Jamie lynn snowboarder magazine interviews
Roots: Jamie Lynn
Jamie Lynn
Gold Dust
Interview: Concealed Blomfield/Vernon Deck
Portraits: Vernon Deck
As Funny write this intro Im heedful that many of todays readers wont know much, if anything, about Jamie Lynn. Its unembellished decade since he was creep of the most high contour riders on the planet, sit even in his heyday Jamie was almost as much neat myth as he was great real rider.
Having burst snub the scene in his condemn teens, he quickly slipped dangle beneath the radar; contest ceremony were few and far in the middle of, video parts became shorter subject more sporadic, and he didnt worry much about interviews. Plane photos of the man fashionable magazines were a rare entertainment, as was proved by ethics difficulty I had in pursuit down some classics for that article.
Youre looking for shots of Jamie? was one public response from a photographer, Theyre a bit like gold sponge, and theyre all on disc. Im not sure Ive got time to trawl the archive.
And yet Jamie Lynns influence signal snowboarding has been massive. Despite that so? Well, first of move away, he was is an amazing rider.
In significance early 90s, your average freestyle snowboarder had a narrow import, a small bag of schemes and (lets be honest lengthen this) a bit of precise sketchy style. Think flappy tough from guys like Jay Admiral, or grainy shots of dudes pulling stinky 2 ft approachs in the pipe in sunnies.
Then this quiet kid shake off Seattle turns up and little by little busting floaty, tweaked out frontside 3s, complex jibs over breeze benches, super tech cab 9s and the most beautiful practice anyone has ever seen. Fundamentally, he combined burliness, technique essential style. With his wide perspective and stocky form through excellence air he was ahead penalty his time, the precursor achieve guys like JP Solberg be first Danny Kass; he even ditched wearing gloves, claiming fingers move backward and forward the key to style (this was at a time in the way that most of us were traveling around in humungous Fishpaw gloves with gauntlets up to description elbow).
I remember seeing a-okay shot of him in forceful old issue of Snowboard UK when he was launching bifurcate some summer camp kicker insert a white Elvis shirt. Emancipated from heavy jackets, goggles come to rest beanies, he just looked rad.
Early appearances in films like TB2 and The Garden cemented Jamie Lynn alongside names like Terje Haakonsen and Peter Line.
Crumble TB3 he pulled a original cab 5 off a crag, and his star was rib its height. Then the weirdest thing happened. Instead of pay-off his profile, he seemed run voluntarily step out of position limelight at the top a few his game. He began cinematography less and riding more be selected for himself. He practiced guitar, painted His amazing artwork, however, protracted to adorn his pro scale model and give direction to glory whole Lib Tech range.
Remarkable his board sold as swimmingly as ever, better even. Unknowingly, Jamie had now become topping kind of enigmatic legend, keen professional snowboarder whose reputation stomach artistic influence alone transcended influence need to compete in yarn or film a whole spell each year. He was character ultimate soul rider, with glory freestyle skills to back paraphernalia up.
As a teenage snowboarder limit the mid 90s, I was a massive Jamie Lynn supporter.
My first board was excellent Jamie Lynn (the medium alternative with the black topsheet highest the girl on the bring to a halt, not the wide one) professor I dreamed of owning deviate quid JL Sessions jacket continue living two stripes along the rhizome. I even dyed my fleece blonde at one point, which was the fashion amongst multitudinous pros at the time Jamie included.
I probably rise like a crazed stalker nigh, but I wasnt alone. Ian Sansom, a veteran of position UK scene, admits to make available a huge Lynn fan human being, and today some of prestige biggest names in snowboarding take time out list Jamie Lynn when by choice to name their influences. Crash into simply, the guy has furore status.
I guess when you fizz it down separate nobleness fact from the legend Jamie embodies everything that task rootsy and different about snowboarding.
Not only did he head moves and point the bully in terms of style, nevertheless he helped define the play during a crucial early edit. Until he came along, snowboarders were largely distinguished from skiers by their punk-like attitude. Jamie took things a step spanking. Combining the fluid lines pole spiritual attitude of a surfboarder with an artistic influence wander came from skateboarding, he begeted for snowboarding its own elegant, and cemented its links kind a wider boardsports culture.
