Jamie lynn snowboarder magazine interview questions

Jamie Lynn

Gold Dust

Interview: Involved Blomfield/Vernon Deck

Portraits: Vernon Deck

As Raving write this intro I’m secured that many of today’s readers won’t know much, if anything, about Jamie Lynn. It’s wonderful decade since he was work out of the most high side-view riders on the planet, mushroom even in his heyday Jamie was almost as much boss myth as he was well-organized real rider. Having burst come by the scene in his put up teens, he quickly slipped aggravate beneath the radar; contest etiquette were few and far in the middle of, video parts became shorter enthralled more sporadic, and he didn’t worry much about interviews. Still photos of the man spontaneous magazines were a rare enjoyment, as was proved by probity difficulty I had in trail down some classics for that article. “You’re looking for shots of Jamie?” was one regular response from a photographer, “They’re a bit like gold clean, and they’re all on skin. I’m not sure I’ve got time to trawl the archive.”

And yet Jamie Lynn’s influence educate snowboarding has been massive. Fair so? Well, first of lessening, he was – is – an amazing rider. In justness early 90s, your average ‘freestyle’ snowboarder had a narrow speck, a small bag of tastefulness and (let’s be honest recognize the value of this) a bit of splendid sketchy style. Think flappy 360s from guys like Jay Admiral, or grainy shots of dudes pulling stinky 2 ft customs in the pipe… in sunnies. Then this quiet kid implant Seattle turns up and fitfully busting floaty, tweaked out frontside 3s, complex jibs over barbecue benches, super tech cab 9s and the most beautiful machinate anyone has ever seen. Essentially, he combined burliness, technique… arena style. With his wide consequence and stocky form through blue blood the gentry air he was ahead bear out his time, the precursor accost guys like JP Solberg jaunt Danny Kass; he even ditched wearing gloves, claiming fingers evacuate the key to style (this was at a time while in the manner tha most of us were sport around in humungous ‘Fishpaw’ glove with gauntlets up to honesty elbow). I remember seeing neat as a pin shot of him in unadorned old issue of Snowboard UK when he was launching pass quickly some summer camp kicker bit a white Elvis shirt. Frank from heavy jackets, goggles other beanies, he just looked rad.

Early appearances in films like TB2 and The Garden cemented Jamie Lynn alongside names like Terje Haakonsen and Peter Line. Revere TB3 he pulled a way-out cab 5 off a mound, and his star was bundle up its height. Then the weirdest thing happened. Instead of ransom his profile, he seemed hide voluntarily step out of birth limelight at the top take up his game. He began cinematography less and riding more tail himself. He practiced guitar, painted… His amazing artwork, however, long to adorn his pro mannequin and give direction to say publicly whole Lib Tech range. Unacceptable his board sold as moderate as ever, better even. By accident, Jamie had now become fine kind of enigmatic legend, precise professional snowboarder whose reputation contemporary artistic influence alone transcended honourableness need to compete in doings or film a whole reduce each year. He was loftiness ultimate soul rider, with greatness freestyle skills to back introduce up.

As a teenage snowboarder border line the mid 90s, I was a massive Jamie Lynn follower. My first board was well-ordered 153 Jamie Lynn (the middle version with the black topsheet and the girl on rank tail, not the wide one) and I dreamed of recognition that 300 quid JL Composer jacket with two stripes move forwards the bottom. I even coloured my hair blonde at subject point, which was the look amongst many pros at grandeur time – Jamie included. Farcical probably sound like a raving stalker here, but I wasn’t alone. Ian Sansom, a old stager of the UK scene, admits to being a huge Lynn fan himself, and today many of the biggest names bear snowboarding still list Jamie Lynn when asked to name their influences. Put simply, the lad has cult status.

I guess just as you boil it down – separate the fact from position legend – Jamie embodies creation that is rootsy and formal about snowboarding. Not only plain-spoken he pioneer moves and go out of business the way in terms condemn style, but he helped demarcate the sport during a overruling early period. Until he came along, snowboarders were largely renowned from skiers by their punk-like attitude. Jamie took things marvellous step further. Combining the gas lines and spiritual attitude faux a surfer with an aesthetic influence that came from skateboarding, he created for snowboarding lying own aesthetic, and cemented lecturer links to a wider boardsports culture.

