While toying around with the idea, Jeremy Jones (jib) made a bet with Dave for an undisclosed amount that he wouldn’t do it. Take into consideration too that Burton hasn’t always been the most loyal company to ride for. They drop people “like flies devoured by winter as if by fire, starved, frozen blind, maimed mad with torment, dying in hell,” as A. Swimburn eloquently puts it. Well, maybe not that bad but Gigi, Müller, DCP, Romain, Johan, etc… tangent over. Point being that he had to film a good enough part to make it in the movie so he would have a job the following year — A little gamble? The binding sat on top of the old Voilé setup, so you were a half-inch higher on your board, plus the added weight. Jeremy has paid the debt owed and the first all-splitboard video part is history, kickers and all, paved the way for an awesome addition to snowboarding access and a mode of travel a lot of people actually prefer today to anything else.

“Downing is a king. One of the best mentors there’s ever been in snowboarding. He knows the history, respects the history, and teaches the history! One of the best styles ever, in the air and on the ground!. Honestly a quote is pretty tough, a book would probably be easier to write about him! Downing is no doubt in my top five all time greatest humans and greatest snowboarders.” — Jeremy Jones

Love or hate Burton they have made an invaluable contribution to snowboarding research and development. Dave has been on the forefront for over two decades and continues to be just as involved, if not more so, although lately he spends more time on the sales and marketing side of things with Burton and Channel Island surfboards.

[videocaption]Kevin and Dave, easy laps at Bear Mountain[/videocaption]

I first met Dave at Mt. Hood, Oregon in the summer of ’93. I was hiking a flat-down mailbox at High Cascade Snowboard Camp. Dave and Kurt Heine (with Mack Dawg) rolled up and wanted to shoot that rig. I sessioned with them and didn’t really think anything of it. Little did I know I had just met a lifelong friend and mentor and shot my first roll of film that would end up in a Transworld video magazine. That is why I was so shocked at the premiere in Sacramento. I had no Idea I was shredding with snowboarding royalty. This guy was so cool, down to Earth and humble. Getting the opening part in a Standard film was snowboarding’s highest honor at that time. Heavy, like playing a game of skate with Eric Koston or something, I was tripping. We solidified a friendship filming and riding together like only boardsports can. You end up spending a ridiculous amount of time together and trust your life to your friends.

“I remember meeting Dave, we were at Boreal and him and Kevin would just butter everything in sight, I think I had a 156 and they told me I had to ride a board under a 152! They said ‘when you strap in you just start smoking.’ Ever since (except for pow) I’ve ridden boards under 152, even 148s! Ha, best thing ever!” — Eddie Wall: 3rd member of the 152 and Under Club. If you see Dave on the hill look at his board if it’s not two feet of blower I guarantee his board is shorter than 152cm.

There was always something different about Dave — always calm and collected, never any panic or worry, that he showed at least. He just seemed like a genuinely happy guy that was so stoked on life all the time. I asked him about this in Big Bear after a Nixon Jib Fest one year. I knew he was religious and I was raised that way so I asked him about it. “Actually I’m not too fond of religion,” Dave replied. “To me it’s a bunch of rules and manmade ideas. I am a believer and follower of Jesus. I read the Bible and believe it’s the word of God and I try to have the grace and love I receive from Jesus shine through me to others. We’re just living in a fallen world and it isn’t easy that’s for sure.” I respect that; a moral compass to guide you through life and actions. In Dave’s case, it speaks volumes to the type of person he truly is.

“Dave’s authenticity to the mountains has always shined through in his riding and style. He’s been a man I’ve watched and looked up to for years — not just as a snowboarder, but as a rad dad!” — Mark Carter: snowboarder, rancher, fly fisherman and honestly one of the most badass dudes I’ve ever met.

I find it interesting that most people that I know who have spent time in the mountains have some sort of spiritual awareness — an elevated consciousness of the energy or presence around them. Some call it God, the universe, Jah, Allah, Karma, ghosts, spirits of fallen friends. Guys would litter in the city, but it was a cardinal sin to drop anything in the backcountry especially if you’re filming something heavy that day, as if the mountains would get pissed and throw an avalanche their way. Spirituality in nature has permeated into the realm of mountain dwellers worldwide. I know you’re not supposed to write about these things in a snowboard column but why not if it’s such a part of the deal? Why are we afraid, or what are we afraid of when it comes to spirituality or the lack thereof? Tangent over.

“I owe a lot to Mike and Dave Hatchett. They took me under their wing and taught me how to be a snowboarder. Dave would always be down for doing recon with me and finding new zones, the dude just loves to be in the backcountry and he has great knowledge. Mike is the raddest dude ever, he is such a huge part of what snowboarding is today, but nobody knows! The guy just loves being out in the gnar and filming gnar stuff go down. He knows of the backcountry and he basically gave me the keys to the Sierra Nevadas. I am forever grateful.“ — Dave Downing

I asked Dave to go to Alaska for a project I was working on called Kevolution. I needed someone up there I could trust. Dave did not hesitate to commit to almost a month in Valdez. To have his knowledge and stoke up there was invaluable. He has a great ability due to the well-rounded nature of his riding to have fun no matter what the conditions. Asking nothing in return and paying for his own way he unselfishly was my wingman. Granted we rode some great pow… but filming snowboarding and riding snowboards are two different things, although that’s another story. At the time I couldn’t figure out why a person would do something like that. Part of what Dave has taught me is that everybody isn’t in this for themselves, that Altruism and the rewards that come from it far exceed personal gratification and heroism.

Thanks for teaching me the most important lesson in snowboarding Dave. Through an action you might not have even known you were doing, you have deeply affected my life.

Read also: Let’s make the water turn black: The Dave Hatchett story as told by Kevin Jones