Name: Sam Hulbert
DOB: 4/9/89
Hometown: Peterborough, NH
Current Location: Tahoe

Gear…
Snowboard: Ride DH 155
Boots: Ride
Bindings: Ride Delta
Outerwear: Oakley
Goggles: Oakley

Sam what’s up man? How has your winter been going so far?
Its been going good! Iv been traveling a lot more than ever, good thing I got over my fear of flying. Tahoe finally got snow the other day so that was fun. Now im flying back to NH to film and do the Grand Prix and Open.

You’ve been placing well in several contests. How has it been to go to some of the bigger ones such as the Dew Tour where you have to drop in right by some huge names like Torstein Horgmo and Andreas Wiig?
Its crazy! Kind of intimidating, those guys kill it! I just feel lucky to be able to compete with them.

You’ve also been filming some this year right? How has it been so far filming for Think Thank’s new movie “Cool Story”?
Yeah, I have been doing so many contest it has been hard to film much, but finally I got a little break and spent the last week filming in Tahoe. Im excited that everything worked out so I could film with Think Thank, I have always loved their videos and they are a cool group of dudes. Im just stoked to be a part of it!

-Balancing two aspects of snowboarding and doing it well...Sam maneuvering his way through his US Open Slopestyle run.

Are you going to be in any other videos or just focusing on having a part with Think Thank?
I am definitely mainly focusing on a part in Cool Story, but I will also have some shots in Tanner Pendelton and Matt Roberge’s movie “For the hell of it”.

It seems like a lot of people these days are either really into the contest scene or into the filming thing. You’re doing both and doing it on a good level though. What’s your take on contests vs. filming?
Thanks! I love them both. Contest are fun because I get to travel around to places and compete with the same group of people. Its cool to see how I “rank” with them and I like trying to make a name for myself. Filming is cool because you can go out one day, work for hours and make 3 seconds of a video part and its all worth it. It tells the story about your season and for me is really fun to look back on.

If you could have ender part in a video project you were really excited on or win x-games slopestyle gold which one would you take?
Dang that’s hard, but I think I would do X games given where I am right now.

- Part of Sam's "Cool Story" is he's one smooth operator on rails. 2008 WCI railjam.

You placed well in a bunch of contests last year and had a good part in the Eastern Boarder video but it didn’t seem like you got much attention from companies. What was that like?
It kind of sucked, for a while I didn’t really care if I had a board sponsor. But then it got expensive when I would break a board. Snowboarding is weird, I know kids that kill it and don’t get any recognition. Then there are kids that have it all. That’s the only thing I don’t like about snowboarding.

You and Brandon Reis kind of have your thing going on with rolling your pants up. Do you think people were hating on that? Because if I was a TM with a boot company I would have picked you up a.s.a.p.
Haha! Yeah.. People always hate and I love it! Funny how it caught on with some people, but im down. We started that at Hood because your unstraping all the time and its so wet up there. I hate having to decide weather the pant leg goes inside or outside the binding, so that solved it.

How was it growing up boarding in a state where the motto is “Live Free or Die”?
I love NH it was awesome growing up there. We have a little bit of everything…Snow fishing, beaches and a lot of woods I would hate growing up in a state with desert.

Do you feel that growing up in the east has shaped you’re riding in a certain way? How so?
Yeah, I definitely appreciate good conditions more. There were so many nights back east when my friends and I would ride a shitty icy park and we loved it. Its just nice getting a break, and not having to chuck off some kicker with a flat icy landing.

-The Dew Tour at Mt. Snow not a far drive from Sam's home town of Peterborough NH.

You spent a bit of time around Waterville Valley and at Waterville Academy, can you tell us a little bit about what that is like? It seems like there are a ton of really good riders coming out of there; must be something good going on.
Yeah Waterville is awesome! Pretty much you go snowboarding everyday and do minimal schoolwork. Bill Enos is the coach there and he made it possible for me to get to where I am today.

You do a lot of boarding with Brandon Reis. Do you feel you guys are a big part in helping each other progress your individual riding?
Brandon and I have been snowboarding together for a while now, we always push each other and have a blast doing so. If one of us learns a new move the other one is on it. People make fun of us because we are always hanging and boarding, but if we didn’t ride together we would still be two goofy NH boys doing ballerina spins.

Who else or what else influences your riding?
Bill Enos, Jesse Burtner, Jussi Oksanen, My friends and family.

- Dewin' the Dew at Mt. Snow

If there was one thing that was a catalyst of sorts, one important event or moment that has helped you take your snowboarding to where it is today what would it be?
Three years ago my younger sister Callie died of cancer. This made me realize that things like this can happen to anybody, She is my motivation to make something of my snowboarding. Not that I wasn’t motivated before she died, I just want to do it for her.

You’re a real consistent rider both on jumps and rails. Is there one trick that kind of gives you a lot of trouble?
Backside Rodeo! Ian I will learn sometime!

So you moved out of to Tahoe after growing up in NH. How are things going in Tahoe?
It’s going great! Northstar is great and so are my roommates the Danes! I haven’t really spent that much time in Tahoe, because I have been traveling. It kind of just a base, but I love it when im there.

You also have spent some time in Salt Lake though?
Yeah, I did a fall semester of college in Salt Lake. It was crazy seeing so many people I know there! Maybe too many skiers and boarders in that area, but its fun.

Where else will you be heading to before this season is over with?
I don’t really feel like my season is ending this year, which is a good thing! Im going back east now then maybe Alaska, then Canada and back to Tahoe. After that mt Hood to work at HCSC hopefully, then New Zealand and Australia.

Well, good luck with the rest of the season. Any last words?
Cool Story mate.

-Sam half way down his run at the Dew Tour at Breckenridge.