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 62 | ONLINE AT WWW.STEAMBOATMAGAZINE.COM 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. <strong>Steamboat</strong> 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
Matt Ladley sends it big with a 540 stalefish grab during the 2012 Winter X Games, Aspen. STEAMBoAT MAGAZinE | SKI SEASON 2012/13 | 63