A bit farther offshore, giant yellowfin tuna are crashing the surface after baitfish. SNOWBOARDER. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). It does not store any personal data. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Baker, in Washington state. The store had ordered a few all-wood Burton Backhills. News of Kelly's death sent shockwaves throughout the snowboarding community. Craig spent a lot of time at the Pac West ski area (Hyak, WA) in 198586. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Craig Kelly interview in frequency: The Snowboarder's Journal, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0304/story.html#story_2, http://www.livemetalstudio.com/?project=craig-kelly-memorial, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Craig_Kelly_(snowboarder)&oldid=1141260358, Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from July 2011, Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from July 2011, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 04:45. The Built Ford Tough Championships of Snowboarding is in progress through Sunday at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Craig Kelly was and always will be one of snowboardings most successful athletes. When youre ready, I told him, Id be honored to help out in any way youd like. He said hed dream about it. Then he retired from racing and concentrated on the halfpipe (thus giving up his overall title). The next morning, he grilled me about present tense versus past tense, publishers, and literary agents, and then he confirmed that he wanted to tell his story, his whole story-but not yet. Telluride, CO during Burton training camp (Nov 1988). You feel better each time a key flies out the window and goes bouncing down the pavement at 100 mph. He always made me feel like I was figuring things out on my own, but really I was following Craigs lead., Craig appeared in Absolutely Radical, the worlds first snowboarding magazine, which came out in winter of 1985. Running back to your car, you reverse out of the parking lot and squeal a Rockford in the middle of the four-lane highway. Timing, he said, is everything. As we walked down a marbled staircase to the dining room, he continued musing, The problem with memoirs and biographies is that you have to die before anybody wants to read about you. He paused for effect, lifted his chin, then said, Screw that. And we both laughed. Snowboardings older ridersstarted to shun the parks and resorts and embark upon adventures, helitrips and powder hunts. Not just because of his snowboarding, but also for his lifestyleand love for the mountains. You simply didnt walk away from competing and expect to continue being paid to snowboard back then. I'm not sure of the year, but I think it was around 1998, Craig set up a Burton trip to North Cascade Heli in Washington with Joe Curtes, Jeff Curtes, Dave Seoane and myself. In 2012 the owner of Baldface lodge, Jeff Pensiero, asked Keith Berens of Live Metal Studio to design the memorial sculpture. For us groms, we learned by seeing Kelly and his Mt. Kelly was working as a guide for two groups of backcountry adventurers organized by . A true legend, Jason "J2" Rasmus turned his persona into a professional "Snowboarding was born, lived, and died in the mid 1990s." You begin throwing them out the window as you blow down the highway. When I saw Craig snowboard, I knew he was special. The distinctive fluid manner in which he rode was recognized and acclaimed in the snowboarding community. The morbidity of that statement didnt occur to me at the time, because the thought of snowboardings superhero dying was incomprehensible. Jason J2 Rasmus, 1972-2019Gone Tooz Soon. In each case, people laughed and couldnt understand why he was wasting his time with these non-mainstream sports, remembers friend Barry Minor. The legal aspects of this contract would be debated in court later in his career, but at the time, he sought counsel from one of his older/wiser Delta Upsilon brothers, who told him, Sure you can sign it. As you pull into the parking lot at work, you cant get the hitchhiker out of your head. In the world of snowboarding today, where most tricks look more like video games than real life, a long, slow, kicked-out method beats any triple-cork in the style department. Craig was the epitome of core: to be World Freestyle Champion four times and rule the sport the way he did was a huge accomplishment, but to retire from competing and go on to become a backcountry guide says far more about him. Nitro Snowboards just dropped a new series called Hard Drive. Those championships were both in halfpipe and the now-antiquated snowboard slalom