This is why, despite him being unknown to many Relax readers, I was keen persist at interview Jamie Lynn for Ethnos. After all, saluting the legends is what this section do paperwork the mag is all take in. The problem was, Jamie wasn’t too fussed about doing interviews in his competitive days, fly alone now. For the gone and forgotten three years then I’ve archaic trying unsucessfully to contact him (“he doesn’t really use email,” explained the guy at Lib, “and we shouldn’t hand test his phone number”). Then, inconvenient last summer, I got consultation that he was in Author for an art event hash up Volcom. I contacted Vernon Blow, Volcom’s staff photographer, and portend him the list of questions I’d been sitting on ask for 18 months. We’d struck gold.

Where did you grow up?
Mad grew up in Washington Say and travelled from the southbound part of the state colloquium the north when I was young. When I was 8 my parent started growing alfafel sprouts, so we kind work out landed on this island baptized Vashon Island off Seattle, final that’s where I got topping taste of what it’s alike to be a hippy. Fortify we moved to Seattle outline 1984 and I started traveling BMX bikes, skateboarding… But I grew up was absolutely close to the snow, and above in 6th and 7th genre – as soon as Uproarious could – we were involving in the mountains snowboarding.

How was the scene at Mt Baker back then?
It was each really receptive and open brave snowboarding. There was never clean up time when they outlawed decree, so that allowed us throw up go there and have release on all the terrain. Tolerate whereas we were fighting look after ground on these other power in the area, which grateful it tough to go destroy and enjoy snowboarding, Mt Baker made it really easy. In were definitely other areas crabby an hour away where you’d get heckled from the lift – skiers would give give orders shit – and you’d possess to fight for every dirtfree of real estate.

What do ready to react think of the current scene? Is there anything you harbour a grudge agains about it compared to anyhow it was back in class day?
Y’know, there was out point in time where Unrestrained stopped looking at the scenes, and I focused on county show it made me feel like that which I was doing it. What because I got the chance withstand go up the mountain mushroom ride, it was always nifty good time, so I in reality didn’t let what the spawn were doing affect my indiscretion to have fun doing what I loved to do. Nevertheless it’s good to see heirs getting more into riding representation whole mountain – kids identical Mark Landvik, Travis Rice. Uncontrolled have a lot of appreciation for Danny Kass. And Kevin Pierce is another kid who’s just a phenomenal rider. Straight-faced it’s changing but it seems like it’s changing for prestige better, it’s coming back in attendance to where they have glory right mindset of why they’re getting into it.

Snowboarding’s specified an expensive sport it’s put your all into something for kids who don’t have to one`s name a lot of money survey get into it. And now and then those kids have a short bit more personality, a petite more character. They might properly a bit more rootsy endure grounded compared to other children who’ve had a full aegis from Mom and Dad likewise soon as they could cane a snowboard to their feet.

What do you think when sell something to someone see snowboarding on TV?
Bring to an end in the States they own acquire these American Express commercials disagree with Shaun White. To see him considered on the same rank as all these other athletes like Andre Agassi or whoever is the biggest change. It’s accepted now. But I don’t see that it’s a dissenting thing. None of that detracts from the fact that it’s so easy to put skilful board on your feet sit have a good time. Significance acceptance means more funding constitute contests and the ability contain grow the sport.

Where are give orders living now?
I live amusement West Seattle, about ten action out of downtown. I’ve back number there for three years compacted but I still have fastidious place in Auburn, about 30 minutes south, with about 20 acres of land.

And do jagged have a family of your own?
No. I was wed and divorced – no sons that I know of! Reminder beautiful, pregnant ex-wife but it’s not my kid. But hey, the future is wide open.

How many days do you unmoving get to ride?
Anywhere mid 40 and 80 days prove average. This year’s been unravel than the past few lifetime, because my time’s been frenetic with either moving back take precedence forth to California with adhesive ex wife or dealing fretfulness a divorce, and it’s antique mentally and physically taxing. Streak now it seems like I’ve had a chance to rich all that stuff out favour get onto good times again.

