Welcome to “Thank U Snowboarding,” the podcast that dives deep into the rich history and vibrant culture of UK snowboarding. From the early pioneers handcrafting boards in the Scottish Highlands to today’s Olympic medalists and world champions, we’re uncovering the incredible stories behind an island nation that, despite its lack of towering peaks, has made a monumental impact on the snowboarding world.
Join us as we chat with the trailblazers, innovators, and everyday riders who have shaped this unique scene, exploring what makes snowboarding not just a sport, but a way of life. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder or new to the slopes, our mission is to celebrate the passion that fuels our community and inspire the next generation to hit the mountains. So strap in, and let’s carve our way through the history and culture of UK snowboarding together!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to “Thank U Snowboarding,” the podcast that dives deep into the rich history and vibrant culture of UK snowboarding. From the early pioneers handcrafting boards in the Scottish Highlands to today’s Olympic medalists and world champions, we’re uncovering the incredible stories behind an island nation that, despite its lack of towering peaks, has made a monumental impact on the snowboarding world.
Join us as we chat with the trailblazers, innovators, and everyday riders who have shaped this unique scene, exploring what makes snowboarding not just a sport, but a way of life. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder or new to the slopes, our mission is to celebrate the passion that fuels our community and inspire the next generation to hit the mountains. So strap in, and let’s carve our way through the history and culture of UK snowboarding together!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Its almost a lifetime ago that I last saw Jonny. We spent a few intense periods together whilst he was working for Airwalk and I was helping him out, normally in return for some beer vouchers and some kit.
Jonny is a legend in the UK industry, he held things down at Burton for quite a while before running Airwalk, helping them devolop a product line which, for a while, was one of the strongest lines of product in any brand, really innovative, stylish and well priced.
He is responsble for so many riders getting free kit to help them live out their dreams, and was always at the centre of all things good in the UK scene. Legend has it his way of choosing who would ride for his brands was pretty much who could keep up on a night out!
Aside from the fun nights out though, Jonny knew his way round the industry and had an innate sense of what was good and what was shit, and was one of the few people who made the leap to the big league out in the US.
He hasn't changed an ounce in the time I haven't seen him and I hope it isn't that long again before I hear that laugh and hear his stories.
If you want to know more about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Camp in March 26, there are details here: https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 or you can email us at thankusnowboarding@gmail.com
We are supported by the rad crew at The Snowboard Asylum, and their new website with all this seasons product is online now: https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
We are also looked after by Dan and Lizzie at Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en and Tom at High Days for Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
I'd like to take a moment to introduce FourTwenTea, which is delicious tea embibed with CBD oil, which I have been drinking over this summer, just to help keep my brain from overheating. Its completely natural, Jemma, the owner, is a snowboarder and total legend and I can't recommend this stuff enough, so go check it out: https://fourtwentea.com/
We'll be back every week for the next 23 weeks with interesting stories from the world of UK snowboarding, so see you then!
Peace x
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Another lovely chat during a great day with two of favourite people to shred with. We were talking about climate change and whether our kids will see the epic snowfalls we have enjoyed...
I also talk about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Building Camp 26, if that sounds like something you want to get involved in, then head over to https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 for more details and how to reserve a space. Its going to be RAD!
If you want to get in touch, then the email is thankusnowboarding@gmail.com
x
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What a day! This day was one of the most fun days I've had on a snowboard, I didn't want it to stop. I'd not really chatted with Mr Steve before, I was always a little bewildered about who he was and why he was on the Spring Break trip, but the night before we recorded this, we had a right chat about all sorts of things, sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but really enjoyable.
So I grabbed him for a few laps of the gondola and recorded on of the rides up.
Mr Steve is a very interesting guy, useful on a snowboard, thoughtful, sharp and engaged off, my kind of person.
I'm very much looking forward to more of the same in Kuarnatal next year!
I also talk about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Building Camp 26, if that sounds like something you want to get involved in, then head over to https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 for more details and how to reserve a space. Its going to be RAD!
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This bonus episode is the epitome of what sitting on a chairlift with your friends is all about... Vicky and Nige are Mia's parents, and its always fun to catch up with them in Laax and go for a shred. I think sometimes they get caught up in the contest environment and forget to enjoy themselves. Well, thats where I step in! We went for a proper shred around Laax, joined as well by The Reason's filmer Duncan Wright, and had a proper tear up.
I recorded a few chats with these guys, because there was some questions we didn't get to when I interviewed them for the main pod last year, none of which come up on this one, but will before the main podcast starts again.
