This post is part of a series of interviews with pro riders.
The focus is predominantly on snowboarding gear (this is a website all about snowboard gear after all!) but there some other questions.
This week’s pro rider gear profile features Chase Blackwell.
QUICK BIO: CHASE BLACKWELL
Chase Blackwell is a professional snowboarder who is part of the US Halfpipe team and has been competing professionally with the team since 2018.
He is from Colorado and started snowboarding at just 3 years old.
For more on Chase’s story and follow what he’s up to now check out his instagram @chase_ing_snow
Chase Blackwell Interview
1. How long have you been competing professionally in snowboarding?
3 years
2. What discipline(s) do you compete in?
Halfpipe
3. Snowboarding Profiles is a gear site, so that’s what we care most about here – how important do think it is to get your gear right?
I think it’s very important. The more comfortable you feel in your gear the more comfortable you’ll feel riding your snowboard.
4. And for those young riders out there aspiring to be professional snowboarders, what do you consider the most important thing to being successful? Practice? Belief? Desire? Confidence? Gear? Good coach? Good physical shape? Likely a combination of the above, but what would be the single most important thing in your eyes?
The single best thing for up and coming riders is just to have fun. Have fun progressing and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone even when you fall. If you can stay positive through the tough times it’s makes the good times more worth it.
5. Getting back to gear, what do you think is the most important part of your equipment to get right? Snowboard? Bindings? Boots? Outerwear? Safety Equipment? And what would be your 2nd and 3rd choices as to what’s most important?
First choice I would have to say is having a good helmet that you feel comfortable and fashionable in. Second I would say having the right snowboard that fits you and your riding style correctly that is also up to par with today equipment. Third I would say outerwear. Cause the longer you stay warm and dry the longer your on the slopes.
6. In terms of the snowboard, what do you think is the most important factor or factors – the thing that can make the biggest difference to the feel and performance of the board? Camber Profile? Length? Width? Sidecut? Effective Edge? Flex? Weight? Base? Graphic 😉
In this day and Age there’s a lot of different technology coming from all companies but I feel like the most important thing is to know what your like to ride. Wether it be groomers, pow, park, pipe or street then finding a board with the correct flex shape and weight that you want to ride.
On top of that durability. If your going to spend 300-1000$ on a snowboard know where your board is being made and how it’s being made. Buy a board that is going get you your moneys worth.
7. What gear is your go to right now? Board? Bindings? Boots?
My go to setup right now is….
Never Summer proto synthesis snowboard
Union force bindings
Adidas TACTICAL LEXICON ADV boots
686 smarty pants
686 glcr landscape anorak jacket
686 mountain mitts
686 X Sketchy Tank Balaclava
Dragon PXV goggles
Giro emerge Helmet
8. And finally, where is your favorite place to snowboard?
Either Copper Mtn, because that’s my home mountain and they have one of the best pipes and parks in the world. Or LAAX because who doesn’t like LAAX!
Big thanks to Chase for participating in this interview.
If you want to connect with Chase and follow his career, check him out on Instagram @chase_ing_snow.
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