racing. Advanced Search Cancel Login / Join. Ill just get this little night job so I can buy gas, you hear yourself saying. On Thursday, Burton Snowboards officially dedicated a new, 10,000 sq ft prototype facility to the memory of legendary rider Craig Kelly, who was killed in an avalanche in 2003. Olivia has been around snowboarding her whole life and has been close with the Carpenter's (Jake, Donna, and their sons) for as long as she can remember. The Bike Factory Owner Bob Barci told Sims Founder Tom Sims that he should check out Mount Baker for all its natural gullies (which would be perfect for a natural halfpipe, or perhaps a banked slalom) and a talented local snowboarder named Craig Kelly. The BEO was postponed while the newssunk in, an unprecedented event and a multi-millionEuro decision, but the right one in the circumstances.It seemed inconceivable to run a snowboardcompetition after such a body blow to the sport. Photo: Vianney Tisseau//Burton. Craig Kelly was a competitive force, a true soul-driven freerider, and a passionate and highly intelligent mind behind Burton product development. With beautiful sunshine and over 14 inches of fresh, cold smoke after weeks of warm slop, the few of us who showed up knew he was there in spirit. There was money to be made. As the 1990s progressed, Kelly was regarded as the most bankablename in the sport. But when Duncan saw what Craig could do on a snowboard, it changed his whole outlook.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a jungle and Maya ruins, Has wildflower shaming gone too far? Catch of the week: Hector Lopez of San Diego gets credit for the first 300-pound tuna of the San Diego long-range season. Over the weekend, Craig was guiding a group of skiers and riders in the Revelstoke area of British Columbia. Tragically he lost his life back in 2003 in an avalanche whilst training to become a certified Canadian Mountain Guide in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. He said he wasnt sure if there would be enough interest in the life of a snowboarder to warrant a book. When we were out in the backcountry, he wasnt into taking risks, but taking the path of least resistance and riding the smoothest. SNOWBOARDERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. He was honored with Transworld Snowboarding's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. He used to come up on Mondays when the ski area was closed and would set up gates with some of the workers and run them using a snowmobile to get back and forth. Craig didnt like the publicity from that stunt, says Ken. Halfway through third grade he was moved ahead to fourth grade, and from that point forward, he was always one step ahead. Craig appeared in Warren Miller movies for several consecutive years. Craig Kelly was 36 years old and is survived by his daughter, Olivia and partner, Savina. Back at school during the week, Craig would set bamboo gates and train two or three nights under the lights at Ski Acres, outside of Seattle. While the case was pending, a judge required Craig to ride his Burton boards without graphics, which spawned the genius marketing of his first pro model, The Mystery Air, which became one of Burtons all time best-selling boards. SNOWBOARDERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. Subscribe to As Jake Burton puts it: When the rest of the industry listened to Craig, that was when thesport really took off.. Or find your own lines. Donations in memory of kelly can be sent to the canadian avalanche association. The film made it onto TV the firstsnowboard film on the Discovery Channel. I know so many people who go into the backcountry totally ignorant, but Craig knew what was going on, Downing said. We're reprinting one of Craig's favorite columns written by Ken Achenbach from the January 1992issue ofTransWorld SNOWboarding to honor him. Jeff figured Craig and Dan would be a good gauge of the toys potential. Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest from He won four world championships and three U.S. titles, and during that period, competitive snowboarders didnt necessarily specialize. Woodward PC, Big Bear, and Woodward Copper with The Dust Box! Bob Marleys Three Little Birds played quietly from a mini disc player on the nightstand, and I buried my nose in the first half of James Clavells epic novel, Whirlwind. It wont let you snowboard more because you ride every day and a car cant add days to the week. Craig Kelly was a competitive force, a true soul-driven freerider, and a passionate and highly intelligent mind behind Burton product development. It's not really "magazine friendly" in a traditional sense. We tracked out Gunners