Jeff Grell has many contributions to the sport of snowboarding, not least of which is the invention of the highback binding. Jeff was also a team rider for Flite and helped Stevie Derrah introduce the world to the heel side turn.
Eric Webster runs all ski and snowboarding events for the USSA, but he got his start as a team rider for Flite Snowboards. This is the kick off of Flite Week.
Not a lot going on this week in snowboarding so we talk about learning to snowmobile and small brands as well as Flite Week.
Before Chloe Kim and Kelly Clark, there was another prodigy in women’s halfpipe riding: Tricia Byrnes. From winning the US Open as a teenager, to going to the Olympics and today helping run the USASA, Tricia has made a life and career from the sport of snowboarding. Our first woman may be the best interview to date.
Aaron Draplin is a graphic designer, author and founder of Draplin Design Co. (DDC). Born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 15, 1973. He is now based in Portland, Oregon. His clients include Nike, Burton Snowboards, Esquire, Red Wing, Field Notes, Ford Motor Company and the Obama Administration. His book, Pretty Much Everything, is a mid-career survey of his work including case studies and advice which was released in May 2016.
In this week’s Real Talk we discuss the latest in news (not much this week), and talk to Board Bin owner Jim Slanetz who is celebrating his 30th anniversary as a brick and mortar shop. We also talk about Combo tricks, and go over last week’s trivia as well as announcing the winner of Danny Kass’s first avalanche beacon.
Smokin’ Jay Quinten has been snowboarding since the mid 1980’s. He first established a career as a pro rider in New England. Later he went on to a pro model with Black Flys before starting Smokin’ Snowboards 25 years ago. Today Jay continues to make his namesake boards in Sparks, Nevada, and handles all aspects of the business from sales and marketing to building the boards himself.
Dale Rehberg is an undeniable legend in the sport of snowboarding. From humble midwest roots, to helping redesign the shape of the snowboard, and introducing the world to street jibbing, his influence in the sport is undeniable. But there is much more to his story than just getting rad. In this interview we take a deep dive into the life and times of one of snowboarding’s most impactful riders.
Real Talk #3 9/24/18 On this week’s edition of Real Talk, we cover the Cold Front Tour and the movies Beta, Kamikazu and The Future of Yesterday, we talk about Hot Dogs and Handrails with special guest and second place finisher Dylan Alito, and cover our regular segments like Whose on Drugs and This Week in Shaun White. We also award the 1988 Sims Switchblade snowboard and have a new trivia contest, and much, much more.
Jim O’Leary is not a name familiar to many snowboarders. As a guy who broke into the snowboard industry, in of all places, Miami, Florida, he may be the only person to get his start on the sweaty beaches of South Florida. That said, he has gone on to be a writer, then salesman for YoBeat! In fact, I was so impressed by Jim’s work ethic, snowboarder attitude and lust for adventure, he was brought into the Tailgate Alaska fold - to run the sales department.