claim they are pro. It can be a good living when your on top.
Do you enjoy sticker jobs or do you just slap them on?
I take pride in my sticker jobs. Don't commit sticker crimes!
How many snowboards would you say you go through a year?
Between 8 to 11.
What is the greatest thing a human being can do on this earth? What do you believe is your purpose in life?
Going deep huh! The greatest thing someone can do is put others before themselves. Our purpose in life is to glorify our creator and love others. The rest of our purpose we just have to trust is laid out for us, so enjoy!
LAURENT-NICOLAS PAQUIN:
R u really a hippy? Hard to say, maybe I’m just a dirty kid, I’m a rock n roller haha
What got you into snowboarding? I use to ski when I was young and my dad bought me a snowboard for Christmas
What's your favorite 60's song and artist/group? 13th floor elevators-your gonna miss me or Jefferson airplane-white rabbit
What's the hardest trick you've ever had to learn? BS 270 are really hard and lip 270 are the scariest ever, first frontboard also a bitch
What do you think is the most important thing that a human being can do on this earth? Respect
What advice do you have for newbies and shredders wanting to get sponsored? Make yourself a little video and send it to companies don’t try too much to be sponsored though go with the flow
Would it be true that if you are sponsored or working for RomeSDS that you are a Roman??? Do you do as the Romans do? I don’t know, but Rome wasn’t built in a day...that for sure
Would you say there is a right amount of sponsors that one should have or is it better to have everything you can think of? Depend what you think snowboarding is, a job or a fun thing to do..I don t really need energy drink to snowboard
What's your favorite beverage? Water or beer!
What about watery beer?? Will go get a beer after that, no doubt! It sounds gross hahah, but I like a lot of things..like good juice, ice cold water is the best though What brand do you drink? beer- like Heineken, pbr, labatt 50, Stella, Becks, Bavaria
Would you ever become an instructor? Na, not for me, really bad at explaining things
Do you find sticker jobs on your board hard to do year to year and board to board? Not really I love sticker jobs
Was or is there a sticker job that you are most proud of? Yes but it been a while now, I got super stoke on a sticker job once!
How many boards do you ride in a years' time? Jib board maybe 5 or less, all depend from 4 to 5 maybe
TORAH BRIGHT:
How long did it take you to get your stance and setup dialed in when you were learning how to snowboard?
Hello Carrie. I have not changed my stance to much from day one. the only think i have changed is my angle on my back foot. I used to ride with 0', but for the last 4 or so years i have been ridding with -3'. And of cause the stance has gotten widen with the few inches i have grown over the years! Hope your well.
How many seasons had you been snowboarding before you got your first sponsorship and who was your first sponsor?
I was actually sponsored my second season snowboarding... i got spotted at some local events in Australia and got hooked up with Burton, roxy and Arnette. I am still with Roxy, head to toe.
Do you have any advice for those who are seeking to get sponsored and for those who are just starting to get sponsored?
I guess my advise would just be... go out and snowboard, when you focus on your shredding and working hard at it to become a better ridder... the rest will all come!
GRETCHEN BLEILER on sponsorship:
"hey Carrie! I'm actually in Beijing for the summer Olympics right now; it's super exciting. I'm doing something I've never done before; hosting for Yahoo! Sports summer games round up everyday so you should check it out http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/roundup on another note, that's awesome that you love snowboarding! My tips to anyone getting started off is to one, love it (sounds like you do) and then make goals and go out and ride your little heart out to make them happen. As far as getting sponsored it's all about finding a way to getting noticed out there and also separating yourself apart from everyone else. But that's where the goals come in because if you have them that already separates you from most of the others and the goal shouldn't be I want to be sponsored but I want to win the next usasa contest or I'm going to make a 2 minute video of myself with all of my best action shots of the year, etc. GOOD LUCK GIRL! Just continue to improve and work your way up. The more you win contests or get photos in the mags or video parts the more your sponsors should and will support you. I would say stick with the sponsors you've got to create lasting relationships. But at the same time if someone else is offering you a better deal then you have to take it into consideration. Then maybe even approach your currunt sponsors and let them know that you have a great offer from someone else but that you would rather stay with them because they've been the one believing in you from the begining. If they can't step up to the other offer then you'll have to decide what's more important to you."
HANNAH TETER on contests:
"what uP!! i like jams way betta then any other format because you can just relax cause u know all u have to do is stomp some cool stuff, but you have a lot of runs to do it in. the atmosphere at contests is actually pretty mellow, everyone is just hanging out at the start gate, trying to feel the good vibes, and positive energy. at least thats what im doing... i think they are too! i tried doing some Tai CHi before my runs in Australia, just a few moves... and it made trickes seem so easy..! so thats my advice for contests, feel the good vibes, do some tai chi, eat organic, and relax. lemme know if that helps;_0"
ANDY FINCH on the snowboard industry:
"welcome to the industry first of all. so here is your crash course on the industry. Late 20's is little late for the industry, but if you got what it takes then you got what it takes! If you are on top then sponsors aren't going to care how old you are. The biggest hurdle I see with girls is the injury factor. One bad injury and they never get the confidence back. Injuries will happen if you are at the top level and you gotta know that you have the mental strength to come back. I know I can do it and I have done it many times. Hit me back with more questions if you like."