As
snowboarding evolves and progresses, it's inevitable that the more serious you
take your riding -- on and off the hill -- the more successful you'll be. Raw
talent will only get you so far if your fellow riders are hitting the gym, eating
right, and doing whatever else it takes to be in top shape, both mentally and
physically. 21 year-old Jeff Batchelor is one of those riders that not only has
the ability, but also the drive to do what it takes to be the best. You say
"jock," but I say
"way better than you."
Skiing
at two years-old, skateboarding by five and now 13 years deep on his snowboard,
Jeff has been on the National Halfpipe Team for four years and is one solid run
away from making the 2010 Canadian Olympic team. That's no joke and neither is
he, as he proved last year when he won his first World Cup in Stoneham, Quebec.
Traveling like a fiend 12 months out of the year, I had to settle for an e-mail
interview with Jeff...not my favorite way to try and catch people off guard, but
certainly better than nothing. Enjoy.
You're considered the
"jock" of the snowboard realm. Care to defend yourself?
I
come from a little suburb known as Oakville where I play cricket and sip brandy
on the veranda of my mansion... is that what everyone means by"jock"? [laughs That
is hardly the case. I guess I just didn't rock the snowboard style like
everyone expected me to back in the day, when I came up the ranks. Sure, there
are pictures of me in polos and khakis out there... I guess I was just naïve to
think that my snowboarding would do the talking. But hey, news-flash for all
those who care what I dress like: I'm happy to inform you all that I put on a
hoodie and a baggy-fitting shirt today. Am I cool now?
No, everyone has moved onto
tight-fitting emo, fixie bike courier wear. Keep up, buddy. Double Corks: tell
me everything you know, forgot, nor care to know about that trick.
Let's
just say if you can't do three or four different variations of double-corks by the
time we compete in 2010, you aren't going to win: it's a fact.
The Olympics: why?
It
all started when I purchased the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics for my Nintendo 64
back when I started riding. The inspiration came from those at-the-time
world-class graphics: the halfpipe event was so sick. From there I couldn't get
myself out of the halfpipe; trying to go bigger and learn better tricks all the
time with my homies. It used to be the biggest contest in my mind; now I've
quickly learned that it's the biggest contest for people in amateur sports such
as bobsledders and those dudes that do the skiing and shooting -- I still don't
understand that one. The biggest contest in my eyes right now is on December 11th
at Copper Mountain, Colorado, when everyone throws down at the Grand Prix. This
will be the event to watch if you're into seeing some crazy shit.
What's your status on the
Olympic selection tip?
I'm
sitting strong right now with a first place result last season at one of the selection
events. Now I have to get another top five at either the Copper or Mammoth
Grand Prix -- which I'm guessing will be difficult -- or the Canada World Cup.
Keep in mind this is right before the Olympics, so if it comes down to this
contest to get a top five, you might feel a little tension being around me. In
terms of who's going, the selection process, and the performance I've seen in
the last few training camps from others... let's just say I've had to sit back
and shut my mouth a few times.
You ride with the Icarus
shred team. Icarus is a Greek Mythological character that flew too close to the
sun and melted his wings made of wax and feathers, thus falling to his death in
the sea. It is basically a story of over-inflated ego and choosing to ignore
personal limitations resulting in tragedy. Give me your thesis on this.
I
think it's the ignorance of personal limitation that allows someone to progress
at a much faster rate; it's this thing called ego that is slowing certain
people down.
Nicely put. What's your most
outrageous travel story?
The
Nationals in Avila, Quebec... I'm not sure if it was '04 or '05. I made out with
Mercedes Nicoll at The Bourbon; she'll deny it but you can confirm with Brad
Martin. I ended up in an air vent above the stage, sipping my drink and yelling
to my buddies below. I'm not sure if that was the most outrageous though... I
have a faint recall of getting sick in every sink at our condo in Big White - again,
at another Nationals -- at about 4:00AM, having arrived back at our place after
being at Snowshoe Sam's all night. Me, along with a few others, then had to get
in a Suburban and drive down to the airport where our flight was delayed out to
Vancouver, en route to the World Juniors in Korea. It was most likely the worst
travel experience of my life.
What are your general plans
for the next 12 months?
Dominate
life.
Jeff proudly rides for
Oakley, Burton, Bench, Nike, iSwarmsolutions.com, Algario Communications,
Molson, Shreducation, Hudson's Bay Company, and Icarus Skate and Snow.
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Related:
Olympic Halfpipe Selection Process For Dummies
Jumping Through Olympic Hoops (I Mean Rings) with Dustin Craven
LG FIS World Cup Stoneham Results (Batchelor, 1st)