JJ is killing it these days. While many of the guys that have been riding in the pipe game, for a while. This was the year that had many of them backoff and let the new fleet of double flipping young guns take the charge, and change how we now view halpipe snowboarding. Not for JJ, keep in mind JJ got on the Olympic podium 8 years ago and is still finding himself on top of them most events he's entered. Even though as you read through this it might look like an interview with a pipe jock, I can assure you. There is a lot more to his riding than that. He has been in it all, and started his career at an early age. Shredding the shit out of Colorado and wherever in the world that snowboarding has taken him. So after landing himself on another good finish (winning the Aspen Open) I picked at JJ's brain a little to see what it's like to see what it's like from now and then, and to see what else makes him tick.

Board: UNITY ORIGIN 159
Goggles: Oakle y
Outerwear: Oakley
Gloves: Celtek
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For starting out in a professional snowboard career at a pretty early age. What is that keeps you pumped on snowboarding, to make you come back every year at such a competitive level?  When there are a lot of guys that would throw in the towel, especially with how much the bar has been raised in snowboarding.
Well trust me Ive been close to dipping out on the the career before,but at the end of the day I'm so grateful to be able to snowboard all around the world and hang out with such unique and quality people that it just keeps me coming back . Not to mention its such a challenge that it completely consumes me ,which I like..


What made you first get into snowboarding?
  I grew up in Colorado ,so my parents would take me up skiing on the weekends and I saw snowboarders doing they're thing and knew I had to try it .

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What was your mindset like coming into the season going for another run for the Olympics?
   My mindset this year was mellow. I knew I had a outside chance but it wasn't like I had a million dollars riding on me making the team . I was pretty much riding for myself this season and just enjoying and soaking up the whole process..It's been my most enjoyable season of pro shredding to date..


Did you have to do contests that you didn't really want to compete, so you can get enough points for that FIS bullshit?
  Nah ..The FIS thing is simple. You have to do 1 world cup and get a decent finish then your eligible. Really you just have to suck up and do 1 comp then your free..


Do you think you should have to pee in a cup while some dude watches your junk, right after you just threw down crazy runs at FIS and Olympic qualifiers?
  Ha..yeah that's a pretty funny part of the sport,but I don't really care. It gets a little creepy when you get the dudes who stare hard.Most of them don't care they just stand behind you but every now and then you get a mean stare down and it tends to lead to stage fright..

- George Crosland Photo

Out of a lot of the pro riders around. I always see you spend a lot more time in the summer shredding up at Hood than many others only come for a week or so. What are some of the things that make you go back so much?
Thanks for noticing,and actually I'm proud to say that that's been part of my new protocol Ive been going by the last two seasons. Practice !!!! that's something I really didn't do enough of when I was younger. You used to be able to get away with limited practice and still possibly pull something out of nothing, but these days you have to put in real time to get there..Id say that's the biggest difference in competitive snowboarding now from ten years ago
 

Why is it so many snowboarders end up living down in Encinitas?
I moved there ten years ago to learn how to surf and for me it just resembles the town I grew up in so much that it was a no brain er. Golden Co is a small town feel about 10 minutes away from downtown Denver and Encinitas has that same feel . You get that community sense but your still near the city in case you need to get down with some City time..
 

With all the crazy new tricks adding a lot more risk this year. How did it effect you seeing some of your homies you ride with and see all year go down with injury's?
Yes it's been a crazy year for snowboarding. I'm proud of what everyone is doing now but at the end of the day its pretty wild where Half pipe is at . I think the injury thin is intense too because everyone is chasing Shaun and his tricks but no one else had a private halfpipe with a foam pit to learn the mechanics of these tricks into safely,so in a way its a little unfair,but this is America and money talks !

Now that you just finished up with the Aspen Open. Are you going to do more halfpipe contests as the season goes on, or try to take another direction, like filming, and riding pow?
I just found out that I'm going to go to Euro X in France then to the US Open and that will wrap up my competitive season for this winter. I'll try and get some powder in march and April .I always seem to get lucky in the spring with powder


What was it like when you were riding with Shane Flood a lot, and filming for Clancy and Slater's Mongo movies?
Oh Man !!!! That was classic. That crew was insane and kind of "the last of that kind " if you will.. Its funny too.you don't know how good things are until you look back and go "wow those were the days .Filming powder with your favorite crew and being in control of the project at the same time. I mean as long as Slater liked the shot we could use it. Now days you film all season and may have a 1minute part of stock kicker footage.. Looking back I want to say thanks to Kyle Clancy and Jared Slater and Curt Morgan for putting in the effort and making such a memorable project !


