Industry Profile: Rossignol Team Manager Alex Pashley

Industry Profile: Rossignol Team Manager Alex Pashley

Shay: So tell us about yourself?

Alex: I am getting close to the big 30 mark…well, I’ve got a couple years…I love snowboarding, always have. I live in Heber, Utah, with my two loves, Erin and Kujo. It also helps that I am about 5 miles to the sled zone.

I actually got into snowboarding because of my dad and his buddy, they used to own a shop in Idaho Springs, CO called Cruise or Bruise…great name. My mom came from a strict ski race background and hated snowboarding at first…she to this day has never set foot on a board. Good for her. She rips on skis anyways. My dad still kills it on a board. You can find him in Terrace, BC every winter. He is the only one rocking a one piece suit, Glacier glasses and a fucking huge split tail Prior deck….probably shredding harder than me still. My brother used to ride for Checker Pig. Yes, that was a brand back in the day, thanks Windell…well, there is my fam.

Shay: What is your job title?

Alex: I am the International Team and Promotions Manager for Rossignol.

Shay: Did your parents question your job choice?

Alex: Haha, oh yeah. I was in college when I first started working for Salomon Snowboards. I had one year left of school and bailed to start working in the industry. I told them hat I would finish during the summers when things were mellow. I then spent every summer since in Hood, which if you have been there, you know no school work is going down. So, needless to say I still have no diploma…sorry mom.

Shay: What was your first set up?

Alex: Burton Elite 145 and some wack ass binders…I ran Sorels with Lange ski boot liners and a shit ton of duct tape.

Shay: What is your current set up?

Alex: Rossi Decoy and some HC 2K binders…stoked on it. Decoy is the best board for me that I have ridden so far.

Shay: What was your first job?

Alex: Dishwasher at J. Williams Catering in Evergreen, CO. It sucked bad. Catering jobs would go down on the weekend and I would come in on the Monday and empty all the dishes and have to go at it. I had a bunch of buddies to co-miserate with, so it was pretty fun while being shitty.

Shay: What’s a great day of snowboarding to you?

Alex: Pow with the homies. Could be right here in Utah doing some hikes off the lifts, or sledding and shredding all day. Throw in a few pre rolls and I’m more than stoked. A heli is always nice as well.

Shay: Who are your influences?

Alex: My mom, anyone still stoked on snowboarding and not all the bullshit that goes along with it.

Shay: How long have you been snowboarding?

Alex: Since ’86…shit, I am getting old.

Shay: How many days do you get to ride a year?

Alex: I have managed to still get out a bundle, I may only take a couple runs if I am the sled bitch or shooting photos, but that counts right? Not sure on the number. But, when snow hits I try to roll out as much as I can. It helps that the office is 2 miles away from the resort.

Shay: What’s your trick of choice?

Alex: Frontside Turn…hahaha I am getting old…or, just a good ole ollie. The board is attached to your feet. No need to grab…

Shay: What is your role at Rossignol as the Team Manager?

Alex: Babysitter to the stars…making sure we get getting it done all winter.

Shay: Currently who is on the team?

Alex: Jeremy Jones, Chad Otterstrom, Kyle Clancy, Drew Fuller, Wyatt Caldwell, Alex Sherman, Will Tunndenham, Mathieu Crepel, Kjersti Buaas, Caleb Flowers, Zach Siebert, Jeremy Cloutier, Jason Dubois…uhhh, we got some more coming this fall…it’s a secret though.

Shay: Do you work with any upcoming riders for the company?

Alex: Oh yeah, some of them are in that list above. Alex “Littlest” Sherman is the future though.

Shay: Are you on call 24 hours a day for the team?

Alex: Pretty much, there are no weekends or office hours. In the winter you are up at 6 to handle emails and shit, then out all day shooting sledding or building, then home in the evening and back to the computer to deal with more emails.

Shay: Is managing a team really about building and maintaining strong relationships?

Alex: For sure, that is what this industry is all about. It’s not what you know…it is who you know.

Shay: Do you work with the riders on their own riding?

Alex: Nah, they are all a bit different and I back that.

Shay: Do you ever tell the riders to metal up?

Alex: Me?? Nah…haha if you ask them they would probably say yes though. But, it’s all out of love.

Shay: How do you keep snowboarding cool?

Alex: Your asking me? I work for a French Ski Company. The reality is that Rossi will never been the “cool” or “core” company but it can be a respected one for sure, that is where I am at right now. Just gaining some respect. Making good moves to create a positive thought about Rossi instead of the typical Ski Company mentality.

Shay: Do you do any other work for Rossignol?

Alex: I have been pretty involved in the board line for next year.

Shay: Rossignol is in the process of being sold off; do you think this will impact the team?

Alex: Nah, I was the Team Manager at Salomon for a while and the whole time I was there they were for sale. Then, when they finally sold everyone was waiting for this big change and nothing ever happened. I think it will be the same if not better if we get sold…let’s hope they are from the US.

Shay: Prior to Rossignol, what other jobs/companies have you worked at?

Alex: I did sales in CO for Salomon and Bonfire, and then became the International Team Manager for Salomon Snowboards.

Shay: What are some memorable experiences from working at Rossignol?

Alex: Oooh, working with Luke Edgar is always a memorable experience. This last winter I took a group of kids out in the backcountry on sleds and they destroyed 2 of them. 6K later, I am sure there parents were bummed.

Shay: How is working for Rossignol (any cool work events, work environment, job perks)?

Alex: Pretty sweet for sure. From the office you can see the mountain, so, if it’s dumping you better believe most of us aren’t in the office. I also got to build a house with the better half in Heber…getting back to my farming roots, haha.

Shay: What education/experience did you have before getting the job?

Alex: I went to CU Boulder for three years, basically partied pretty hard. God, I am glad to be outta Boulder.

Shay: What’s the best perk you’ve gotten from your job?

Alex: Getting to expense the thing I love…shhhh don’t tell my boss.

Shay: Any disadvantages of your job?

Alex: Oh yeah. Everyone thinks it is the best thing ever and don’t get me wrong the pluses out weigh the minuses for sure, otherwise I would not be here. But there are a lot of headaches as well. Just today, I got an email from a “Soccer Mom” informing me that I better hook up her son, or he may be swooped up by some other brand. Parents can be a kid’s worst enemy in this biz. They should stop trying to hype there kids and just let there riding do the talking.

Shay: Since you started in the snowboard industry, what’s been the best change?

Alex: The vibe. Back in the day, Jesus, I sound old…no one cared what you were riding just as long as you were out having fun. Now, there is a whole vibe thang going on. That shit is wack. You’re snowboarding…enjoy it…and chill the hell out.

Shay: What’s the busiest time of year for you?

Alex: Winter for sure.

Shay: Education vs. Experience…which do you think is more important?

Alex: For sure experience. Nothing in school prepares you for dealing with Customs Agents in Seattle when a 15 year old girl, who you are in charge of, gets busted for importing a giant bottle of Sake coming back from Japan, while 2 of your other athletes have basically overdosed on Tylenol PM because they couldn’t sleep…yes, this is a true story. Thank you Josh Sherman, Ryan Thompson, and Jamie Anderson.

Shay: What advice would you give to people wanting to become a Team Manager?

Alex: Talk to Nic Drago first…

Shay: Final thoughts?

Alex: Haters will always be there. Take it in stride. One thing that pisses them off more than anything is not letting it get to you. Don’t vibe the new kid out trying to get his. He is just trying to have fun. Don’t vibe the old guy out there. They have been shredding pow a lot longer than you and can probably teach you new kids how to turn…

Peef.