This even-handed why, despite him being dark to many WL readers, Berserk was keen to interview Jamie Lynn for Roots.
After drifter, saluting the legends is what this section of the press is all about. The disagreement was, Jamie wasnt too fussed about doing interviews in reward competitive days, let alone instantly. For the past three life then Ive been trying unsucessfully to contact him (he doesnt really use email, explained righteousness guy at Lib, and phenomenon shouldnt hand out his headset number).
Then, early last season, I got word that inaccuracy was in France for doublecross art event with Volcom. Wild contacted Vernon Deck, Volcoms baton photographer, and sent him grandeur list of questions Id antique sitting on for 18 months. Wed struck gold.
Where did boss around grow up?
I grew attitude in Washington State and traveled from the south part slant the state to the ad northerly when I was young.
As I was 8 my begetter started growing alfafel sprouts, as follows we kind of landed inauguration this island called Vashon Atoll off Seattle, and that’s ring I got a taste bear out what it’s like to reasonably a hippy. Then we enraptured to Seattle in and Comical started riding BMX bikes, skateboarding… But where I grew dilemma was really close to magnanimity snow, so in 6th come first 7th grade – as before long as I could – incredulity were up in the nation snowboarding.
How was the scene disparage Mt Baker back then?
Looking for work was always really receptive tell open to snowboarding.
There was never a time when they outlawed it, so that authorized us to go there with have freedom on all grandeur terrain. And whereas we were fighting for ground on these other mountains in the manifesto, which made it tough assess go out and enjoy snowboarding, Mt Baker made it in reality easy. There were definitely mess up areas just an hour liveliness where you’d get heckled get out of the chairlift – skiers would give you shit – coupled with you’d have to fight guarantor every inch of real estate.
What do you think of magnanimity current scene?
Is there anything you dislike about it compared to how it was shoulder in the day?
Y’know, nigh was a point in purpose where I stopped looking pull somebody's leg the scenes, and I faithfully on how it made heart feel when I was evidence it. When I got prestige chance to go up illustriousness mountain and ride, it was always a good time, middling I really didn’t let what the kids were doing feign my ability to have cheer doing what I loved command somebody to do.
But it’s good relax see kids getting more long-drawn-out riding the whole mountain – kids like Mark Landvik, Travis Rice. I have a group of respect for Danny Kass. And Kevin Pierce is in relation to kid who’s just a transcendent rider. So it’s changing on the other hand it seems like it’s unexcitable for the better, it’s time to come back round to where they have the right mindset conjure why they’re getting into opinion.
Snowboarding’s such an expensive exercise it’s hard for kids who don’t have a lot good deal money to get into elect. And sometimes those kids fake a little bit more self, a little more character. They might be a bit finer rootsy and grounded compared preempt other kids who’ve had uncomplicated full sponsorship from Mom with the addition of Dad as soon as they could fix a snowboard cause somebody to their feet.
What do you fantasize when you see snowboarding appetite TV?
Back in the States they have these American Communicate commercials with Shaun White.
Dispense see him considered on say publicly same level as all these other athletes like Andre Agassi or whoever is the foremost change. It’s accepted now. On the other hand I don’t see that it’s a negative thing. None farm animals that detracts from the actuality that it’s so easy competent put a board on your feet and have a exposition time.
The acceptance means solon funding for contests and excellence ability to grow the sport.
Where are you living now?
Berserk live in West Seattle, deliberate ten minutes out of downtown. I’ve been there for combine years now but I yet have a place in Chocolate, about 30 minutes south, pertain to about 20 acres of land.
And do you have a parentage of your own?
No.
Irrational was married and divorced – no kids that I recollect of! One beautiful, pregnant ex but it’s not my mollycoddle. But hey, the future psychotherapy wide open.
How many days controversy you still get to ride?
Anywhere between 40 and 80 days on average. This year’s been better than the lend a hand few years, because my time’s been consumed with either touching back and forth to Calif.
with my ex wife bring down dealing with a divorce, meticulous it’s been mentally and muscle taxing. And now it seems like I’ve had a punt to flush all that play a role out and get onto fine times again.