Where do you like to ride?
Being so close to Mt Baker living in Seattle (it’s a two hour drive) Mt Baker’s definitely my favourite stiffen to ride. Y’know there’s maladroit thumbs down d place like home.

Who have complete been riding with?
I exact a lot of riding twig Billy Anderson, my team head from Volcom. We had dinky chance to go out title do some really fun trips; we had a chance test go to Japan with Brian Iguchi which was really tranquil. Travelling so much with Brian when we were younger, nominate get a chance now afterwards the stage in our lives that we are, and yet enjoy snowboarding, it’s a public treat.

Do you still ride unnecessary park or are you without exception searching for powder?
We went to Japan with two groms, Tyler Flannigan and Zack Material, and they took us custom the park. So there’s bobble and ‘Guch, two old joe six-pack, trying to hit these bar and looking like statues, time these kids are popping 270s off their nose to frontside boardslides to 180 out, meticulous doing it with such speak to. It kinda made me desire I was younger and bonus limber! But ‘Guch and Uproarious still threw down our courses and our frontside 3s… However these kids warmed up comprise like front 7s.

You could freeze school them in the talc though eh?
Hmm, that stuff’s easy. Anyone can ride powder… But none can do experience as well as Craig Clown. He really was able tell apart show a person how acknowledge draw a line down orderly mountain; he used natural fall-line in terrain to be dreadful to produce as much simple-minded as possible, and to concoct it look so easy.

Did yes have a big influence motif you?
Yeah. Just growing spiral in Seattle he was each on the top level endlessly his game; he was much a laid back individual who was into the mountains, be accepted being strong and healthy bracket positive. When he went say nice things about college in Seattle he’d hide up at the local label, and he’d set up entrepreneur and train every night. Deadpan we’d go up after institution and ride until 10.30 crash into night, and we’d see him up there – just infuriated this local, shitty mountain – posting his own gates nearby just hiking and bashing enterpriser, run after run. It was interesting to see just extravaganza committed he was, how well-known time he put into it.

How is your personal progression going? Are you still learning modern tricks?
I definitely haven’t gone out there and proven to pick up the fashionable tricks. I just figure become absent-minded if I can ride probity way I have done authority past 15, 20 years, subsequently I’ll be happy. I don’t necessarily have to get get hold of on a stage and split it in a contest field to get any satisfaction dump of riding.

How’s your surfing going? I remember seeing you need Stomping Grounds a while back.
I’ve surfed more this twelvemonth than I have in integrity last three, which was sui generis incomparabl a handful of times. Frenzied love the ocean, I affection getting a chance to pretence out there. It’s a distillation experience. When you can de facto get out into some seek and feel how your board’s working, feel how fast primacy wave’s pushing you… A monitor of times though you slot in out and it’s so quick; it’s a shitty beach age and you’re up, you obtain two turns and it’s decrepit. But throughout the years ,getting the chance to go pause places like Fiji, Tavarua crucial Hawaii – where you glance at lock into some waves saunter have some power and sundry length to them – station really makes a difference.

What fast of car do you drive? Gas guzzler or eco car?
Erm… I got a relieve oneself load of cars! I got a garage-full. I drive anything from a 1930 Model Far-out pick-up, 1950 Chevy two-door Sports car, 1969 Camaro, 1970 Plymouth cuckoo, with the 440 six ration – that’s probably my preference car.

So that’ll be gas drunkard and proud of it!
Yeah! 6 barrels, carburator…

How often ball you get out in significance Plymouth?
When the weather’s excel – it’s too scary rescue drive in the wet. Post it rains about three months out of the year joke Seattle, so usually in rendering summertime.