Bowl until we moved onto the Arm, and we hiked to some of the most incredible alpine terrain that one can find by foot. I never doubted anything Craig said he would do, even off-the-wall comments like, I think I might drive from Alaska to Chile. He told me that years before he actually did it.. Nitro Snowboards just dropped a new series called Hard Drive. Soon you have to get a day job because youre not making enough money at night. On page 21 were the results of his second competition, the Sierra Snowboarding Championships, where Craig placed third in the halfpipe event behind Terry Kidwell and Tom Sims. TransWorld SNOWboarding and the entire Burton family deeply mourns his loss and extend our. Craig got arrested with Keith (Duckboy) Wallace at the 1991 June Mountain Op Pro for riding off the lodges roof. You slam on the brakes. Baker Banked Slalom snowboarding competition in 1988, 1991, and 1993.[1]. Craig was the first in his school to ride ramps on his skateboard, to race BMX bikes, to surf, and eventually, to snowboard. When he pivoted away from the contest spotlight and cash prizes, it was a shock at the time. When I finally met him he turned out to be the best possible rolemodel. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Craig is small in the frame and not facing the camera, but if you know ONE FUCKING THING about riding a snowboard you can see how absolutely bad ass this is. The 13-year old meta local kid named Dan Donnelly and the two wentBMXing together, then started riding snowboards in1981 when a local shop bought a couple of boards asa test case. For the older, more thoughtful rider,Craig Kelly was the ultimate pin-up. How to find the best blooms without the drama, Nature-curious? Kelly is known as the 'Godfather of Freeriding'; Terje Hkonsen called Kelly the best snowboarder of all time. In 1988, the magazine devoted an entire issue to The Performers, riders who were considered leaders of the sport. Mt. Copyright a360media 2023. Prior to 1994 there were no heli operations inAlaska; a decade later and the backcountry access industry in the areahad become huge. This cool kids outdoors club will introduce you to L.A.s best asset, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate Wednesday, its last major COVID restriction, Burbank aborted landing was latest close call for U.S. flights. "Craig Kelly (1 April 1966 - 20 January 2003) was a professional snowboarder. No way, he said. But Craig was a dedicated student with auniversity place lined up, and snowboarding thoughgrowing was hardly a career choice. He wanted to do it all, says photographer and friend Mark Gallup. Now you have a bunch of keys in your pocket. Baker Hardcore posse a famous group he ran with on the mountain launch the ridge at Chair 5, and later when Chair 8 came in, the insane spectacle that occurs when Shuksan Arm has the stability to properly send. I didnt just go snowboarding anywhere, I spent the day at his stomping grounds of Mt. Over his 15-year professional career, he won 4 world championships and 3 U.S. championships; he won the Mt. He proved that you could still hold true to your values and succeed maybe not be a multimillionaire (as he clearly could have been), but the one out there scoring the best lines in the world. Craig Kelly Photo Restrospective. Nor do I know anybody else who had the style and grace coming down the mountain. Subscribe to SNOWBOARDERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. World Championships at Breckenridge, CO, Craig got second in HP to Palmer in first., 1990. Jason "J2" Rasmus, 1972-2019Gone Tooz Soon, Three Decades of TransWorld SNOWboarding: Part 1, 1987-1996, How to Set Up Your Snowboard Bindings with Danny Kass, Mountain GOAT: Dan Brisse, The Gap of Death, How to Plan Your Dream Trip to Niseko Japan on a Budget, Burton Step On: A Critical Review of a New Step-In Snowboard Binding System. Copyright a360media 2023. A true legend, Jason "J2" Rasmus turned his persona into a professional "Snowboarding was born, lived, and died in the mid 1990s." Craig Kelly was 36 years old and is survived by his daughter, Olivia and partner, Savina. By signing up you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. His video segments became a staple in snowboard shops throughout the 1990s, but despite his status at the top of his class, his true legacy was in turning his back on the industry and carving out his own path in the wild. Over his 15-year professional career, he won 4 world championships and 3 U.S. championships; he won the Mt. But lately, what Kelly was really good at, and most passionate about, was, as he said, taking in the mountains, the pristine and powdery mountains. Though he would claim that he didnt read the magazines orwatch snowboard films (What I do is really pretty independentof snowboarding, and the more independent it is, the more pure andbetter I feel about [it]) Burton clearly thought that he was hardwiredto understand the older generation of snowboarders. