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Articles by Thomas Dawson

Progression

Snowboarding simply put is a sport of progression. Every year we see something bigger and better; something unfathomable and crazy. More times then not I find myself thinking man when is this going to peak, how big can riders go? Just a few years ago the 1080 was a highly coveted trick, now it is a set up trick only to do something with bigger hang time and more spins. I remember when I would ride around resorts and see only one tiny hand-rail, now the mountain is covered with jibs from rainbow rails made out of trees to staircases with rails and boxes galore. The sport is ever-changing and progressing because of the mentality of the riders as well as the equipment. The boards continue to get lighter and sturdier as well as more technologically advanced. Bindings and boots have made one of the most significant jumps in recent years. On and off the mountain snowboarding captures a certain type of person. It is the type of person who likes to ride outside the lines and push the boundaries. It is the type person who thinks they can ride just a bit faster, go even bigger, do one more rotation, or throw one more grab. It’s the person who says, “Lets make this jump massive and the gap even wider.” “Lets race to the bottom of the mountain and hit every tiny obstacle you can possible see or ride off of.” We are a unique breed in that we continue to push the limits on all aspects of the sport. Because of our ability to go to new extremes we are able to continually change the face of snowboarding. Some may view us as extreme or out of control but they are just misunderstood or misinformed. We are creative, passionate, and progressive. So as this season ends and you get ready to stash your board away for another summer enjoy the last couple of rides. Sooner than you know it you will be sick of the sun and waiting around for that first storm of the season to dump on your local mountain. Only then will the cycle restart and we will see something that we never thought we would witness. Throw that trick you have been contemplating on all season, drop that cliff that has been staring at you in the eye all year, do something that pushes you because soon enough the season will be over and you will once again be left wondering…

Remember that you can never go to big. As a South African friend once told me “Pumpachamoni.” Go big or go home.