November 1, 1998

Talk to any pro snowboarder today, and you will discover that nearly all have previously played some type of organized team sport. Most gave it up when they embraced skateboarding, and later snowboarding, finding comfort in a sense of individuality.

But, no matter, because most of snowboarding's pros and young competitors today are on some type of snowboard team. It may be a company team they ride for, or maybe they compete on an Olympic or national team. There are school teams. Even a bunch of chicks who yell, "Wheee!" when one of their girlfriends gets air could call themselves a team.

Are snowboard teams the way of the future? Is Sims vs. Burton in a big-air contest a possibility? Lamar vs. Morrow in extreme boardercross? You never know what some crazy promoter out there will drum up-but you'll be golfing by then anyway, so it doesn't matter.

What makes a good snowboard team?

Dionne Delesalle

Age: 20

Sponsors: Blond, Ezekiel, 32 Boots, Iris Goggles

"A good snowboard team consists of a group of people stoked on snowboarding who are always ready and willing to work-filming and taking pictures. They know how to have fun both on and off the mountain, and never take snowboarding too seriously."

Pat A. (Abramson)

Age: 26

Sponsor: Ride

"To me, the original Ride team is a perfect example of what a good snowboard team can be. It consisted of a group of rippers-and a pitbull-who were all friends to begin with and who shared a lot of respect for one another. Each rider had their own style, and nobody tried to compete for a better position on the team. We didn't care what the rest of the industry thought-we just did our own thing. It created a new vibe in snowboarding."

Trevor Andrew

Age: No longer a virgin.

Sponsor: Burton

"My idea of a good snowboard team would be an aggressive group of people who travel and tour together. Everyone has to get along, and there has to be a wicked team manager-someone who is organized, but at the same time cool enough to hang out and party with. We would do demos and photo shoots together, and we would all work on the team videos.

"Two teams that really pop out in my mind right now would be the Shorty's team and the Zero Skateboard team. They produce

and promote everything together."

Kale Stephens

Age: 21

Sponsors: Sims, Spare, Iris, R.D.S., The Circle

"Good friends with smooth styles. You need people who can be specialists in halfpipe, extreme terrain, and all-around freestyle. It would be cool to see more team videos. Also a large travel budget is mandatory in keeping the team traveling together. The main ingredient, though, in a winning snowboard team is having a couple riders at all the big competitions."

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