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Five Minutes with: Tucker Watson
Name: Tucker Watson
Hometown: Charlotte, Vt.
Lives in: Mammoth Lakes, Ca.
Hookups: Rome, Quiksilver, Flux, DaKine, Thirty Two, Val Surf
SR: What’s new with you?
TW: Not much going on today, just got off the hill.
SR: Despite the lack of good snow in Mammoth how has your season been?
TW: It has been a change after the last two years, that’s for sure. It’s been a bit harder to stay positive, but things still been good. For the most part is seems that Mammoth is finally stepping things up this year. It seems like they are trying a bit harder to do some new things even though they don’t have as much snow to work with. I wish June could have stayed open, that is the best place to snowboard. I really wish I could have gone on some more trips this winter. None of them really worked out this year.
SR: You have been working every summer for the past couple of years up at Hood. What exactly do you do up there?
TW: I have been a camp councilor, a.k.a. babysitter. I make sure the kids don’t get into trouble when they are off the hill. I like it since the time I spend on the hill I can do whatever I want. I don’t have to be working with the kids. I done the coaching thing as well, but I like having my own time on the hill.
SR: Are you possibly switching things up and going to Argentina this summer?
TW: I would really like to try and make it down there. Especially after this season has been kindly of grim. I’ve heard the snow is crazy. Hopefully I can get the funding to go.
SR: What is the best thing about snowboarding in the summer?
TW: Its really warm, you don’t need layers and layers of clothes. While nothing will ever beat a good powder day, snowboarding in the summer is a close second. When you get off the hill in Oregon it can be 90+ out and you can go swimming, break out the grill, whatever you want.
SR: Sometimes I see your sled just sitting off the trailer in your parking lot for weeks. I bet somebody will steal it someday.
TW: That would be very bad. Then I would be forced to kill them and I don’t want to do that. Not to mention they wouldn’t have the key to start the thing. Plus I have my trailer booby trapped so no one would be able to get very far. There are much nicer sleds sitting all over Mammoth, they can go steal one of those.
SR: Any mentionable sled trips you have been on this year?
TW: Not really. I have only put a few miles on mine this winter. I tend to only go out the day of a storm when the mountain is closed. That when the snow is the best. I have been scared to go out this year since the snow pack is so thin. I don’t want to find any of those rocks out there. I have gotten pretty stuck a few times, but who doesn’t.
SR: Out of all the places and mountains you could go to, what made you want to move to Mammoth?
TW: My friend Nate Farell called me a few years ago while I was still living in Vermont. He and Danny Garrity where looking for another roommate. I figured why not. I had only been to Mammoth for a few days the season before but I knew it would be better than Vermont. A month later we got a place and I loaded up my car and drove across the country. I didn’t really have much of a plan once I got here. Worked for the mountain, the worst job I have ever had. We had a crazy landlord that tried screwing us out of a bunch of money. It seemed that most of the east coast had moved out that year and it turned out to be an interesting one. I’ve been here every winter since.
FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND:
CATS: Lucifer is the coolest cat out there
WISKEY CREEK: Drunk fools on Wednesday and most other nights
SUBARUS: If you can’t get a truck they are the next best thing in the snow.
JOE CARTER: I was going to be nice but Joe told me I didn’t have the balls to say anything mean so….He gets black out drunk and pisses himself all the time. Humps anything he can bring home from the bar, even if it is a dude. Showers once a month, maybe. But an all around good kid.
NORTH VILLAGE: About as ghetto as it gets
HIKING: Sometimes you have no choice but, it better be worth it. I didn’t buy a sled to hike.
WEEKENDS: Bitchy tourists from L.A.
MT HIGH: Sorry Cornell, I’m not a big fan of the place. Never go there.
VERMONT: Greener than California
COLLEGE: Someday soon
SR: Mammoth is full of them, who in your opinion is the most underrated rider there?
TW: I knew you would ask me this one. It’s a hard one. I would say there are a few kids that could be consider the best. I think Lonnie is at the top of that list. I think I have seen him fall once in three years. He has one of the sickest styles out there too. After him Cody Rosenthal, Mac Spedele, Greg Bokencamp and Joe Eddy all kill it. The list could go on forever.
SR: What do you do besides snowboard?
TW: I’m into all different forms of art, photography, graffiti, tattoo’s. I’ve been riding so much the last few years that I have put most of my hobbies on the back burner. I have found an interest in cooking this winter.
SR: Who is at the top of the play list in your Ipod right now?
TW: Dragon Force and some stuff from Eyedea and Abilities
SR: Favorite Tricks?
TW: Fs 180’s are really fun, sbs 540’s, and a good switch straight air always gets the heart beating.
SR: What is the worst thing about snowboarding these days?
TW: Ahhh…. I could go on for too long on this one. Maybe it could be all the kids that sit on their computers and hate all day long everyday. To much spinning, not enough rails, that kids pants too tight, too baggy, the music sucks, blah blah blah blah. Shut up, get off your ass and go make some turns or something. Once you learn how to do back to back tens in the pipe (or whatever you are hating on) then you can have an opinion, until then shut the fuck up.
SR: Who influences you the most?
TW: In snowboarding? Jeff Brushie, Jake Blauvelt, Greg Bokencamp and the some of the other kids I actually get to snowboard with. Cornell always has a smile on his face even if things aren’t going that good. People that stay positive since I’m not the best at that. Someday I wish I could ride half as good as Travis Rice.
SR: What do you think about Snowboard-Revolution?
TW: I think it is one of the few websites out there giving back to snowboarding in a good way. Keep up the good work boys.
SR: Last words?
TW: I would like to thank a few people. My family for all of their support over the years. All of my sponsors, without them none of this would be possible. I really owe Brandon Richards for everything he has helped me with. And last all the kids I get to ride with, I’m out.
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