[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
[PUNK MUSIC PLAYING]
BRAD KREMER: He did good for a long time.
Because he started out--
he was in skateboarding.
Then he transitioned into snowboarding in the very, very
early days of snowboarding.
And as snowboarding progressed, he progressed.
But then it got to a point to where he wasn't this full
freestyle guy.
But because he was so good at riding the mountain, he all of
the sudden transitioned into this big mountain guy, and was
up in Alaska doing lines and stuff that nobody ever
expected him to do.
He was amazing.
It was really cool to see that transition from just hard core
freestyle guy to big mountain guy, and to do both of them so
well, better than almost anybody.
I would definitely say he's one of the first to bring
freestyle to the backcountry, to the big mountain.
MIKE HATCHETT: When I first met Noah, he was definitely
more focused on just freestyle, and just riding
Squaw, and just ripping the pipe.
But he started going out with my brother and I in the
backcountry and just kind of dabbling around the steeps.
He was a total natural talent.
And then when we took him to Alaska, that's almost when his
mind just--
I think he started just seeing the possibilities
of riding up there.
That was the key that unlocked the door for Noah.
He's just amazing to watch big mountain riding.
And his ability on big mountain riding
is top 10 for sure.
JP WALKER: He rode Tahoe all the time.
So it was just natural for him to like ride those type of
conditions.
And he did it sick.
Because it seemed like all the other guys that were just big
mountain riders kind of had a weird style, or just not as
smooth, like Matt Goodwill, or Tex, or all those guys.
They were sick for sure, but then it was just cool to see
somebody that could do both.
I remember he did, like, these one lines.
I think they were called Super Spines or something.
He's, like, doing frontside airs off them.
And it's like the steepest thing ever.
Like if you fell, you'd just be dead
probably from rag dolling.
MIKE HATCHETT: We did a season TB2 at Donner.
And that spring, let's go to Alaska.
OK, let's go.
We just went up there and started riding the stuff.
We weren't really thinking about it really.
And Noah wasn't thinking about it either.
It wasn't, like, a goal.
I want to charge Super Spines one day.
I had to basically almost talk him into that run when he
finally did do that.
Because it was just so ridiculously gnarly.
But he was ready for it.
And it was the perfect day to do it.
NOAH SALASNEK: Yeah, I would say anything that's spined out
is usually, the spines develop anything over 55 degrees.
So you're on something steep if there's spines on it, and
if it's powder and good conditions.
I mean, there's nothing funner than that.
It's a really amazing feeling.
And the adrenaline you get from it is just unreal.
MIKE HATCHETT: Also being goofy foot in
Valdez on the spines.
I know this is a little bit of a sidebar that might be kind
of a twist for people to understand.
A lot of the spines up there, if you're goofy foot, you're
toe edging them.
And the way for the sluffs run, and the way that the
spines face, you're better off being a goofy foot on a lot of
the lines up there.
Not to say on the big open faces like what Johan was
charging and Tom Burt.
I'm just talking steep, technical spines that are
close together.
When you send a sluff down a run, you'll have to hop to the
next one to send your sluff down.
Goofy foot--
Jeremy Jones, Noah Salasnek--
who rips the spines the hardest?
Those two guys.
And they're goofy foots.
And I think Valdez and Haynes--
maybe I'm crazy by saying that.
But I don't know.
Ask Jeremy or Noah what they think.
But that's my opinion.
NOAH SALASNEK: A lot of on those spine runs, I would
assess the line.
I like to be able to ride from left to right.
Because you deal with this sluff slides up
there, they're called.
And they're basically mini avalanches.
And they're made from your turns, being on a steep slope.
Throwing all that snow from your turns creates these
little avalanches.
And when I saw, like, Super Spines, for instance, it was
kind of a big face.
But I was able to go diagonal, knowing all my snow would go
below me and I wouldn't encounter it again.
So I didn't have to deal with the sluff.
And you can also jump from one to the other.
And I've always kind of prided myself on bunnying from one
spine to the next and kind of staying on the power line and
out of the channels.
And maybe that's what Mike's talking about appreciates my
technique on the spines.
Because that's kind of my approach I guess a little bit.
A lot of times we'll have to take a Polaroid from the
helicopter on the way up.
Because we haven't been to this mountain
before or flown by it.
So you get on top and you can't see
over the edge, really.
Even if you walk down close to the edge, it
keeps rolling over.
So you really rely on these Polaroids that you take on the
way up to know where you're at and to find your line down.
And it's really essential, in Alaska especially.
-That could be a go.
That could be sick.
-I'm starting here.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
-The first one's a drop.
Second one, you can poke through.
First one's a mandatory little niblet.
NOAH SALASNEK: Yeah, sometimes I'll go to roll over.
And what you think you might be 30, 40 feet from your
entrance is like 200 or 300 feet in Alaska.
Because everything's so much bigger up there.
You're like, hey, I'm going to do that cliff--
30 footer.
And you get next to it and it's like 60 or 70.
Everything's way bigger than it looks up
there for some reason.
