Thoroughbreds of Snowboarding
Homegrown riders set national trends, win awards
by Claire Desgouttes
 |
|---|
Photo: Matt Richards Bryan Iguchi grabs air in the southern Tetons. |
Two reasons Jackson Hole is the perfect place for avid snowboarders: a wide variety of terrain and accessibility to lots of snow. The hardest part is deciding where to go.
On a powder day the obvious choice for local snowboarders is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, a.k.a.—Teton Village. After all, why waste your energy hiking when you can take a lift to the good stuff? However, you do have to get up very early. On a big powder day the tram line will start forming between six and seven o’clock, and that’s for the first public departure at 9:00 a.m.
But it’s worth it. In addition to its powder stash and 4,000 vertical feet to explore, you can enjoy wide-open trails, tight tree turns, steeps, and picture-perfect cliff drops. Even the cat tracks are conducive to snowboarding—and it’s downhill, so there’s no need to unstrap.
The Village can get tracked out by half-day, but even then the resort still has options for the afternoon session. Jump into the pipe or park to practice your jibs, or head out of bounds, which is accessible from various lifts.
For a more solitary experience, veer farther west onto Highway 22. Towering above the quaint little town of Wilson, Teton Pass is the door to unlimited, hiking-accessible terrain. From the parking lot at the top, the hike to Mt. Glory summit is about an hour up a well-beaten boot-pack. The ride down Glory Bowl is spectacular.
On the other hand, if you are a nine-to-five career person (there are a few around these parts), you could stop at Snow King Resort in the town of Jackson, during your lunch hour. Snow King is one of the few resorts that charge by the hour. $15 gets you a couple hours ($10 for children), and the north-facing, steep runs hold great snow year-round.
Snowmobiling into the high country is the local snowboarders’ favorite way of transportation, especially when the snow down here is not plentiful. Sometimes you hear spoiled locals complain—like you do in every resort town—“There is no snow.” I say, “There is pretty much always snow to be had; you just have to find it.” Endless miles of terrain open up when you ride a snowmobile. A couple of favorites are Phillips Canyon and Togwotee Pass. But beware, if you buy a snowmobile you run the risk of spending less time snowboarding and more time snowmobiling—it’s just great fun.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has a variety of terrain, which helps develop the talent of a well-rounded snowboarder. Some mountain resorts have the terrain and conditions that breed half-pipe champions, while others produce big-mountain riders. Still others spawn racers. Jackson Hole has all the terrain and more that riders need to accomplish any of these feats.
Proof of the above are Jackson Hole’s own—professional snowboarders Julie Zell, Bryan Iguchi, Rob Kingwill, Lance Pitman, and Travis Rice.
 |
|---|
| John Recchio explores below Pepi's Bench at Jackson Hole Resort. Photo: Woodall |
Julie Zell is a persisent person, a true local hero, and a professional snowboarder. She’s lived in Jackson Hole for 13 years and has snowboarded for the same amount of time, having learned here. Her other interests are her husband Gus, art, pets, and wakeboarding. She said that Jackson Hole is a special place to her, and she will always have a home here. Her accomplishments in snowboarding include three time Queen of the Hill (extreme snowboarding champion) and segments in Warren Miller and Teton Gravity Research films.
Bryan Iguchi is a 29-year-old professional snowboarder of legendary status. Born in Los Angeles, California, he has been snowboarding for 15 years, and learned to snowboard at Mountain High and Big Bear Mountains in southern California. He has lived in Jackson Hole for eight years, and could quite possibly see himself retiring here. He chose Jackson over other resorts because of the terrain and the small community. He is a partner in Illuminati Snowboards, a local company. His other interests include art, music, people, life, graphic design, and his dog, Luna. A few of Bryan’s major accomplishments in snowboarding are a second-place win in the World Half Pipe Championships in 1992, X-Games bronze medallist in 1997, and numerous segments in widely distributed snowboarding films.
