As you all know, a lot of today's snowboarders have got a little thing called, "Talent." Then there's also the underrated riders that you should be hearing of. Some of you may not know of, but you should. Bode Merrill is one of those snowboarders. There is a good chance you have seen his part in the People video a couple years back, and a shitload of contests within the past year. If you were to ask me who I thought was underrated snowboarder right now, I'd probably say Bode. He fucks up everything you put in front of him with good style, board control, power, solid tricks and all that. Then you add the passion that he has towards shredding on a snowboard with his friends and having a good time. He's one of the people that no matter what, will find a way to be on some snow. If it's a early season rail contest, or long drive in The Levitation Project truck to Alaska with some more of the SFK crew. Oh, and the whole summer at Mt. Hood. This dude just loves snowboarding. Also, if he wins a contest he'll buy me a drink.
- AK sunset session (Adam Clark Photo)
Where have you been up to starting off this season?
The bone zone a lot trying to get back some rail moves plus they have some sketchy log slides and it's always fun to get sketchy. Brighton's been rad too. But the season has been on hold so I have been skating
more than snowboarding.
Tell us how your summer went up in Oregon.
Good. We dug to ride for 2 weeks at high cascade and rode a shit load. I'ts always sweet to hang out with all the hood homies cuz It usually only happens in hood. I think I'm gonna dig next year, the new digger squad is sick.
Why do you live in Salt Lake, is this where you are originally from?
SLC is the snowboarding mecca, you got a big city atmosphere with 5 resorts within a half hour drive plus there's rail gardens. I'm from santa cruz, ca but SLC is home.
What is SFK and who is involved in that.
Were just a bunch of homies. I don't know man just like any group of friends but we just call ourselves a bunch of stupid fucking kids. I guess it started from doman's movies he made that were the dopest
movies ever raw boarding, smoking, partying, tits and ass you know all the shit you want to see. Double D, EC, Tim, Simon, Stone, Grendys, Phildo, Pete Deadlung, Bittner, Danny, Bozung, Dirty Hads, Lizard,
Antho, Bennee, Lane, Cheesburger, there's a ton of us.
Let us know of some recent shenanigans that some of you have gotten into.
I dont know. Weve been pretty mellow lately. I got pretty loose on my birthday a couple weeks ago though, that's why i quit drinking for a while.
How long have you been snowboarding and how did you start getting into it?
About 10 years. I skied when I was little, then i moved to Park City with my dad when i was 11. I skated in cali as a little kid so snowboarding just looked way sicker so I did that. My dad is way into it too so he's down. He helped a lot.
- Bode gets inverted with a little help from his friends (Mitch Allen Photo)
How come after having a breakthrough part with Mack Dawg's People movie you didn't film with them again.
Lame politics and sponsors. Just bullshit. So I had to take a step back to take a step forward but it's all good now. I got good sponsors and feel I'm in a better position in snowboarding now.
What music have you been listening to a lot lately.
A lot of techno, Jeezy, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Random shit.
Where can we find more of your riding?
Go get I ride Park City, best park movie ever. Bozwreck 2 for sure and go watch all the videos at www.thelevitationproject.com. I have a bunch of random footy there
Explain to us what is The Levitation Project all about?
A bunch of friends doing some rad shit in the industry. We are making the best baselayer line ever created for next year It's all made from recycled plastics and we are the only ones to put cocona in our shit
which absorbs moisture and odors so it keeps your shit fresh plus the designs are insane never has there been better looking baselayers. But that's just the start, were making a full clothing line, bags, surfwear, all that shit will come in time. Plus we got the whole film side of things which allows us to travel and document everything we do which kicks ass. Were taking over, just wait...
What's some of most wild shit you guys have gotten into while road trippin?
There's a long list but I don't know if i should get into that. Well, we did get kicked out of every bar in Las lenas which lead to a police escort out of the entire town in the middle of the night, but that wasn't completely our fault. I guess everyone in south america likes to have few drinks and just dance all night but us dumb americans just like to get drunk and rowdy. Apparently we didn't get the memo. We are
a lot rowdier than most though that's why a couple of us had to quit drinking.
First thing that comes to mind: Word
Brighton: Pow
World Quarters: Fire
SFK: Homies
RMK 700: fucking rallying!
Nico: Noland
Mt. Hood: Slush
Traveling: Baggage
Looking back to last March at World Quarters at Timber Ridge in Vermont was a good time. Explain how that is a contest like no other.
What other contest encourages contestants to get shitfaced while riding and has a fire pit with people lined up chucking shit at you and spitting beer on you as a mandatory obstacle? I think second place got bag of
weed, come on, that's fucking amazing.
How does it feel to the World Quarterpipe champion? Your probably waiting for a call from Terje to come and slay it at The Arctic Challenge, huh?
I guess it's a pretty prestigious award so I'm pretty honored. I'ts funny that I have a world champion title. I don't feel like a world champion. That would be insane if I got a call from Terje. I'd probably think it was a prank call. I bet I get that call after my friends read this.
- I sure hope Bode has this shit up on his wall. Winner of the best contest ever. Check the World Quarter Video NOW!! (Andrew Miller Photo)
Who's video part from this season's new videos do you watch the most to get you stoked to go snowboarding?
I watch so many videos I cant choose just one. Pat and john J's parts in the forum movie, Devun and Ikka in double decade, Louif and Debari in These days, Scott Stevens In stack footy for sure. Keegan's part in bozwreck is insane. and Gigi. I'm a huge video nerd.
Is there anything about snowboarding that your not fond of?
Actual snowboarding no. Im not fond of people who hate on things people do on their snowboard. If someone is having fun on their snowboard that is fucking awesome and anyone who hates on it cuz it's not "cool" that's lame.
Where is your favorite place snowboarding has brought you?
To SLC. Also South America and Mica Creek.
Is there anything that you want to get out of snowboarding? What has it given you?
I just want to make a living and have fun and be able to do it as long as i possibly can. Snowboarding is pretty much what i live for so i guess it's given me life.
Does skateboarding have a big influence on your snowboarding?
Hell yeah. When i first started snowboarding I never watched a video or read a mag. I just based everything i was doing off skateboarding.
- Getting creative in AK (Adam Clark Photo)
How do you feel about what we are doing here at snowrev?
I'm way hyped on it. You guys have the most new content up on your site. I geek out on snowboard sites a lot so it's rad when a site is trying to constantly put up content plus it seems like you guys don't give a fuck about catering to the pros as much. You put up shit from dudes like Nick Russell and Cody Rosenthal people who may not be excepted by the industry but are way better than a lot of the dudes out there and way more fun to watch. That shit's fucking awesome.
Who do you think I should be the next person I interview should be and why?
Maybe Grendy's. He's a funny bastard, you could probably get a good interview out of him.
Any shoutouts, thank you's, or ass kissing that you'd like to get out there?
My boo Celine, Nico, mom and dad, Java, My new salomon snowboard, mango productions, SFK, Milo, oakley, Jeff Perry, Bozwreck, GOGO, Celtek, My cat Sean holds it down.
- Bode sure does love to get upside down. Brighton early season. (Mitch Allen Photo)