If you could pick five riders to travel and film the whole year, what would be the lineup?
  Kyle Clancy, Shane flood, Doran Laybourn, Colin Langlois, Zach leach

Who were the snowboarders that when you were younger that had a strong influence on your snowboarding?
Todd Richards,Terje Haakonsen,Jeff brushie,Ingemar beckman ,Daniel Franck.. That was it ! those guys paved the way for me hands down
 

What are the kids you see now in snowboarding that are doing awesome things?
ALl the kids on the US rookie team are the real deal and then all the kids on the ISTC program as well. I think those two groups of kids are going to have great futures if they want


Do you look at all the magazines, website and watch all the videos that come out?
I stay pretty up to date on the mags and the web stuff. The movies are getting tricky because there are so many and people they don't seem to give out copies for free anymore so I tend to miss some movies . I make sure to hear the ones people are buzzing about though.I love absinthe films though. I make sure to watch that every year. I'm a big Nicolas Mueller ,Gigi and Travis rice fan  so that movie brings it home for me

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Are you going to try to film a video part this year aside from doing all the contests this season?
No video for me as of now.I'll probably cameo in some projects though. Bluebird movie would be my priority.

If there was a lineup of any five rider crew making a new snowboard video now for next year, that you would like to watch the most. Who would be in it?
T rice, gigi , Mueller, blauvelt, john jackson,and throw in a hot new gypsy jibber kid to round it out and Id be set


If you were not a snowboarder and lived in Golden Colorado, would you work at the Coors Factory? That job would be sweet
Maybe. Growing up thats where most people in town worked. I could get down with that if I had to


Is Coors your beverage of choice?
yeah ..I bleed Coors Light

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This year you have switched from Ride boards to Unity. Which have been working good for you, but why the switch?
Well, Ride basically told me to kick rocks at the beginning of the year. I wasn't really ready for it ,but it put me in a position to ride any snowboard I wanted so I took notice of Dylan Bidez and Zack Black going huge on Unity boards early season so naturally I drove over to the factory where Pete the owner makes them right in Silverthorne ,Co and I gave them a test drive and they were money !
   I'm really proud to be riding boards that get made right in my home zone. Its impressive  to feel the difference with boards that get made with some hand touch instead of boards that get mass produced in China.


Where are some of your favorite places to snowboard? Not only Colorado, but spots that stick out in your mind as epic times?
Jackson Hole powder days with Brian Iguchi and Snowbird powder days with Erik leines and Forrest Shearer are what stand out in my mind as top spots for me


What other stuff besides snowboarding do you get into?
I like to surf and golf when I can in the off season . I really enjoy listening to and making music. My childhood friend and I started a band called MileHi. We rock out when we can .Actually as soon as im done with this im heading to boulder to record some music with him,and then Josh Sherman and I are also launching a srteetwear brand this fall called YeaNice.  

www.milehisound.com
www.yeanice.com

Who would you like to see make a comeback in snowboarding?
Shane Flood !!!!!  


What's are three of your favorite video parts?
Ingemar Backman -melt down project
Terje Haakonsen   -melt down project
Sean kearns or Johnson (dont remember what one) riding powder to Pink FLoyd in Whiskey 2

What was your first snowboard and when did you get it?
Gnu Chaos.Bought it from my friend Cameron in Pagosa springs Co. I paid 100 buck for it and took it out the next season with my sorel boots on.

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For somebody that traveled a lot through snowboarding. Where is someplace you have never been, but would like to go?
I havent done alot of Europe,so Im excited to check out France in a few weeks.


What has snowboarding given to you?
Hands down the the coolest part of my career has been the relationships Ive been able to make with so many down to earth,talented and inspiring people. Thats whats its all about at the end of the day . Hanging out with nice , humble people who just want to have a good time while theyre on planet earth !

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Thank you's, last words, and shoutouts
Peace and love to all who read this and thank you for taking the time to write these good questions .