540 at the Roxy Chicken Jam and take note of the proper tuck knee grabbing position – solid

SR: You have been killing it this year with lots of podiums at big events like the Dew Tour and the US Open anything that you have been doing this year or did it just come natural?
CS: I am really stoked; this is the first year I have won a contest. I had an epiphany on the lift one day and realized I never really focused on what I could to win so I think there was a switch there. Most of all I have not really worried about the contests and the money; for the first time I have completely focused on enjoying snowboarding. Especially in a recession, I just wanted to make sure I did everything I could to enjoy it. I have a great group of friends. Riding with Kjesrti, Marie, Bev and Jamie has really affected my riding; we have a fun little crew of girls. We have been rocking some One Life stickers; it’s just a band of girls that have the same perspective on life; embracing the moment and living life to the fullest. When we all go out riding and I don’t want hit a certain jump or do a certain trick my friends push me and I do it. Riding with them has really progressed my riding. This is the first year I have been able to rotate all four ways. I have gotten a chance to just focus on my riding instead of spreading myself thin with trying to get shots and film. So I’m definitely limited on photos but it has been good for learning tricks and having the opportunity to win my first event. I have had a blast; got to see the world, I’ve laughed more than I ever have, slept less than I ever had, changed time zones almost every four nights all season and more friends. You do well and people like you (laughter)

SR: So by trying less, you are doing better? (laughter)
CS: Exactly, slow down and less becomes more

SR: Do it because you enjoy it
CS: Exactly, I bought a house last year and thought a little too much about a lot of different things but now I have more balance and can focus on being in the moment and laugh my way through the season

TR: How many oversize novelty checks do you have?
CS: I think eight

TR: Can you make a little fort?
CS: I am looking to expand, right now I just have roof and two sidewalls but I am looking to better that. I don’t feel very sustainable there.

TR: You know Kelly Clark could make a small community with her novelty checks. Do you think that is a good reason to want to try to win contests?
CS: Definitely, in a recession like this you never know when you need some shelter

TR: That is a really good point! Do you think with money being pulled out of action sports, we are all actually going to have to get jobs and if so what is the job that you would want first?
CS: I like to think that no jobs are going to be gone because the people…

TR: ..Let’s be real…
CS: (raises her voice) I am being real Mr. Negatory, give me this mic! I think on a more sincere note when it comes to finances and action sports. The people that do these sports are super passionate about it and they find a way to get a surfboard, snowboard or skateboard, get tickets, hike to ride powder…they find a way to do these sports, skateboarding especially. This is a good question because people are scared and I think we are going to be fine but if I did have to have a job I would probably…

TR: Not limited by what you already know how to do, whatever job you want
CS: I think it would be fun to be a pilot

SR: So you are saying you think even though times are tough that people will come up and ride anyway?
CS: Heck yea, I think people into board sports are super passionate about them, even more so than soccer or baseball and those types of sports where the gear lasts longer. If you ride hard you can’t get through a season without getting a new board. I think people will be more resourceful and humbled by it all but I definitely don’t think we will get hit as hard as other industries. It has been humbling for everyone. Companies that might not have had the best intention or strong roots in action sports are not going survive the recession, which does not hurt; we don’t need 2,000 snowboard companies. When you have a company like Todd’s - Omatic, he’s been in snowboarding forever, his heart’s in it and he knows what he’s doing. He’s created a team of people that really love what they do and I think that will attract people. All the brands are headed towards the fun side of things. With the Olympics things got a bit serious, Burton is mellowing out along with a lot of the brands, getting back to the passion, roots and having a good time.

SR: So are you kind of saying that brands that are in it because they love snowboarding should be around
CS: Yes

SR: and brands that were in it looking to follow the money…
CS: …They are going to be weeded out. People are not going to support brands that don’t have roots in the sport that want to make a quick buck and are like “I am going to start a skateboard company so people think I’m cool.” Those companies will get weeded out. They don’t really know what they are doing with their product. If you look at a lot of catalogs they have a lot of average products but the strong products are going to prevail. People will keep the best products and that’s good for the overall environment as well because we are just in excess.

SR: You think your boss (Todd Richards) would still be riding if he was not running Omatic and making the big bucks announcing contests like this?
CS: Yea you know, Todd has got a big mouth
TR: Todd is easily entertained!
CS: He talks a lot of shit but at the end of the day he is awesome, he’s been ruling it forever and I don’t think you could get him off boards

SR: So you bought a house in Oceanside?
CS: I did

SR: Why Oceanside
CS: I love North County San Diego. The waves are fun, Tara Dakides is one of my best friends and she’s my neighbor, Kasia Meador, Todd’s in Encinitas and a lot of the companies I ride for are down there. I grew up wanting a half pipe in my backyard and now I actually have one. There are fruit trees, a veggie garden, Jacuzzi and a half acre lot a couple of blocks from the beach, I never had a back yard and that’s what really attracted me. It’s a dream set up

SR: Why not buy a house in Newport where you grew up?
CS: I needed a little change of pace; the action sports world is pretty strong in North County. I have a lot of different friends. I don’t have that many friends in Newport that do what I do on a regular basis, like people to surf with, skate with. All the movie premiers or anything I want to be a part of is such easy access from where I am at now. I spend more time with the people in this industry than the people I grew up with so, similar life values; the people that love the sports I do love life as well. Anything they do, they do to the fullest which an attractive trait for me.

SR: You don’t see yourself cruising around Newport Beach in a convertible Porsche?
CS: (laughter) No, my family took me on a lot of trips so I was able to stay pretty grounded in a community with a lot of money and a lot of distractions. I did get out of Newport and I am proud for having come out of there, proud of what I learned. They had a really good school system and a really good life growing up there, my parents are amazing and I would not be where I am without them.

SR: You came out of there a motivated pro snowboarder
CS: I find myself not being able to last very long without having something going on. Being in an area with so many things to do and playing so many sports, being involved in the community and going to a normal school, I actually went to Newport Harbor High School. I was in an academic academy; I thought I was going to college the whole time. It was really good for me because I can use those tools now.

SR: What do you do besides snowboard, skate and surf?
CS: Uh, making songs with my friends in a garage band. We just like to make fun of everything. Kjersti and I wrote a song called Tough Love; it’s a tragic romantic comedy. One life we like to play in a garage band and get kind of weird, play with lyrics

Sliding the box, photo taken from Oakley’s website

Vans Triple Crown 2008 podium

Waiting out 100 mph winds in Mammoth

720 at Mammoth

Another view of the tuck knee 5

who cares if it’s a butt shot, it’s a girls butt

from the Omatic website

2009 US Open podium – photo by Joe Carter

The girl next door? - you wish