Name: Mike Phillips
DOB: 9-23-87
Sponsors: Phatman Board Shop, Head snowboards, Neff, Skull Candy
Home Mountain: Kissing Bridge Ski Resort
SET-UP:
Board: HEAD Transit 152
Boots: 32
Bindings: HEAD
Outerwear: Bonfire
Goggles: Dragon
Stance: 23” wide, +15/ - 15, ducked.
How are things going for you?
They’re good, but I really want to be snowboarding. Its shred time, It needs to be cold.
How many years have you been riding?
(Counting on fingers) Eight or nine years, wow.
So you’re from WNY?
Yes, yes, always been, for twenty years, now.
Your team won Shop Wars (last season) out of nine competing local shops?
Yeah, there is a lot of good riders out there. I think we have one of the best teams around, but now we are even better since Phatman picked-up Steve Pelc and Ricky Bueler this year.
What makes a good team?
Riders, people that are fun to ride with, can motivate each other, and have a good outlook on where they want to go within the snowboard industry.
What is the hardest part of breaking into the industry?
Just getting in touch with the right people.
Tell us a little about your sponsors?
Phatman Board Shop has done a lot, hooked me up with the right connections… Head was my real first sponsor… Neff and Skull Candy is the most recent hook up . I like what they’ve got going on .I’m definitely looking forward to working with them.
Cash flow?
Terrain Park, Park Crew at Kissing Bridge…best job ever.. evvver. I work with good people. Fun people.
How long have you worked there?
I have rode there forever, working there I’ve seen it change a lot, since Eric Langman started running it. It brought a better vibe to the park, he has been getting the kb park well deserved Recognition. It’s safe to say we have the best terrain park in the WNY area.
Working on the Terrain Park Crew at Kissing Bridge, what do you think makes a rider worth watching?
That’s a good question, how about someone that is not a claimer. Someone that is out there just to ride, they have fun with it. I’m just not a fan of claimers.
Favorite types of terrain?
Mmm…. rails, the park, and Street.
Street?
Yeah its top secret.
Top secret?
Yeah but I can give you a clue, It’s a handrail. Down some stairs, In the Ghetto…. you better be strapped.
Travel Plans?
Out West, beyond the Mississippi.
How was your last season?
Good times got a lot accomplished, warm Season started late didn’t get really going until mid January but we all made the most of it.
What do you enjoy doing during the summer?
Skateboarding, porch parties, I like porches.
Does skateboarding influence your riding?
Not so much, snowboarding influences my skateboarding.
Top three riders of all time?
JP Walker, Mark Franc Montoya, and yeah. Eddie Wall.
Plans for this season?
Number one would be Filming with Mark Dangler. Always Stepping it up. Keeping your name out there …but really it’s all about fun.
What is your is your view on contests?
You’re not wearing socks?
Nah.
That’s nuts. Your nuts….yeah I Don’t always like contests but, you got to ride. You got to do it, if you want to go anywhere.
What would you say is your best trick?
How about … backside 180
Do you have any others?
Oh you mean like a real one, I like anything switch
Do you ever wake up and worry if your outerwear is going to match?
Yes. No. NO. I try to match but, it never works, kind a like how last night went, yeah. I never match.
What music do you ride to?
T.I, he’s the king, yea anything, like dance jams, really.
What next?
Making it out west, taking more trips out there definitely, that is on the list to do, and just having fun.
