Columns - Nic Drago IPO

Age: "Not old enough to know better" Home mountain: Breckenridge Ski
Area Years riding: eight years
Years sponsored: four years
Stance width:19.5"
Stance angles: front, 22 degrees; back, -6
Goofy or regular:regular
Board length: 155
Board model: The Illuminati 155
Sponsors: TheIlluminati, Wave Rave, Vans, Smith, Drop, the Bull, and Breckenridge SkiArea

Last season in front his hometown, Breckenridge, Colorado, Nic tooksecond in the Vans Triple Crown, Big Air Event. The atmosphere resembleda victorious high school homecoming football game. An entire posse offriends were there to cheer him on and even bombard him after theresults were official. News of Nic's feat funneled through town and waslater Broadcast on TV. For some up and coming snowboarders, a greatmoment like this is not often repeated. In the case of Nic Drago, hismoment in Breckenridge was just the kick off to an excellentsnowboarding season. Nic proved that being a relatively unknown riderwould not prohibit him from having a year that would rival the mostseasoned pro. Nic maintained the momentum from his glorious day inBreckenridge and went on to take noteworthy finishes in the U.S. GrandPrix, Unvailed, and The Gravity Games. Nic is proof that any season canbecome a breakthrough one.

Nic's personality goes far beyond his snowboarding. He's a free flowingindividual that often lives on whim. In the summertime you can easilycatch him enjoying the simple pleasures of cruising his bike down MainStreet or spending quality time with his friends in Breckenridge. I gotthe chance to meet him on a camping trip a few years back. It wasevident that Nic's attitude toward life is extremely positive anduplifting. On the camping trip, Nic organized a fireside rave at 3:00AM. He equipped our camping crew with glow sticks made from campfirecoals. After the rave went on for hours, Nic shifted gears and lead ahessian rock party. What would have been a quiet night in the woods, Nicturned in to a full-blown concert. His attitude toward life is to liveand enjoy, which is something he made clear that night. "Nic Drago isanother example of a kid from the Midwest who has really learned how toride a snowboard... now if we could just get him out of the park once ina while." - Jay Nelson Nic or Nicolo? Nicolo Emilio Drago, Nic. What?Why don't you want me to ask you about the Drago Flip? We are not evengoing there, it's really the Rankin Roll.

What music do you listen to? I listen to a crazy variety. Johnny Cashgets me by and Stereo Lab moves me. What riders influence you? I'd haveto say it's a melting pot of Furlong, Ebbs, Nelson, Wastell andRichards... something like that. Your persistence in pursuing asnowboarding career has really paid off. Did you ever see this coming? Inever expected a career. I still really don't have one. Would you tellme about the last year of your life? A lot of contests, two trips to Mt.Hood this summer for film work on a rookie section for 411 Snow. Howmuch of your riding is a physical effort and how much is mental effort?I think it's a good 50/50 ratio. You have to have the mental strength toput in the physical effort.

What helps you overcome your riding frustrations? I just watch someoneelse who may be doing the same trick that I'm frustrated with. It reallydepends on what it is. I'm always frustrated. What makes you keep movingforward? Progression, I want to progress. - Jeff Meyer

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