Snowboarders who are serious about making their passion a career need to take their snowboarding to the next level. These days, it's simply not enough to just be a good snowboarder. They need to go a step further and translate their skill level into some sort of measurable indicator: banger video part, trio of top contest results, etc. Ask anybody inside the industry: if a company invests it's money into an athlete, not only do they want to get their money's worth in terms of exposure, but rather that they genuinely want to support them on their pathway to being as successful as possible. During my time within the industry, I've watched Ottawa's Andrew Burns climb his way up through companies, competitions and video parts to where he is now. After having one hell of a successful year, I thought it might be a perfect time to ask him what he's got planned for the future. Most snowboarders I know would and have given up their chance at making a career out of snowboarding, but not Andrew. After sitting with him and going through a few questions, I'm more convinced than ever that after this past year, he's going to continue climbing the ranks in North American snowboarding.

Mr. Burns, I'd say you had a hell of a year. If I'm not mistaken, that might have been your best season to date?
Thanks Mike! As far as contests go, that was probably my best, but I didn't get as much filming as I would have liked though, but pretty good still. You'll see my shit in DOPE.

You travelled all over the place this season! Was it all for contests or did you get some filming and magazine stories up in the mix? What was your schedule like?
I started by going to Dew Tour, which was pretty alright, then bashed both my heels super bad at Keystone the next day... bit of a hindrance. Then I went to Ontario to do a little jibbin', then Silverstar for a SBC trip, which was super sick, then back to Whistler for a while. Some sledding, some Olympics, some park, a You Look Good here, Showcase Showdown there, some more sledding, then Grenade Games. Oh god...party mouth. Then after that I went home for a bit, Nicaragua for a bit, SASS head office/surfing in New Hampshire for a bit, back in 'ol Whis, headed back to SASS this summer.

At the Grenade Games, you came up on some pretty good cash. What plans do you have for all that money?
Pretty stoked on that. Paid some bills, bought a shitload of drinks that night. Not broke for once is pretty sweet!

All contests aside, what else made your season so damn successful?
I don't know really, probably just ‘cause I was riding a lot, having a lot of fun, and always spending time with a lot of good friends.

After a season that busy, you're deserving of some rest.  What are you up to this summer?
I don't generally rest. I did COC for a few days, then the Billabong Ante Up. After two sessions I'm went to Tofino to surf for a few days before heading down to Argentina. SASS runs for seven weeks and I'm the Head Coach and Media Director, as well as overseeing general operations, so I'll be pretty busy. After camp's done I'll see the family for a week or two then back to the SASS office, and a trip to Puerto Rico for one of our SGT (SASS Global Travel) surf trips.

You know what? I think it's safe to say that you're comparable to a bottle of wine: pretty cool to party with and seemly better with age. That sound fair?
I like that, I sure like to party.

You're a good man, Andrew. How much longer are you going to keep going with this snowboard career of yours?
Pretty much until it stops getting better, which isn't in the foreseeable future, that's for sure.

With that being said, what can all your sponsors expect to see from you next year? Do you have any cool projects that you're looking forward to?
Capita movie. That's what I'm working on; it's gonna be ridiculous. I'll do some contests for sure, but the video is my focus.

Now's the time you get paid again.  Who's hooking it up these days as far as sponsors?
CAPiTA, 32 Outerwear, 32 Boots, Dragon, Etnies, Union and Showcase.

Do you get paid for mentioning your supporters?
Hahahaha!

Andrew's part in Nuulife's Sixes and Sevens:

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Related:
Video: Argentina and Andrew Burns
Andrew Burns at SASS
Video: Andrew Burns in Argentina ('08)