pdf - Larry Nunez

Feature
Written by
Larry Nuñez
Portraits by
Chad Riley
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Snowboarding and skating were built by pioneers—innovators who created something new and influenced an entire
generation who would be raised first by Animal Chin and
The Bones Brigade; later by Plan B and Mack Dawg Videos;
and sadly today, by MTV and the X-Games. The many talented and widely varied individuals who helped shape this
lifestyle were the driving force behind it all. People like Lance
Mountain, Mark Gonzalez and Rodney Mullen all defined
modern skateboarding and are still very much relevant today,
running their own companies, making movies, designing
clothing and creating highly sought after works of art.
Skateboarding has taken care of its elders, so what
about snowboarding? There don’t seem to be as many living
legends left today. Sure, most of snowboarding’s greats are
still alive of course (unfortunately, a few are not), but how
many remain active in the industry? While Terje certainly wears
the crown of our greatest living legend in snowboarding,
and originals like Jake Burton and Mike Olsen went on to
start snowboard brands that now dominate the business
side of things, gone are many of the icons of modern day
snowboarding. They’ve moved on to other jobs and are
raising families and stepping out of the spotlight forever.
But one of the greatest riders of all time can still be found
spinning 900s in the park and living, eating and breathing the
snow/skate/surf life every day. He’s designing snowboards
for his own brand and working behind the scenes helping to
produce network television snowboard coverage. He’s
appearing in Hollywood-style feature films, consulting on
Playstation games and working on DC video parts. And he’s
in front of the camera at the X-Games, trying to explain our
little sport to the rest of the world. He’s Todd Richards, and at
age 38 he is the definition of a snowboarding icon.
After a healthy obsession with Star Wars action figures
starting around age eight and continuing well into high school
(well actually, to this day), Todd discovered skateboarding,
and the harsh New England winters forced him to naturally
transition into snowboarding. Growing up on the East Coast
in Paxton, a small suburb of Worcester, Massachusetts,
placed Todd in a good location for competitive snowboarding
at the time.
“When I started skating the freshman year of high
school at Wachusett Regional, it totally consumed me,” Todd
recalls. “My sophomore year, my friend Rob Lavigne, who also
skated with us, got a snowboard. We all tried it and would go
when there was too much snow to go skating, but it wasn’t
until I went to college in New Hampshire that I actually began
to progress. Soon enough, I stopped going to class and was
riding all the time, eventually getting a few small sponsors
and doing the local contests—like the New England Cup with
the likes of Jason Ford, Noah Brandon, Jeff Brushie and Pat
Bridges, who was like, 12 years old then.”
Quickly emerging into one of the youngest talents on the
East Coast, Todd rode a Sims Switchblade, a Christmas gift
from his parents, and idolized pro riders like Terry Kidwell
and others who would make the trek east for contests like
the U.S. Open. Soon, he was competing against those very
same people…and winning! That was followed by trips out
west after sponsorship deals had him riding with his heroes:
Kidwell, Shaun Palmer and the Roach brothers (Chris and
Monty). Around 1990, it changed from getting free trips and
product into a paycheck from brands like Gotcha, Morrow
and Exile Eyewear, and Todd realized his career would be
snowboarding for a living. From then on, whether traveling
the globe in search of powder or claiming podium victories
against the greats, the memorable moments in his life were
steady and frequent.
“The first time I filmed with Fall Line in Valle Nevado,
Chile for the Project 6 movie was a really great trip, and another to New Zealand with the Ride team in the summer of
’94 was so much fun, with amazing conditions and just a
really good crew. Contest-wise, I was pretty stoked to win the
U.S. Open in ’94—that was a big one. But I would have to
say my proudest moment and most memorable experience
was when I got second at the 2000 X-Games in slopestyle—
I worked so hard for that and almost won. I was totally
considered a pipe guy up until then; I basically rode jumps
every day in preparation for that event. It was a great
weekend…I ended up winning the pipe too and going home
with a VW GTI courtesy of the X-Games.”
With over a decade of experience competing at the
highest level, including a spot on the inaugural U.S. Olympic
Snowboard Team, Todd put his knowledge to good use when
a nasty injury placed him on the sidelines for almost an entire
year. Shattering his humerus after coming up short on a jump
cost Todd some time off the snow in 2002, but it inadvertently
introduced to him to the next, or rather another stage of his
profession.
“The first real announcing thing I did was a cameo on
the mic at the Session [The Honda Session in Vail],” Todd
explains. “I went up for five minutes to watch the contest from
the tower and ended up doing commentary on the whole
event. The next week, I did an analyst job at the X-Games
and I guess did a good enough job that they wanted me
to do that every year. It has snowballed from there…an
accidental career, I guess.”
The accidental career now has him not only analyzing
and providing the full play-by-play on camera for the events
where he used to take home the trophy, but also working
in the trailer with the production crew, making sure they get
things right. It’s a thankless but invaluable service to have
someone who actually knows what the fuck is really going
on advising the network numbnuts on producing a show that
Angel Rodriguez photo.
Nate Christensen photo.
is to be aired to millions of people whose only perception
of snowboarding is Shaun White holding the gold medal.
For someone of Todd’s caliber to accept that challenging role
is a victory in itself. But don’t think that’s gonna get him off
the snow anytime soon. Todd’s still riding as hard as ever,
ushering in the next round of rippers with the help of his own
company, O-Matic Snowboards.
“Getting our little brand off the ground while still filming
and shooting photos—all of those are totally full-time jobs in
themselves,” he professes. “Throw being a dad of two on top
of that and it’s enough to make me tired just saying it. But
I don’t think about it. I just put my head down and do what
needs to be done. It makes me really appreciate the time I get
on my board though, and having a company gives me a lot of
pride in what I ride. They all complement each other.”
In between globe-trotting to announce and assist with
production of events like the X-Games and the U.S. Open
and maintaining a winter home in Breckenridge, Colorado,
Todd’s seven-year old son and a four-year old daughter
definitely keep his hands full. But of course, we wouldn’t
expect anything less from The Champ.
“First of all, my wife deserves all the credit here,” Todd
is quick to admit. “She has been the one to make the ultimate
sacrifice in her life. ‘Living the dream’ is what pays the bills,
but for me, it definitely grounds me more to be responsible
for others beside myself. It’s an amazing feeling to have a
family that can’t wait for you to get home. It really gives you
a purpose in life other than jump that, go here, go there, buy
this and do that.”
As one of the most amicable and entertaining personalities
in the industry, Todd still has legions of fans and commands
great respect throughout the snowboard world. For the
icon that he is, he remains humble as ever and grateful for
the many opportunities snowboarding has provided him.
His dedication to his craft, his job and ultimately, his
representation of our lifestyle has been an inspiration to
countless riders around the world and is part of the reason
that snowboarding has become what it is today.
“I just really want to say thanks to the entire community
of snowboarding over the years,” he expresses. “From the
industry to the fellow riders to all of the kids who have said
nice things…you guys and girls really gave a kid who didn’t
fit in at high school a great life. And for all you up-andcomers: Never burn a bridge, never, ever. Even if situations
are totally fucked, sometimes you just have to bite your
tongue and turn the other cheek. You may need lift tickets
some day and that dude who is raking that jump who you
just sprayed and flipped off might be the marketing manager
in three years. Stay classy snowboarding, and thanks so
much, seriously.”
No Todd, thank you.
Special Thanks:
Mike Gollhofer
Schubach Aviation
2006 Palomar Airport Road
Carlsbad, CA 92011