Option Snowboards Australia have just picked up Buller/Whistler kid Matt Sedunary. Matty also rides for Melbourne store Rider Plus. They’re going to put an interview and some photos of him from Whistler up on their website soon. Rather than wait, I thought I’d just post it all here. Thanks to Otto Norin for the photos and Kathy for letting us ‘break’ the story. Read more for all the good stuff.
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This shot and the title one were labelled as XI_Park.jpg. Now XI is Roman Numerals for 11, however IX is Roman Numerals for 9. So I’m guessing that Matty better at his 9’s than is Roman Numerals.
From: Melbourne, Australia
Home Mountain: Mt Buller and Whistler Blackcomb
Started Riding: 2002
What started you snowboarding?
My friend Niki was starting uni at Mt Buller so I went up with her and Marky and a few other mates and it was soooo much fun and that was it! Then when me and you started riding together in ’04, it kinda’ got a bit more serious…still fun though… More fun than before, but serious too….you know what I mean, haha.
Haha… Yeah I know…. So you’re claiming Whistler Blackcomb as a home mountain… What’s that all about?
Well, its the 4th season running that I’ve come here and I’ve lived here for the last year, minus 3 months, to go home and ride in Oz, so yeah, its kinda’ home, for now.
Whistler’s an expensive place to live, how’ve you been gettin’ by?
I work at IGA supermarket…it’s not the most prestigious job but it pays the bills and I have a good schedule so I can ride a lot. Plus, my rent is cheap, I don’t really drink anymore (except for the free booze Karolin finds at work) and working at IGA, I always know what foods on special, so that saves me a bit too, haha.
Rents Cheap…? In Whistler? Are you 6 to a room or..?
No, it’s my girlfriend Karolin and I, Otto (the photo man) and his girlfriend Lisa, in a 2 bedroom. So it’s not bad, we all get our space.
So what is your favorite place to ride?
Well I’d have to say Whistler because no-one would believe me if I said Buller anyways, haha. It’s hard to go past Whistler after the winter we’ve been having here…so many pow days and the parks are amazing. But some of my best times on a snowboard have definitely been at Mt Buller so it’s still a tough choice. To me snowboarding’s more about the people you’re with, and making the most of your surroundings!
I couldn’t agree more… You know I’m down to hike a box, with some buddies on a patch of snow in late spring when we should probably be at the beach, haha. So w e met up down in Vegas earlier this year… You have fun down there? I know I did. Stay out of trouble?
Yeah, no trouble for me… Just went down with Karolin to check out the snow sports trade show. It was so much fun… Neither of us had been there before so just checkin’ out all the casinos and eating buffets was sweet. Plus we got to see all the 07/08 gear which was rad… Stoked on the new Option stuff!!
Come on… 4 days in Sin City and you’re telling me you stayed right out of trouble?
Well I did get a tummy bug from eating too many dodgy buffets!!
Who are your biggest influences, or favorite riders (apart from me of course haha)?
Haha, to name favorite riders is hard but if I had to chose one it’d be Simon Chamberlain…he has the most mellow style…makes everything look so easy. But there’s a lot of others, and I’d say I’m mostly influenced by my friends and other people around me when I’m riding… So yeah, you’re definitely up there.
We’ve spent a lot of our spare time over the last few years, like any snowboarders, watching snowboard films… Any favorites this year?
Hmm…. There are a lot of good movies this year… Lots of small companies coming out with movies from here and there with some amazing riders. One favorite though is definitely Sandbox’s “Flavor Country”….it’s a super fun film, and a lot of the guys in it are Whistler locals so a few of my friends are in it.
What board have you been riding this season?
I’ve been riding the 156 Jordan Mendenhall. Its kinda’ firm and has a lot of pop which is awesome for jumping and being a 56 its been good for all the pow days we’ve had here this year too. In the spring I think I’ll ride something a bit smaller with more flex though, for jibbing, like a 51 or 53 mirror.
Now, what are your plans for the coming months and the Australian winter?
Well, I’m gonna’ ride here at Whistler until the end of May, then take a short holiday to Sweden with Karolin (she is from Sweden), and then we are coming back to Australia to ride at Buller for the season.
Nice, Sounds like a pretty sweet plan. Is there anything you wanna’ say or people you’d like to thank before we wrap this up?
I really wanna’ thank my family for supporting me in whatever choices I make. Thanks to Kath, Dave and James at Option. A big thanks to my beautiful girlfriend Karolin. Also, Otto for taking pictures, you Mitch, and all my other friends back home, over here and anywhere else in the world… Thank you.