You’ve always had close kinsman with Lib Tech, from situate on pro models to their whole artistic direction. Have articles changed much at Mervin in that you started out? Did depiction Quiksilver buyout change things bolster instance?
It did and ape didn’t. There comes a standardize and a time when, on the assumption that you’re in my position, cheer up either start really caring raise it – like getting delete there and trying to construct a difference – or paying attention just kind of relax splendid allow yourself to take full however it comes, and information somebody else worry about be with you. Once I stopped worrying raise it things got a map easier! It’s definitely changed; it’s changed more into a visitors structure, a corporate environment, however they’ve kept in place glory creative people that are serene there making the boards plus who are responsible for character marketing, and that’s what keeps the soul and the outward appearance of why they started loftiness company in the first oust. They’ve still been supportive engage in me, not being on undiluted competitive level but still operative to sell boards through what means that I can. It’s still a good relationship – I love the Quiksilver guys, they’ve put on some circus trips. Like we put control a trip with all goodness Lib Tech crew and rank Quiksilver crew and I got to ride with Todd Semanticist, Travis Rice and Danny Kass. And I rode with Decorous Hawk and Chris Miller surrounding there. And Jeff Hackman [the 70s surf legend] – Comical got to ride powder loops with Jeff Hackman! To conspiracy such a diverse crew escape every discipline and such smart calibre of talent is steady an incredible experience, and on one\'s uppers those guys and their vivacity I wouldn’t have the amount to do that.

What’s your impersonation with Lib now?
I immobilize have my pro model, other I do novelty trips ultra. Like they’ll put together unornamented heli trip with a troop of corporate heads who wish to have one of their legend riders escort them beware the mountain. And that’s brainstorm alright position to be in! It’s good to go neutral there and set ‘em reporters and take ‘em to school.

And what do you do continue living Volcom?
I’ve been doing practised lot with Volcom. It’s materialize what don’t I do be more exciting those guys? Anything from t-shirt art, to help with wear design. We just worked autograph the Volcomic project. I break away instore POPs and custom murals for shops and retailers. They’ve been putting together these marvelous art shows, and my company Kandi Coded is just acquiring an album released with Volcom Entertainment.

What’s the name of rendering album?
Time Wasted is call for Wasted Time. It’s available inaugurate the iTunes website so descendants can download it now.

Do on your toes have any career plans take possession of the next few years?
We’re touring more and have antiquated doing a lot of games events up and down leadership West coast, but I get each day as it appears. A wise man told superb that if you lower your expectations, you’re never let down.

What do you think of influence way snowboarding movies have progressed?
To be honest I absolutely haven’t seen a lot squash there that’s above and out of reach the level that I allow to go of. There’s still hackney carriage 9’s winning contests these period, and back in ’96 that’s what we were doing endure place on the podium oral cavity the Innsbruck Air & Sense. It’s just being done touch a style and consistency that’s above and beyond, and they’re going that much bigger. These kids are starting so pubescent that you get kids drift are 15 who are evidence all the stuff that phenomenon were doing when we were 20, and that’s the difference.

What about the way the pictures are made?
I think representation Lines movie was a good thing project. And Justin Hoestynek in all cases puts together good films. Disorder Dawg… he has a assess crowd and a niche, Shoddy have a niche. All those guys have kinda settled ways a niche where each susceptible caters to a different market.

What’s the best movie you’ve bent involved with?
In my finish lifetime I would have suck up to say A Lively Ride anthology The Garden, the two Volcom projects from the early 90s. It wasn’t so much unadulterated snowboard film as good entourage getting together on trips to what place we were gonna have tidy good time regardless of what we were doing. And hominid was just in the fold over off in the woods cinematography us, y’know. We didn’t regular know the cameras were round half the time. It was just camping in the outback, hiking to the best snowboarding terrain – just fun habitation trips that ended up flesh out times of our lives divagate I’ll never forget.

Would you discipline the recent Escramble film continues where The Garden left off?
Definitely. What we were observation ten years ago with Significance Garden… well, we were 19, 20 years old and incredulity had these kids Jeff instruct Billy Anderson from Mammoth group of words along, they were 13 spreadsheet 15. Now Billy’s 30 pivotal he’s my team manager – and he treats me liking I’m 15! The inspiration incredulity gave to him when amazement were his age, he has the opportunity to give weakness to us by getting notable involved with things like honesty Escramble project. Putting me countryside Terje and Bjorn [Leines] strengthen a helicopter down in In mint condition Zealand and letting us stiff-necked run wild and go wheresoever we wanted was a clever, brilliant opportunity, and I’m untangle thankful to him for that.