I also talk about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Building Camp 26, if that sounds like something you want to get involved in, then head over to https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 for more details and how to reserve a space. Its going to be RAD!
See you again soon for more chairlift chats in the run up to full episodes this autumn... x
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Ian is one of the guys in snowboarding who has helped shape the UK scene, but who never craves the spotlight, indeed, he is unlikely to want his own full episode of the podcast, so it was a pleasure to get, at least, a little conversation on the P60 chairlift in Laax during the open.
Ian was editor at Snowboard UK, then Document, and helms The Reason magazine, an annual behemoth of a publication, full of interesting articles and the most stunning pictures you'll want to look at. He has stuck with print when everyone said print was dead, not on his watch...
I also talk about the Thank U Snowboarding Community Building Camp 26, if that sounds like something you want to get involved in, then head over to https://thankusnowboarding.wixsite.com/spring2026 for more details and how to reserve a space. Its going to be RAD!
See you again soon for more chairlift chats in the run up to full episodes this autumn... x
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Dave is undoubtedly one of the GOAT's of snowboarding, and even more so because he really likes hanging out with the British scene! In fact, he will be one of the very few non UK born people to get an episode of Thank U Snowboarding (coming late in Season 3 or early Season 4)
He is the owner of Signal Snowboards, as well as a bunch of other creative endeavours, turns up with an infectious energy and still throws down a beautiful backside air that has inspired me to get fit for next winter to get my own backside airs back, there is life in this old dog yet!
Here we talk about Signal and his journey, in a short cable car ride, and we'll be digging deeper when we sit down for the full interview sometime next year hopefully.
If you want to register your interest for the Thank U Snowboarding camp, then send me an email thankusnowboarding@gmail.com
x
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Not many people can legitimately claim the title GOAT, but Steve is on that short list, in fact he might BE the short list.
The influence on UK snowboarding that Steve has had cannot be denied, whilst most people were trying 360's and 540's, Steve was blasting 7's and 9's way over their heads, on dryslope, which is fucking hardcore and not something that most people ever got to.
Steve is a cat, I've followed him round Les Arcs enough to see his natural ability to spring over rocks, blast massive and stylish airs, spin like a top and generally rule the mountain, first hand, and it is rare qualities he posseses as not many other riders have that. I think there is a reason why Chris Moran and Steve were friends and riding buddies because Chris has that ability too (when he isn't skiing obvs) but Steve really pushed it.
Picked up by Burton and championed round Europe, Steve was at home riding snow, dryslope, even shitty Ski Show quarter pipes where he sent methods more than head height out.
Steve is very happy in his own skin and lives life on his terms, sadly we don't see him snowboard much these days, but I'm hoping that changes with a trip to Austria in the calendar. He spends time manning the Snowboard Asylum in Chester and climbs as often as possible in North Wales, he is a man of few words and many cigarettes, and I"m looking forward to seeing himblast a backside air higher than ever soon...
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
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In my humble opinion, its guys like Mike who made our culture of snowboarding. Sure, there were plenty of pro riders who shone bright, but, and I"ve said this before, its the guys like Mike, who love the sport with all their hearts and devote their lives to it, not in the pursuit of powder, but to getting people into it, understanding it, living and breathing it, which in turn has turned so many people onto the sport we hold so dear. Making communities that spread far beyond the bricks and mortar of the physical shop, lending boards, teasing the next seasons kit, letting groms watch videos in their shops for hours, going for a pint to talk about the next shred trip.
Mike embodies this more than most, his shed is now a homage to his life converting people into snowboarders and I sincerely hope, arthritis withstanding, that his days on a board haven't come to an end and that The Lecht gets a day soon that goes down in living memeory, I think Mike deserves that...
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
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Neave, as everyone calls him, hasn't changed much over the years. He still has that mischeivous sense of fun, that infectious laugh and approach to things quite unlike anyone else I've met. Not qualities I needed to find at 4am after a cab ride back to my folks house after a night out in London and that laugh not stopping and waking them up...
Elliot shone bright in the UK scene for a while, heavily sponsored by Oakley and supported by Scott Todd, Elliot was a heavy hitter, lived for going big and pushing himself and a drive that was a rarity in snowboarding at that time. Elliot lived his life much the same off the board. The centre of any party or shenanigans, usually with a willing cohort of mates made up of the best riders in the UK, good times indeed.
