Wednesday, December 12

Another round of Travis Parker Q&A

Snowboarding-Online.com

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There were so many questions, Travis Parker had to get to them in two rounds, and still couldn’t get to all of ‘em. So, if you didn’t see your question answered the first time, check again below. The second time around is even better than the first! Look for Parker next year in the sure to be ripping new video for 2002, Robotfood. He rides for K2, Sessions, DCshoecousa, Smith, and Milosport.

Q. Dear Travis, I have your snowboarding poster. I think that you are the best snowboarder in the whole world! How many snowboards do you have? Which one is your favorite? Mine is a Ride.—John Gaylor, Age 7, Albuquerque, New Mexico

A. Ahhh, Sheesh, John. Thank you. That makes me feel good, buddy. I have a Parka by K2. It’s my brand new pro model shred and I’ve only ridden it about 10 days. I love my snowboard. I have two of them. Shred on, crouton.

Travis and his handlebar.

Q. I've been trying to do an underflip but can't seem to get the right rotation down. Please help. And by the way your pro model kicks ass!—Festical Bro Rider

A. I’m not sure what an underflip is. Everyone has there own version it seems. The way I do them is just like a cab five, only I go off my heels and throw it in the back seat a little.

Q. Travis, what made you back dat azz up in TB9?—OCD

A. Sometimes you gotta shake yer ass around.

Q. Dude, you rip, I hear you're quite the chicken dance affictionado. Your efforts in the arena of the mullet have been really noticed. Are you aware of a brilliant website called mulletsgalore.com?

A. I’ve seen this website. The mullet craze is outta hand. I’m into bangs right now, personally.

Q. Who would you rather bone? Meg Ryan or Jack Nicholson?

A. C’mon, dude.

Q. How did you become a pro and how long did it take? Also, how ever do you want me and how ever do you need me?—Sam

A. Sam … It took me about 6 years, dog. Saaafuknweet!

Q. Just wanna give a quick msg to Travis to say he RIPS!!! He’s got the most stylish nose and tail grab in the business. Keep going strong. P.S. SNOWBOARDING IS FUN!—Mike

A. Thanks, Mike.

Q. Do you remember me? My name is Brie, I think we met at an ARC Party out at Mount Hood this summer. I think my friend Mike introduced us. Anyway, where are you going to be riding this season? I ride Stratton VT. It's pretty rad, dude, their park is sick. Where is your favorite place to ride? Peace.—Brie

A. Hi Brie. I meet a lot of people. I know faces really well though. Sorry, I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’ll be riding wherever the snow is this winter. I like snowboarding in BC and all over the northwest, Mammoth and Tahoe.

Q. You probably get this a lot, but what advice do you have to riders when they're goin’ for a flip or rodeo or something like that.— JF

A. Find a nice jump with not too much kick, a soft landing and do a spin with a little flip mixed in with it. Commitment is key. Good luck, JF.

Q. Dude, they pay you well? And what’s your favorite band and food? Take care, man.—Dr. Skull

A. Millions. I’m a millionaire. My favorite band right now is Grandaddy and I like the new Merle Haggard album. Indian Food is the best. Thanks, Dr Skull.

Q. Question for you: what's your sign and is it compatible with a Leo? And by the way, how and why did you get yourself into the snow thing down in dirty ol' Texas? Did any friends from there follow in your path, or was there a path to be followed? Where are you going to reside for this season, and, uhhh, what's a girl gotta do to win your heart?—Kat, SLC,UT (a fierce lioness in heat)

A. Kat, the fierce lioness in heat … I’m a Cancer. I’m from Texas and I enjoy snorkeling, badmitten, I’m a wild dancer, and I have a nasty rash. Haa. None of my Texas buddies ever left. Suckers. They deserve a little smack talking. I will reside my winter season in beautiful sunny Lake Tahoe and I think you just won my heart, baby.

Q. Do you spin frontside off your heels or toes?—C.L.

A. Depends on the jump. I do both. If the runway of the jump is going from left to right, it’s natural to spin off the heels and vice versa.

Q. Travis I have a few questions—first how did you get your big break and who helped you out to get where you are today? Is it hard to get where you are today because all I can see myself in the future is riding my board but people around me have mix feelings about it. If you could just give me some pointers to keep my dream alive. Thanks—Peter

A. There are too many people who helped me out to name. They know who they are. And I hope they all know I appreciate every little bit of it. It’s definitely a battle to become a pro. You have to earn your respect. You have to trust yourself. It’s something you really have to figure out yourself. Everyone is different.

