Austin's World: Interview with Nitro and Nike Snowboarding Pro Austin Smith

Photo: Nike Snowboarding

By Gabriel Davis

Age: 21
Sponsors: Nitro, Nike Snowboarding, Raiden, Smith, Airblaster, Dakine, Cobra Dogs, Volcano Cones, CTI
Born: Bellingham, WA
Now Residing: Bend, OR

You live in Bend right? Was your first day Bachelor?
It was not, pretty proud to say it was at Mt. Baker WA

Ever go to Hoodoo?
Obviously, Hoodoo is the jam, we go there for night shredding a bit, theres nothing better then pow at night.

Bend is fairly close to the south-eastern part of Oregon, ever make it down to that seemingly forgotten corner?
Maybe driven through a few times but that is about it.

This summer you had a Signature Session at High Cascade with some good friends. Any standout moments?
That was my first time snowboarding for the season so I was probably more amped than any of the kids to be shredding but off hill it is all about the dodgeball, i love the dodgeball.



What happened at summer camp with Aunti Auti?
????? you tell me, is that dude still around?
 
Your graphic this year features film. Is the graphic a commentary on the degradation of quality and craftsmanship within our society in favor of the new and marketable, expressed in the context of the film to digital paradigm shift?
Huh? What? Uhhh my graphic is just five of my favorite video clips from over the years that I turned into sequences.  I got Scotty Wittlake, Bryan Fox, Louie Fountain, Lukas Huffman and Curtis Ciszek all underneath my feet when im boarding its pretty sweet.

Who did the graphic?
I went through videos and screen grabbed all the sequences and then this artist Paul that works for Nitro laid it out and put some flair with it. 

Why does Nitro call your board "One Off"? I know we got more than one.
Because they only come in one size.... i donno.

How was last season for you? Where did you go and who did you work on what with?
Um last season was different, I worked in Beaverton Oregon at the Nike headquarters... I had knee surgery and they set me up with some physical therapist and person trainer dudes so I just spent all winter getting buff.

You are Snowboarder Magazine’s ANTPM (America’s Next Top Pro Model) Congradulations! How was the contest?
For my first time snowboarding in a year or so it was pretty sweet to do well.  The contest is very relaxed, no one really takes it too seriously, except the Chinese downhill, that gets heated.

Who would be Snowboarder Magazine's Tyra Banks?
Pat Bridges.  Actually maybe Laura Austin, just because she is a girl.

If I go to Bend whats the first thing I should do?
In the summer, come sailing.

Whats the last thing?
Everyone in Bend seems to have a drinking problem so you will probably just want to escape while you still have part of your liver.

Rumor has it Austin helped with the design of the Barley color of the Nike Zoom Force 1 Snowboard Boots. You might want to check those out and while your at it have a look at Austin's Nitro Pro Model.