So it's really easy to get lost on top of the ridge or
not know where your entrance is.
And that could be a little confusing until you get over
and you say-- into that fluid motion when you're
involved in a line.
But the entrance in the top 100 feet or 200
feet is just blinding.
It keeps rolling and rolling and rolling, especially if
you're riding 55 degrees plus.
So it's pretty burly.
And that's the scariest thing, is being on top, out of your
board before you ride down.
You don't have that edge.
But once I get on my board, I feel comfortable.
I have my edge, dig in, and just wait for the cameras to
say "roll," and then get it.
And it's pretty fun, actually.
JAMIE LYNN: My first trip up to Alaska was with Noah.
And I look back at that as, I'm so thankful I had someone
as knowledgeable and as professional and as on it as
he was to show me an introduction to one of the
biggest arenas of snowboarding.
Especially with Mike and Dave Hatchett--
they are the ultimate mountaineering guides, that
can not only drop into the craziest
terrain, but allow you--
if something went down, be there for you and be able to
assist in any kind of situation that could come up.
It's a tense situation being up there-- a lot of first
ascents, a lot of unstable snow conditions.
And the knowledge and understanding of the mountains
that Noah, in particular, showcased made me sit a little
bit easier in dropping into a 55 degree slope where you
couldn't even see what you were dropping into, only by
looking at the Polaroid picture that you took from the
helicopter on the way up.
We shared a couple first ascents up in AK that--
runs of a lifetime that I'll never forget.
NOAH SALASNEK: I was in Alaska with Jamie one year.
We had a really good trip and did some incredible lines
together, too.
One of my first ascents--
Blind Faith.
I was with Jamie Lynn.
That was one of my more notable runs.
And he was pretty stoked and terrified at the same time, as
was I.
But we got out on this thing and the guide didn't get out.
The guide got in the heli and flew away.
We couldn't believe it.
We're like, isn't the guide supposed to get out with us?
And we're on this thing together, on a cornice of all
thing entrance line.
But anyway, it was a pretty sick run.
And he was there for that.
It was cool.
I enjoyed riding powder.
I never thought that would have been most of my focus and
my career later on, which it absolutely was.
Not that I had tried to do that.
It just kind of developed that way.
I had an opportunity to go to Alaska.
That was amazing.
So I went back every year.
And it's super enjoyable as a rider.
It's the best thing to film.
Because they're like, go ahead.
Ride the mountain.
We'll film you from the heli.
So you just ride the whole thing.
And the footage that comes out of there isn't going to be
freestyle-based.
It's going to be some powder.
But yeah, professionally, I think
freestyle's where it's at.
It's always been the progression.
It should be the focus, and it is in most sports.
And it is in snowboarding.
So I think that--
I don't know if it was a career mistake of mine.
But I don't think it certainly helped to focus strictly on
powder as much as I did, and big mountain riding.
I should have done a little bit more of both, and, of
course, stayed in freestyle for longer.
I think I would have had a longer career had I done that,
potentially.
So it's interesting to say.
Because big mountain riding's pretty gnarly, putting your
life on the line for first ascents.
But a lot of people don't ride that kind of
stuff and can't relate.
They can relate to the parks and the pipes.
And that's the stuff they want to see.
And I understand that.
And so it's unfortunately not as marketable.
That's how it is.
JP WALKER: I mean, I didn't really see it like that.
I just kind of figured he just got sick of doing it.
Because back then it seemed like the average time spent
for a top pro was--
like if you had like five video parts, you had a lot of
video parts under your belt.
So he'd already had, like, a bunch of parts.
And I just figured he was on to other things or something.
NOAH SALASNEK: You know, I never aspire to say or set
goals for myself, like most people probably do
and should, I believe.
But I really was just motivated and hungry to ride
and to film.
I wanted to put out these videos every year.
And they were selling well.
And the boards are selling well.
And I was just really motivated to snowboard.
I like snowboarding.
But I would focus on a part every year and try
to make a good part.
And be aware of what I've shot so far this season and
try to mix it up.
And then cap it with Alaska at the end of
year, was always nice.
But definitely made filming a priority and tried to put out
the best part I could every year.
It's always hard.
Everyone wants to one up you every year, or put out a
better part every year.
And that can be tough.
Unfortunately, as I became more popular, I could say,
worldwide, travel becomes a little bit of an issue.
I'm not great with travel.
A lot of times it's not all glory in snowboarding.
I'd go to Japan without my board and do five or six shop
tours in a week.
Sometimes it can be a burden.
I wasn't cut out for that.
A lot of people are like, I want to be sponsored.
I want to be pro.
I'm good enough.
Well how professional are you?
It's a lot of marketing involved and you've got to
present yourself properly and do a lot of stuff you may not
want to do.
That became old, I think, year after year.
I just wanted to snowboard.
Because that's who I was-- a snowboarder.
I wanted to ride powder and go to Alaska.
And I was able to do that, but you just want to snowboard.
And you're like, I rip.
I'm in a video.
I deserve this.
And you think you're everything.
And sure, it's a lot of it.
But there's a lot more that comes with it that you don't
realize when you're young.
