DT: - Up until this past season, most people in the ski industry wouldn’t have had a clue who you are. Now your name is attached to some very creative photos, which have been popping up in many ski magazines, including the current cover of SBC’s Skier. What is the history behind this recent success?

MB: I started skiing around age 18 at Mt. Washington on Vancouver Island where I grew up. After blowing off work to ski as much as possible for the first winter, I realized skiing is what I wanted to do so, I moved out to Fernie the following winter and learned what skiing is all about.

DT: When did you start shooting pictures and why?

MB: About three years ago, I had a crisis concerning career choice. Both photography and writing have always interested me, but I just never had the inspiration to motivate me to pursue them. Three years ago I decided to finally get off my ass and start doing what I’ve always wanted to. The reason why? I could give you a long-winded answer, but I’ll save the readers…I just love it!

DT: I have noticed the majority of your published photos are of jibbers, is that because you also can’t really ski and find jibbing the be all and end all of skiing, or do you shoot/ski other types of skiing/sports/scenery, etc.?

MB: There’s a good explanation for that…I suck at skiing J; I actually love all types of skiing. Most of the shots you’ve seen so far are probably shot in the past winter while I was away at school in Victoria. I had a total of 12 days on the hill, about 70 days less than usual; and you don’t need fresh pow (rare on Van Isle), blue sky (even more rare) or ripper friends to get descent jib/park/pipe shots. Although, you should be seeing some sick pow shots sometime this winter…I hope they get published! As for other sports, I shoot anything that stokes me. I shoot tons of mountain biking, probably more than skiing so far. I was able to go to the RedBull Rampage (a huge freeride MTB comp in Utah) this year, which was sweet!

DT: I thought magazines only published name-brand skiers and photographers, so how is it your name is now becoming one of those?

MB: It’s been tough breaking into the scene cause I’m not part of a posse of sponsored skiers/riders. If you shoot sponsored athletes your chances of “making it” are greatly increased. Most photographers get started through their friends. I’ve shot a few comps and those photos have definitely helped me out. I’ve also had the opportunity to shoot with a few unknown rippers who have kept faith in me since the beginning. I owe them immensely. Some of them have gained sponsorship due partly to the exposure my shots have gotten them and I’m stoked to give something back to them, even if it is indirectly!

DT: Is there any key ingredient to getting photos published?

MB: I wish I knew! I think a big element of a successful shot, other than the boring technical stuff, is the ability to let the viewer experience the moment vicariously through the photo. Did that sound pompous enough? Good. I’ll leave it at that.

DT: For those ignorant readers, who ignore half the talent behind a quality photo, what are some of your recent publications?

MB: I’m stoked because I just got the cover of SBC SKIER, probably my favorite mag. For where I am at this point in the game, I couldn’t ask for anything more. Getting a cover was actually a goal I had set for 2005! My goal this year was POWDER and I reached that in the December issue with a shot of you and your brother Dave! I’ve had a few other shots in SKIER as well as my first published article in the next issue of SKI CANADA. I’m also doing a bit of writing for SKIER this year, and hopefully I can use this to jumpstart the writing part of my career. There’s a shot in the Photo annual of TWO magazine from France. That’s a sick mag. I have many bike photos published in mags like LAUNCHMTB and MOUNTAIN BIKING as well as work for some bike companies like BANSHEE, NORCO and FUNN.

DT: Is there a most memorable picture you have taken?

MB: That’s a tough one. I don’t think there is. There are memorable experiences more than memorable photos. I think that before photography, before skiing, before mountain biking, before all these things, life experiences are the most important. Things like skiing and photography are wonderful, beautiful tools to allow us to experience the more important things like friends, family and self. I think we get caught up too much in the hype of society and end up forgetting how to enjoy the simple things…powder days rule but think of how much better they are with good friends. No friends on a powder day just means you need faster friends!J

DT: So, your 5-year stint in Fernie was a pretty good time eh! From what I can remember of those years, you added some interesting character to an already unique town. Weren’t you involved in producing a shameless magazine about your poor friend J, who was always low on bud, (“LowbudJ Mag”)?
· What was the motivation behind this interesting magazine?

MB: It is actually LowBudgMag, which was an outlet for all the ridiculous ideas and rants that fester in my mind. My buddy Rolf Hill and I started it for fun 3-4 years ago and it’s just grown from a randomly produced, small time project to a somewhat organized statement of mountain-town culture.

DT: What were the contents of this magazine?

