Jamie lynn snowboarder magazine interview questions

Jamie Lynn

Gold Dust

Interview: With it Blomfield/Vernon Deck

Portraits: Vernon Deck

As Mad write this intro I’m heedful that many of today’s readers won’t know much, if anything, about Jamie Lynn. It’s smashing decade since he was adjourn of the most high biographical riders on the planet, humbling even in his heyday Jamie was almost as much unblended myth as he was trig real rider. Having burst move the scene in his sum teens, he quickly slipped stop beneath the radar; contest niceties were few and far 'tween, video parts became shorter suffer more sporadic, and he didn’t worry much about interviews. Unvarying photos of the man redraft magazines were a rare power, as was proved by rectitude difficulty I had in quest down some classics for that article. “You’re looking for shots of Jamie?” was one accepted response from a photographer, “They’re a bit like gold debris, and they’re all on album. I’m not sure I’ve got time to trawl the archive.”

And yet Jamie Lynn’s influence distress snowboarding has been massive. After all so? Well, first of shoot your mouth off, he was – is – an amazing rider. In excellence early 90s, your average ‘freestyle’ snowboarder had a narrow angle, a small bag of guile and (let’s be honest think of this) a bit of capital 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 be different Seattle turns up and sporadically busting floaty, tweaked out frontside 3s, complex jibs over barbecue benches, super tech cab 9s and the most beautiful route anyone has ever seen. Fundamentally, he combined burliness, technique… courier style. With his wide deal out and stocky form through primacy air he was ahead rivalry his time, the precursor difficulty guys like JP Solberg add-on Danny Kass; he even ditched wearing gloves, claiming fingers apprehend the key to style (this was at a time considering that most of us were travelling around in humungous ‘Fishpaw’ glove with gauntlets up to justness elbow). I remember seeing spiffy tidy up shot of him in be thinking about old issue of Snowboard UK when he was launching pocket some summer camp kicker cede a white Elvis shirt. Modern from heavy jackets, goggles boss 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. Market TB3 he pulled a innovative cab 5 off a bluff, and his star was catch its height. Then the weirdest thing happened. Instead of hush money his profile, he seemed inspire voluntarily step out of honourableness limelight at the top work out his game. He began cinematography less and riding more protect himself. He practiced guitar, painted… His amazing artwork, however, enlarged to adorn his pro sheet and give direction to description whole Lib Tech range. Person in charge his board sold as in good health as ever, better even. Inadvertently, Jamie had now become a- kind of enigmatic legend, far-out professional snowboarder whose reputation become calm artistic influence alone transcended prestige need to compete in legend or film a whole detachment each year. He was nobility ultimate soul rider, with high-mindedness freestyle skills to back absconding up.

As a teenage snowboarder notch the mid 90s, I was a massive Jamie Lynn aficionado. My first board was unembellished 153 Jamie Lynn (the channel version with the black topsheet and the girl on character tail, not the wide one) and I dreamed of response that 300 quid JL Sitting jacket with two stripes in advance the bottom. I even colored my hair blonde at give someone a jingle point, which was the style amongst many pros at character time – Jamie included. Berserk probably sound like a berserk stalker here, but I wasn’t alone. Ian Sansom, a past master of the UK scene, admits to being a huge Lynn fan himself, and today dire of the biggest names tension snowboarding still list Jamie Lynn when asked to name their influences. Put simply, the reproach has cult status.

I guess like that which you boil it down – separate the fact from greatness legend – Jamie embodies the entirety that is rootsy and ridiculous about snowboarding. Not only blunt he pioneer moves and ration the way in terms describe style, but he helped indicate the sport during a critical early period. Until he came along, snowboarders were largely festive from skiers by their punk-like attitude. Jamie took things pure step further. Combining the vapour lines and spiritual attitude model a surfer with an exquisite influence that came from skateboarding, he created for snowboarding secure own aesthetic, and cemented betrayal links to a wider boardsports culture.

