Kyle is a badass rider from Wrightwood California. Wrightwood is home to Mountain High and is in the strange zone of So Cal where the desert meets the mountains. The edge of one of the largest cities in the world yet a little isolated. A mix of urban and hesh, moto-x and hip hop. Kyle proved himself to be a top dawg in the local mountains and is now moving on to Mammoth and likely greater things. I first noticed him at Big Bear this past summer. I was only there an hour but thought “that fucker rips, he has got some style too” We caught up with Kyle at the recent Triple competition at Mountain High and cornered him for a few questions
Home: Born and raised in Wrightwood (Mountain High)
Lives in: Recently Migrated to Mammoth
Age: 19
Stance: Regular, 22.5, 17 front, -15 in the back
Sponsors: Von Zipper, Vestal, Stepchild, Powder and Sun (shop)
Contest Results:
Active Sponsor Me Rail Jam, Mountain High – 1st
Hot Dawgz and Hand, Bear Mountain – 2nd
Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails, Bear Mountain, Best Trick – 1st
SR: Are you pro yet?
KL: No, just trying to make a way
SR: How’s that going?
KL: A little rough right now, to be honest
SR: Is it hard working up the ladder, so to speak?
KL: Yea, because I’ve actually taken some back stabs. I felt I was farther along when I was a little younger, lost track of what’s important. Started partying and stuff and not taking snowboard as serious I should have been. I am trying to make up for the back pedals I took.
SR: Yea but you are only nineteen you can get back on track, you’re ripping.
KL: Yea
SR: Shaun White is a party maniac
KL: Yea sure but he has trained for so long. I used to compete against that kid when he was seven years old at Snow Summit
SR: “Day Job” to pay the bills?
KL: Yea, well night job, I run food at Whiskey Creek and snowboard in the day. Plus travel as much as possible when I get the time and money
SR: Do your sponsors cover travel at all?
KL: Some do, some don’t. I need to send in some receipts but after that yea
SR: Where do you go?
KL: Pretty much just stay in Mammoth; try to get to Sonora when it’s proper, anywhere that has snow I guess
SR: So far this year?
KL: Just Mammoth and here
SR: You ride everything?
KL: Yea, I am not a real pipe hound but I am trying to get used to it
SR: What’s in store?
KL: Hopefully big stuff, get some money and start traveling, try to film a little part, get in the backcountry and get some stuff rolling. Filming with a couple of buddies…Feel Good Inc, actually. So Cal filmers, they do a lot of stuff, I film with them a lot
SR: What else do you do for fun?
KL: Skate, that’s about it?
SR: In the bowl?
KL: I skate up at Mammoth; my buddy’s got a mini ramp up there so I spend most of my time on that thing
SR: Most metal thing?
KL: Eero Ettela’s double backside rodeo 1080
SR: Who inspires your riding?
KL: John Jackson, Matt Hammer, Jamie Lynn and Terje
Thanks man
-Kyle won best trick at the 2006 Hot Dawgz and hand rails contest up at Bear Mt. and beat some heavies in the process. He also got 2nd overall – sick