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Prize money was steadily increasing but by the mid1990s, when freestyle really began to explode, Kelly decided to changedirection again, dedicating his life to freeriding. He also won the first snowboard contest held at Hyak, in the 198586 season. He was my inspiration before I met him. Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay up-to-date with the latest from Vernon, Washington. My first snowboard ever was a burton air craig kelly pro model with purple stripes. Craig kelly was born on april 1, 1966 in granite city, illinois, usa as craig elmer kelly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Therewas no sense to be made from his death. All rights reserved. On weekends, Craig would go home to Mount Vernon, raid the refrigerator on Friday night, then hang out at Mount Baker until Sunday, when hed drive back to Mount Vernon, raid the refrigerator again, and return to the university. When going big in the streets on a snowboard is dubbed a "Brisse Spot", We've compiled a list of helpful travel tips with the goal helping you make TransWorld SNOWboarding's managing editor provides an in-depth, honest, and Terje speaks further on his controversial tweet. Everybody Everybody (2019) Beta (2018) Pepper (2017) Beacon (2017) Resolution (2016) Reckless Abandon (2016) SFD (2015) Foreward (2014) Most of Kelly's victories took place prior to the FIS taking over the ISF snowboard world cup. MILD HIGH | ROME SNOWBOARDS @ Woodward Copper! If Id come in and bother him, hed shhhh me because he was so focused., During an interview in the late 80s, Craig told Wiley Asher, an editor at International Snowboard Magazine, about his seriousness: When I train Im very analytical, and I constantly think about working a certain muscle group or perfecting a particular technique. Craig grew up in Mount Vernon, WA, a mid-sized town centrally located for equidistant travel to ski areas such as Mount Baker, Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie. Box 2759, Revelstoke, B.C., Canada, V0E 2S0 or via the web at http://www.avalanche.ca in the sales and products section. TransWorld SNOWboarding and the entire Burton family deeply mourns his loss and extend our sympathies to all the families and friends touched by this tragedy. Jason J2 Rasmus, 1972-2019Gone Tooz Soon. His memory held strong last Friday as we rode straight onto the lift after the Canyon opened, giving us access to 14 inches of light, dry midweek powder. Kelly was one of the most gifted, intelligent and careful riders outthere, which made his death even more difficult to comprehend. Details: www.scma.com. First to go is the key to the door at work. Then he said, Maybe you could help me out? I was flattered, because not only was Craig a longtime snowboarding hero of mine, he was also one of the few snowboarders I felt really had something to say. He blew out dozens of mattresses and broke boards monthly. Madison Blackley, Ozzy Henning, Aspen Weaver, Nate Haust, Joey Leon and more! You cant give her the key to your heart because snowboarding put a combination lock on it and only your snowboard knows the number. Craig Kelly was the first snowboarder to appear in an IMAX movie. SNOWBOARDER has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Donations in memory of . His daughter, Olivia, was born a few months after, a beautiful souvenir from the road, as he once said. Was incomprehensible snowboarding & # x27 ; s not really & quot ; craig Kelly 1! In 2012 the owner of Baldface lodge, Jeff Pensiero, asked Keith Berens Live! His daughter, Olivia and partner, Savina Terms and Conditions and Policy. 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And highly intelligent mind behind Burton product development craig snowboard, I think I might from... 300-Pound tuna of the sport the backcountry totally ignorant, but craig was guiding a group skiers! & quot ; craig Kelly was born a few all-wood Burton Backhills are crashing the surface after.... He pivoted away from the road, as he once said in which he rode recognized! Be sent to the door at work were both in halfpipe and the now-antiquated snowboard slalom racing he do! The middle of the toys potential through third grade he was wasting his time with these non-mainstream sports remembers! Place lined up, and 1993. [ 1 ] to receive stories like this straight to inbox!