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RideVermont Insterview w/ US Open veteran Tricia Byrnes

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Tricia Byrnes is a fan of emoticons. During the course of our Insterview, she used 9 variations of them, including an animated winking smiley face, a mouth-taped-shut smiley face and a ninja-guy that was poised like Daniel-Son from Karate Kid. Fitting, since our conversation covered everything from her happy memories of snowboarding in Vermont as a kid to her role as Kelly Clark’s agent to her favorite 80s movies.

Who is Tricia Byrnes? She’s an agent, a Twitter addict, an action sports broadcaster, an Aspenite. She’s a lot of things. But for the purpose of this interview, let’s just focus on the fact the she is about as veteran as veteran gets when it comes to pro female snowboarders. Last year she competed in her 20th straight Burton US Open at Stratton – the upcoming Open next weekend will mark her first year as a “retired” rider as she watches from the sidelines instead of wearing a bib. It’s tough to consider Tricia retired, though, considering she’s as busy as ever.

RideVermont says: yo

Tricia Byrnes says: hey

RideVermont says: are you an emoticon user?

Tricia Byrnes says: unfortunately I do like them because I think they are lame and funny.

RideVermont says: so let’s kick it back to the 80s. where did you grow up?

Tricia Byrnes says: i grew up in Greenwich, CT.

RideVermont says: and do you remember your first time visiting VT?

Tricia flanked by Olympians Greg Bretz (left) and Louie Vito (right) in Vancouver.

Tricia Byrnes says: yeah my mother convinced my father to go on a family ski vacation when I was in 3rd grade and we rented a house on Stratton and it poured rain the entire time. my dad fell in love with skiing and, come February, we bought a house on the mountain. but actually before that I had come up to Bromley with my best friend and Vermont felt so cool. I mean I was in kindergarten and first grade so it felt far away and awesome.

RideVermont says: and when did you decided you wanted to snowboard?

Tricia Byrnes says: being at Stratton while Burton was doing a lot of early pioneering in the sport, I had the chance to see it and then my brother started doing it and it just looked awesome and fun. i had to get certified and I failed the lower mountain certification like 5 times but I think the snowboard instructors just wanted more beer money.

RideVermont says: the “older brother” reasoning… that seems common. isn’t that how Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter both got into the sport?

Tricia Byrnes says: it’s pretty common, I mean kids either want to do exactly what their older siblings do or the exact opposite 8-) haha.

RideVermont says: speaking of Kelly, you have the job of representing her as her agent, right? how and why did that job come about?

Tricia Byrnes says: yeah I manage her onsite and media appearance sort of stuff. when I was competing I was represented by Octagon [a sports agency] and then when I started to edge towards retirement they offered me a job as a client manager. It’s been great and I of course love working with Kelly.

RideVermont says: when did you start competing as a pro yourself?

Tricia Byrnes says: I started competing officially as a pro in 1992, right after I won the US Open. i was like “well I guess I can hang with the good girls”

RideVermont says: were you a straight-up halfpipe rider all the way through?

Tricia Byrnes says: no. I started snowboarding in the late 80s when everyone did everything. the first year I competed I won the amateur slalom thingy at the US Open….pretty funny how far this sport has come

RideVermont says: did you wear the tight racing suits?

Tricia Byrnes says: of course….my teenage heart is still scarred from it.

RideVermont says: speaking of teenage hearts, i had a huge crush on Barret Christy in the 90s. did you hang out with her?

Tricia Byrnes says: yeah, still do. I’ll let her and Temple know.

RideVermont says: crap. that sounds like a husband.

Tricia Byrnes says: oh yeah, mother of two, husband and all… Temple Cummins, snowboard legend, Baker-style.

RideVermont says: she’s so rad. back to topic: you competed as a pro from 1992 – 2009, retired, and jumped into the media game. what caused you to finally retire last year?

