From K2 Snowboarding:

Snowboarding shouldn’t be stressful, it’s fun! Among snowboarding’s elite “athletes,” or artists as I like to call them, Travis Parker exemplifies the epitome of fun. When the concept came up of highlighting old board graphics and revolutionary board design I immediately knew I had to call on Parker.

Always stoked to share his thoughts, Travis let it rip. Here he is, uncensored, giving the inspiration behind the 02/03 K2 Parka. FYI, if you haven’t heard, Travis is back on the K2 Pro team and has been riding the new K2 Raygun.

“I meant no disrespect to Chad Muska, only respect for his ability on a skateboard and as a musician too. The silhouette of me on the toilet with large headphones on and rolling toilet paper was meant to show that sometimes I felt down in the dumps, but I tried to make light of the situation through design and flipping on my board.

"Snowboarding was good and fun, and the stuff I heard on the radio (large headphones) about war was not so fun. In a lot of ways I suppose I didn’t feel worthy of my position in life when others around the world were suffering so much. I snowboard for a living, or, I used to. It was my livelihood, and I felt dumpy about it at that time with what was on the news. Life isn’t fair. Hell, it seemed really good to me, but I didn’t feel I deserved such a posh lifestyle.

"It’s a humbling graphic. Everybody poops. I hope folks didn’t take the design expression the wrong way. In hindsight, what I and the world needed was a metaphorical, spiritual, and healing 'Parka,' to be draped over us to keep us warm and protected from the bitter, cold, and war torn world. We have a big parka on here in America. Folks were fighting and dying while I was snowboarding and getting paid for it. Crazy world. I like it, but it’s crazy.

"The graphic can be looked at in a lot of ways. Shit happens. I think the following year we (K2, Travis Kennerly Parker, and Nemo Designs) designed the 'Wild Style' graphic. I’m not formally educated. I’m a snowboarder, cross country skier, and an artist amongst other things. I like to have fun and be creative and I’m very fortunate and thankful for this every day."

Thank you for keeping snowboarding fun, Travis!

The K2 Parka