(From Issue 18.2, hitting shelves now!)
We only have one shot at introducing a new column into the world, so we thought it was best if we turned things over to Pat Moore. Pat is about as pro as they come in terms of delivering the goods. He actually even sent a box of Liquid Death to my house one time, a true goods delivery that I never thanked him for, so I’ll thank him right here and call it even. Thanks, Pat! Anyway, back to Pat. His constantly evolving career has sent him around the world time and time again; he’s racked up heaps of awards, covers, video parts, enders and truly more respect strapped in than is quantifiable. So, really, who else would you trust with travel advice? You don’t go to Yelp to find the best snow in Tahoe. You go to the pro that knows. So we tapped him to be our guide to some of his favorite locations that he has spent time when traversing the globe. Introducing Places I’ve Been with Pat Moore. – Mark Clavin
Baldface Lodge, BC
I first went to Baldface in 2009 with the Foursquare team while filming for North, South, East, West and with nearly an annual trip there since, I can say without a doubt, it is my favorite place to go on a snowboard trip. Jeff [Pensiero] and the crew have created an experience that is unlike anything else. It’s a taste of the good life and although Baldface is known for its high-end amenities, the environment is laid back and humble in all ways snowboarding.
Mt. Hood, Oregon
There’s nothing like going to Hood as a kid, especially coming from the East. Snowboarding and skating all day, cruising around Gov’y, and seeing all your favorite pro riders, like Danny Kass handing out stickers at the Grenade bus parked out front the High Cascade skatepark… The nostalgia I have for this place keeps me coming back year after year to reconnect with my inner child. There’s something magical about Hood that connects you with the pure fun of snowboarding and it’s so rad to see it continue on with each of the new kids coming through.
The World Quarterpipe Championships – Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Twenty years ago I dropped into the now infamous World Quarters at my home mountain of Waterville Valley. I was about 15 years old, dodging beer cans, spit, and fire as I rode through the gauntlet headed to the 20-foot quarter. Although the event was snowboarding’s equivalent of a GG Allin concert, there was some amazing snowboarding that went down, and getting to see riders like Travis Rice and Keir Dillon at my home resort had a massive influence on me. With a haze of twenty years it’s hard to know what actually happened there, but I do remember Danny Kass throwing Ross Powers’ Olympic board into the gauntlet’s fire. As Ross dove in to save the board, someone ollied the fire and nearly decapitated him.
Pat Bridges’ studio apartment San Clemente, California
Imagine filling a hot tub with Red Bull, Maker’s Mark and ashtrays from ten years of Marb Reds.
Hokkaido, Japan
The community in Japan is amazing and I’ve been lucky enough to spend a few trips there with some of the most legendary Japanese riders. Sure, the snowboarding is incredible, but the love and hospitality I’ve experienced is what has made the trips there so unique. The culture in Hokkaido is laid back compared to the US and the slow pace has helped me take notice and appreciate my time there. Our Japan trips are equally about the friendships and quality time together as they are about snowboarding.
Chamonix, France
Quite the opposite of Japan, Chamonix is a small town that is fueled with extreme energy. On any given day there is the most psycho shit happening all round the valley—BASE jumping, speed-suit flying, mountaineering. The snowboarding we do is maybe the tamest activity on the mountains. Spending time there with Arthur Longo made it all the better; slow mornings with espresso and croissants led to long afternoons of exploring and adventure. His free-spirited approach to snowboarding pairs well with Cham, where the rules aren’t meant to be broken but there simply are no rules.
Chile
I feel like Chile doesn’t get the credit it deserves from North Americans. With the close proximity of the mountains and coast, Chile is essentially the California of South America. Santiago is a massive city and is really fun to rip around. We saw Slayer there in 2008 and it’s something I’ll never forget. Tom Araya was born in Chile and they hadn’t played there since 1986. There was 30,000 Chileans going nuts and after the first song, I was left with one shoe for the rest of the show. Valle Nevado, Chile’s biggest resort is just a couple hours drive to the east and beautiful coastal towns are just a couple hours drive to the west. One of my most memorable times was a trip down south to Nevados De Chillan with Vans where we timed it perfectly for a long weekend of riding powder, surfing, and skating.
