Steamboat

impressive, comparable only to shaun White. Has that been an
element you’ve been working on?
ML: Yeah, thank you. To me the most fun thing about riding
pipe is going fast, going big, riding well and landing well. it’s
definitely been something that i’ve put a lot of work into the past
few years and especially all last year. i’m stoked that it’s paying
off. i’ve learned a few new tricks this spring, and i’m looking to
put those two things together to ride consistently and to keep
progressing this season.
SM: as you’re traveling all around the world to compete,
what do you miss most about steamboat?
ML: i miss that mellow, small-town vibe. Being familiar with
everyone and feeling comfortable everywhere. That’s what i
love about steamboat, you go back home and you see all the
people you grew up with. i see Jon, spencer — all those guys. i
love hanging out with the family and not doing contests. i get to
relax and go shred pow. i just got a new sled, so i miss taking that
out. Hopefully we get a lot of snow this winter.
SM: You had a large colorado crowd supporting you this
year at Winter x Games. How did that feel?
ML: it’s so fun. i have so many buddies that come out from
steamboat and Boulder. i come down after finishing my run, i
love seeing 20 kids i know in the crowd. it’s awesome. i’m really
excited that there are so many great contests in colorado this
year — the Dew Tour in Breckenridge, x-Games in aspen, and
the u.s open just moved out to vail as well. so, three of the
biggest contests in snowboarding will now be in colorado. i’d
like to get all the people i can to come out for those three. see
you there.
SM: How did participating in the Winter sports club help
you prepare for the professional ranks?
ML: Being part of the Winter sports club in steamboat is
64 | ONLINE AT WWW.STEAMBOATMAGAZINE.COM
Matt Ladley throws down a Miller Flip in Steamboat’s Rodeo Terrain Park.
really the best-case scenario for a young snowboarder who
wants to turn pro someday. You get the opportunity to travel, at
least regionally, and then as you grow older and do better, you
get to travel to the bigger contests. They’re always right there,
supporting you and helping you with pretty much everything
that the u.s pro Team would do — just on a smaller scale. You
have all the coaches giving you feedback, offering tips and
reviewing video. You have friends to ride with, and i think the
biggest part of it is you ride a lot. You’re always stoked to be out
there, and they’re great about keeping it fun. The kids want to
continue progressing, not because someone is telling them to,
but because they have that hunger. For me, that was the highlight
of every day growing up. i couldn’t wait to leave school and go
shred.
SM: Do you credit anyone in steamboat or the Wsc with
helping catapult you to success?
ML: Two coaches, for sure. spencer Tamblyn and Jon
casson. My mom is moving into a different house and i was
going through my room, sorting things out, when i came
across a journal from when i was about 11 years old. There was
an entry about my snowboard instructor, Jon casson, and the
day he taught me a 360. i remember vividly, that was the first
front-side 360 i ever learned. We went up sundown lift and
then headed right from the top to that first cat-track towards
3 o’clock. i learned my first 360 there. so, i got to give it up to
Jon, he definitely inspired me right off the bat. We did a lot of
interesting training over the next few years and he’s a great guy.
i still keep in touch with him. Then later, when i was about 14 or
15, i started training with spencer, and i think he’s still one of the
greatest guys and greatest coaches out there. i worked with him
for a while until he became the u.s. snowboarding Team coach. i
really owe those two guys a lot for where i am today.