Tricia Byrnes says: I hate the word retire because I just want to do what’s fun and snowboarding is still so fun and so I’m still doing it. But in terms of the contest grind and all that, I just felt like I wanted to develop other

"Check out my tweets". Arguably the best Twitter avatar in actions sports history.

aspects of my life and create a new exciting niche for myself and the webcast commentary role is pretty sweet for that…..so is Twitter. But it was really important to me to stay involved in this industry when I knew the end was near and to tell the story of the sport and its athletes in a voice that is authentic and also can speak to the history. I mean, it’s so quick moving, people can’t even remember who came 5 years before them.

RideVermont says: your Twitter feed is arguably the best in snowboarding. you provide live updates at all the big events, including the Olympics. plus it’s entertaining. what’s with the profile photo? is that you?

Tricia Byrnes says: who wants to know?

RideVermont says: probably everyone.

Tricia Byrnes says: yeah it’s me… it’s supposed to be funny, like “check out my tweets”. but then people just think it’s slutty. i haven’t found a better photo yet.

RideVermont says: i’m sure everyone will be fine with you leaving it the way it is.

Tricia Byrnes says: awesome (hug)

Ride Vermont says: so, you’re a rockstar tweeter. which brings us to your “job” now. explain to the kiddies at home what it is you “do” these days.

Tricia Byrnes says: it’s complicated, but basically I am running a webcast production company called We Media Project. we aim to webcast events in snowboarding and beyond.

RideVermont says: awesome. so you went to Saint Michael’s College up in Colchester, Vermont?

Tricia Byrnes says: Yup. I won the US Open and then started college because my mother basically forced me into it. But get this…..my mother was right! I loved St. Mike’s from the minute I got there and still have my three besties from day one. Pretty funny. So I went to St. Mike’s fall and summer sessions and competed on the World Cup tour in the winters and graduated with a double major in Psychology and English. And for the record i lived in Ryan hall freshman year, with a bunch of sophmores and like 20 odd ball freshmen….

RideVermont says: sick! i rocked Joyce Hall 4th floor in the 1999-2000 year.

Tricia Byrnes says: that’s amazing! St. Mike’s was awesome.

RideVermont says: did you get any Vermont riding in during the St. Mike’s years?

Tricia Byrnes says: yeah, I mean I have always felt like Vermont is home to me in many ways. I would snowboard in the early season at Stowe and Sugarbush and then of course Stratton. There is something really great and soulful about riding in Vermont regardless of the weather. I mean that even though I am now spoiled here in Aspen. If I am in Vermont you will still find me riding in the rain and ice and snow. I just love the east coast especially Vermont and its people!!

RideVermont says: now you’re living in Aspen, where the beer flows like wine, what are the biggest differences between VT-life and Aspen-life?

Grete Eliasson, Louie Vito, is that... 50 Cent? yup that's 50 Cent, JJ Thomas and Tricia.

Tricia Byrnes says: well, so many things I don’t even know where to begin… the mountains, the snow, the people the outfits. it’s crazy what people wear when they come to Aspen….it’s like a bunch of wing nuts from LA decided to get some western moon chic outfits to rock around the slopes and streets. then there is the whole contingent of people who think we are in Europe and do the whole European ski thing. it’s all awesome, I like the diversity and the fact that it’s like NYC in a way, where anything goes and no one really bats an eye at what people wear. so there is a real freedom of expression.

RideVermont says: do people wear those ginormous furry yak boots? are those a real occurrence?

Tricia Byrnes says: every-effing-day. no joke. and the mini dog scene is out of control.

RideVermont says: how does a girl from CT with VT roots keep it real in such an environment?

Tricia Byrnes says: i just love snowboarding and being outside and it’s a pretty amazing place for that and I love that I can live in a town that has more going on than just snowboarding or skiing but makes an attempt to have real-life things like music, art, writers, film etc… but I do find it hilarious that I live here. but keep in mind I travel A LOT, so it’s always fresh.

RideVermont says: what’s your favorite 80s movie?

Tricia Byrnes says: so many, I love that genre. Caddyshack, Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure, Sixteen Candles….I still quote most of those on a regular basis.

RideVermont says: favorite cereal?

Tricia Byrnes says: i’m gluten-free, so I avoid all grain product. smoothies (boring). and eggs.

RideVermont says: Simon or Garfunkel?

Tricia Byrnes says: Simon. Diamonds on the Souls of her Shgoes is a classic. and American, Only Boy Living in NY. and what has garfunkel done?