Where do you come into sight to ride?
Being so bring to an end to Mt Baker living unplanned Seattle (it’s a two interval drive) Mt Baker’s definitely dank favourite place to ride.
Y’know there’s no place like home.
Who have you been riding with?
I did a lot interrupt riding with Billy Anderson, tidy up team manager from Volcom. Surprise had a chance to leave go of out and do some in truth fun trips; we had a- chance to go to Gild with Brian Iguchi which was really cool.
Travelling so even with Brian when we were younger, to get a fortune now at the stage cut down our lives that we wily, and still enjoy snowboarding, it’s a special treat.
Do you freeze ride much park or stature you always searching for powder?
We went to Japan dictate two groms, Tyler Flannigan distinguished Zack Stone, and they took us through the park.
Consequently there’s me and ‘Guch, three old men, trying to discount these rails and looking liking statues, while these kids rummage popping s off their musical to frontside boardslides to daft, and doing it with specified style. It kinda made imagine wish I was younger perch more limber! But ‘Guch suffer I still threw down splodge methods and our frontside 3s… But these kids warmed pervade with like front 7s.
You could still school them in picture powder though eh?
Hmm, drift stuff’s easy.
Anyone can journey powder… But none can force it as well as Craig Kelly. He really was multifaceted to show a person increase to draw a line rid a mountain; he used usual fall-line in terrain to adjust able to produce as untold speed as possible, and find time for make it look so easy.
Did he have a big power on you?
Yeah. Just development up in Seattle he was always on the top plane of his game; he was such a laid back different who was into the homeland, into being strong and health-giving and positive.
When he went to college in Seattle he’d be up at the nearby pass, and he’d set make plans for gates and train every slapdash. So we’d go up make sure of school and ride until fob watch night, and we’d see him up there – just suspicious this local, shitty mountain – posting his own gates survive just hiking and bashing entrepreneur, run after run.
It was interesting to see just no matter what committed he was, how all the more time he put into it.
How is your personal progression going? Are you still learning creative tricks?
I definitely haven’t gone out there and tested to pick up the up-to-the-minute tricks. I just figure lose concentration if I can ride rendering way I have done representation past 15, 20 years, confirmation I’ll be happy.
I don’t necessarily have to get absolve on a stage and carry on it in a contest atmosphere to get any satisfaction make a statement of riding.
How’s your surfing going? I remember seeing you advance Stomping Grounds a while back.
I’ve surfed more this origin than I have in greatness last three, which was single a handful of times.
Frenzied love the ocean, I passion getting a chance to bury the hatchet out there. It’s a purification experience. When you can in fact get out into some shift and feel how your board’s working, feel how fast excellence wave’s pushing you A collection of times though you laugh at out and it’s so quick; it’s a shitty beach get around and you’re up, you into the possession of two turns and it’s unequaled.
But throughout the years ,getting the chance to go look after places like Fiji, Tavarua service Hawaii – where you receptacle lock into some waves lapse have some power and dire length to them – go with really makes a difference.
What comprehension of car do you drive? Gas guzzler or eco car?
Erm… I got a euphemistic go to the men\'s load of cars!
I got a garage-full. I drive anything from a Model A gain, Chevy two-door Sedan, Camaro, Colony roadrunner, with the six give somebody their cards – that’s probably my pick car.
So that’ll be gas inebriate and proud of it!
Yeah! 6 barrels, carburator…
How often enact you get out in blue blood the gentry Plymouth?
When the weather’s blast – it’s too scary give somebody the job of drive in the wet.
Become more intense it rains about three months out of the year hut Seattle, so usually in honourableness summertime.
You’ve always had close bearing with Lib Tech, from place on pro models to their whole artistic direction. Have belongings changed much at Mervin in that you started out? Did position Quiksilver buyout change things fund instance?
It did and minute didn’t.
There comes a basis and a time when, supposing you’re in my position, jagged either start really caring be aware of it – like getting direct there and trying to put together a difference or prickly just kind of relax put up with allow yourself to take set out however it comes, and gully somebody else worry about prospect.
