Photo: Scott Sullivan

I would not be where I am without Travis Rice. Confidence is everything, and no one has shown me this like Travis. Once he thinks that something is doable, there are no doubts inside of his head that it can’t be done. It’s like there is a switch that turns on inside of his head and goes, “fuck it, I’m doing it!” He is an amazing athlete physically, but mentally he is a step above everyone else. His mind game is so dialed. His perspective is what sets him apart.

I think he’s a little crazy, but not as much as other people seem to think. You have to be nuts to think the way he does, but don’t let him fool you, it’s all calculated.

Every time I go snowboarding with him I have to be prepared for anything. Nothing is ever planned but he somehow always seems to know what he’s doing. We’ll have filmed all day and I’ll be exhausted. He’ll call me in the middle of the night and say, “We’re going up in three hours. Be ready.” I don’t know how he always has so much energy. It’s good though because I feel like he pushes me to progress, otherwise he isn’t going to want to take me out anymore. He truly makes everyone he snowboards with a better rider.

Travis has helped me over the years by giving me a new perspective on how to look at the mountain. He is the master.

Travis took me under his wing early on, and for that I am forever grateful. At the same time I knew my place and did my part to help Travis do his thing. I shuttled him on my sled a lot. If he was super close to landing a trick he’d never done before, I was obviously going to give him my turn until he stomped it.

When he hit that mega gap in That’s It That’s All, I was there. It was mind-blowing. That may have been the looniest thing I have ever seen him do. I broke myself off a couple days before, so I just shuttled him all day because I couldn’t ride. That was by far the biggest I have seen anyone go before or since. The speed going into it was dangerous enough. He did all of his tricks and started hitting it switch, which should have been impossible given how sketchy it was. He was trying these switch cab double cork things, granted he never nailed one, but I was blown away by the fact that he chose to go into that kicker backwards. There was no room for error, and I doubt I could have got enough speed dropping in regular. In the end, he showed me that if there is the right transition to land on, anything is possible.

Many people also don’t realize that Travis has put Jackson on the map. Of course guys like Willie McMillon, The Guch and Lance Pittman were the true originals, but when Travis started blowing minds, people really took note of where he was from and where he was riding. People and companies started to see that it was worth while to invest in a rider from Jackson. I specifically remember Pittman telling me years ago that you couldn’t live in Jackson and be a pro. He tried to make it in Jackson for years, but his sponsors were bummed that he wasn’t getting enough exposure. The reason he wasn’t traveling is because Jackson has it all. Now it’s a totally different picture. Jackson is about making your own scene and people see the value in that. Now a rider living in Jackson has a chance to make it, and this has a lot to do with Travis.

If Travis backs something or someone, people listen. Such is the case with me. I don’t think I would have the support I do if it weren’t for him giving me a chance to go ride with him. I thank Travis for the endless opportunities and friendship he has given me.
— Mark Carter