The SPT crew finishes sculpting a unique piece of transition incorporated in the 2016 US Open  slopestyle course. | Photo: Rachel Zimmerman

How long have you been working at SPT?
I’ve been working with SPT since 2000, but full-time since 2007.

What has been the biggest change to course design you’ve observed over the years?
In my opinion, the biggest change as of recent has been the focus which has begun to favor the creative side of snowboarding. Snowboarding is supposed to be fun and shared with friends. If we can create a little of that feeling in a contest, then we’ve done alright.

Good friends Lyon Farrel and Brock Crouch putting the fun in course inspection. | Photo: Gabe L’Heureux

How is rider input incorporated into the design?
Their input is everything. But it’s not always their words; Its also watching them ride and hopefully understanding the mechanics of snowboarding to the point of being able to apply those inputs into a course design.  We listen to all the riders and are always asking for real feedback — good or bad. We watch all of their videos and are huge fans of sport. Rider creativity leads to some of our best designs.

They must have read the sign that said “Look before you leap; smart style it” | Photo: Peter Cirilli

The US Open slope style course is one of the more progressive we’ve seen in a while. Why this event? 
We place a high level of importance on creativity, design and execution for every project and like to think they all have their flavor of creativity.

Most slopestyle courses don’t have a minipipe in the middle… | Photo: Gabe L’Heureux

What is the greatest challenge when you head to the drawing board?
Keeping it fresh and creating something new. We’re so blessed to work with Burton and to have the same goals for the contest.

Note the transition on each side of the lip, which allows riders to take off from three unique points of the same feature. | Photo: Peter Cirilli

Do you have any predictions for the future of slopestyle competitions?
Yep. All I can say is the game has just begun.

Red Gerard will surely be a part of the game which has just begun. | Photo: Peter Cirilli