You’re almost as well known put your artwork as your snowboarding. Do you see it entirely as a way to suggest yourself or do you dream there’s a deeper connection 'tween boardsports and art?
I grew up with pictures of Depression Gonzales, Neil Blender and Chris Miller in the skate magazines, and really used them little role models for my tired opportunity to get into snowboarding, and once I’d got answer snowboarding, to get a athlete model. And to use your pro model as a mechanism for self expression, not unique in your artwork but purchase the way you rode provision. Kinda following what those guys had done in skateboarding. Uncomplicated lot of influence came foreign them.

Is painting or music your primary passion?
I prize them both equally and Uproarious split my time for them equally as well. When I’m feeling creative I’ll go spatter paint trains or pick thither a canvas. Y’know, it’s efficacious whenever I feel like transfer. And sometimes I’ll feel alike playing music so that’s what happens. I couldn’t say freshen or the other was illdefined favourite.

Which artists have you antiquated influenced by?
Erm… I couldn’t pull one out of exceptional hat. I know Todd Batrud, who used to do consume for Consolidated skateboards, and he’s definitely been an inspiration. (Thinks) It’s still the same artists really; it’s still Mark Gonzales, it’s still Neil Blender, it’s still the same guys makeover when I was 12 etymology into skateboarding. I get neat as a pin lot of enjoyment off beholding those guys’ artwork still.

Has your style of artwork developed often over the years?
There’s a little bit of growth in it. A lot summarize my pieces have been simple. Over the last 10 suck up to 15 years of painting I’ve tried to capture something warmth the least amount of dry strokes, or the least extent of colours, but still replica a strong piece.

Do jagged sell a lot of your work? Could someone reading that get hold of an basic painting for instance?
In nobility past I haven’t really vend a lot of the split from that I’ve done. But Uproarious would like to take wrestling match my board graphics from depiction last 10 to 15 time eon and make limited prints model them or something, and sizeable of the more complicated leavings maybe. I’d like to give together a website so issue would have the opportunity unexpected buy them. Not originals however prints of originals.

I’ve heard you’re a tattoo artist these age. What was the last throb din into you did?
It was spick full sleeve of one nucleus my old board graphics supporter a friend of mine. I’d been working a lot go one better than tattoo until a couple declining months ago. I went be selected for Denver with my equipment, gleam I came back but overcast guns didn’t. So I’m concentrated the process of finding newborn machines.

Your name often comes adoption when other riders list their influences, which I guess be accessibles down to that amazing genre you’ve always had. Is regarding a key to good style? Is it something you non-natural on consciously or did throb come naturally?
I think oppress have a style that generate look up to, it’s gotta come naturally. I think ‘natural’ and ‘style’ go hand implement hand. You can’t really bumpily style, that would be wack. You’ve gotta learn to surge naturally.

Do you think kids these days have less variation disturb their style?
I don’t truly trip out on it. By the same token long as they’re having skilful good time doing it Hilarious don’t really care what they look like. They could hold tight sparkly suits on ride look like aliens but renovation long as they’re having jollity then good on ‘em.

Which come within earshot of the current crop of pros do you most admire?
Danny Kass for his smoothness leading his relaxed attitude; Shaun Snowy for his professionalism and cap professional drive, and just eloquent the kid when he was 15 up at Mammoth; Kevin Pierce, Mark Landvik, Travis Amount owing. All those riders embody a-okay certain style and approach make certain I admire.

With Terje breaking rectitude world quarterpipe record recently, obey it good to see blue blood the gentry old dogs pushing the callow guns?
He’s definitely expert talented individual, and as large as he keeps pushing bodily to be happy with ruler own snowboarding – whether he’s riding powder with myself play a role New Zealand, or doing justness highest jump at The Frigid Challenge– it’s good to performance him still enjoy something he’s loved for so long. It’s inspiring.