Q. Travis, don't you ride for GMC gloves, too?-Chris

A. I get free gloves from GMC.

Q. Hi, my name is Per, I'm from Sweden but right now I’m in Michigan as an exchange student. My question to you is—how did you become so good at boarding considering you grew up in Texas? Did you skate or what, ‘cuz I want to be jammin’ a whole lot more than I do because I live in rainy Gothenburg. What a dream, riding all day long for the rest of your life! Thanks for reading this.—Per

A. I only saw snow three times in my life before I moved to Montana. I moved there when I was a kid and fell in love with it. Nothing else really occurred to me. I just loved it. And went for it. I probably ignored a lot of other things in life, but all I wanted to do was snowboard. Thanks, Per.

Q. I was wondering since I have a big poster of you up in my room, how 'bout you post a huge picture of me in yours? Thanks—Tyler D.

A. Okay … Send it to My DC team manager and he will get it to me. Thank, Tyler.

Q. My name is Eirik Sandvik and I’m from Norway. I enjoy watching you ride, and you inspire me to snowboard. I`m wondering what’s the most important thing to think about when you will learn a trick? P.S. Keep up the good work.—Eirik

A. What’s up, Eirik? The most important thing about learning tricks is not being in a competitive or stressed environment. Every trick I’ve ever learned was when I was dorkin’ around, having fun. Good luck.

Q. When you get crabs do you shave off all your pubes or do you get that little comb? Just curious, a friend wants to know. Really … it's for a friend.—Anonymous

A. Shave it all.

Q. I just want to know how the hell you cork your backside spins backwards, it's incredible. That’s all.—Dero from Ft. McMurray, Alberta

A. Thanks, Dero. I go off my toes and initiate the spin with the tail of my board. That’s the secret.

Q. Pizza or hamburger?-L.A.

A. Pizza

Q. Don't want to bother you too long, but I have a couple of questions. Coming from Texas, how have you gotten so good at a young age of 25? Hard work and lots of fun I’m guessing. Did you go to college, in the mountains, near the mountains, did you go at all, or just take a lot of trips to the mountains from Texas? I go to UT at Austin, but all I want to do is hit the snow now and after I graduate. I am trying to take a trip to Breckenridge and Tahoe, and I am going to Steamboat and New Mexico this season. Keep going big. Later.—Price Peeler, Austin, TX

A. Hey Price, good to hear from some Texans. I have 11 years of experience and you were on the money with hard work and lots of fun. I went to one semester of college. Then said screw it and went snowboarding.

Q. You are probably one of the sickest riders out there and I respect your style so much. I just want to know how you keep your shit together when you go so huge. Also, how did you get your first sponsor and what would you advise a fat (not really) redhead who jibs but isn’t a bling bling JP Walker look alike who just likes to have fun and go big? How should I go about getting sponsored, or wait ‘til it comes to me. I’m from Mt. Hood and ride a lot, so please give me some tips and good times to ride when maybe someone important will be there. Thanks.—M.

A. Thanks, M. Sometimes I don’t keep my shit together. I crash a lot. Anyway my suggestion is focus on your riding and do some contests. Get involved. Summer camps are good, too. You learn a lot. Go to Windell’s Snowboard camp.

Q. Hey Travis, I met you this summer at Windells when you and Bybee where signing autographs. I would just like to say that they’re right, you are a funny guy. When you asked to know something about me I told you I had a weird cat, and you drew a psycho cat holding a knife all over my poster! Thanks, I have it on my wall right now.—Anonymous

A. Sketchy cats.

Q. What I really wanted to ask you was how you got to snowboard living in Texas, and how old were you when you entered your first contest, and learned your first invert. Thanks for your time.—Brandon Matteson, Irvine, CA

A. What’s up, Brandon? I moved from Texas. It’s hard to snowboard there. I was 15 or 16 when I entered my first contest. And my first invert was when I was 19.

Q. Did any of you guys lay those models from Utah in that decadence photo gig? Shiz ...sinners.—Josh Walker

A. No … those girls were payed to make us look cool.

Q. Hi, my name is Thomas, I’m from Colorado and I’m trying to get a small sponsor. My question is, if I put hard dedicated work into a normal video camera, with great riding of myself, is there a chance of me getting a sponsor?—Thomas

A. Yes Thomas. It’s worth a try. You should make your own movie, too. Software and computers are easy to get a hold of if your interested. I encourage you.

Q. Dude, what's up with your hair?—Sam

A. I don’t know. Hair is easy to mess around with. I’m glad I have some. A lot of my friends are losing theirs.

Q. Travis, you're the man, dude. Your part in Optigrab is killer. What’s it like being on K2? There’s a lot of snowboarding media hype that tells the sheepy consumers like myself, “don't buy from a Skier run company!” Is K2 really down for the snowboarding cause or are they just fronting the jack for some good riders to sell boards. What’s your gut feeling?—Thanks, JIM

A. Hey, Jim. At K2 they are really into making good product. Progressive product. Everyone there likes to snowboard. Not too much into to the whole scene, though. That’s what the team and I are for though. They have supported me for a long time, and I like the freedom I get from them.

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