A lost interview from JP Walker, Simon Chamberlain, Tim Eddy & Dave Downing about their experience at Handplant Holiday.
Have you ever been to an event like this before?
JP: It felt a lot like a JibFest to me so yeah I guess so.
DAVE: Yes, The Nixon Jibfest .
SIMON: I went to the Nixon Jibfest twice and that was similar to this event but still a lot different. There wasn’t any challenge options at the Jibfest and it wasn’t team orientated. They had the same chill vibe, no pressure just have fun.
What did you think when you got the invite from JP?
TIM: I thought it was a friend playing a joke on me, texting me and pretending they were JP.
DAVE: I was super stoked to be invited, Anything JP invites you to is a Honor for sure.
SIMON: I was super hyped, because I know any thing he comes up with for an event its going to be an amazing time.
What was your favorite item or items in your rider gift bags?
Dave: The Sony Cam was super sick I got that was in the Nixon backpack.
SIMON: I like the Sony Cam, its so good.
What were your first thoughts when you saw the feature that Bear Mountain built?
JP: I was kinda tripping because they took all the ideas I sent them and multiplied it by 10. I also felt bad because It looked like so much hard work for just one day of shredding.
TIM: I wanted a week to ride it.
DAVE: The Setup was really incredible that Bear did. I wish i wasn’t hurt, I would have loved to ride everything. The Trannies were awesome, and not to big.
SIMON: I was trippin, Clayton and the Bear crew killed it. It looked like an insane skatepark with bowls and quarter pipes everywhere.
Was it what you expected?
JP: Much more than I had expected.
TIM: Not at all, I mainly had just one quarter pipe in mind.
SIMON: Not at all, I thought it was going to be a couple quarter pipes.
Did you know many of the other guys in the contest?
JP: Petty much everyone except Grilc I had met before.
DAVE: I knew most of the people there, but a couple new faces. Everyone was super cool and stoked to be there.
SIMON: I knew most of the dudes. I met Cody and Grilic for the first time there.
What did you think of the team format? Did it make it more fun? Less pressure or more pressure to not let your team down?
JP: I think I made it fun but that was my goal of the whole event. I wanted people to feel like they could try the same tricks as other riders and not have to fall back on something if someone else already did it or was trying the same thing. Making teams and having a to-do list for everyone got around that problem which I think made for a more relaxed event.
TIM: The team format made the event for me, allowed us to try new and harder tricks without worrying too much about points.
DAVE: I think the Team thing was rad, I was honored to be a Team Captain and get guys like Scotty Stevens and Chris G amped to do things. Everyone on my team was ripping. There was some pressure, but it was mellow.
SIMON: I thought it was rad, hang with your crew and try to get done as many challenges together as you could. I think it is more fun, it does take the pressure off and it is just fun to get a strategy going with your crew.
What was your favorite section of the feature?
JP: The channel and the extension probably. I’ve never got to session anything like that so it was cool.
DAVE: I thought the spine tranny was super cool, also the dome thing.
SIMON: I liked the extension and the channel.
What was the best thing you saw go down?
JP: A few different things Marko was doing and Simon’s switch andrect probably.
TIM: Simon just being a handplanter of all handplanters.
DAVE: Watching Grillo tear the course apart all day.
SIMON: Grilic’s Warlock and JP’s rotten eggflip, Tim Eddy’s Game changer(switch hands while planting) Stevens and Bilocq on everything, Bridges and Grenier on the wall ride.
What’s the big deal with handplants?
JP: No big deal they are just fun and everyone likes them.
TIM: The same reason why we all have been doing handstands since were little kids.
DAVE: They make you sore.
SIMON: They are just so fun and hard if you want to really challenge yourself.
Did you get a chance to use the Sony Cams? What did you think of them?
JP: Yeah I used them at the contest and even tried them out before I went to bear up in Canada. They are cool. Easy to use and we got some trippy shots with them.
TIM: Yes, small, easy to use, exactly what you want with camera like that.
DAVE: I’ve been using the Sony Cam to film my kids, that thing is awesome to have in your pocket.
SIMON: Yeah, I think they are amazing. The slow mo filming on it is insane.
Highlight of the weekend?
JP: Just the that the whole format and idea actually worked pretty good and people were stoked to ride. I guess just the overall success of the event is what made it so cool.
TIM: Having a session on the entire course after the contest was done…and fish tacos.
DAVE: Just hanging with good snowboarders and seeing progression go down.
SIMON: Team 1 and the taco truck! Of course all the amazing snowboarding that I got to watch too!
Will you be back next year?
DAVE: I hope to be back next year, If JP invites me.
SIMON: If I get invited again, I will be there!
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