--is the start of the beginning of the end.
Woo.
Thanks.
-Hello.
Hello.
NOAH SALASNEK: Get that thing off me right now.
-It's been a long day, a long month.
NOAH SALASNEK: A long couple of years, to be honest.
-Just a year.
NOAH SALASNEK: Longer.
-How long?
NOAH SALASNEK: 14.
Just kidding.
That thing's not on, right?
-God, I look like shit.
NOAH SALASNEK: Yeah, my last few years with Sims, my
contract was up.
And I had wanted to break away from Sims and start this
company with Mack Dawg and Peter Line called Forum.
And I was into it.
And I went to Sims and said, I don't want to re-sign.
And they said hey, we have obligations.
We got you for two more years if we want you.
Line 36 c clearly states--
I didn't fight them on it.
I signed up again and balked on the Forum thing,
unfortunately.
And two years later--
I don't know-- they changed hands again.
Sims had a lot of different CEOs, a lot of different
manufacturers over the years.
And unfortunately, they didn't re-sign me after two years.
They kind of left me hanging.
I was like, whoa, I wanted to break away and do my thing.
Now you're leaving me hanging.
And it was a little late for me to get in on Forum at that
point, obviously.
So that was really unfortunate how that played out.
And I really felt let down.
Man, I had done so much for them over the years, and
kicked me to the curb in late summer without a contract and
no warning.
It's just kind of crazy.
Some 17-year-old team manager--
doesn't seem right.
So I was always a little jaded on that.
I would've appreciated a call from anybody in the office,
maybe even Tom would have been cool. "Hey dude, we're not
going to make a board.
Sorry." But no.
They had some kid come out and tell me they're not going to
re-sign me.
After I begged them to not ride for them to go to this
other company.
So they really, I think, took advantage a little bit.
And unfortunately for me, it didn't pan out that well
afterwards for me.
I would've loved to have been a part of Forum.
JP WALKER: I think probably he was being talked to just
because he was such good friends with Mack Dawg.
And I think I do remember him talking about that actually.
But like I said, around that time-- because I think Forum
started, like '96 or '7 as well, so that was kind of that
same time frame where he was kind of just trying to fade--
or starting to fade out of the scene a little bit.
NOAH SALASNEK: Now looking back on it, I don't know that
I would have been a perfect piece of that puzzle, because
they were so freestyle-oriented--
hand rails, and just kickers, and--
I don't know that they knew that then either.
They just had this idea.
And they wanted me in.
It was a good crew so far.
I wanted in.
JP WALKER: Back then when it started there
wasn't that many people.
He was one of the best freestyle or
jibber dudes, you know?
He wasn't doing , like, crazy rails and stuff like that.
But he was definitely bonking and had like that skate style.
And I know he was friends with Peter Line and stuff.
And then there was only me, Bjorn, and Chris
Dufficy from there.
So it was like, him and Peter could've easily spearheaded
that whole thing together.
And who knows which direction it would've went.
I would have been stoked.
NOAH SALASNEK: Sims-- when I was growing up snowboarding,
it was like Sims was the board.
Everyone rode Sims.
They were the best boards, probably, back then.
It was incredible to think that I would ride
for them one day.
And when I did, I think it was such a large
entity in my mind.
The Sims name is just a huge name in snowboarding.
I was stoked to ride for them.
And I still am to say that I rode for them.
It just didn't go well at the end.
And everything works out for a reason, I feel like, in life.
And I can't complain.
Should'ves and would'ves will kill you.
And I can sit here all day and say that.
But again, I have no regrets.
And I've had good experiences and a great life in
snowboarding for sure.
JAMIE LYNN: I don't think that opportunity's gone for
someone like Noah.
I really still feel that there's a lot of people out
there that he's touched in a way that has made a difference
in their life.
NOAH SALASNEK: I guess what I've done for
Billabong and Sims--
Billabong, I rode for them, being the only rider for four
or five years.
I felt I helped develop a whole brand there.
And with Sims, I felt I brought them around with
Palmer, brought them kind of back.
And yeah, I don't know.
A lot of it's my first ascents and the actual riding that
I've done that I'm really stoked and proud of.
Not necessarily in my accomplishments and my
professional part, but the riding itself.
And the lines that I've done in Super Spines, and all these
just hairball things--
risked my life.
I'll never forget them.
It was like yesterday I remember these things.
And it's sick, because I have that.
And I'll always have that.
And that's pretty sweet.
And that's the best thing I'll take with me from my
snowboarding is all these experiences and what I've got
to do over the years.
And it's a blessing that companies like Billabong and
DC and Dragon, and people that have
promoted me over the years.
I really appreciate them too.
Because I couldn't have done it without them.
[RUSTLING AND BREATHING]
NOAH SALASNEK: OK, I'm ready for 10 seconds You
can count me in.
NOAH SALASNEK: Tell them it's kind of sticky pile in the
fucking sunlit.
That cliff was beat.
That cliff was just beat.
It was just peppery takeoff huge.
That snow got jacked.
It's good in the chute though.