DEVUN WALSH
When Devun first appeared around Mt. Hood and in the Big Bear park, no one foresaw that the stocky Barfoot amateur would soon become the Canadian Jamie Lynn, or, as David Carrier Porcheron puts it, “the most influential Canadian rider of all time, hands down.”
Home Mountain: Whistler/Blackcomb, BC and Mt. Seymour
Sponsors: DC Boards, Bindings, Boots, and Outerwear, IS Design Goggles,
Wildcats, Matsumoto Wax, The Source Boardshop
Board: DC 158 Prototype
Regular or Goofy: Regular
Boot: DC Ghost
inding: DC Prototype
Career Video Credits: It's the source, Child Games, Milk, The Burning, Helter Skelter, Whiskey 3, Whiskey 4, 20/20, Lil' Bastards, Paparazzi, Kingpin chronicles, Anthem, Snow, Return of the Wildcats, Nine Lives, Diary, Blackout, Resistance, True Life, Video Gangs, That, Stand and Deliver, DC Mountain Lab, Out Cold (Stunt Double)
Career Contest Results: As far as contests, I did all the early X-Games but never got better than 4th. I did however win the Canadian juniors slopestyle and got second in halfpipe at age 17.
Who do you feel is the most influential rider of the last 20 years? Why?
Jaime Lynn probably influenced me the most. He was way ahead of the game and he brought style into riding and changed the sport. He might not of invented snowboarding but I think he invented jumping style. Everything he did looked different right down to his methods. For me that was huge and I really modeled myself after him so without him, there would be no me.
When did you start riding?
I started in 1989 or 90. That is hard to admit. Man, there are kids I film with that were like 4 and 5 at that time.
What was the highlight of your career?
Since it’s (my career) not over, the highlight of my career to this point is, well let me think. Just one? Probably getting that first sponsor and believing in myself.
Most memorable session?
(My) first trip to Mount Hood summer camp with Rob “Sluggo” Boyce for an Airwalk shoot. He rode for them and I didn’t, but he needed a ride and I had a car. They said not to bring me because I wasn’t on the team. He brought me anyways and I ended up with an ad for Airwalk that season. I gained a spot on the team and had a blast riding.
When did you realize that snowboarding wasn’t just a fad?
When I started getting paid to do it.
What is your take on snowboarding and how far it has come? Did you ever think it would progress to the level it has?
As far as on a contest level, it has far exceeded what I had expected. Everyone is so technical and consistent and it is shocking. I guess they can ride terrain suited to that every day at their mountain and gain confidence. We never had that growing up. We just freerode and that’s it. If we competed we would only ride the pipe that morning in practice since none of the mountains had one to ride on a regular basis.
Where are your favorite places to snowboard?
Probably Whistler backcountry and Seymour at nights.
Which photographers captured your riding best?
Probably Dano Pendygrass, I seemed to work with him the most over the past years. Recently, Dice K Maru and Colin Adair.
Favorite filmmaker to work with?
Anthony Vitalle at Whiteout Films and Sean Kearns.
Which product innovation had the largest impact on our sport?
Probably snowmobiles. It has taken filming and photos to new levels. In snowboarding though, probably twin tip boards.
Are the values that our sport was founded on still apparent in the riders today?
I think a good amount of kids today only ride to be sponsored and not for the love of the sport. So no, I don’t think the same values are there.
What do you feel is your legacy in the snowboard world?
Not sure.
If you could change one thing about snowboarding today what would it be?
Not so corporate. I miss those small rider owned companies. There are some, just not enough.
Who is the unsung hero of snowboarding that people should celebrate?
Not Sure.
What has snowboarding taught you?
To enjoy life, travel, family and friends. No matter what it is you do work hard at it and take pride in everything you do. Seize the day.
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