EASTERN BOARDERS “LAST CALL”

TEN YEARS TOUGH

Before Eastern Boarder kicks off their 10th annual “LAST CALL” event March 24 at Loon Mountain, NH I got a few words in with Eastern Boarders main man Andy “BUB” Bubnowicz. Bub is also responsible for putting this killer event together year
after year, here is the exclusive interview:

Hey Bub, first off I just want to thank ya for taking some time out and doing this interview as the count down begins to the 10th annual Eastern Boarder’s Last Call.

No problem. It’s crazy that it’s already been ten years.

So 10 years in the running, damn thats a long time, can you tell us how this event came in hot onto the east coast snowboard scene?

At that time we had already been holding a few fun, chill events at local mountains like Nashoba Valley where we would easily get over 100 entries every time. Those were long before rails and boxes were in parks unless they were dragged out of the woods or we snuck it on the trail from home. Most were jump and pipe contests. We would toss out some gear and get all the kids pizza. They were fun events, and honestly we were one of very few shops kicking back to kids in any way. We were thinking of how we could step it up and try a bigger event. This time it was more for us though, our friends and the people we spent our money with. So we got the reps involved and just tried to recreate a backyard BBQ type of event. Mount Sunapee in NH was nice enough to let us give it all a go. I guess it worked.

I remember years ago hitching a ride to Ragged Mountain, NH from Burlington, VT at 6 am, when you guys first kicked this event off back in 2001. Even back then it was the most fun contest of the year because it didn’t even feel like a contest. It was more having fun with your buddies hiking super fun features and shot gunning beers. How has the event kept that “anti contest” feel over a decade?

I think it helps that I’m not a professional event promoter and still just fumble along sometimes making it happen. I have more of a clue now though and most of the sponsors have stuck with us for a few years and we just make it happen. I think struggling a bit keeps it loose if that makes sense. Had someone handed me an outrages amount of money to hold some US OPEN remake I think Last Call may have fizzled out. The riders we attract are all amazing in their own anti amazing way. They understand it, and that’s who we want there. These riders bust their asses and hike all day for a fairly small purse and some prizes. It’s always been a jam, drop when you feel like it, and hit what you want to hit if you’re into it. That keeps the pressure down I think.

You guys keep it fresh/unique and change stuff up every year working with the good crew of park dudes over there at Loon, what are some ideas you guys are working with this year?

That’s top secret. Until we figure out what the hell we’re making anyway. Brian Norton and Tom Cat at Loon along with the rest of the park staff and I usually try and sit down to sketch weird transition features up. Loon is on point. Those guys know how to work, and are open to ideas I have that I think most areas would consider too much work to build for one event. We have kicked around some transfer 1/4 pipe, wall ride combos. Possibly bring a more “typical” jump feature back since it’s been a while. We always have some sort of rail and box garden thing. On the press release you could actually vote for your favorite feature and the winning one is to be built again. The rhythm section might take that one.

With some East Coast heavy hitters making their way to the event year after year, who has left their mark at Last Call in your mind?

Man I wish I had more video of whats happened over the years. Without a doubt Scott Stevens is my favorite. His high energy and ability to find lines and combos makes it so fun to watch him ride. The guy never stops smiling too. He makes everything look fun. “Mullet Man” back in 2001 was just some random rocker guy that had us all cheering. Chelone is sure to scare the shit out of us somehow every year. Gooner, Chas, Pat Moore, Lago, Luke Mathison, Mike Baker…. I don’t know..everyone has something unusual to bring. You always made a good poacher.

Awhile back at Ragged that kid tried that deathly rainbow rail gap, I think it was that same year Shane Flood freaked out and tried a frontside rodeo onto a down rail and how about last year when Chelone Miller sent it upside down over the hip gap. What is it about Last Call that makes riders really go the distance and throw carcass?

If I knew, I would sell it. Every year someone does something so nuts it makes it memorable. It’s usually warm out and everyones just keeping it fun. It actually makes things really hard on the judges who are trying to watch anywhere from 2-6 guys dropping at the same time and all throwing down. Events where you sit and wait for your name to be called out so you can drop I feel get old fast. Riders don’t want to do that shit. They hit features when they’re feeling it. That makes for the best action. Nobody sees it coming and then people just freak out and cheer each other on.

