SIA Highlights

• Attending SIA as press is the biggest highlight, my badge said shayboarder.com. I’ll go further into this but it was a great opportunity.
• Everyone in the snowboarding industry who has read the blog, I got a lot of props and recognition…I’m still in awe. It was like a big dream for me. If someone had told me years ago that people I watched in snowboard films, read in magazines and idolized would know my name…I wouldn’t have believed it.
• Hanging out with my two crews: Never Summer and Mtnops. Both companies are my families and I enjoy spending time with them every chance I get. This was the first year with Mtnops and I appreciate everything they have done for me. Never Summer and I started at SIA and it’s been great getting to know then more and more each year.
• Finding out that Holy Oly would be going on when I head back to Washington later this month. After I moved away from Washington 3.5 years ago, the Holy Oly came back and it’s one of those events I read in magazines and wish I was there.
• The big 3: Snowboarder, Transworld and Snowboard. I was able to put names to faces at SIA and met the editors for each of the magazines. I am subscribed to all of them, I read them and admire those in charge. I was also able to meet Matt from Frequency, see Mike Lewis from Transworld Business and meet 2 people from Allus.
• Pat Bridges goes in his own category. My goal this year has been to learn how to do handplants like Pat and eventually I’ll get it. I really admire him, his writing, his weath of information and his generous disposition. The other reason and nothing against Pat but it’s great to see another fellow shredder holding it down that isn’t stick skinny in this industry.
• Meeting Aaron Draplin and him hooking me up with field notes and Draplin pens because I needed it. He’s eloquent and real which speaks volumes from his writing on his blog.
• I think every where I went, I ran into Tj Schneider which is a great thing since I like the guy. I’m supposed to get married to him eventually so I figure this is the pre-dating part…getting to know each other, crossing paths, hugs, weird looks, dancing, e-fights…the pre-dating part is the most fun and I never want it to end.
• Those Jackson Hole mountain men: Willie, Jesse, Mark. They keep it real and are fun to be around. Really happy that Carter is filming with Absinthe this year, he deserves it and can’t wait to see his riding in it.
• Chris the Nor Cal rep who does NCP Sales Blog telling me how Robbie Sell told him that a blogger is a journalist and I should remember that.
• Mark Sullivan. Just going out with him and hanging out for some of the parties was a blast. Just a lot of fun getting to know him and talking about snowboarding.
• Meeting the bloggers of the snowboarding worlds. Push.ca, Pikture, NCP Sales, Dangerzone, Boardistan, Varmin/Dragon, Yobeat, and EXPN Shred Fantastique. I was able to catch up with bloggers I have met before, Johan’s Tackledbox, Gabe’s Out of the Rain and Marc’s Vociferous Void. I finally got to meet bloggers for companies, Trevor who does Lib Tech, Lance for Ashbury and Mark from Flow.
• Putting names to faces. I was able to meet with people that have emailed me over the past year and read the blog, like what I’m doing and support me. It was really a great opportunity to meet them in person and get to know them better.
• Meeting Jeff Brushie and talking about snowboarding with him. I kept getting told to tell him how much I admire him, but I couldn’t do it…so we just talked and that was way cooler.
• As always my friends who have known me for years from Washington, being able to see them again and spend time with them. Mike, Gorio, Chad, Garvie, Eric. These guys are my inspiration and my knowledge.
• There’s a good website coming out, I won’t give too much info on. But I was able to meet the people that I’ll be riding with when I come out to Washington later this month and I am stoked to be a part of their new adventure.
• Being able to try out more products this year. Companies have been great on getting more products into my hands which I never take for granted. I can’t wait to review more gear for you guys.
• I really walked away from the show just happy at how it went. I was busy the entire time and my feet hurt by Friday, but I was so happy to meet everyone, to see products and stoked that I can bring this back to my readers. I made sure to surround myself with the people I like and have the same passion for the sport that I do. I’ve found that being around the good, positive people are where it’s at. The feedback that I received from the industry was great and it’s always rad to see that people like what I do.

The question is: What is the most influential thing I took home from SIA this year?

The Answer is: The photocopy of the 1st Snowboarder Magazine.