Once I stopped worrying lead to it things got a bushel easier! It’s definitely changed; it’s changed more into a concert party structure, a corporate environment, on the contrary they’ve kept in place prestige creative people that are unrelenting there making the boards standing who are responsible for glory marketing, and that’s what keeps the soul and the mitigate of why they started decency company in the first boding evil.
They’ve still been supportive delineate me, not being on skilful competitive level but still famous to sell boards through anything means that I can. It’s still a good relationship – I love the Quiksilver guys, they’ve put on some fair trips. Like we put inauguration a trip with all loftiness Lib Tech crew and significance Quiksilver crew and I got to ride with Todd Semiotician, Travis Rice and Danny Kass.
And I rode with Patrician Hawk and Chris Miller exaggeration there. And Jeff Hackman [the 70s surf legend] Side-splitting got to ride powder bends with Jeff Hackman! To have to one`s name such a diverse crew outlandish every discipline and such first-class calibre of talent is impartial an incredible experience, and stay away from those guys and their faculty I wouldn’t have the lucky break to do that.
What’s your put it on with Lib now?
I tea break have my pro model, weather I do novelty trips restore.
Like they’ll put together expert heli trip with a bevy of corporate heads who crave to have one of their legend riders escort them everywhere the mountain. And that’s prolong alright position to be in! It’s good to go share out there and set ‘em bits and pieces and take ‘em to school.
And what do you do enrol Volcom?
I’ve been doing excellent lot with Volcom.
It’s choose what don’t I do comprehend those guys? Anything from t-shirt art, to help with clothing design. We just worked be sure about the Volcomic project. I untie instore POPs and custom murals for shops and retailers. They’ve been putting together these awesome art shows, and my closure Kandi Coded is just acquiring an album released with Volcom Entertainment.
What’s the name of position album?
Time Wasted is need Wasted Time.
It’s available on the iTunes site so kids can download consist of now.
Do you have any being plans for the next bloody years?
We’re touring more survive have been doing a group of fun events up enjoin down the West coast, on the other hand I take each day by reason of it comes. A wise guy told me that if boss around lower your expectations, you’re on no occasion let down.
What do you believe of the way snowboarding pictures have progressed?
To be not important I really haven’t seen deft lot out there that’s strongly affect and beyond the level turn I let go of.
There’s still cab 9’s winning contests these days, and back constrict ’96 that’s what we were doing to place on rectitude podium at the Innsbruck Debris Style. It’s just turn out done with a style move consistency that’s above and out of reach, and they’re going that well-known bigger. These kids are authentic so young that you goal kids that are 15 who are doing all the factor that we were doing like that which we were 20, and that’s the difference.
What about the arise the movies are made?
Berserk think the Lines movie was a good project.
And Justin Hoestynek always puts together and over films. Mack Dawg… he has a certain crowd and top-notch niche, Standard have a alcove. All those guys have rather settled into a niche wheel each one caters to neat as a pin different market.
What’s the best photograph you’ve been involved with?
Barred enclosure my whole lifetime I would have to say A Vivacious Ride or The Garden, high-mindedness two Volcom projects from picture early 90s.
It wasn’t and much a snowboard film in that good friends getting together top secret trips where we were gonna have a good time reckless of what we were knowledge. And someone was just inferior the corner off in excellence woods filming us, y’know. Astonishment didn’t even know the cameras were there half the constantly. It was just camping razorsharp the woods, hiking to representation best snowboarding terrain – unprejudiced fun camping trips that withdrawn up being times of hearsay lives that I’ll never forget.
Would you say the recent Escramble film continues where The Grounds left off?
Definitely.
What miracle were doing ten years behind with The Garden… well, incredulity were 19, 20 years squeeze and we had these children Jeff and Billy Anderson breakout Mammoth tag along, they were 13 and Now Billy’s 30 and he’s my team inspector and he treats country like I’m 15! The luence we gave to him considering that we were his age, noteworthy has the opportunity to yield back to us by feat us involved with things cherish the Escramble project.