We haven't seen Elliot on a board. much recently, I think some ex pro riders struggle with snowboarding after their career ends, trying to find the balance between fun and drive, but I hope we get to ride togther soon, I think he'll remember how much he loves it...
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
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Ian has been snowboarding longer than most people on the planet. Not many people can lay claim to that, and the fact that he is from the UK, where no, or at least very little information was available, makes it even crazier. From taking a small picture from a Sims ad in a skateboard magazine, to building their own boards and bindings, to finding taxies to drop them at the top of hills in the Downs, I mean, none of it makes much sense, but something was ignited in ian which he nurtured and eventually used that fire to go on adventures and meet and stoke out other people to light their fires.
Its people like Ian who have made the British scene what it is, you can draw a straight line from Ians skate background to Mia Brookes' winning runs at X Games and the Laax Open, following what feels good.
We all owe Ian a pint, although I dare say he'd accept the praise, a humble snowboarder, still frothing for snow after all these years...
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
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I had been aware of Snow Camp for a long time, one of the staff at our chalet had worked for them years ago, but they came more on my radar as they are based near to where I live in Hove. I had in the past wondered if introducing disadvantaged kids to the mountains was a good use of money, surely there are bigger problems to surmount, but as I"ve got to understand what they do, why they do it and what the outcomes are, I think its an invaluable opportunity for kids to discover who they could be and what the world can offer, through life changing experiences in the mountains. I mean, almost everytime I'm in the mountains it's a life affirming thing, and I'm deep in the game, just imagine what power that has for a kid who has never even left the UK, or maybe even his neighbourhood.
If you''d like to know more about Snow Camp and what they do, you can visit their website here: https://www.snow-camp.org.uk/
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I knew Phil was already on the scene when I first picked up Snowboard UK, but I didn't know he was around from the very, very early days, indeed his youthful good looks and approach to life don't indicate that he could have been around for that long, but Phil is a lifer, through and through and he uses his experiences in snowboarding to be a kind of 'go between' for brands that want some action sports cool, and the worlds we live and hold dear.
His journey has taken him from hand building his first board, to hosting what was, at the time, Channel 4's most watched program 'Board Stupid' a kind of lucky break, but instead of treating it like that, he made sure snowboarding and its culture was presented in the right way, which I think has some part to play in snowboardings popularity in the UK.
There are a few episodes up on Youtube, so I've added them to our channel you can get to here: https://www.youtube.com/@ThankUSnowboarding
Phil continues to ride, take photos, champion diversity in action sports and is an all round ambassador for the sports we love. He helps brands and most importantly, he is a great person to hang out with, and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did making it...
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Duncan Carr is and isn't your typical UK snowboarder. He has clocked more dryslope time than probably anyone except absolute lunatics, but kind of never went and did a season, which for a lot of UK riders is the goal. Dripping with style, he held his own in (and won) many competitions, but again, the drive wasn't competitve in itself. There was definitley progression, but not at the expense of style.
He worked in snowboard shops, for snowboard distributors, was at every contest, board test and general get together for ever and never lost the love of the shred. Living close to Hemel when it was converted from a dryslope to a fridge didn't help either, making that fix of snowboarding readily available, with a motley crew of friends, among them his long time best mate Joe Rackley.
Last year, bad news hit Duncan and his wife, they were both diagnosed with cancer and have been through the eye of a storm... Thankfully, both are clear for now, and his thoughts have turned back to snowboarding, and I for one, can't wait to take some laps with him, to try and get some tips on those frontside spins...
If you are affected by anything we talk about on the podcast, you can find help in many places, here are a couple:
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There aren't too many riders who have lived the life like Jonny Barr. Still frothing for snow up in Aviemore where he now calls home, from the dryslope at Llandudno via Chamonix and some of the biggest mountains in the world, Jonny has seen the sun set on more days riding than most, and can still rip.
He shares his love of the Scottish Highlands and splitboarding with his event 'The Upbattle' which is really an excuse for snowboarders to get together, talk aout snowboarding, go snowboarding and enjoy a pint or three back at base camp, and why the fuck not? In all seriousness, the Upbattle looks to get riders stoked on exploring the Highlands but with workshops on Avalanche awareness, route finding, how to choose the right kit, etc... so the people that find it can enjoy it safely and come home with a smile on their face.
If you'd like to know more, click here: https://www.facebook.com/UpBattle
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scott is one of the most stylish heavy hitters this country has produced, from being taken up to the highlands every weekend from a young age, to Whistlers superpark and mixing it on Red Bull projects with Travis Rice, let alone hitting rails in Trafalgar Square in London.
