SBX Magazine Interviews Ross Powers
When most people hear the name Ross Powers, they think of him boosting out of the pipe. Anyone who’s been to the US Open in the last decade in his home state Vermont, knows his name and is familiar with his style (He won the Open in ‘99 & ‘03) . Ross is well known for his ample abilities at amplitude, (having set numerous world records in that respect) plus throwing down highly technical tricks at every hit. Oh yeah and you might remember him winning Gold at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake. At this point, it’s a done deal. If you don’t know Ross, you probably don’t even ride.
Despite his prolific career in half-pipe, you wouldn’t expect to see Ross Powers on the start list of the Grand Prix Boardercross this past season. Yet there it was. Most people don’t know that Ross has been racing Boardercross for over ten years, has raced in World Championships, numerous World Cups as well as in the X Games. Even without Half-pipe, one could say that Ross has had an exemplary career as a professional snowboarder. Most athletes only dream of making it to the World Cup but only a few get the chance to do so.
Beyond that, I wonder how many of you are familiar with his work in philanthropy. Spearheaded by Ross in 2001, the Ross Powers Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to providing top athletes with the finances they need to keep competing. Every athlete that has tried to make it to the big leagues while going to school or working full time or both, knows that just planning for these events is a full time job, let alone paying for them. A trip to any event in the US can run upwards of a grand, each. With travel costs, hotel, registration fees, food and so on, a single event can break the bank – done’t even mention the cost of coaching, equipment and everything else that goes into making those dreams come true. To travel and compete with the best, an athlete can need upwards of 30Gs just to make it to every event, pay for coaching, equipment and etc.
Knowing how much it costs to compete, Ross saw a real need for the advancement of athletes with the talent, but lacking the finances needed to realize their goals. With the foundation, Ross’s aim is to make the dreams of these talented kids into reality.
SBX MAG Gets a word in with one of the industry’s most well respected Pros
Q. How did it feel winning the Olympics in 2002 for the US? What was it like afterwards?
Winning the 2002 Olympics was so amazing for me. It was the perfect day with great weather, an awesome halfpipe and my family was there the cheer me on. I did my best and biggest method and followed it up with a great run. After the Olympics it was crazy for the rest of the winter between appearences, contests and parties. I got to do some really cool things like go to the Daytona 500, go on Letterman and meet the President.
Q. How did you first get into competing?
I was 9 years old when I started competing. I started in a local VT series at the time called the Green Mountain Series now the Southern Vermont Series. I remember my first race was a slalom. My mom let me skip school the day before my first race to train with an instructor and some bamboo poles. I raced a lot back then since most mountains didn’t have a pipe or park.
Q. Did you start competing at Boardercross right around the same time?
Boardercross wasn’t around yet when I started competing. I remember doing some of my 1st boardercross event at Boarder Battles and Grandprix’s. I was racing a little motocross at the time and loved running the courses. These were the boardercross days were it was most of the pipe riders on their pipe boards having fun and doing tricks.
Q. What made you decide to pursue Half-pipe more so than Boardercross?
At the time I started doing boardercross I was at the top of my game in pipe. I did some boardercross and had a blast but there were more pipe events and I was winning those.
Q. What’s behind your recent turn back to SBX?
Watching Wescott win the Olympic’s was awesome and it got me fired up to try boardercross again. I have a racing and freestyle background so it should be a good fit for me if I put in the time.
Q. What are your goals with Boardercross? Are you aiming for the Olympics in 2010?
My goals for boardercross are to get the right equiptment, train and get to some races and give them a real shot. That said, I’d love to try for the 2010 Olympics and see what I can do.
Q. What are your plans for this winter? Do you plan to go more Boardercross events?
This winter I’m going to base myself at Okemo Mountain in Vermont to train. I plan to do some more events to get some points and give boardercross a real shot.
Q. What was the light bulb that made you decide to start an organization like the Ross Powers Foundation?
I started my Foundation after my friend and agent Peter Carlisle suggested it to me. He’d heard about me donating some money to a fellow snowboarder to train and compete, he said if you like doing this you should start a foundation and do more of it. So I started The Ross Powers Foundation in 1999 and have been helping athletes since.
Q. How did it get started? What sort of backing did you acquire from the get-go?
I started my foundation with my money and then stared some fund raising. Peter and Octagon helped me with it as well since I was traveling and competing all the time. Most of my sponsors would kick in some money or product which also helped RPF get started.
Q. What sort of events do you do to raise money?
For fundraising for my foundation I’ve tried different things from live auctions to poker tournaments. We just had our 6th annual golf tourney at Tater Hill in Vermont which was fun. I also do a Texas Hold’em tournament during the US Open in March along with a few more during the year. I have my Ross Powers Camp at Okemo Mountain in March after the US Open as well which I donate all the money to my foundation.
Q. How do you award sponsorships and prizes?
My Foundation has a website www.rosspowersfoundation.org where athletes can get an application to my foundation. Our board members meet to go over the app’s and pick which athletes are most deserving for a grant.
Q. What would you say to any kid who is looking for sponsorship?
Finding a sponsor is different for everyone. I’d say go get some results at contests. Work on collecting photos and video for a resume. Also go to demo’s and offer to help out the reps of companies you like. A local shop may be a good place to start looking for a sponsorship. Just keep putting in the time and riding hard and if you rip someone will help you out.
Q. Finally, what words of advice do you have for kids that might see themselves pursuing a career as a professional snowboarder?
If your pursuing a career as a pro rider I’d say make sure your having fun. Try and surround yourself with riders who make you push your level. Work hard and I always say the more time you put in the better you’ll be! -Ross Powers