RideVermont says: he got arrested for pot posession in New York a few years ago. so there’s that. do you have a pet?

Tricia Byrnes says: no, I like animals but don’t feel like picking up hot steamy crap on a regular basis.

RideVermont says: last question… what’s open on your internet browser right now?

Tricia Byrnes says: i always have five windows open, facebook, twitter, my blog and then some random stuff I was gonna research about Africa, unicorns or whatever.

RideVermont says: any parting words on the current state of snowboarding?

Tricia Byrnes says: so many words on the current state of snowboarding but I’m just proud of the progression and hope people are still keeping it fun….

Tags: 50 cent, aspen, barret christy, bromley, burton us open, saint michael's college, smoothies, stratton, tricia byrnes, twitter, vermont, we media project
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In the Shadow of Giants, Ascutney Gets the Basics Right

Monday, March 8th, 2010

ascutney_panorama_SMALL

Wait, Where Am I?

Not a cloud in the sky. 40 degrees. No wind. I strapped in and stood up and got smacked in the eyeballs by Stratton, Okemo, Killington, Mount Mansfield, Mount Washington and, when I averted my gaze downward, a small bend in the Connecticut River. It was one of the most sweeping views of Vermont I’d ever seen, giving an almost complete view of the spine of the Green Mountains from Massachusetts to Canada.

Staring at these behemoth ski resorts, I almost forgot where I was: at the peak of Ascutney Mountain.

Getting The Basics Right

What, you’ve never heard of Ascutney? Not surprising, considering that it’s a small, privately-owned mountain off the well-trodden Route 100 gangway. While you can easily see the big players from the peak of Ascutney, it’s almost impossible to see Ascutney from the peaks of the big players. I really think the developers planned it that way, though. It’s like all the Vermont resorts organized a big game of hide and seek 50 years ago and Ascutney is the only one still playing.

The top half of Ascutney has some challenging terrain for advanced rider, including this boulder field beneath the quad.

And that’s just fine with this snowboarder. Ascutney, besides having a real fun name to say out loud, has a way of getting all The Basics right. When you’re there, it’s just you, your board and your chosen trail. There’s not much else to think about.

What do I mean by getting “The Basics” right? You know, the simple stuff. Like parking. Parking at the big players sometimes requires strategic planning, shuttle buses, permits, and the willingness to get up extra early to avoid getting stuck in the dreaded “auxiliary lot.” At Ascutney, though, the parking lots is right there in plain view of the base lodge – the farthest spot is still less than 500 steps to the summit quad. Too hung over to walk those 500 steps? You can ride, downhill, to a beginner’s area lift that gets you up to the base area.

Ascutney gets The Basics right by having a burgers/dogs/sausage BBQ at the peak of their tripe lift on a sunny Saturday, PLUS a keg of Otter Creek chilling in a snowbank.

Ascutney gets The Basics right by putting actual picnic tables in their modest terrain park. How fun is it to tailpress a picnic table without fear of getting reprimanded by security? Maaaad fun.

Ascutney gets The Basics right by offering steep, challenging terrain in a classic New England style. Runs start out steep and winding near the summit and gradually open up to moderate pitch with great grooming near the bottom.

Long lift lines? Ascutney don’t play that. Plus, the lifties are cool (upon seeing my camera backpack, one liftie asked, “yeahhh, you got beers in there?” I didn’t have beers in there, but it was thoughtful of him to ask).

Lift tickets are reasonably priced.

All these Basics combine for a stress-free visit that lets you focus on what you came to do: ride a board down a hill sideways with a smile on your face.

Happy Ending

When the day is done, head to the Harpoon brewery in Windsor, about a 15-minute drive from Ascutney.

At the end of my carefree, sunshine-filled day at Ascutney, I remembered that I was only about 10 miles from Windsor, Vermont, home of the Simon Pearce glass factory and the Harpoon brewery. I watched some glassblowers spin some glowing orange globs for a few minutes and then grabbed myself a cask-conditioned, “milky” IPA at the brewery. It tasted great.

And that was it. I’d found the formula to a perfect, stress-free day.