Oh by the way I saw your Eastern Boarder warehouse guy on “Thrasher’s Hall of Meat” this last week. He took one to the dome pretty hard on that one hu?

Yeah that’s Hans. He’s awesome. He’s so miserable and grumpy half the day it’s fun to bust on him. That was a brutal fall to the chops. He didn’t show up to work the next day. Right after he hit he pounded a bunch of beers and left. Legend has it that he ended up sort of lost and being picked up by a cop and brought home. His face must have looked like a fucking balloon.

What names can we expect to see at Eastern Boarder’s 10′th Annual LAST CALL riders list?

We do our best to bring in the top of the New England scene. I make a personal invite to our reps so the guys they hook up can get in. That way we know the level of riding is above the norm. It is somewhat of a who’s who after ten years so it’s fast moving and there’s never a dull moment. Mutty is bringing some heavies again like Lago, Reis, Humpy, Fortier. With 32 involved they’re supposed to bring Scotty, Chris Berseford, Grendy was on the list but he was hurt. ( get better quick Chris ) K2 brings some guys in. Shaun Murphy, Yale, …We try and cap it at 80 riders. So many guys are just so damn good.

You guys put up a pretty hefty amount of prize money and an Oakley watch every year right? Whats the cash purse for 2k10?

I don’t know if it’s really heavy but I can tell you it’s never easy to get the money up. It falls between 4-6G each year. It depends on the year. K2 and Oakley have really been our backbone in the years they have been on board. Thirty Two came on for the first time this year and was pretty generous too. Last Call just needs to hopefully pay for itself. Nobody stuffs their pockets here. The cash goes to the riders. This year has been especially rough on anyone in the industry so I can’t thank the sponsors enough. They keep us rolling.

Do you guys have a beer sponsor yet? After a decade I’m sure the finest fun soda company out there would come through with a pallet or two.

Sam Adams is helping out in one of Loons bars right after things shut down on the trail. The party thing has always been really touchy. Loons pretty strict which I totally understand. Since most people can’t be responsible for themselves and their actions, the days of the ski area party at most mountains has mellowed. My first into to the industry was working in rentals when I was a kid. Watching all the guys blowing lines and cracking beers at work was a trip. I always thought it was the raddest job ever. It was all part of the environment back then but things changed. I remember at Sunapee they were pretty cool about having a beer garden set up at the bottom of the pipe for us. I had to wear a radio that day so management could yell at me to keep the party in the garden. I did what I could. But our buddy Gorms blew that out of the water by tossing out about 100 tall boys to anyone with hands. Ragged Mtn. was a complete shit show and it was awesome. There were fireworks and it was at a possible party peak. We lit rails on fire and just went bananas. Tony Deleo had a keg and a handle of jack in his “demo tent” in plain view of anyone there to ski that day. I have to say Ragged really allowed us to be us. Things are more mellow now which is fine. Even the name alone “Last Call” has been an issue at times with a couple sponsors. I respect Loon big time. The staff there is incredible and they’re a gracious host. I would rather have the type of park they can build than the party on the trail. We can all get our drink on later after the riding winds down.

While we’re on the subject, wheres the after party this year? Nothing like a good ole East Coast party after an event like that.

When all is over and the 10% rule starts we’ll be in the Bunyan room under the gondola for pre game. The majority of the people hopefully grab a hotel room and catch up with us downtown in Woodstock. Most likely at the Station again. The smart ones will have a DD or use the town shuttle. The rest just have a more interesting story to tell for the next week.

Any shout outs or big ups you’d like to throw out there?

Yup..first of all every single customer that has been there to support Eastern Boarder for the last 20 years, or for that matter any other true brick and mortar shop that’s still got it’s doors open. Thanks to our reps that understand the fine balance of friendship and business. All of our friends and team riders.

For Last Call 2010…thank you K2, Oakley, 32, Redbull, NXTZ, Scion, Skullcandy, Dakine, the riders, and of course everyone at Loon Mtn. that’s helping to keep it going.

More cheers & more beers to you BUB. Thanks for doing this interview see you on March 24 at LOON, NH.

 

The 10th Annual LAST CALL March 24th 2010 from eb danvers on Vimeo.