Ryland Bell got his big break in a fashion as unorthodox as they come in snowboarding: he was a cook. But not just any cook, he was preparing food on expeditions with Jeremy Jones with the prerequisite of being able to ride some of the gnarliest lines of Alaska and beyond. Growing up in Alaska, Ryland built jumps out of hay bales, only to have their work meet their demise to the appetite of roaming moose. He produced and edited his full part on his own, and he worked his ass off to be where he is. Ryland is the man; his full part is a reflection of that.

Watch also: Wild Alaska: Facing fear with Ryland Bell – The Patagonia Find Away series

Ryland thanks:

Jeremy Jones for showing me the way

Holly Enderle for all of the love

The Whitefirecrew for keeping the stoke high

My parents for having my back

Forrest Shearer for always being down for adventure

Will Beresford and The Boarding Co. for putting me up, and putting up with me

Drake and Earth Center Adventures for giving up the keys to the kingdom

Jeff Curley for all your epic stories

Chris Edmands for keeping things light when things get heavy

Ed Shanley for keeping us safe

And Aki for all the good times