Rob Kingwill is an extremely energetic, 28-year-old professional snowboarder. He was born in Durango, Colorado, and has lived in Jackson Hole since he was four. He has been snowboarding for 15 years, and learned on the hill in his backyard on Aspen Drive, and also at Snow King and the Village. His favorite area to ride is out of bounds at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. He thinks the best thing about Jackson Hole is the terrain and the ski area and that the worst is the lack of girls! A few of his major accomplishments in snowboarding are a first-place win in the U.S. Open of Snowboarding in 1998, X-Games ‘slopestyle’ bronze medallist in 1998, and overall winner of the Grand Prix of Snowboarding in 2000.
Lance Pitman is a 25-year-old, seriously busy entrepreneur and professional snowboarder. He was born in Dallas, Texas, and has lived in Jackson Hole for 15 years. He has also been snowboarding for the same 15 years—so he learned to ride right here. His favorite place to ride is in-bounds at the Village if it is snowing, and out of bounds if it’s not. Ladies, don’t worry. In contrast to Rob, Lance thinks the girls are the best thing about Jackson Hole and the worst is the cold. His major accomplishments in snowboarding are his numerous roles in widely distributed snowboarding films. But above all, Lance, inspired by his father, is the founding partner of Illuminati Snowboards.
 |
|---|
Travis Rice exits Corbet's cave at the start of TGR's TV show, Adrenaline X. Photo: McKoy |
Travis Rice, an impulsive 20-year-old, is a natural professional snowboarder. Born and raised in Jackson Hole, he has been snowboarding for eight years and learned at Snow King and the Village. His favorite place to ride is at the Village on a good day, but at the moment he is heavily involved with his snowboarding career (traveling the world, etc.). So, for Travis, the best and worst thing about Jackson Hole is not being here. His other interests are the ocean, golf, and “hating on politics.” He also enjoys being involved with his rider-owned sponsors: Bluebird wax, Grenade gloves, and Neff head wear. A few of his major accomplishments in snowboarding are X Trail Tokyo Dome gold medallist, three-peat MVP of Snowboarder magazine’s Superpark Event, X-Games gold in ‘slopestyle’ 2002, gold medals in quarter pipe and jib jam at the U.S. Open of Snowboarding 2002, and numerous video parts over the past three years.
These riders have formed a symbiotic relationship with Jackson Hole. In addition to their natural talent, love of the sport, ability and insane lack of fear, these riders also all credit the Tetons for having shaped their evolution into being well-rounded, world-class, professional snowboarders. At the same time, these individuals have helped put Jackson Hole on the map in snowboarding. Local snowboard businesses—Bluebird Wax, The Board Room, Illuminati Snowboards, and Faction—have always been an important part of the mold for snowboarding and Jackson Hole.
What will the future bring? Who knows, but as for future snowboarding talent, keep your eye on Adam Dowell, Chuck Turquie, and Emma Rahme.
So now you can understand why Jackson Hole is a snowboarders’ paradise, whichever hill you choose. Have fun, and above all, be safe. See you out there!
Claire Desgouttes has been snowboarding for ten years and worked in the industry for six years, including a stint with TransWorld Snowboarding magazine. Now with LifeLink, she took a break from snowboarding to become a new mother last January, and can’t wait to get back on the hill this winter.
The Jackson Hole Skier is a free visitors’ guide published annually and distributed at hundreds of locations throughout Jackson Hole, Cody, and other regional communities. To receive a copy in the mail, send $5 to Jackson Hole SKier, P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.
Copyright 2004 by FPI (Focus Productions, Inc)., P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publishers.
Publishers: Bob Woodall & Wade McKoy, dba Focus Productions, Inc. (FPI)
Editors: Mike Calabrese, Wade McKoy, Bob Woodall
Art Direction & Ad Design: Janet Melvin
Advertising Sales:
JACKSON: Ike Faust, 307-690-5908, 307-733-6995 email: mail.focus@wyom.net
DUBOIS & PINEDALE: Janet Melvin 307-733-6995
CODY: Guy & Barb Hull 307-527-7808