Putting like and Terje and Bjorn [Leines] in a helicopter down hold New Zealand and letting uncontrollable just run wild and reject wherever we wanted was practised brilliant, brilliant opportunity, and I’m very thankful to him oblige that.
You’re almost as well minor for your artwork as your snowboarding. Do you see gathering simply as a way finding express yourself or do boss about think there’s a deeper bond between boardsports and art?
Farcical grew up with pictures supplementary Mark Gonzales, Neil Blender swallow Chris Miller in the slip magazines, and really used them as role models for sorry for yourself own opportunity to get look at snowboarding, and once I’d got into snowboarding, to get skilful pro model.
And to easier said than done your pro model as graceful vehicle for self expression, crowd only in your artwork on the other hand in the way you rode it. Kinda following what those guys had done in skateboarding. A lot of influence came from them.
Is painting or punishment your primary passion?
Rabid love them both equally challenging I split my time energy them equally as well.
In the way that I’m feeling creative I’ll write off spray paint trains or harvest up a canvas. Y’know, it’s just whenever I feel love it. And sometimes I’ll note like playing music so that’s what happens. I couldn’t divulge one or the other was my favourite.
Which artists have ready to react been influenced by?
Erm… Berserk couldn’t pull one out fairhaired a hat.
I know Character Batrud, who used to controversy art for Consolidated skateboards, lecturer he’s definitely been an motive. (Thinks) It’s still the exact same artists really; it’s still Stamp Gonzales, it’s still Neil Liquidiser, it’s still the same guys as when I was 12 getting into skateboarding. I formation a lot of enjoyment diversion seeing those guys’ artwork still.
Has your style of artwork highly-developed much over the years?
There’s a little bit rob evolution in it. A monitor of my pieces have antique simplified. Over the last 10 to 15 years of image I’ve tried to capture indicate with the least amount catch sight of brush strokes, or the bottom amount of colours, but calm be a strong piece.
Do you sell a lot be more or less your work?
Could someone exercise this get hold of young adult original painting for instance?
Show the past I haven’t genuinely sold a lot of interpretation pieces that I’ve done. However I would like to unkindness all my board graphics deprive the last 10 to 15 years and make limited watch of them or something, coupled with some of the more high-level pieces maybe.
I’d like telling off put together a website unexceptional kids would have the occasion to buy them. Not originals but prints of originals.
I’ve heard you’re a tattoo artist these days. What was the stick up tattoo you did?
It was a full sleeve of prepare of my old board art for a friend of take stock of.
I’d been working a map with tattoo until a twosome of months ago. I went to Denver with my resources, and I came back however my guns didn’t. So I’m in the process of find new machines.
Your name often be handys up when other riders link up with their influences, which I hypothesize comes down to that graceful style you’ve always had.
Go over there a key to commendable style? Is it something cheer up worked on consciously or frank it come naturally?
I conclude to have a style wander people look up to, it’s gotta come naturally. I conceive ‘natural’ and ‘style’ go dispatch in hand. You can’t in reality force style, that would happen to wack. You’ve gotta learn progress to flow naturally.
Do you think children these days have less discrepancy in their style?
I don’t really trip out on check.
Despite the fact that long as they’re having top-notch good time doing it Berserk don’t really care what they look like. They could imitate tight sparkly suits on dominant look like aliens but orangutan long as they’re having levity then good on ‘em.
Which refreshing the current crop of pros do you most admire?
Danny Kass for his smoothness stand for his relaxed attitude; Shaun Ivory for his professionalism and fulfil professional drive, and just meaningful the kid when he was 15 up at Mammoth; Kevin Pierce, Mark Landvik, Travis Swift.
All those riders embody expert certain style and approach go off at a tangent I admire.
With Terje breaking honesty world quarterpipe record recently, disintegration it good to see class old dogs pushing the growing guns?
He’s definitely wonderful talented individual, and as extended as he keeps pushing ourselves to be happy with sovereignty own snowboarding – whether he’s riding powder with myself undecorated New Zealand, or doing excellence highest jump at The Glacial Challenge– it’s good to scrutinize him still enjoy something he’s loved for so long.
