Words: Tawnya Schultz
Photos: Cole Barash
After years of banger video parts, magazine exposure and ruling the backcountry, Dakine has honored the deserving Eric Jackson with his first selection of signature gear. E Jack’s stamp of approval can be found this season on the Team Baron mitt and Mission backpack. Both items feature earth tones and clean styling, quite like Eric’s skills on a snowboard. Born and bred in the small mountain town of Crowley Lake, CA right outside of Mammoth Lakes, Eric was immersed in the snowboard scene as a tike and followed in the footsteps of his big brother John Jackson. E-Jack has been throwing big tricks since he was a teen, and with each passing season his riding is only becoming more technical and more stylish.
The Team Baron mitt helps Eric’s hands stay dry all day in the backcountry while he rallies around on sleds, builds jumps, hikes and stomps double corks, which he landed for the first time last season. The mitt is insulated with high loft synthetic for comfort and is complete with Nylon shell fabric made from GORE-TEX® and a cuff closure to keep snow out. Eric chose the Mission pack because of its size and versatility and also because it features two snaps to carry his snowboard and sections for his avalanche gear and backcountry must-haves. Eric used and abused the gear in the elements, so that he could give feedback on the quality of the products, and ultimately, make the best pack and mitt possible. “Dakine has an insane team of designers, so after we came up with a general idea of what I wanted, they sent the first samples out, and I tested them the best way possible — shredding in gnarly snow storms and what not,” explains Eric. “I gave the designers my feedback and they made the necessary adjustments. I’m really pumped on how it turned out!”
As a final touch and to really make the pieces his own, Eric decided on a tweed fabric with a green, orange and grey camo. “I wanted everything to be natural and somewhat earth toned, so we used some dope material and came up with a really cool camo design,” reveals Eric. “It turned out just right. Nothing too crazy but still super good looking.”
Although his name isn’t on the board, Eric also lends input on the Lib Tech TRS. He claims, “It’s the best all-around board I’ve ever ridden.” One viewing of Eric’s epic video part is enough to prove the TRS (Total Ripper Series) is the board for riders looking to dominate the backcountry. Plus, the TRS is a previous Snowboard Mag Platinum Pick winner because it’s made for aggressive snowboarders who like a deck that can handle all kinds of terrain. It comes with Lib’s C2 BTX, a mix of rocker and camber, which promotes stability, pop and better edge control overall.
From stealing his brother’s Craig Kelly Burton Air as a kid to becoming one of today’s most notable backcountry shreds, Eric looks forward to
more opportunities to help develop products while putting them through the roughest of conditions. “It’s really fun being able to design something and actually get to test it in the elements, make adjustments and turn it into a quality product that isn’t going to fall apart on you.”
This article was featured in Volume 8 Issue 2. Don't get the magazine? Subscribe now!
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