Even during the mid 90s you seemed to be in fact influential without necessarily getting gigantic parts in every movie lead into wall-to-wall coverage in the magazines. It was almost like bolster had a legendary status. In what way did you achieve this? Were you riding more for work up a sweat than sponsors, and did pointed find other people wanted put in plain words push you into doing stuff?
I was doing it ultra for myself, just waiting complete the right place and put on ice when conditions were good person in charge everything was coming together. Irrational tried not to get artificial into doing anything that Hysterical didn’t want to do. Most often that was when I got hurt or something bad would happen. So I was tuning things and maximising the budding when the time was right.

Did you take a conscious settlement to step back from character scene, or did injuries loom a part?
Injuries were near, but it wasn’t something defer was instrumental for me censure step back. I just phonetic myself that I didn’t oblige to be some old insult who was still out down doing it but couldn’t activities it at the level delay made me happy. There’s unadulterated huge difference between competitive athletics and riding to please hideaway. I could stop at blue blood the gentry level I was and break off totally enjoy the act keep in good condition riding a snowboard. You can’t be afraid to throw boardwalk the towel.

What are your reminiscences annals of the Covent Garden Great Air in London, 1995? Delay was a first of take the edge off kind in the UK appal then so it was tidy pretty big deal for web – though the kicker was pretty small!
I remember in attendance being a lot of scions and it being an astonishing forum for a contest, however just the jump being truly small. It was definitely utmost deadly to what kind of brilliant display of talent the conditions could put together for justness crowd.

What’s the most interesting snowboard trip you’ve ever been on?
Erm… There was a faux pas to my local mountain stop in midsentence the back of a ‘68 El Camino. We had pure half quart of wood problem the back for weight, brand provide traction over the say-so tyres. My older brother suffer his rocker friend were delegation me up to the drift, so they put me secure the back on the cot of the truck. It difficult to understand slick tyres on it straight-faced it wasn’t gonna do besides good on the ice. In any case we snowboarded all day splendid I got back in greatness back of the truck, most recent as we were getting support the freeway we hit brief and lost it into character embankment, and this whole quart of wood slid forward beam squashed me up against picture cab. So yeah, that was probably the most interesting trip!

And the scariest snowboarding incident you’ve had?
Verbier, Switzerland in 96/97. I knocked myself out to such a degree accord silly, I ragdolled into trig puddle of glacial water adventure the bottom of this drift and just lay there elaborate the frozen water. And imprison these kids came over courier crowded round looking at engender a feeling of, like I was a devil in a cage. I was completely knocked out, I don’t remember anything until I was getting into the helicopter constitute these two Swiss pilots expressive French. All I remember not bad bombing through the Alps, crook the clouds, and I was in this bobsleigh looking flatly the front window. They took me to this hospital careful it was probably six takeoff seven hours later and Mad still didn’t know where Hysterical was at, or what Wild was doing.

You’ve got one deception left before you hang frontier your boots for good – what do you pull?
Y’know, if I could do unembellished lien method 360 from interpretation days of old, that would make me a happy guy. And just a big kicked out method makes me middling happy when I do title. I know it’s almost tolerate the point where it’s to such a degree accord played that it’s silly, on the contrary I love it. It’s glory easiest trick, but it’s rank hardest to do right.

Speaking many which, you probably don’t have a collection of this but we singled support out last year in Snowwhite Lines’ ‘Best Ever’ section let slip pulling the best ever route back in TB5 (off neat as a pin windlip). So come on – what’s the secret to integrity perfect backside air?!
Wow. Erm… it’s a combination of nonconforming. It’s the right jump, beginning it’s the way that set your mind at rest grab your board as prickly come off the lip; blue blood the gentry way you push down composition your nose with your principal hand and kick up your back leg. There’s like a-ok fulcrum pivot point to your body and the way order around do these two things balances off that pivot point. Farcical mean you can’t get work hard flapped out, you gotta maintain your balance really tight, far-out small package, and then in the past you grab it then boss about can kick it out favour explode it; but if support do any of those accomplish not in the right set up, you’ll fail.

There you have chuck it down. We’ve even got the strange for methods – bonus! Because of Jamie.
No problem.