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Ultimate Boarder competitor: Rick Gravesen |
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Written by Paul Raymore
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
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One week, three boards, one champion — the first ever Ultimate Boarder™ competition kicks off on the snow April 13 at Squaw Valley USA with local riders, including Rick Gravesen of Alpine Meadows, in the hunt.
Rick Gravesen
• Age: 32
• Hometown: Buena Park, Calif.
• Current residence: Alpine Meadows (has lived up here since 1999).
• Home mountain: Squaw Valley USA
• Favorite skate park: Sacramento
• Favorite surf break: Lower Trestles (Orange County, just south of San Clemente)
• Strongest discipline: Snowboading
 • Why did you sign up to be a part of this? Two years ago Rick took part in auditions for the original Ultimate Boarder idea, which was for a reality show on which athletes lived together, trained together and then competed against each other. That show never happened, but six or seven months ago he got a call from the organizers who had turned it into a contest.
• How long have you been skating, surfing and snowboarding? “I started skating first, and that was in 1990 or so. I think I saw that movie ‘Thrasher’ and that got me into the skating. And then after that I met some friends at school who skated and also happened to surf, so I started surfing with them. That was in 1991 I think. And just after that, probably 1992, I started snowboarding. And I loved snowboarding so much I decided to move up to Tahoe and make it my life.”
 • Favorite trick skating, surfing and snowboarding? Snowboarding — backside 720 with nice grab. Surfing — getting barreled. Skating — airing over things and big ollies.
• What sport is the most difficult for you? “Probably skating. Skating hurts and it’s the hardest. Surfing is pretty hard too, but you don’t really get hurt that much. Snowboarding you take some good wipeouts too, but you’re attached to your snowboard, so that make it a bit easier.”
• What makes you a good all-around rider? “I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m that good at any one; I’m all right at all of them though. They all just kind of transfer into each other. I do pretty much the same tricks in all the sports.”
• In what sport have you hurt yourself the worst? “Snowboarding definitely... Hitting trees, falling off a cliff and hitting another rock. That kind of stuff. It’s taken a toll on my body for sure.”
 • Ever competed in anything like this? “I’ve wanted something like this to happen since I can remember. Since I lived in Tahoe I’ve wanted something like this. It’s right up my alley. I’ve been training half my life for it and I didn’t even know it.”
• What do you think your chances are for winning the whole thing? “I’m going to go in with a lot of confidence, but I don’t want to be too cocky either. Terje Haakonsen is in it, and all kinds of rippers from other sports are in it. I’ve never really made money on any of the sports and there are pros in there that I’m sure I’m not going to beat. But I’d like to get in the top 10. I think top 10 pays and I’d like to get paid.”
• If it’s not you, any other bets on who might be the best all-around riders? “Todd Richards is a pretty well rounded guy. Nathan Fletcher is pretty good too. Those are guys I’m fearing going up against. And I know there are some ripping skaters: Chad Shetler is just an awesome skater, and I’m sure he knows how to surf, and I think he used to live up here so I know he knows how to snowboard. It’s going to be stiff competition but I’m looking forward to competing against those guys and see how far I can push myself to being up there with them.”
Photos courtesy of Rick Gravesen
Check out other local riders in the Ultimate Boarder competition:
• Andy Finch (Truckee, Calif.)
• Ryan Wichert (Incline Village, Nev.)
• Dave Brumm (Alpine Meadows, Calif.)
• David Burright (Truckee, Calif.)
• True Love (Kings Beach, Calif.)
• Or, go back to the main story about the competition
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 April 2008 )
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