By Someone In The Mix

What was the most memorable trip in your snowboard career, and why?

Everyone who has ever traveled brings home memories of the experiences they've had-some good and some not. A lot of today's pro snowboarders have been around the world more times than they can remember, and here're a few accounts:

Devun Walsh

Age: Old enough to know better

Home: Vancouver, B.C.

Sponsors: Forum, Special Blend, Iris, Bakoda, Division snowboard shop

"My most memorable trip was probably the time I went to Chile and New Zealand with Kevin Young, Chris Brown, Marc Morisset, Shin Campos, Mouse, and Evan Feen. The Mouse booked the whole trip, and we all followed along. It started with Browner losing his wallet and everyone almost fighting the Chilean locs to get it back. Then there was the van! The chains didn't fit, but we used them anyway even though they beat against the van. According to the police we weren't even supposed to be driving it, but money solves everything. Then, on the only sunny day, the van overheated. What did we do for coolant? Pissed in the radiator, resulting in a cracked engine block and 6,000 dollars' damage. We left the van and hitchhiked. The airport where we had our connecting flight to New Zealand was snowed in, so we got diverted through Miami and then to San Diego, where we spent all day waiting for the next flight to New Zealand. Once we arrived there, we met the Whiskey crew-you can only imagine. I won't even get into that. All in all it was fun, but only once in a lifetime. I think Mouse must have done something harsh in another life to deserve so many menageries."

Blue Montgomery

Age: 24

Home: Salt Lake City, Utah

Sponsors: Rossignol, Vans, Dragon, Tech Nine, ASS Industries

"The first time I left North America, for sure. It was the week of my twenty-second birthday, and I went to Japan with [Jason] Bump, Peter [Line], and Morrey [Marc Morisset]. This guy from the distributor picked us up at the airport with 10,000 dollars in cash in his backpack. As long as he got a receipt, he didn't care what we spent it on. It was crazy! We spent mad cash, signed mass autographs, and drank like the world was coming to an end. What up, Masa T!"

Chris Englesman

Age: 24

Home: Salt Lake City, Utah

Sponsors: K2, Dragon, Bluebird, E-Tree Clothes

"My best trip ever would have to have been five years ago in New Zealand. We were there for a month, but due to bad weather we only got in about nine days of riding. The few days we had were epic, though. There are so many good stories I will always remember from that trip-like the three feet of powder at the Fields, heli-skiing out of Wanaka, gulfing with riggers [outrigger boating], sleeping in fields, meeting so many cool people, the bowls at Christchurch, and getting crushed trying to surf. It was my first trip overseas, and we paid our own way-so there was no obligation to get photos or footage. We did whatever we liked, plus it was the last time I really got to travel with my good friend Paul Elkins."

Chris Brunkhart

Age: No one knows.

Home: Brightwood, Oregon

Sponsors: Kodak Rapid Fixer 2000, Whistle Stop Cafe

"It would be the time I went to Baker and spent the early winter at Fulton's house. I truly experienced Mt. Baker for the first time. I saw early season explode into full-blown winter. I witnessed the life on and off the mountain-the people, the variety of characters, new stories unfolding right in front of you, and hearing the stories of years past. And, as always, the powder. Or maybe my trip to Morocco, where I almost slid off the mountain."

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