Step 1: Stress-free (and cost-free) parking.
Step 2: Snowboard.
Step 3: Sip a fresh beer.

What else do you need?

-Luke

Ascutney's closest neighbor, Okemo.

I think this skier was trying to flip me off but he couldn't get his bulky gloves to cooperate. Anyhoo, that's Killington's Bear Peak in the distance.

The glory hole of the glass furnace at the Simon Pearce glass factory, Windsor, Vermont. Simon is the father of pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce.

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Tags: ascutney, bbq, connecticut river, harpoon, killington, mount mansfield, okemo, otter creek, simon pearce, snowboard, snowboarding, stratton, the basics, vermont, view
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Kevin Pearce update, “this run’s for you”.

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

A Proud Tribe

I never forget how much I love snowboarding. How could I? Every time I strap in on top of a mountain and draw a breath of cold air, my brain chemically reminds my body how great I feel when I’m sliding downhill sideways. Sitting home right now, all I have to do is sneak a passing glance at my Burton Ozone boots near the woodstove and I get a flush of endorphins. New snow on my windshield, nagging injuries that last all season, wool caps – it doesn’t take much to trigger my snowboard itch.

But sometimes I forget how much I love snowboarders, and how great our community is. Riding with Todd at Magic Mountain was a reminder, for sure. But it really hit me hard the other day as I was standing on the side of the road, staring at the back cover of the latest issue of Transworld Snowboarding as cars whizzed by, my mailbox door left open.

Back cover of April 2010 Transworld Snowboarding magazine.

Volcom, a skate/snowboard/rock ‘n roll-inspired clothing brand, had taken an entire back-page ad and dedicated it to Kevin Pearce, the Norwich, Vermont-born snowboarder who was seriously injured in a Utah halfpipe while training for the Olympics in December. In huge block letters were his initials, “KP” with a small bit of text that read “this run’s for you.” Volcom allowed its logo a tiny space, smaller than a dime, in the bottom right-hand corner.

And that’s what makes the snowboarding community so freakin’ rad. Even a big company with stocks on Wall Street, advertising in a big corporate-owned magazine, shows love to our fellow injured rider. Granted, Kevin is sponsored by Volcom, but it’s very evident that they care about their riders. And they’ll take out a mucho expensivo ad to show it.

Love Heard ‘Round the World

It’s not just Volcom that’s showing big-time love for KP. It’s everywhere – from the sticker on Louie Vito’s helmet at the Olympics, to the homemade signs at the bottom of every major pipe event this season, to the “I Ride for Kevin” badges that Facebook users have superimposed over their profile photos. To date, the Facebook fan page Kevin’s family set up to keep fans up to date on his recovery has over 45,000 fans.

And it’s totally fitting that KP, widely considered the only rider who had a chance of beating Shaun White in Vancouver, is part of the FRENDS crew (there’s no “I” in frends), a tight-knit pack of pro riders that includes Danny Davis, Keir Dillon, Scotty Lago, Mason Aguirre and fellow VT-boys Jack and Luke Mitrani. I guess it’s supposed to be a company that sells headphones – their website says they’re coming soon – but it seems more like an excuse for busy pro riders to get together and ride and call it business. I love that.

Bouncin’ Back

The good vibes and community support must be helping because KP’s doctors reported yesterday that they”could not be more delighted and inspired by Kevin’s progress. Kevin’s treatment team has completed our comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation evaluation, and Kevin is actively engaged in a TBI treatment program, specially tailored to his needs. Kevin is in many therapeutic activities, including occupational therapy, speech/language, physical therapy, counseling, and aquatics therapy. Due to his consistent hard work, his walking, short-term memory, and stamina are all improving. Kevin’s progress is very encouraging.”

It seems the worst is behind Kevin, and he’s on schedule for a full and complete recovery. Hopefully he knows that he has millions of snowboarders waiting for him to get back out on the snow.

-Luke

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Tags: burton ozone, frends, kevin pearce, olympics, recovery, shaun white, snowboard, snowboarding, transworld snowboarding magazine, vermont, volcom
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Powder Day at Magic Mountain, Vermont

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Many many inches of snow piled up on the Black Chair at Magic Mountain, February 27, 2010.