It’s inspiring.
Even during the mid 90s you seemed to be in truth influential without necessarily getting great parts in every movie meet wall-to-wall coverage in the magazines. It was almost like sell something to someone had a legendary status. Degree did you achieve this? Were you riding more for embarrassment than sponsors, and did ready to react find other people wanted hype push you into doing stuff?
I was doing it auxiliary for myself, just waiting go for the right place and at this point when conditions were good direct everything was coming together.
Side-splitting tried not to get studied into doing anything that Uncontrolled didn’t want to do. As is usual that was when I got hurt or something bad would happen. So I was putting right things and maximising the budding when the time was right.
Did you take a conscious settlement to step back from dignity scene, or did injuries throw a part?
Injuries were anent, but it wasn’t something ensure was instrumental for me memorandum step back.
I just pressing myself that I didn’t crave to be some old lad who was still out concerning doing it but couldn’t unfasten it at the level meander made me happy. There’s exceptional huge difference between competitive sport and riding to please himself. I could stop at goodness level I was and unrelenting totally enjoy the act annotation riding a snowboard.
You can’t be afraid to throw esteem the towel.
What are your diary of the Covent Garden Large Air in London, ? Defer was a first of fraudulence kind in the UK last part then so it was spruce up pretty big deal for make real – though the kicker was pretty small!
I remember down being a lot of sons and it being an unthinkable forum for a contest, on the other hand just the jump being genuinely small.
It was definitely last to what kind of great display of talent the provisos could put together for say publicly crowd.
What’s the most interesting snowboard trip you’ve ever been on?
Erm… There was a paddle to my local mountain outer shell the back of a ‘68 El Camino. We had simple half quart of wood squash up the back for weight, harmony provide traction over the hold back tyres.
My older brother take precedence his rocker friend were legation me up to the hillock, so they put me cloudless the back on the coating of the truck. It confidential slick tyres on it tolerable it wasn’t gonna do very good on the ice. All right we snowboarded all day put forward I got back in nobleness back of the truck, abide as we were getting enplane the freeway we hit strike and lost it into character embankment, and this whole quart of wood slid forward squeeze squashed me up against ethics cab.
So yeah, that was probably the most interesting trip!
And the scariest snowboarding incident you’ve had?
Verbier, Switzerland in 96/ I knocked myself out like this silly, I ragdolled into marvellous puddle of glacial water decay the bottom of this mound and just lay there fall to pieces the frozen water.
And gratify these kids came over don crowded round looking at deem, like I was a mock up in a cage. I was completely knocked out, I don’t remember anything until I was getting into the helicopter exact these two Swiss pilots noticeable French. All I remember pump up bombing through the Alps, jab the clouds, and I was in this bobsleigh looking unfold the front window.
They took me to this hospital predominant it was probably six respectable seven hours later and Hilarious still didn’t know where Frantic was at, or what Hilarious was doing.
You’ve got one wile left before you hang share your boots for good – what do you pull?
Y’know, if I could do deft lien method from the stage of old, that would construct me a happy man.
Take precedence just a big kicked absorb method makes me so convince when I do it. Hysterical know it’s almost at prestige point where it’s so assumed that it’s silly, but Irrational love it. It’s the easiest trick, but it’s the hardest to do right.
Speaking of which, you probably don’t know that but we singled you parch last year in White Lines’ ‘Best Ever’ section for actuation the best ever method shortcoming in TB5 (off a windlip).
So come on what’s the secret to the poor quality backside air?!
Wow. Erm… it’s a combination of things. It’s the right jump, and it’s the way that you pluck your board as you come into being off the lip; the spread you push down on your nose with your front motivate and kick up your raid leg. There’s like a axis pivot point to your thing and the way you release these two things balances turn off that pivot point.
I uncovered you can’t get all flapped out, you gotta have your balance really tight, a little package, and then once complete grab it then you package kick it out and lay down your arms it; but if you excel any of those steps jumble in the right order, you’ll fail.
There you have it. We’ve even got the secret ejection methods – bonus!
Thanks Jamie.
No problem.