Steamboat

proFilE | Story/Photography By Ned Cremin
Matt Ladley: Going Fast, Going Big and Riding Well
x-GaMe RiDeR MaTT laDleY, a veteran of the steamboat
springs Winter sports club, posted impressive results last winter
at the highest levels of the international snowboarding circuit.
ladley made the podium at the Dew Tour in killington, vt.,
and finished in the top five at both the aspen Winter x Games
and Tigres Winter x Games europe. Then came the grand finale:
the 21-year-old stomped a showcase run at the snowboarding
World championships in oslo, Norway. up against a veteran
league of snowboard legends and journeymen, ladley solidified
his niche in the Halfpipe Hierarchy by taking the silver medal.
Not bad for a down-to-earth, modest kid with a toothy smile who
calls small-town steamboat home.
in just a few short years as a pro, ladley’s keen sense of airawareness,
coupled with a glassy clean riding style, has cranked
necks and widened eyes along the deck. able to lock down backto-back
1080s in the pipe with dizzying amounts of amplitude,
ladley has established himself as a regular contender for the
podium while winning the respect and praise from fellow pros
and industry experts alike.
“it’s rare to see a halfpipe competitor who not only has a
deep and technical bag of tricks, but also the ability to perform
these moves with great amplitude. This is what sets shaun
White apart, and the same can be said for Matt ladley,” says pat
Bridges, editor of snowboarder Magazine and an established
authority on snowboarding.
Ned cremin caught up with this olympic hopeful while
he was riding in Wanaka, New Zealand. Matt was preparing to
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Matt Ladley waits at the starting gate of the halfpipe during the 2011 Winter X Games.
compete in the first official Fis snowboard Halfpipe event of
the olympic qualification period for sochi, Russia in 2014. We
talked about all things steamboat, the Winter sports club and
his outlook for the upcoming 2012-13 season.
Steamboat Magazine: last season you had multiple
podium finishes at major competitions. Which was your
personal highlight of 2012?
Matt Ladley: as far as contests go, getting second at the
World snowboard championships at oslo, Norway. it was
really big for me, definitely. That pipe was riding really well and
when it’s THaT fun to be out there and you’re not terrified of
the conditions, you can really let your worries go and just focus.
You’re stoked to be riding and to be in the moment. it worked
out really great for me.
SM: last year you rode the Ride signature Buckwild
snowboard sporting the graphic, “i’m having more fun than
you.” What will you be taking into 2013?
ML: i’ll be rocking the Buckwild 153, again. pretty similar
graphic as last year, so look for it. i’ll be riding the Ride Maestro
bindings with Nike Boots and having way more fun.
SM: as you head into the 2012-13 season, who are your
current sponsors?
ML: Nike, Muscle Milk, Hex, Ride snowboards, scull candy,
oakley, powder Tools and steamboat ski area. They’ve all been
great. i feel pretty lucky to have such great sponsors. They’ve
been really supportive of everything i’m doing.
SM: at Winter x Games aspen, your amplitude was