Backside 180 over some metal. Photo by Rob Mathis
Griffin Siebert’s name will be popping up more as time will tell, so you may as well remember it now. And for good reason, he is filming for three different crews including Nitro and Park City, but he is just getting started. The 19-year old hailing from Utah is following in his big brother Zach’s footsteps, of progressing snowboarding while simply having fun with it. Zach Siebert has been featured multiple times in Finger on da Trigger Productions, with heavy urban and backcountry shots and Griffin obviously came from the same bloodline.
But, at the rate Siebert is going he won’t need to be following any footsteps, he will make his own.
Being the second person in his family to be recognized for snowboarding, in a way makes him part of a family dynasty. What journalist would pass up interviewing a dynasty? Anyway we are stoked that Griffin gave us the chance to interview him and here is what went down.
Powder: Where are you from and where are you now?
Griffin: I am from Park City, UT. That’s where I currently am as well.
Powder: How did you get into snowboarding?
Griffin: I got into snowboarding because of my brother, I’ve always looked up to my brother and if he snowboarded that’s what I wanted to do.
Powder: When did you pick up your sponsors?
Griffin: Probably about 2 or 3 years ago.
Powder: Who are those sponsors?
Griffin: Volcom, Nitro, Dragon, Celtek, Bern, Park City Mountain Resort, Milosport, Discete, and Cobra Dogs.
Powder: I watched your video clip on YoBeat, do you have any video parts in any upcoming films?
Griffin: Park City is making a movie so I have been filming for that, my homies in Oregon are making a movie called Free Birds which we are trying to get underway and I have been trying to get some shots for the new Nitro movie.
Powder: Who is you local crew?
Griffin: My Brother Zach, The Kotsenburg brothers, Sam Taxwood, Joss Christensen, Ben Bilodeau, Evan Drage, Jordan Tramp, Alex Sherman. The Warbington Brothers, and Blake Paul are pretty much locals now. [laughs]
Powder: I take your goal is making it to the pro scene, what will you do to get there and more importantly, stay there?
Griffin: Yea that would be awesome, but I try to not really focus on that. I just want to ride as much as I can for as long as I can with my friends and have a good time doing it. If I’m having fun I could care less if I was a pro or not.
Powder: What are your safety tricks?
Griffin: Carves and boardslides, can’t get enough of em. [laughs]
Powder: Scariest moment on a snowboard?
Griffin: Probably breaking my femur at a contest in Copper a few years ago, or recently I popped my shoulder out up at the bone zone and I had to hike out of there and my amazing friends drove me down one of the sketchiest roads in Utah, after it had dumped all while my shoulder was completely popped out.
Powder: Who do you think is changing the sport the fastest?
Griffin: Scott Stevens.
Powder: Favorite competition to watch?
Griffin: I may sound like a kook, but I love watching X Games slope. Those dudes are insane and I have a lot of respect for them. I get so stoked on watching my buddy Sage ride in it every year. Last year the Kotsenburgs let me and Sam tag along with them to watch it live and I was more nervous watching Sage then I ever have been competing [laughs]. I would never ever want to compete there but I love watching it.
Powder: Favorite current riders?
Griffin: Aaron Robinson, Scott Stevens, Jonas Carlson, Jason Robinson, Gigi Ruf, Bryan Fox, and Scott Blum. I’m also super stoked on this local boarder Mac Spedale his style is so good.
Powder: Most over rated trick and most under rated trick?
Griffin: Back Rodeos, I can’t really hate on them since I can’t do them and don’t get me wrong they can be done good but I see way too many jocks doing those everyday that I can’t stand them anymore. Most under rated,switch straight airs. [laughs]
Powder: Best snowboard video?
Griffin: AfterLame, December, Smell the glove, and Manifest.
Powder: When it comes to style, what are your thoughts on triple corks?
Griffin: They are super gnarly but I think they are pretty lame, and are putting our sport into way too dangerous of situations. I think that people should do tricks because they feel good and are fun, and when you chuck a triple cork it doesn’t seem too fun to me. But hey maybe some people love that shit.
Siebert, paying his dues. Photo by Rob Mathis.
Powder: Who are your inspirations and motivators?
Griffin: My family, and pretty much all of my friends, they inspire me the most and are all killing it these days. And A-ROB you just need to SMASH LIFE always!
Powder: What is your daily routine?
Griffin: When I’m home I usually just wake up around 8:00 – 8:30 a.m., stretch, get some B-fast, go snowboard at PC, get a Cobra Dog for lunch, come home, Walk my pug, and hangout with some friends or sometimes maybe go to the gym. Pretty boring and mellow but I love it!
Powder: What is the best snowboarding experience of this season so far?
Griffin: Probably the Dirksen Derby, its always a good time and there are so many good friends there. Until I lost a bet and had to frost my tips.
Powder: If you could have any super power what would it be?
Griffin: To be indestructable, then I would try a bunch of sketchy shit and wouldn’t get hurt, maybe a triple cork.[laughs]
Powder: Any last words?
Griffin: SMASH LIFE.
By Josh Ruggles. Photos courtesy of Griffin Siebert.