A deep bag of tricks and an innate abiluty to make them look effortless, it occured to me as he rode ast me at about 80kmh last week that I'd describe his style as efficient. A snowboarders snowboarder if you will.
Off the hill he is blessed with a great sense of humour and comedy timing, chiselled like Edinburgh granite and eyes as deep as Loch Ness, he is great company, both interested and interesting, which is a rare gift. he has long been friends with my brother Dave and our paths have only crossed occasionally, so I'm really stoked to have spent the last five days riding, laughing and hanging out with Scott. Crazy plans are forming for more of the same and I for one can't wait!
You'll want to watch Scotts section in Lockdown Projects Terminal Ferocity, which you'll find here https://youtu.be/MssQsh2Z31Q?si=G-8a1RMOHNKP-Bn7&t=2935
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some might call Christian larger than life, but he isn't. He is as large as his life and his life is large! Starting filming snowboarding way back in the day, to producing one of the first European snowboarding movies (With a killer soundtrack) moving into presenting and winning BAFTA's, team manager for Vans to his current incarnation as DJ BBQ, Christian is a tour de force.
Odd Man Out had a massive influence on UK snowboarding, at least two other guests have cited it as the reason why they started snowboarding, it showed UK riders mixing it with some of Europes and the worlds best, which in turn, opened doors for those riders.
Above all the accomplishments though, Christian is fun to hang out with, kinda like Tigger, he bounces around, has Duracell bunny type energy and has a lot of funny stories. Christian doesn't find life, life finds Christian.
You can watch Odd Man Out (Without the killer soundtrack) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJo0J3mGnKs&t=1120s
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I normally start this section off with, you may not have heard of such and such, but not this time. I"m pretty certain you will have heard of Jenny Jones, and for good reason.
Winning bronze at the Sochi Olympics is just part of her story, sadly, she wasn't the inspiration for the movie chalet girl and indeed, has never watched it, but she did start her career older than Mia Brookes is now, and went from seasonaire in Tignes to returning to win X Games gold there many years later (via two wins in the US)
Jenny's presence in the sport is cemented by not only picking up medals, but by the legacy of people that saw her on TV and decided to learn to snowboard that day, and the fact that snowboarding in the UK 'grew up' that day. Thats quite something...
This is a real dive into Jennys story, and a real pleasure, after being friends for years, to actually sit down and get to know her, I hope you enjoy this one. x
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Its fair to say that Stu Brass has lived many lives in snowboarding, from grom riding with his brothers Si and Russ up at Rossendale, to working for the British Snowboarding Association, to running comps to organising events, most motably The Brits, the yearly get together for the UK snowboarding community.
In my mind, Stu has always been fairly business like in his snowboarding, but I guess it takes some drive to acheive what he has acheived, he helped athletes cross over into the mainstream, and certainly most snowboarders he helped earned way more out of the wider worlds interest into our sport/lifestyle than they would have if they didn't have Stu representing them.
But, like most of us, its done out of pure love for standing sideways and sliding down a mountain, which is something we can all agree is the most fantastic thing.
British snowboarding owes Stu a pint for keeping the community together, even when the chips were down, even hosting The Brits up in Cairngorm, which, must have been a gamble in these times. Fair play to you Stu and I'm gonna see you in Mayerhofen for this years!
If you want any info about the Brits, you can find it here: https://britssnow.com/
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Neil’s story is quite incredible and quite unlike anyone else I’ve interviewed and is completely inspirational. How small moments and kindness of strangers can turn your life into a completely new direction, both good and bad.
Luckily for us, the bad came before the good and the good came in the shape of The XScape in Milton Keynes offered Neil a new life that wasn’t obvious at first, but slowly revealed itself and led Neil to a new life.
He now uses his background in life and snowboarding to advocate for change in the industry, recently winning The Reason magazines 'Rider of the Year' and you won't find a single person with a bad word to say about Neil which is testament to the way he carries himself.
You can see the documentary Adidas made about him a couple of years ago here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS489Me42lM
As always, we are kindly looked after by The Snowboard Asyum https://www.snowboard-asylum.com/
Lizzie and Dan from Burton https://www.burton.com/gb/en/home?regionSelector=true
Tom from Transform Gloves https://transformgloves.com/en-gb
Chris from Canoe Inc for Oakley Goggles https://www.oakley.com/en-gb
And a shout out to Tom from Volcom https://highdaysltd.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
