Joey Vosburgh Interview: 2010

name: Joey Vosburgh
age: 33
home base: Revelstoke
nicknames: none that I know of
website:Stay tuned
FB fan page: I need fans for that
Twitter: Whats that?

Let's get a brief history going here. I know you're from Calgary originally, can you describe where you came from and where you first started to learn to ride the big mountians?
A part of my heart belongs to the rockies... I learnt alot there.  I rode religiously at Lake Louise in the 90’s. I got used to biggish terrain there, riding fast and using the whole mountain. After that I had a brief couple year fling with Sunshine inbounds and out of bounds goods. “The Dive” and all its siblings got me on my way. As most know the rockies keep you on your toes with sniper landings, and an interesting snowpack.  

You've been flirting with being a pro rider for a long time, yet it's never fully happened. Was that by design?
I guess so. I feel like the snowboard industry is just getting farther away from the snowboarding I love. With the gear support I get from TNF, the balance is there. I have never felt like its  a job and I never want it to.

You've been with The North Face for a long time.  What's it's like to work with them and what makes you stoked to ride for them.
I have only good things to say about everyone at TNF. Gear support is never too far away, and they have always showed interest in my adventures. The gear speaks for itself,  technical design that's simple and bomber.  

You moved to Revelstoke before it was on the tip of everyone's tongue. Has the town changed for the better now that the resort is there?
Ahhh the resort! The cherry on top. Town has drastically changed... for better and worse. Still the same old sleepy Revelstoke now the hill has closed, but when the hill was open... a bit crazy.  Saying that, living in a town with the nickname “Renostoke” isn’t bad when yer in the trades [for work].

These days you seem to be earning all your turns. Isn't that harder on a snowboard? What gear set up do you have?
Not harder.... once you get rid of the plastic ratchets and leather boots! That under designed crap should be left for the ski hill, or better yet the garbage, it just slows you down.  I use a slightly modified Sacrpa AT boot and a Dynafit toe piece. Bomber binders and plates in yer bag on the way up makes for lightweight efficient skinning. The change from leathers to “dynasplit” is as significant of a change as snowshoes to a split.   For consistency and performance I’ve switched to Ibex race plates on my hill board and use the same boot I tour in. No more sloppy leathers for me, ever!

There was a time when you were sledding a lot. Are you over sledding or do you still have it as part of the program?
We still use the sled on occasion. We usually tandem and tow 2 up any of the many logging roads. Sleds are amazing access for far away summits and if used properly can be worth it.  I rarely go “sledding”.

So you've been having a killer season. Can you tell us about it? What peaks did you climb and ski?
This has been one of my most memorable years. Quite a few new summits for me.  A lot of great turns and good friends. Mainly at the Pass [Rogers] and in the Southern Monashees.
Rogers, Hermit Mtn., Avalanche (both peaks), Ursus Minor, Ursus Major (south face), Cheops (south face), Jupiter Mtn., Swanzy , Inverness (high col), Copeland (town face), Davis, Begbie (summit to east face), Odin, Resplendent, and an honest attempt on Robson North Face.


It was pretty scary around Revy in terms of snowpack this season. Did you have some close calls?
Honestly... no. I like to think we make good decisions, base on our observations not only based on the avy reports. I went to the ski hill on the Boulder incident day... but got back into it soon after. The scariest moments have been the mountaineering ones. Tight exposed ridges like Hermit, Avalanche and Mount Jupiter just to name a few.

 
You're tapped in with a pretty motivated crew. What's it like skiing with Greg Hill and company?
This crew is well travelled and very skilled... we like to have fun with it too. Greg's vertical obsession has made it easy to find someone to head out with. The days are fast paced and usually objective oriented (summits). I feel lucky to ski with these guys!

What's on the agenda next?
Mid May we are heading to the St. Elias Range, Yukon. Base camp with Steele and Lucania in our sights. 5th and 3rd highest in Canada respectively. Pretty excited about that one! South America too, aug-sept.

-interview by Tim Grey