News & Events: 20 Questions with Monty Hays

Monty Hays is a rider of many talents and man of many interests.  Upon taking top honors at the '09 Holy Oly quarterpipe event and winning a pallet of Olympia beer for his efforts,  We caught up with Monty for a lenghty "20 Questions."

1.  You walked away from the Holy Oly with a pallet of beer.  Do you want to explain the difficulty in loading up the car? 

Well Krush has a huge inflatable Oly can somewhere in shipping so Kurt and I decided to save the beer till the can showed up and throw a party for everyone then.  Get your drinking shirt on.

2.  When you called me that morning and told me about the quarter pipe, did you already have a good feeling about the session?  I mean, did you wake up and know that you were going to win a pallet of beer? 

Certainly not.  I was hung-over from the Agent Orange show.  At registration my name was #43 on the list, so I knew that was a good sign.

3.  What did you think of the Quarter pipe?  How big was it and how were the conditions? 

They said it was 28 ft.  I wasn't so sure of that but I didn't get out my tape measure.  It was more difficult than last year.  The shape was better with more consistent vert but I found myself pushed out to the tranny like it was over vert.  I had a hard time finding sweet spots and it looked to me like the other guys/gals did too.  The summit crew deserves some love for their efforts for sure!

4.  What did you have for breakfast?  Wheaties?

No Wheaties, just a breakfast sandwich.  I was really hoping for some sun so I would feel more comfortable hitting the feature.  I didn't feel like I was riding well until the last half of the session. 

Austin Hironaka was getting more air than I have ever seen him get.  There were a couple Euro guys that had some clean tricks too.  I was honored to be sessioning in the midst of the master himself, Peter Line.  There was a guy I don't know who he was but he was working on a big spin or maybe a 10??  I don't think he ever stomped it but if he did the outcome may have been different.  Devin Elliot put down some very pretty stuff too and Kurt Jenson is one of my most favorite people to shred with so I was happy him and Tim Carlson were there.

6.  Aren't you the elder statesman of "professional"snowboarding?  I know you still kill it but don't you have a full blown day job from 9 to 5? 

Yup.  I work full time and just play when I can like the good old days.  I sure wish I could just be a full time shredder like I used to be.  What makes me happy nowadays is just getting up there any chance I get, shredding with friends then goin' home.  No sponsors, no pressure, no obligations. Pure fun.

7.  From Peter Line to Haakon, it seems that older, more seasoned riders are still killing it on so many levels.  How much of it is experience and how much of it is calculating the perfect speed for the jump?

 Experience is definitely most of it and that delivers good calculations and confidence.  I know what I am capable of and it boils down to how I feel on any given day.  I also never have any expectations for myself aside from having fun with my friends. 

8.  You won a pallet of beer on a quarter pipe, but what is your favorite
terrain and scenario to be shredding in?  Pow, park, pipe? 

Well I love all aspects.  I don't do urban riding though.  I do understand why it has gotten so popular.  Not everyone gets to be from Washington where the terrain is natural and gnarly.  I really love halfpipe I guess because I have been skateboarding all my life. Nothing beats just shredding pow with your favorite fellas.  Perfect scenario...Alaska with unlimited heli budget and sleds.

9.  Kurt Jenson won an award for the best Method, correct?  In true NW fashion, Jenson is also a career ripper, proud papa and full time video editor.  Was Kurt on hyper drive today or was he just his usual ripping self?

Kurt is pretty much permanently on cruise control.  From "rad dad" to ripper.  He is without a doubt one of the most talented people I have ever known.  Kurt uses his love for what he does to do what makes him smile.  What makes him smile makes us smile in viewing it.  Kurt motivates or inspires others to do what makes them happy too.

10.  While you robbed a precious prize from the greedy hands on many a young rider with your victory, who do you see coming up through the ranks and really tearing it up these days? 

Well I don't get to ride much these days so it is hard to really see how many guys out there are really tearing it.  I do know that Austin stokes me out.  Aside from him I know that there a couple other Stevens Pass kids who are really making names for themselves and riding very well.  Joe Bosler and Andy Stern come to mind.

11.  Any shout outs to sponsors (past/present/future)?  Maybe a shout out to the union guys?

Yeah man.  The Glissade guys, Greg Pronko and Mike O'Reilly.  I have learned so much from them, working through gnarly projects with them and become great friends.  I hope that one day they will be able to do another production run of boards and I know many other people do too!  I love the Spacecraft crew for sure.  I go way back with most of them and they have always looked after me.  I don't ride any Mervin boards but I love that whole crew too.  So many great people in our little Washington family.  I feel very fortunate to be part of it.

12.  You just scored a new dirt bike.  What is that all about and shouldn't you be looking for a more tame activity to spend your time? 

Getting that dirt bike has been a childhood dream finally realized.  I have a personal comfort knowing that it is out there in my Garage waiting for me.  It was the last item to complete my overall "quiver".

13.  If you had to choose one location to shred at on a bluebird perfect day with 20" of blower fresh, where would it be and who would you ride with?

Well Stevens Pass man!  Maybe Alaska with Schaefer, Kurt, Elan Bushell, Russ Ricketts, Orien Yeckley, Simon Smith, the whole Whidbey island goon squad.  I could go on forever.  I am very fortunate to have hundreds of great friends.

14.  As an experienced rider who has watched the sport grow, what advice would you offer to the younger rippers who want to become professional snowboarders?

I would say let your riding do your talking for you, and always listen when you have older riders around.  You might learn something.  If you ride because you love it, that will always be enough.  You can't learn anything with your mouth open.

15.  Aside from snowboarding, what else do you do for fun/exercise?

Surf, skateboarding, riding dirt and street motorcycles, tinker in my garage, mtn bike, work on my Volkswagens, shoot my guns, and hang with my foxy lady Linda.

16.  Would you care to go on the record about the "Chaulk Bowl" in
Monroe?  You scored big and took some bros along for the ride.  I owe you some beers for that one.

I received a phone message from Mike Descheemaker about a house next to Chinook Lumber in Monroe getting torn down.  The bowl was being demolished the next day (thanks Mike).  So I called Eric "the rook" Flagstead because he is from Monroe.  Then it was just getting there and getting the work done.  You brought the lights, beer, food, and the extension cords to steal electricity.  Scoring a pool like that in the last 24 hours if its existence is the "Holy Grail" for an older skateboarders like us.  No one else in the world got to skate that.  Kurt Jenson showed up at 5am the next day for a dawn patrol session before the dozer tore it down.

17.  If you could change one thing about snowboarding right now, what would it be? 

Less popular

18.  As a Volkswagen fanatic, you recently tuned up a crusty old car and turned it into an autobahnstormer.  Have you always spun wrenches and worked on your own stuff, or did you develop the skill through trial and error?

I have been a VW guy since high school. I have learned from trial and error and most of all the help of friends like Donnie Fadden.  I feel good knowing that I recycled the car I drive instead of buying a new one.   I can fix it myself, no payment, unique, fun.  I have a dream job that would just be buying fixing up and selling bikes and VW's.  Maybe one day.   

19.  The Northwest offers some killer skate parks, surf spots and mountain peaks. Which of the three sports is your favorite, or do they all blend together for you? 

Those 3 things form the person I am today.  I owe any ability I have to skateboarding.  I was a hugely insecure, angry and confused kid.  Skateboarding lead to my snowboarding "career" which gave me self esteem and self confidence. I hope my board riding inspires others to chase what they love too.

20.  What are you going to do with all that beer?

Stand by, a party is brewing.

By: Matt Gormley