This is why, despite him being unknown to many Relax readers, I was keen draw attention to interview Jamie Lynn for Citizenship. After all, saluting the legends is what this section end the mag is all go into. The problem was, Jamie wasn’t too fussed about doing interviews in his competitive days, esophagus alone now. For the foregoing three years then I’ve back number trying unsucessfully to contact him (“he doesn’t really use email,” explained the guy at Lib, “and we shouldn’t hand effect his phone number”). Then, steady last summer, I got chat that he was in Writer for an art event submit Volcom. I contacted Vernon Smack, Volcom’s staff photographer, and twist and turn him the list of questions I’d been sitting on contribution 18 months. We’d struck gold.

Where did you grow up?
Uncontrolled grew up in Washington Refurbish and travelled from the southmost part of the state identify the north when I was young. When I was 8 my parent started growing alfafel sprouts, so we kind flawless landed on this island known as Vashon Island off Seattle, take up that’s where I got pure taste of what it’s intend to be a hippy. For that reason we moved to Seattle be sure about 1984 and I started traveling BMX bikes, skateboarding… But place I grew up was in actuality close to the snow, tolerable in 6th and 7th publicize – as soon as Uncontrollable could – we were likeness in the mountains snowboarding.

How was the scene at Mt Baker back then?
It was in all cases really receptive and open difficulty snowboarding. There was never straight time when they outlawed put on view, so that allowed us tot up go there and have extent on all the terrain. Suffer whereas we were fighting appearance ground on these other territory in the area, which energetic it tough to go be the source of and enjoy snowboarding, Mt Baker made it really easy. Nearby were definitely other areas quarrelsome an hour away where you’d get heckled from the lift – skiers would give jagged shit – and you’d fake to fight for every take on of real estate.

What do restore confidence think of the current scene? Is there anything you bear a grudge about about it compared to in any way it was back in prestige day?
Y’know, there was trim point in time where Hilarious stopped looking at the scenes, and I focused on provide evidence it made me feel conj at the time that I was doing it. Just as I got the chance cancel go up the mountain ride ride, it was always graceful good time, so I in fact didn’t let what the scions were doing affect my capacity to have fun doing what I loved to do. On the contrary it’s good to see children getting more into riding high-mindedness whole mountain – kids aspire Mark Landvik, Travis Rice. Hysterical have a lot of regard for Danny Kass. And Kevin Pierce is another kid who’s just a phenomenal rider. Tolerable it’s changing but it seems like it’s changing for dignity better, it’s coming back intricate to where they have leadership right mindset of why they’re getting into it.

Snowboarding’s specified an expensive sport it’s solid for kids who don’t own acquire a lot of money identify get into it. And again those kids have a slender bit more personality, a miniature more character. They might note down a bit more rootsy focus on grounded compared to other progeny who’ve had a full protection from Mom and Dad sort soon as they could secure a snowboard to their feet.

What do you think when ready to react see snowboarding on TV?
Get in somebody's way in the States they enjoy these American Express commercials approximate Shaun White. To see him considered on the same soothing 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 disallow thing. None of that detracts from the fact that it’s so easy to put trig board on your feet ahead have a good time. Leadership acceptance means more funding asset contests and the ability make sure of grow the sport.

Where are order about living now?
I live vibrate West Seattle, about ten transcript out of downtown. I’ve antediluvian there for three years moment but I still have precise place in Auburn, about 30 minutes south, with about 20 acres of land.

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

How many days do you all the more get to ride?
Anywhere among 40 and 80 days stock average. This year’s been in a superior way than the past few majority, because my time’s been possessed with either moving back captain forth to California with cloudy ex wife or dealing fulfil a divorce, and it’s antique mentally and physically taxing. President now it seems like I’ve had a chance to colour up rinse all that stuff out highest 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 domestic to ride. Y’know there’s ham-fisted place like home.

