Wednesday, October 3

Josh Dirksen Profile

By Jaymo
EXPN.com

Back in the early 90's I remember pouring off of the new "skyliner express" chair at Mt Bachelor and heading for the "dirty dozen". The "dirty dozen" was a group of natural jumps that formed at Mt. Bachelor and they were back to back like a bad ass fact. The dozen is a series of rippable lines that still stoke the fevorishly progressive riders of the X Games generation.

Every snowrider in the northwest came to Bachelor, and still does, for the insane natural jump menu; especially riders from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. That means Eugene. Which means "Dirksen".

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was running last in a pack of chargers destroying the "dirty dozen" lines like we were a freak show side act. Hey, and lets face it, back in the early 90's snowboarding was a freak show side act. As one of the early riders and progressors of rideology, the crew I was riding with was waiting to watch my line through the "two kooks" jump. (Its called the "two kooks" jump, because every time you came around the corner, it seemed there were always two kooks standing on the lip) I hit the jump and flicked a little method on my Lib Tech 180 custom and carved to a stop next to my crew to shoot the shit about the upcoming boost-a-thon.

OUT OF NOWHERE COMES SOME LITTLE PUNK KID RIDING A LITTLE BITY LIB TECH, WHO BLASTS A FLAWLESS 360 OVER THE "TWO KOOKS".

My crew and I freak! Who was that and where did he come from. Mark Egge, quickly bucks up and says, "That was that kid, Josh Dirksen from Eugene."

Wheels aren't the only things that spin over the road.

Since that day, I knew Dirksen was destined to steal my Mt Bachelor thunder. His lines were too smooth, and his style too incognito. He was, and still is, snowboarding's version of James Bond with a black belt in flick-jitsu. I knew the kid was going somewhere. I'd be safe as long as he didn't move to Bend. I was riding everyday, he could only ride on the weekends because he was just a highschooler.

Sure enough, Dirksen had the gall to graduate and move to Bend. CRAP! Now pro riders as we knew them were in trouble. Here's this kid who is willing to ride his ass off, work for his money, and has a mental stature perfect for winning contests (basically he doesn't crash). I saw it coming. This reasonably quiet, incognito master of the slasher was getting ready to drop in on the world of snowboarding and let his actions speak much louder than his words.

That was then and this is now. Dirksen's name is getting around like that one girl at your prom; except Dirksen is doing it all without having to pull his pants down. The guy flows like a glacier, slowly but very effectively. Dirksen gently pushes obstacles out of the way so that he may delicately carve a despression in the rockstars as he rides and glides his way into history.

With a ton of photo coverage and a heap of top three finishes at big time contests like the X Games and the Vans Triple Crown, Dirksen has positioned himself as a rider who is not just another fashion doll, but a rider who gets the job done. He wins comps, stomps his tricks under pressure, and still finds time to coach kids at camp.

We were hangin' the other day catchin' up when he told me about his switch to Salomon Snowboards and Bonfire clothing. Josh was with Morrow for a long time, but corporate shenanigans at Morrow forced Josh and the rest of the Morrow team to find greener grass. Josh told me, "I am stoked to be with a company that does team stuff. The whole team hangs and goes on trips together. The team parties together and rides together. It's gonna be super fun."

Josh stands tall on obstacles big and small.

The French grass should be good for Josh. Salomon Bonfire needed a contest winner like Dirksen. He agreed with me when he said, "They don't have any X Games riders, so I feel like I can do something there and earn my money." Josh won't be seeing any French grass anytime soon though, mainly because he will be seeing French sand. That's right, Dirksen's first team trip is happenning right now. He is in France for the annual team get together in Hossegor. He is talking marketing, surfing, and scoping topless French sirens on some of southern Frances hippest beaches.

Rumor has it, Salomon Bonfire has a pretty sick skatepark at their world headquarters. I wonder if they know how sick of a skater Josh is? Huge body jars? No problem. Giant backside ollies over hips at any cement zone of fun? You betcha. Dirksen knows skating. Maybe the Salomon crew will give him a skate bonus?

Over the years Josh and I have become great friends. We ride Mt Bachelor together, skate together, roll parties, talk shop, and rate the worthiness of fine young ladies. Are we qualified for that job? Probably not. Is Josh Qualified to be a pro? Heck Ya! Is he qualified to date your sister? They don't call him "The Diggler" around town for nothing. Needless to say, Josh earns his free money.

Look for him this winter all over TV and the mags. Hopefully he will inspire you to ride harder and more often. If he does inspire you to be the snowrider you have always wanted to be, then he must be doing his job.