Jesse Fox Interview - September 29th 2002

Interviewee: Jesse Fox - Pro Snowboarder who rides for Rome Snowboards, Nixon Watches and Gravis.
Interview Location - Anthony's House - Whistler, Creekside.
Weather: cold and wet - winters on the way - yeh!
Topic: Whistler / Pro Riding and other stuff.

Ants: Snowboarding - when did it all start for you?
Jesse: I was 12 - 12 years old at Blue Mountain Collingwood Ontario -

Ants: Were you a skier?
Jesse: Yeh but skateboarded heaps - when I saw my first snowboarder on the hill I freaked and had to do it.

Ants: What was your first ride?
Jesse: A black Snow - Edge 145 - got it for Xmas out of a Sears Catalogue - it was that or a new pair of hockey skates.

Ants: From your Black Snow - Edge ( the only one with metal edges) when did you find that you could snowboard for a living?
Jesse: I always did it for fun - I was 15 at the time and Kale Stevens got sponsored by Sims - Kale said to me that if I talked to the guys at Sims they would send me stuff for doing contests. That winter I did contests every weekend - the nationals were in Alberta that year in Lake Louise - My Dad and I flew out to do it and it was my first experience out West - I won the junior 16 and under category halfpipe event.

Ants: What did you win?
Jesse: A watch maybe - no money - because I won Sims paid for my whole trip - maybe $800.

Ants: What made you decide to move out West?
Jesse: Just after I turned 16 Burton flew me out to Whistler for a sales meeting cause they wanted me to ride for them - I rode at a summer camp and couldn't believe there was a place where I could ride and skateboard in the same day. Then going back to Ontario felt ridiculous - I need to be out in Whistler - I came out every summer until I finished school - the year I graduated I moved out to Whistler.

Ants: That was when?
Jesse: I was 18 I guess - 1998.

Ants: So you kind of slid in to the sponsored rider thing through your friends?
Jesse: Yeh pretty much - the industry was pretty big back then and everybody was hungry for talented snowboarders - if you had been riding for a few years at that time you were so much further ahead than the people just starting - once you were there it was easy to stay there.

Ants: Is it still easy to stay there now - what's the secret?
Jesse: No - its so much harder now - there are so many talented snowboarders and you have to work so much harder -

Ants: Work Harder how?
Jesse: Ride a lot harder - get out there more - you can't slip at all - there are a hundred kids below you - sponsors are looking for kids who they can blow up right away and promote. Its not something you think about often - its not really competition between riders. It is still fun - it just gets little discouraging to see your friends cut from teams.

Ants: Movies or Magazines?
Jesse: For me personally I like magazines - I like photography. My sponsors like it all, what ever I can get.

Ants: Given that it's a competitive market how does Whistler help you snowboard career?
Jesse: You know North America it is the place to be - I would be here regardless because of the mountains, the people and my friends.

Ants: Whats so good about the mountains in Whistler?
Jesse: They seem perfect for snowboarding - everywhere else I have been I have not found such good places to freeride and build jumps and once you buy a snowmobile it is endless.

Ants: Snowmobiling - pros and cons?
Jesse: Pros - Takes you away from the crowds - no lift lines - endless possibilities
Cons: - I hate machines. I don't even like driving my car to get there - When I'm out sledding I am always the first one off my sled and the last one on cause I just want to go snowboarding - it just gets me there.

Ants: 2010 and Whistler gets the Olympics - where do you see yourself?
Jesse: Who knows - I don't even really plan two years ahead.

Thanks Jesse

See more of Jesse at www.romesnowboards.com and in the the latest movie from Clockwork Productions - " The Gathering "

If you want to improve your riding out in Whistler see www.pro-ride.com

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