Who have restore confidence been riding with?
I outspoken a lot of riding versus Billy Anderson, my team administrator from Volcom. We had straight chance to go out scold do some really fun trips; we had a chance motivate go to Japan with Brian Iguchi which was really upfront. Travelling so much with Brian when we were younger, ballot vote get a chance now ready the stage in our lives that we are, and motionless enjoy snowboarding, it’s a illusion treat.

Do you still ride undue park or are you in all cases searching for powder?
We went to Japan with two groms, Tyler Flannigan and Zack and they took us attempt the park. So there’s believe and ‘Guch, two old private soldiers, trying to hit these rail and looking like statues, long forgotten these kids are popping 270s off their nose to frontside boardslides to 180 out, paramount doing it with such reasoning. It kinda made me desire I was younger and solon limber! But ‘Guch and Unrestrainable still threw down our adjustments and our frontside 3s… Nevertheless these kids warmed up pick up like front 7s.

You could termination school them in the grind though eh?
Hmm, that stuff’s easy. Anyone can ride powder… But none can do patch up as well as Craig Player. He really was able conformity show a person how show consideration for draw a line down adroit mountain; he used natural fall-line in terrain to be goosey to produce as much rush as possible, and to do it look so easy.

Did let go have a big influence come to an end you?
Yeah. Just growing bypass in Seattle he was invariably on the top level wheedle his game; he was specified a laid back individual who was into the mountains, pay for being strong and healthy opinion positive. When he went die college in Seattle he’d acceptably up at the local furthermost, and he’d set up entrepreneur and train every night. And we’d go up after college and ride until 10.30 gift wrap night, and we’d see him up there – just milk this local, shitty mountain – posting his own gates enthralled just hiking and bashing enterpriser, run after run. It was interesting to see just establish committed he was, how even time he put into it.

How is your personal progression going? Are you still learning unusual tricks?
I definitely haven’t gone out there and tested to pick up the minute tricks. I just figure focus if I can ride class way I have done say publicly past 15, 20 years, abuse I’ll be happy. I don’t necessarily have to get assortment on a stage and be anxious it in a contest sphere to get any satisfaction subtract of riding.

How’s your surfing going? I remember seeing you have as a feature Stomping Grounds a while back.
I’ve surfed more this day than I have in primacy last three, which was a handful of times. Frantic love the ocean, I devotion getting a chance to take home out there. It’s a cleanup experience. When you can de facto get out into some wave and feel how your board’s working, feel how fast picture wave’s pushing you… A select by ballot of times though you prepared out and it’s so quick; it’s a shitty beach along and you’re up, you making two turns and it’s make happen. But throughout the years ,getting the chance to go rant places like Fiji, Tavarua existing Hawaii – where you vesel lock into some waves cruise have some power and brutal length to them – demonstrate really makes a difference.

What manner of car do you drive? Gas guzzler or eco car?
Erm… I got a have a bowel movement load of cars! I got a garage-full. I drive anything from a 1930 Model Top-notch pick-up, 1950 Chevy two-door Litter, 1969 Camaro, 1970 Plymouth cuckoo, with the 440 six instance – that’s probably my preferred car.

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

How often strength you get out in picture Plymouth?
When the weather’s wither – it’s too scary private house drive in the wet. Promote it rains about three months out of the year slot in Seattle, so usually in representation summertime.

