Episode #52
Paul and I trucked it up Joel’s office to talk with Joel about park building, his unique path in the industry, motorcycle racing, the Pittsburg surf scene, Laurel Mountain, and much more.
We also got a surprise visit from an earlier podcast guest, Jon Kramer.
This episode is brought to you by Seven Springs Mountain Resorts
Bed, shred and breakfast just got more affordable than ever! Our seven progressive parks have something for everyone to enjoy, with 70+ features including jumps, jibs and the ONLY 22’ Superpipe in the East. Seven Springs’ premier parks are calling your name! Slide a handrail and into our bedrails with the Rails to Rails Lodging Package.
AVAILABLE SUNDAY-THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 – MARCH 23, 2017
Package Includes:
- – One night’s lodging
- – A limited edition Seven Springs Parks & Pipes t-shirt
- – Unlimited skiing/snowboarding at Seven Springs from 4 p.m. the day of your arrival until close the day you check-out
- – Breakfast each morning
- – Overnight ski/snowboard check
- – Access to the indoor swimming pool and fitness center
For more information or to make your reservations, please call (866) 437-1300.
-
- The Streets at Seven Springs
-
- Seven Springs Parks are FIRE
-
- Super clean!
This episode covers:
Ski Patrol
Joel's background
Leashes
Starting new trends in snowboarding
Getting top down commitment to make a great park and pipe
Gaining national recognition for the snowboard parks at Seven Springs
Paul gushes about how much he loves Springs (Nate and AJ agree)
Woking in the skateboarding industry pressing skateboards
First time in a snow cat
Working hand crew at Keystone
Working with Snow Park Technologies
Chris Gunnarson and jump science
How SPT helps off the snow as much as on
The secret of Seven Springs success
Starting at the bottom and working up.
Working hand in hand with the other departments on the mountain
Jon Kramer visits because he heard that we would be shooting guns.
Joel’s most impressive build ever.
The back story to Superpark at Seven Springs
When builds go bad and perfectionism
How snowboard park building is actually construction
Tremble units and man cards
Laurel Mountain
The perfect halfpipe
Taking smaller features and making them look huge
Paul wears diapers - bathroom breaks
Enduro Motorcycle racing
Wake Surfing / River Surfing
Listener questions:
Does Tom Dickey still have a job?
Why does Seven Springs not have a skatepark?
When will the Wagner headwall become an official terrain park?
Colleen Musson - please bring the apple grogs back to the top lodge.
Who is the best contest announcer ever?
The Angry Snowboarder asks….
Scott Darr - Why not more snake runs and hold bowls set-ups.
Transworld TransAM
Seven Springs world record
The Motown Throwdown
Nate in the Seven Springs Superpipe:
Quotes from the episode:
"We’ve always had a great staff, besides AJ!”
“I worked there (retail) for about seven days, but I really wanted to be a outside.”
“We have support (for the parks) from the top down.”
“Seven Springs is never going to grow 1000 feet vertical… There’s no reason why our terrain parks can’t be as good as anyone’s in the country.”
“I really try to build everything like a skatepark.”
“I want to travel, build rad jumps and run a tractor.”
“The building of the terrain parks is one of the easier things at this point. It’s hiring the right staff, logging what you’re doing, testing the features, involving ski patrol, snowmaking - there’s so much behind the scenes…”
"My second Super Park, I think I worked 48 hours straight.”
“Don’t say anything, but we’re having Superpark here.” -Paul
“I got my man card pulled.” -Jon Kramer
“We’re not gonna have 40 foot halfpipes.”
“It’s a lot easier to leave the hip connected than it is to put the channel in it… you have to clear that 20 foot gap.”
“You can build the greatest feature on the world and if the riders don’t succeed - you might as well not have even of built it.”
"Riding dirt bikes on terrain that you shouldn’t ride dirt bikes on.”
“I wish I had a mini snowcat.”
Shooting guns after the podcast: