Chris's Profile

Age: 29

Insta: @do_it_switch

When did you start riding park? 

I have been riding for over 20 years now and 15+ years have been in the park at Killington.

Favorite board?

Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick, but I rode the Maetier this year and loved it. Also a fan of the Nevernot. 

Favorite trick?

The best feeling tricks for me are switch front board, back one on, or a chicken salad grab. My go-to comfort trick is a blunt sameway.

Favorite feature?

My favorite feature is the first log in the Stash. A close second is the Stash DFD. For metal, I can't choose between the Star Wars or the 2x4 DFDF.

Favorite snowboarder?

Tommy Gesme for his style and grace, Mike Rav for the spirit and soul of snowboarding, Lucas Magoon for the hi-jinx and attitude in his riding, Joey Leon for his tech and power/ speed. Mel Sousa and Chance Steele - these dudes are so good and have sick style and are also good friends. Mel's given me so much inspiration and energy when we get out and lap. You progress 4 levels deeper for every lap you take with Mel. I've never met anyone on a board that can jump like Chance - dude's a quiet storm on a board and I love it. 

Is there someone you look up to who is not a snowboarder?

I look up to everyone in my family. My mom & dad, sisters Kathryn and Jennifer, my brother Michael. Although we aren’t the closest and everyone spread out over the years to do their own thing, I think that is the ultimate Pierce way. I take pride in doing my own thing and being autonomous, and I’m proud of the accomplishments and work my siblings put in to pursue their respective passions and interests. As for mom and dad, they probably lose sleep over the things I choose to do with my life, but I am very grateful for them. They set me up with a good head on my shoulders, taught me the value of hard work, and showed me how to treat others with respect. Endless thanks for them. 

Do you listen to music when you ride?

No music. If you listen closely enough, it's pure comedy from the city folk as they try to do skiing things. 

Goals for the season?

My goal this season was to work on an idea for a film project I’ve had in my head for years now. I spent most of this season hiking around The Stash filming solo with my phone. My intention was to clip pretty much every feature I felt I had a good trick on, and collect b-roll shots of the Shreddies and the history of The Stash. I have a deep connection to that side of Killington for sure, I attribute my skills on a board to riding The Stash over the years. I remember my first lap through there when I was a young teenager, I blindly tried to boardslide this log that was where the main jump is now. It was a little bumpy and I caught my edge and got rocked. Some things don’t change… it’s gnarly and unforgiving in there. I’ve done my heaviest tricks in The Stash, and I’ve taken my heaviest bodies in The Stash. It’s been really fun filming, some shots have been battles while some have came easily. The most rewarding part was having an idea for a shot in my head, but walking away with something totally different yet better. Couple shots in there I never saw myself or thought of getting, they just came to me while I was in the flow of things. I’m excited to share it with everyone, I have three minutes of footage.