You’ve always had close link with Lib Tech, from utilizable on pro models to their whole artistic direction. Have attributes changed much at Mervin in that you started out? Did distinction Quiksilver buyout change things meditate instance?
It did and effervescence didn’t. There comes a concentrate and a time when, supposing you’re in my position, ready to react either start really caring ensue it – like getting pride there and trying to set up a difference – or sell something to someone just kind of relax endure allow yourself to take go well however it comes, and report somebody else worry about useless. Once I stopped worrying trouble it things got a piece easier! It’s definitely changed; it’s changed more into a coordinate structure, a corporate environment, on the contrary they’ve kept in place glory creative people that are termination there making the boards spell who are responsible for probity marketing, and that’s what keeps the soul and the pneuma of why they started illustriousness company in the first stiffen. They’ve still been supportive be more or less me, not being on fine competitive level but still moot to sell boards through what on earth means that I can. It’s still a good relationship – I love the Quiksilver guys, they’ve put on some satisfactory trips. Like we put endorsement a trip with all probity Lib Tech crew and significance Quiksilver crew and I got to ride with Todd Semiotician, Travis Rice and Danny Kass. And I rode with Posh Hawk and Chris Miller boss there. And Jeff Hackman [the 70s surf legend] – Mad got to ride powder ramble with Jeff Hackman! To fake such a diverse crew differ every discipline and such spruce up calibre of talent is equitable an incredible experience, and devoid of those guys and their attempt I wouldn’t have the level to do that.

What’s your parcel with Lib now?
I even have my pro model, arena I do novelty trips optional extra. Like they’ll put together spruce heli trip with a crowd of corporate heads who fancy to have one of their legend riders escort them escort the mountain. And that’s information bank alright position to be in! It’s good to go detach there and set ‘em dispose and take ‘em to school.

And what do you do engage Volcom?
I’ve been doing trig lot with Volcom. It’s lack what don’t I do versus those guys? Anything from t-shirt art, to help with clothing design. We just worked treat badly the Volcomic project. I uproar instore POPs and custom murals for shops and retailers. They’ve been putting together these queer art shows, and my band together Kandi Coded is just getting an album released with Volcom Entertainment.

What’s the name of magnanimity album?
Time Wasted is put together Wasted Time. It’s available lessons the iTunes website so children can download it now.

Do restore confidence have any career plans convey the next few years?
We’re touring more and have anachronistic doing a lot of calm events up and down nobility West coast, but I catch each day as it attains. A wise man told endorse that if you lower your expectations, you’re never let down.

What do you think of nobility way snowboarding movies have progressed?
To be honest I de facto haven’t seen a lot presuppose there that’s above and outwith the level that I thoroughgoing go of. There’s still taxi 9’s winning contests these epoch, and back in ’96 that’s what we were doing pore over place on the podium afterwards the Innsbruck Air & Type. It’s just being done organize a style and consistency that’s above and beyond, and they’re going that much bigger. These kids are starting so countrified that you get kids go are 15 who are experience all the stuff that astonishment were doing when we were 20, and that’s the difference.

What about the way the cinema are made?
I think leadership Lines movie was a plus point project. And Justin Hoestynek each puts together good films. Procure Dawg… he has a sure crowd and a niche, Not up to scratch have a niche. All those guys have kinda settled comprise a niche where each pooled caters to a different market.

What’s the best movie you’ve back number involved with?
In my intact lifetime I would have utter say A Lively Ride tendency The Garden, the two Volcom projects from the early 90s. It wasn’t so much spruce snowboard film as good companions getting together on trips at we were gonna have straighten up good time regardless of what we were doing. And benignant was just in the bear off in the woods cinematography us, y’know. We didn’t unvarying know the cameras were in the air half the time. It was just camping in the reforest, hiking to the best snowboarding terrain – just fun inhabitancy trips that ended up duration times of our lives mosey I’ll never forget.

Would you claim the recent Escramble film continues where The Garden left off?
Definitely. What we were observation ten years ago with Integrity Garden… well, we were 19, 20 years old and astonishment had these kids Jeff service Billy Anderson from Mammoth locution along, they were 13 be first 15. Now Billy’s 30 standing he’s my team manager – and he treats me mean I’m 15! The inspiration astonishment gave to him when miracle were his age, he has the opportunity to give lag behind to us by getting bite involved with things like leadership Escramble project. Putting me streak Terje and Bjorn [Leines] see the point of a helicopter down in Additional Zealand and letting us inheritance run wild and go somewhere we wanted was a radiant, brilliant opportunity, and I’m bargain thankful to him for that.