MB: We just try to portray the realities of ski town livin’. The soul of the sports, the oppression of small-town life, the advantages of the road less-traveled. We try to make it funny but intelligent without getting too serious. Roli takes care of the hippie/transcendental crap, and I do the self-important, obnoxious, overbearing opinions.

DT: How did you distribute the magazine, and what did it cost?

MB: Distribute? You mean hand out to friends? An issue of LowBudg is a coveted item as they are rare. We don’t have the capital to have a huge run every month so we give them to friends first, advertisers second and then on to fans/hot chicks. The runs are getting bigger though so hopefully we can get it out there more in the future. We try not to keep track of costs because we don’t make any money. The more we make, the more copies we print. We actually spend more than we’ll probably ever make!

DT: What was the gratification of all this hard work?

MB: Rant relief. People who know me know that I have a tendency to get…lets say over passionate. LowBudg allows me to share ideas with other people whether they agree with me or not. I think Roli likes it cause he can use it to pick up chicks, seriously! It also acts as a forum for other people. We accept contributions. Send ‘em to me at lowbudg@hotmail.

DT: Is LowBudgMag still in production, or did it leave with your departure to Victoria?

MB: It’s still going! We’ve got a website in the works. Keep an eye out for www.lowbudgmag.com! Also, we’ll be going big-time this winter if all goes well. Advertisers! Get a hold of us before it’s too late, we sell out quick!

DT: In addition to magazine production, you and roommate, Romance Lance Parsons threw down some pretty rowdy tunes in the Fernie Hotel. How is music tied into your lifestyle?

MB: I love music! And not just the rowdy stuff. I’m a huge fan of bands like Dave Matthews, Pearl jam, The Hip, Headstones(r.i.p.), Pennywise, AFI, Jimmy Buffett, Sublime, etc. I wish I had more time for music but the photography is too much right now. My band GFY (with guitarist/vocalist “ambu” Lance and drummer Ryan Pekarchuk) played quite a few shows in Fernie (not that I can remember them!) and a few out in Victoria. If I weren’t doing the photography gig I would be pursuing music in one way or another. I actually looked at recording school at one time too.
I look at music as another inspirational force to fuel my fire. I’m loving the new AFI right now as well as Jack Johnson and Joe Cocker.

· Mike plays bass, guitar, harmonica, and sings some. I’ll let you use your imagination to figure out what GFY stands for.

DT: For those beautiful young ski-bunnies (not too young), you must sound like quite the catch … photographer – could take their picture (skiing of course), writer – could send them romantic letters (nothing dirty though), and musician to serenade them with hardcore punk rock. How do you fend off your following of gorgeous birds?



MB: I don’t! Actually, with everything going on, there’s no time for a steady woman in my life. It sucks but it’s for the better…I think.

DT: I’m not exactly sure what a “steady woman” means … steady on the skis maybe – there is always time for one of those.

What are your plans for this season, and your future?

MB: I’m shooting full-time this winter (albeit dirtbag style!), so I’ll be out in Fernie, up at the hill everyday looking for freshies, re-learning the tricks I’ve forgotten, and trying to keep up with you! Oh yeah, and shooting of course. What the future holds for me, I can’t even guess. I want to travel more, meet more amazing people, progress my photography, skiing and music and just enjoy all the great things that have been given to me. I am so grateful for everything right now.

DT: No one’s success is solely their own accomplishment, anyone you wish to recognize for helping you reach this stage?

MB: Absolutely! This is a chance for me to thank all the incredible people in my life! My family has helped in more ways than I can say, so I just want them to know how much I appreciate it and that I love them. The same with my friends! All of them, especially the Sanchez bro’s! Allie, Kuch, Gregg and Quinton- my support team from Western Academy of Photography. Thanks for all the help. Ian Bachelor for giving me a flexible job to support my photography, you rule man! All the skiers and riders, notably Vinnie, Yasha, Jay Muscroft, Neil Meier, Al Hokanson and the D&D Treadway combo. It’s amazing how hard it is for athletes to put their energy and time in for an unproven photographer and these guys have made me who I am by doing just that.

DT: Any advice for talented photographers interested in pursuing such a lifestyle?

MB: I’m still trying to figure it out! I guess I’d say to have fun and work hard. Apply that to anything in your life and it’ll work out. Everything always does!

DT: Check out www.Mikeberard.com to experience the ‘moment’ vicariously through Mike’s photos. Drop him a line with questions/comments, he’d love to hear from you! (Just no “steady women”)

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Daryl Treadway is a teacher in Lethbridge who schools everyone in Fernie.