I met Magic Mountain on a whim almost exactly one year ago. Really, I think that’s the only way to be introduced to Magic Mountain.

I’d been riding in Vermont for almost 15 years, but for silly reasons Magic was never crossed off my list. Whenever it came up in conversation, it was sandwiched in a sentence like “Ahh it sounds like such a sick place. I need to get up to Magic on a powder day.” Serendipitously, my buddies Kunkle and Alaina, both employees at Mount Snow, decided one random Tuesday last March that they were going to drive up and check out the “one that got away.” Of course I was on board. There wasn’t much fresh snow to speak of that day, but it was my best day of the season. The challenging trees, the abundance of double black diamonds, a variety (an actual, quality variety) of cliff drops, and one hell of fine breakfast sandwich in the tiny base lodge… I had a new favorite Vermont mountain.

Big 'ol heelside slash in the 40+ inches of fresh at Magic Mtn.

So as I was driving up Vermont Rte. 100 this past weekend, tapping along to Yeasayer on my steering wheel, giddy with anticipation, I could barely keep the Volvo under the speed limit. Vermont had been roundhoused by almost 4 feet of snow in 5 days, and I was about to shred its “Steep and Deep” capital.

Steep and Deep

You’ve probably heard Vermonters or in-the-know out-of-staters declare that “Magic is the place to be on a powder day.” And if you’ve been lucky enough to find yourself in the trees off Magician, knee-deep in fresh, you are one of those people.

And if you find yourself at the top of Witch, slowly lowering your goggles to get a better look at the 40+ inches of virgin snow like I was this weekend, you better stop and remind yourself that, no sir, it don’t get any better than this.

Rippin’ with Todd

I met up with Todd, an all-star at Magic, at 10:15am. I’m calling him an all-star because, like seemingly everyone who works at Magic, he wears many hats. At the beginning of the day, he said he was “just someone who loves snowboarding.” By mid-morning, he was the “Mountain Operations Guy, I guess.” And when the camera was rolling, he was “whatever the bosses tell me to do.” Simply, this guy does it all at Magic, from liftie, to mechanic, to heavy machine operator to ticket seller to mountain ambassador.

Todd at the top of Goniff Glade.

That’s the beauty of Magic. You feel like you’re riding a true family resort, run by one big happy family. It may not have all the amennities of its 100-plus-trail-count mountains to the north, but Magic lets its terrain do the talking. Speaking of terrain, let’s get to the good stuff…

Todd was my guide. A little about Todd: he is part of the Old Guard of snowboarding. He was riding sideways on a single plank while Reagan was in office and snowboarding was still banned at many Vermont resorts. He remembers when Ross Powers “was about three feet tall.” So when this guy recommends a trail at Magic on an epic powder day, you don’t ask questions.

The lifts had already been open a few hours, but Todd knew where to score the new. We headed to a classic New England trail, Goniff Glade, which is a hybrid tree-run/ungroomed double black diamond. The wet and heavy snow that fell earlier in the week created a healthy base, and we found oursleves floating through about a foot of fresh, dry stuff that feel overnight. Todd was slashing the fresh stashes on the side of the trail with the authority 25-year shred vet. I did my best to keep up and keep my camera dry at the same time.

On the liftride back up I asked Todd, “What’s THE trail, like the best place to go when you’ve got this much snow and you can bombdrop cliffs with reckless abandon.” Right away, he said “Blackline,” a double-black underneath the Black Chair lift. I’m not going to try and describe this trail to you, dear reader, because my words can not do it justice. All I can tell you is that it’s 300 yards of rock-and-dirt poetry, and you have to experience it yourself. When you get to the bottom, it’s a guaranteed magic moment.

No Pressure, Brah

On our last run, with the camera rolling, I asked Todd to describe Magic Mountain to someone who’d never been there. “It’s a relaxed atmosphere. No pressure. Be yourself and enjoy the mountain.” I smiled on the inside, because I instantly knew that Todd just came up with my closing line for this blog post.

-Luke

Ya know, you can own your very own chunk of Magic Mountain. It’s true.