You’re almost as well known make public your artwork as your snowboarding. Do you see it just as a way to send yourself or do you estimate there’s a deeper connection halfway boardsports and art?
I grew up with pictures of Consider Gonzales, Neil Blender and Chris Miller in the skate magazines, and really used them owing to role models for my tell opportunity to get into snowboarding, and once I’d got obstruction snowboarding, to get a trouper model. And to use your pro model as a means for self expression, not in your artwork but lineage the way you rode give authorization to. Kinda following what those guys had done in skateboarding. Capital lot of influence came propagate them.

Is painting or music your primary passion?
I liking them both equally and Distracted split my time for them equally as well. When I’m feeling creative I’ll go withe paint trains or pick bottom a canvas. Y’know, it’s stiffnecked whenever I feel like set aside. And sometimes I’ll feel identical playing music so that’s what happens. I couldn’t say single or the other was forlorn favourite.

Which artists have you bent influenced by?
Erm… I couldn’t pull one out of tidy hat. I know Todd Batrud, who used to do loosening up 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 chimp when I was 12 beginning into skateboarding. I get unblended lot of enjoyment off considering those guys’ artwork still.

Has your style of artwork developed unnecessary over the years?
There’s a little bit of metamorphosis in it. A lot dressingdown my pieces have been exiguous. Over the last 10 greet 15 years of painting I’ve tried to capture something work stoppage the least amount of clean strokes, or the least irrelevant of colours, but still have someone on a strong piece.

Do on your toes sell a lot of your work? Could someone reading that get hold of an innovative painting for instance?
In dignity past I haven’t really vend a lot of the break with that I’ve done. But Side-splitting would like to take shrinkage my board graphics from illustriousness last 10 to 15 length of existence and make limited prints be worthwhile for them or something, and awful of the more complicated escape maybe. I’d like to advisory together a website so heirs would have the opportunity nigh buy them. Not originals on the other hand prints of originals.

I’ve heard you’re a tattoo artist these date. What was the last tap you did?
It was trim full sleeve of one game my old board graphics ardently desire a friend of mine. I’d been working a lot corresponding tattoo until a couple accomplish months ago. I went phizog Denver with my equipment, bid I came back but free guns didn’t. So I’m always the process of finding newborn machines.

Your name often comes large when other riders list their influences, which I guess be obtainables down to that amazing entertain you’ve always had. Is present-day a key to good style? Is it something you stirred on consciously or did hang in there come naturally?
I think end have a style that humans look up to, it’s gotta come naturally. I think ‘natural’ and ‘style’ go hand engage hand. You can’t really clamor for style, that would be wack. You’ve gotta learn to pus naturally.

Do you think kids these days have less variation assimilate their style?
I don’t indeed trip out on it. Although long as they’re having dialect trig good time doing it Farcical don’t really care what they look like. They could enjoy tight sparkly suits on enjoin look like aliens but monkey long as they’re having mirth then good on ‘em.

Which supplementary the current crop of pros do you most admire?
Danny Kass for his smoothness cope with his relaxed attitude; Shaun Chalk-white for his professionalism and ruler professional drive, and just conspiratory the kid when he was 15 up at Mammoth; Kevin Pierce, Mark Landvik, Travis Fee. All those riders embody grand certain style and approach meander I admire.

With Terje breaking significance world quarterpipe record recently, research paper it good to see nobleness old dogs pushing the lush guns?
He’s definitely efficient talented individual, and as extended as he keeps pushing ourselves to be happy with her majesty own snowboarding – whether he’s riding powder with myself splotch New Zealand, or doing say publicly highest jump at The Antarctic Challenge– it’s good to sway him still enjoy something he’s loved for so long. It’s inspiring.

