Some of you may know Aspen, some of you may not but as you will quickly learn, he rips on a snowboard and has lived a pretty nontraditional life. His board sponsor Rome caught up with Aspen to pick his brain about his season, his upbringing and thoughts on snowboarding going into the year 2017. Lessssgo!
Aright Aspen, tell us who you are, where you are currently and a little about yourself? ASPEN: At this very moment i’m drinking my morning coffee in Southern Oregon and getting geared up for a day full of farming. Its spring time which means not only slushy park sessions, but also starting all of my Family’s crops for the next year.
Damn, that is pretty wild. Those early years must have been pretty sick, alright so tell us about last season and what you were doing riding wise? Looks like you covered a lot of different spots and terrain… ASPEN: Last season was a bonkers one! I had been living in Tahoe for 3 years immedietely as the drought hit and finally last year we got snow. One of my teams had a house at Northstar so i pretty much just lived there for two months. It was radical to go out hiking with people like Halldor Helgason, Hana Beaman, Red Gerard, Blake Axelson, Brendan Gerard, Brandon Cocard, basically some all around badass people.
Yeah that is a rad season for sure! Alright let’s get down to it, what’s your favorite part about boarding? ASPEN: Oh man. Whats not my favorite part? I guess its the whole thing. Having anticipation the night before snowboarding something crazy. Waking up the morning of shredding somewhere amazing and realizing how blessed we all are. Driving and traveling with friends to exceptional places around the world. Working hard all day to land a rad trick or ride a gnarly line. Going home after stomping and feeling accomplished. And obviously the actual act of snowboarding. It brings me such joy and peace. Its like all the Buddhists talking about “Be Here Now” and reaching Nirvana, that’s like snowboarding. Just being completely happy in that exact moment.
Well said, alright continuing on the spiritual tip, If you had one final day of boarding left on earth, what would you do? ASPEN: No question at all i would fly to the most desolate place in Alaska, hike a gnarly line, shred down like a freakin Eagle then building a rhythm section at the bottom with my friends and drink beers deep into the night. All while listening to good tunes and eating killer food hahaha.
Words to live by! Any thoughts on plans on what next season might hold for you? ASPEN: Honestly I dont know yet. I have to get through the summer before i know that. But ultimately i will shred Mt. Hood this summer. Then from there i want to start doing more global trips. I really need to go back to Japan. Maybe do a couple months in Europe and absolutely finish up my season in Alaska.
True, true. That said, you’re a very diverse rider who has ridden a ton of different terrain, what are you most fired up about boarding wise these days? ASPEN: I would say taking the freestyle aspect of snowboarding and moving it into big mountains. Its unreal to look at an entire mountain face as a natural park and try to write my own line down it. That as well as always shredding with friends. Its a necessity to enjoy this short life were living and if we cant share that with the ones we care for then I dont know what life is worth.
Spoken like a true boss Aspen, alright let’s wrap up here. Three words to describe boarding, GO: ASPEN: Any... Means... Necessary.
Follow Aspen on Instagram for more adventures:
@aspenrainweaver
