Author: Marc Baker
Photo: Mark Welsh & Andy Wright
This interview originally appeared in Pop Magazine issue 17.

Will is a nice, quiet kid from Utah with an infectious smile and an even better attitude. I met Will and the Team Thunder crew through mutual friends on a trip to Utah one year. They took me in and showed me around the Salt Lake City spots. It comes as no surprise to me that, four years later, Will has gone from making small do-it-yourself snowboard videos with his friends to parts in fully fledged professional productions. It goes to show you that in professional snowboarding, it really is hard work and a positive attitude that can be the difference between blowing up or burning out.

Hey Will, how’s things? I’ve heard the US winter has got off to a stupidly good start!
Yeah, it’s been pretty hectic already. We went on our first trip November 15th… I’ve never been on a trip that early before.

Are you based in Utah still?
Yes I am, I don’t really have a reason to leave. All my friends and family are here, snow is here, the Utah Jazz are here. [Laughs]

When I first met you, you were filming with Sean McCormick for Team Thunder. Now you and Sean work together for Videograss. When did you decide to pursue pro snowboarding for real?
I don’t know that I was ever pursuing it very hard. I just really enjoyed filming video parts and would work hard at it, I kept at it and I guess the hard work paid off. It’s the best time being able to keep filming.

But what constitutes being ‘pro’ these days? You just had a Nitro ad run in the U.S. snowboard magazines, yet you’re not really getting paid from anyone are you? How’s that work?
The past two video parts I filmed were pretty much out of my own pocket. It was still fun but insanely stressful. If you had asked me this question about two months ago I probably would have had a really bitter answer but I’m trying not to take what I’ve been able to do for granted. As far as how it works, I’m not so sure… Snowboard companies just haven’t had money. But things are getting better for sure. Nitro is definitely helping me out more this year. It just took a lot of patience and hard work.

Photo: Andy Wright. Tailpress Frontside 180 Out, Ogden Utah.

That’s got to be tough. There are a few kids from those Team Thunder days that could still put parts together but just haven’t been lucky enough to have a supporting sponsor or whatever. Has there been a time when you thought, ‘fuck this, I’m getting a ‘real job’?
For sure, those guys could still put out video parts; Cody is so good, Ben G is still one of the best snowboarders I’ve ever seen in my life. I guess I just lucked out more or less. Those guys worked their asses off just as much as I did. But I truly have thought about getting a real job so many times, it’s just so hard to give up on something I have put a lot of hard work into and I enjoy so much. Especially when I’m still pretty young and I should be trying to live my life to the fullest.

Tell me what’s the main differences between going from a very much DIY filming crew like Team Thunder to arguably one of the best in Videograss?
There isn’t too big a difference besides having to get your tricks almost perfect and actually being able to travel. There are a lot of soggy shots in the old Team Thunder videos, that’s what makes them sweet though. We didn’t really didn’t care all that much.

It seemed to me the difference between your Team Thunder parts and your breakout People Creative part was extraordinary. Like, you got so much better in two seasons. What happened?
It was just more motivation and actually being able to leave Salt Lake. It’s crazy how much traveling can help your video part. Plus, having guys like Seth and Jon around me pushed me a lot.  I remember at the beginning of the year saying to myself ‘if I can get five shots in the video I will be so happy!’ And being able to get a full part was unbelievable!

Photo: Andy Wright. Stalefish, Ogden Utah.

You spent spent a lot of time riding with Jake Welch, Jon Kooley and Jordan Mendenhall. Did that help?
That has helped for sure. Those guys are all damn talented. I have actually filmed a few things with Jake this year and it’s been so fun. I haven’t filmed with him for almost three years now. I can’t wait for people to see the shit Jake has done, he is so good.

Jordan and Jon really took you in. That’s got to be a little strange when your snowboarding heros become your friends?
It has been really really cool of those guys to help me out so much, I owe both of them a lot. But it was never really weird, I mean I’ve always looked up to them and still do. But it was never weird being good friends with them. They are stand up guys.

Like those guys, you’ve had some pretty bad injuries over the last few years but have still put together a strong part. You part this year was your best I think, is it mostly luck?
During Bon Voyage year I only had one injury and it was at the end of the season. Nice Try year I had numerous injuries and I think it affected my video part a lot. So it definitely makes an impact on your part but I don’t feel like I did anything different last season than the season before. So yeah, I would say a lot of it is luck.

I know you’re a bit of a basketball fan. Being from Utah I suspect you’re a Jazz fan. Your boys are looking pretty good this year. Deron Williams is playing great and you’ve got another superstar in the making with Paul Milsap. How does it feel knowing you’re going to lose to the Lakers once again come playoff time?
Yeah right! The Jazz are a much better team than last year. I am, for the first time in years, not scared to see the Jazz and the Lakers match up in the playoffs. Everyone under estimates them, especially this year. And it’s going to be so nice to rub it in all the Lakers fans faces when the Jazz beat them!

So what’s your plan this coming season? Filming again? Who with?
Yes, filming again with VG. They are making two videos this year and a trick tip video. Joe Carlino from the Transworld movies is teaming up with Mr. Meyer. It’s going to be a damn good season for VG.

Well best of luck to you pal and come visit us down here in Australia sometime.
Thanks amigo, keep it tight.

Photo: Mark Welsh. Half Cab Nosepress, Alaska.