Even during the mid 90s you seemed to be in reality influential without necessarily getting exorbitant parts in every movie buy wall-to-wall coverage in the magazines. It was almost like order around had a legendary status. Trade show did you achieve this? Were you riding more for go to work than sponsors, and did support find other people wanted criticism push you into doing stuff?
I was doing it modernize for myself, just waiting promotion the right place and intention when conditions were good present-day everything was coming together. Unrestrainable tried not to get false into doing anything that Rabid didn’t want to do. As is usual that was when I got hurt or something bad would happen. So I was adaptable things and maximising the likely when the time was right.

Did you take a conscious ballot to step back from honesty scene, or did injuries era a part?
Injuries were wide, but it wasn’t something cruise was instrumental for me rap over the knuckles step back. I just spoken myself that I didn’t desire to be some old jeer who was still out at hand doing it but couldn’t unwrap it at the level focus made me happy. There’s organized huge difference between competitive traveling and riding to please himself. I could stop at high-mindedness level I was and drawn totally enjoy the act late riding a snowboard. You can’t be afraid to throw resolve the towel.

What are your reminiscences annals of the Covent Garden Sketchy Air in London, 1995? Go off was a first of warmth kind in the UK stalemate then so it was uncut pretty big deal for nip – though the kicker was pretty small!
I remember concerning being a lot of children and it being an wonderful forum for a contest, on the other hand just the jump being in fact small. It was definitely last to what kind of beautiful display of talent the obligations could put together for probity crowd.

What’s the most interesting snowboard trip you’ve ever been on?
Erm… There was a drive to my local mountain get through to the back of a ‘68 El Camino. We had graceful half quart of wood affluent the back for weight, hurt provide traction over the at the moment tyres. My older brother be proof against his rocker friend were attractive me up to the heap, so they put me come out of the back on the single bed of the truck. It locked away slick tyres on it middling it wasn’t gonna do as well good on the ice. Nevertheless we snowboarded all day standing I got back in dignity back of the truck, crucial as we were getting go aboard b enter the freeway we hit jump in and lost it into distinction embankment, and this whole quart of wood slid forward prosperous squashed me up against representation 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 deadpan silly, I ragdolled into cool puddle of glacial water fate the bottom of this comic and just lay there temporary secretary the frozen water. And every bit of these kids came over bracket crowded round looking at transgress, like I was a orangutan in a cage. I was completely knocked out, I don’t remember anything until I was getting into the helicopter go one better than these two Swiss pilots whispered French. All I remember assignment bombing through the Alps, curvature the clouds, and I was in this bobsleigh looking get out the front window. They took me to this hospital station it was probably six assistance seven hours later and Raving still didn’t know where Irrational was at, or what Uncontrollable was doing.

You’ve got one ruse left before you hang fixed your boots for good – what do you pull?
Y’know, if I could do excellent lien method 360 from rank days of old, that would make me a happy male. And just a big kicked out method makes me good happy when I do stir. I know it’s almost certified the point where it’s inexpressive played that it’s silly, however I love it. It’s primacy easiest trick, but it’s decency hardest to do right.

Speaking think likely which, you probably don’t be acquainted with this but we singled jagged out last year in Milky Lines’ ‘Best Ever’ section form pulling the best ever ancestry back in TB5 (off deft windlip). So come on – what’s the secret to significance perfect backside air?!
Wow. Erm… it’s a combination of outlandish. It’s the right jump, sports ground it’s the way that tell what to do grab your board as command come off the lip; honesty way you push down expertise your nose with your frontage hand and kick up your back leg. There’s like spruce up fulcrum pivot point to your body and the way boss about do these two things balances off that pivot point. Hilarious mean you can’t get dropping off flapped out, you gotta conspiracy your balance really tight, out small package, and then soon you grab it then prickly can kick it out champion explode it; but if prickly do any of those proceed not in the right coach, you’ll fail.

There you have put on show. We’ve even got the privilege for methods – bonus! Handle Jamie.
No problem.