Whether you're a super-fan on the verge of achieving "stalker status" or a kid who just wants to ask a bit of shred advice, your ability to get all your questions answered now happens faster then ever. Since the introduction of web 2.0, athletes and movie stars have all taken advantage of social media to interact with their fans on sites like Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.  Rather then giving you their personal cell numbers, I decided to ask Canadian shredders TJ Schneider and Leanne Pelosi where they spend most of their time interacting with their fans. Here's what they had to say.

Did you ever try to get in touch with your favorite pros when you were growing up?

TJ: Not really. I met a few at some contests, but when I was growing up there wasn't really any way to talk to anyone outside of really meeting them face-to-face. I remember riders like Jason Brown having their own websites and I thought that was really cool. I chatted with him a little via e-mail when I first heard about Capita... back when it was a sleeveless t-shirt company.

Leanne: I was in love with Tara Dakides and I bought all her pro model stuff. I went to a Vans Triple Crown contest where she introduced herself to me and I freaked out. [laughs] I was very shy when it came to stuff like that. If she had a website at that time, I would have definitely been a regular viewer, but she didn't. Times are changing though... people are a lot more accessible now via the web.

Is it important to stay in touch with people that look up to you and try to contact you?

TJ: Of course. These kids have allowed me to have the life that I have. A lot of riders don't take the time to answer kids and feel it's a burden to sign autographs for more than 10 minutes. I think a lot of people don't realize how much they owe these kids, so that's why I try to stay as active as possible.

Leanne: Yeah, I feel it's important. I agree with TJ on that one. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have jobs. I try and get back to as many people as possible, to give some advice, and say hi, whatever. But I don't usually get back to the marriage propositions. [laughs]

What about Facebook? Do you use it?

TJ: I have a Facebook account. I use it, but not really; you know what I mean? It's a good way for kids to get in contact with me, and for me to stay in contact with them, but I don't really know how to use the site. Uploading photos and such is pretty tough for me.

Leanne: I use Facebook a lot to keep in touch with my friends from high school mainly, but I also accept shred kids in my limited profile so they can only see snowboard related stuff. I like to keep some things private so the whole world can't see what I'm doing at any time of the day.

What about MySpace?

TJ: This is pretty much the same as Facebook, but I use it more for the bulletins. I have a ton of friends on there and it's a quick, easy way to inform them of what's going on. It's also an easy way for kids to ask me questions. I check both Facebook and MySpace almost every day.

Leanne: No, there's nothing on there for me.

Do you post videos on YouTube?

TJ: I use YouTube a lot, just with posting The Snowboard Realms. I use it less for chatting back and forth than the others, but this is my favorite place to share my videos for sure

Leanne: I upload any Runway teasers to YouTube, but only once a year-type thing.

Do you do anything with any other websites?

TJ: I have a few different blogs that I use; snowbroader.eu, push.ca, capitasnowboarding.com,  thesnowboardrealms.com, tjschneider.com and thesnowboardrealms-team.com are all pretty active.

Leanne: I use mgtsnowboardcamp.com, runwayfilms.com, as well as my sponsor's websites, such as Bonfire, K2, Dragon, ThirtyTwo, Etnies, and DaKine; all my video parts are up on there.

Do you coach at any snowboard camps? Leanne, I know you do MGT... What about you, TJ?

TJ: I've been up at Camp of Champions since ‘98 as a camper and team rider, and a coach since 2001. I really like going to camp. A lot of people just go up there to ride, but I like being up there to actually coach as much as possible.  When I was a camper my coaches like Dennis Bannock and Andrew Hicks really made good impressions on me, from the amount of help they gave me, so I try to do the same with the kids I'm able to coach

Leanne: MGT snowboard camp. I founded this with my friend Joanna Majcheriewicz six years ago and we run it both winters and summers. We do a summer camp in Argentina and also at Mt. Hood, Oregon. In the winter, we work with Norquay, Canada Olympic Park, and Grouse Mountain. I wanted to create a platform for younger aspiring riders to come and ride with their female role models. It's worked out quite well, with two of our original campers who have come back repeatedly, and most recently being nominated for Transworld Magazine's Rookie of the Year award -- Bev V and Raewyn Reid! I feel like we are making a small difference in the snowboard community and really giving back to our roots. I'm really proud of our camp, having grown from something so little, to being one of the oldest girls camps that offers pro coaching inside North America. It's one of the best feelings in the world seeing our camp impact directly the grassroots snowboarding industry. Yeah!

Do either of you compete much anymore?

TJ: I end up doing a few contests every year, mainly just the ones that I really enjoy doing. They're a really good way to get out and just have fun and meet people in real life.

Leanne: In the past I've done a lot of competitions, and they're definitely fun, especially if you win. But I don't enjoy competing in the ones that are made for TV only, and they really don't give a care about the actual riders or the contest. It's like being a monkey and being told to "dance for TV". I've started to focus on trying to progress the sport through filming, and for me the more time I spend on snowboarding, and the less time in airports and traveling, is more beneficial to pushing the level. 

Do you hit the tradeshows?

TJ: I try to work as much of the trade show as possible. You can find me hanging around the Capita booth meeting everyone possible. I love our crew, so for me its just a good time being there.

Leanne: I go to tradeshows to meet-and-greet with the companies I work with, and in general to come up with ideas for next year with regards to product. It's a good way to see what everyone else is doing, all in one room. It's also a little mini-break in the middle of the season, which is nice.

TJ staying in touch with his fans, first hand:

What about the party scene?

TJ: I avoid these.

Leanne: I like seeing all my friends at parties, but I don't go to many during the season, unless it's a celebratory party for one of my friends who won a contest or something. The best time for parties is in the fall during all the new movie premieres.

Do you like, or mind, signing autographs?

TJ: If someone wants one I'm more than happy to give them a little something; more like a drawing or some spur-of- the-moment art.

Leanne: It's a flattering feeling to have someone to ask for your autograph, and it shows that you're doing your job right if someone likes your snowboarding. I have no problems signing something, but I'd rather hang out with the person and meet them.

Last question: what about filming and videos?

TJ: DIY is where it's at... I spend a lot of time making and sharing videos. It's a wonderful way for me to meet, chat with and ride with kids from everywhere.

Leanne: I am filming for a traditional snowboard movie this year, with Standard Films, but I think that online is the way to go for the future. People want to see what you did last week, not last year. I think even the traditional movies are going to start to update their sites and put mini- movies up more frequently.

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Related:
Dagmar Snowboard Realms Session with TJ Schneider
TJ Schneider: A Realm Of His Own
TJ Schneider's Blog
Runway All The Way
MGT Camp Blog