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His reasoning wassimple: Ive always been into powder thats what I like riding.Luckily for him, Burton supported his decision wholeheartedly, andKelly found himself in the enviable position of being paid to get faceshots. . Born on the 1st April 1966, Craigs lifetook a left turn when his family moved to Mt Vernonin Washington State in 1979. For us groms, we learned by seeing Kelly and his Mt. "Craig Kelly embodied the sole of . When I left, I gave Craig my personal board, a 1500 FE, and shook his hand. Now you have a bunch of keys in your pocket. The soft-spoken 36-year-old, often described as the Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky of snowboarding, was one of seven. Everybody knew the Mystery was Craig Kelly.. At the time, an unheard of strategy for a pro snowboarder. Were reprinting one of Craigs favorite columns written by Ken Achenbach from the January 1992 issue of TransWorld SNOWboarding to honor him. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Allah? Craig commandeered the foot of our rooms narrow beds for yoga. You need a place to change and store your stuff. Craig was a Sims Snowboardsrider, founded by Tom Sims, from 1983 until 1987. Box 2759, Revelstoke, B.C., Canada, V0E 2S0 or via the web at http://www.avalanche.ca in the sales and products section. Listen to this episode from FNRad Snowboarding Podcast on Spotify. Films were giving himmore exposure and revenue than he thought so he was like, Lets makeanother.. Kelly is known as the 'Godfather of Freeriding'; Terje Hkonsen called Kelly the best snowboarder of all time. Ive had a lot of good days of riding, a lot of selfish days,he said in an interview. In essence, no matter how well prepared people are when traversing snowy backcountry terrain, the risk of avalanches will be there. Craig died on 20 January 2003 near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada in an avalanche which trapped 8 people and killed 6 others. You dont even slow down for the tollbooth, paying instead with the tossed key to your office and the executive washroom. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a jungle and Maya ruins, Has wildflower shaming gone too far? For the older, more thoughtful rider,Craig Kelly was the ultimate pin-up. In his interview, Craig showed the first signs of his upcoming switch from overall racer/freestyle guy to dedicated freestyle champion. But lately, what Kelly was really good at, and most passionate about, was, as he said, taking in the mountains, the pristine and powdery mountains. Nitro Snowboards just dropped a new series called Hard Drive. Downing, 34, who spends most of his winters filming and testing equipment in the backcountry slopes near his home in Lake Tahoe, said he has seen several avalanches, including one in which an entire upper-slope bowl released and shook the earth as it rumbled down the mountain -- but he has never been buried by one. Iam ready to sort of give back to the kids. In 1988, he set up the CraigKelly World Snowboard Camps, which toured during the summers notably to Norway in 1989, where Kelly met a quiet but incrediblytalented young rider by the name of Terje Haakonsen. I dont know anybody else that loved mountain riding as much as he did, said Terje Haakonsen, one of the worlds top riders and, like Kelly, sponsored by Burton Snowboards. In 1988, the magazine devoted an entire issue to The Performers, riders who were considered leaders of the sport. He was my inspiration before I met him. Craig Kelly starred in a "Wrigleys Gum" commercial in 1988/1989 where he was featured doing a 540. Those championships were both in halfpipe and the now-antiquated snowboard slalom racing. Telluride, CO during Burton training camp (Nov 1988). Craig Kelly (April 1, 1966 January 20, 2003) was an American professional snowboarder. Really, there are limitations to what we do know right now about the snow because our observation skills are limited, he said. While speeding by you start thinking about the guy you just passed. The difference between Craig and others was that he could actually do it all. While the outcome of the court caseremained unsettled, Burton had to market the boardas the Mystery Air. Craig is small in the frame and not facing the camera, but if you know ONE FUCKING THING about riding a snowboard you can see how absolutely bad ass this is. You feel better each time a key flies out the window and goes bouncing down the pavement at 100 mph. It was done in conjunction with another founder of the sport, Bob Barci. Youve got to get away from your keys. I took it for granted that the four-time world champion/three-time national champion whose method airs Id tried to emulate in the late 80s would grow old as an icon of snowboardings soul. Born on April Fools Day in 1966, Craig Kelly is considered to be the guru of freeriding. By signing up you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. The Gatekeeper: Craig Kelly (April 1, 1966-January 20, 2003)By Eric Blehm, February 12, 2000: Powder, sunshine, and six-dollar lift tickets, said Craig Kelly as we slogged upstairs to our hotel room at the end of a perfect day of riding in Iran. We tracked out Gunners Bowl until we moved onto the Arm, and we hiked to some of the most incredible alpine terrain that one can find by foot. MILD HIGH | ROME SNOWBOARDS @ Woodward Copper! Jason J2 Rasmus, 1972-2019Gone Tooz Soon. The Bike Factory Owner Bob Barci told Sims Founder Tom Sims that he should check out Mount Baker for all its natural gullies (which would be perfect for a natural halfpipe, or perhaps a banked slalom) and a talented local snowboarder named Craig Kelly. This upward trajectory was sadly cut short on the 20th of Januaryin 2003. Baker Banked Slalom snowboarding competition in 1988, 1991, and 1993. Introducing Polo Mens The Sport Shop Collection, K2 Snowboarding Presents | Antti Jussila for World Peace. The BEO was postponed while the newssunk in, an unprecedented event and a multi-millionEuro decision, but the right one in the circumstances.It seemed inconceivable to run a snowboardcompetition after such a body blow to the sport. He was notorious for his practical jokes and sense of humor. Subscribe to We get alot of requests for reprints of this column, Craig knew there was a message worth following in here. Having co-founded Island Lake Lodge and the legendary Baldface Lodge, he found his purpose in bringing people into the environment that he loved so deeply. He is the rider who put professionalism into team riding, and then laterdemonstrated his passion by dedicating his life to the sport. It was caught aboard the Red Rooster III off Puerto Vallarta and estimated at sea, using a tape-measure formula, to weigh 308 pounds. News of Kellys death sent shockwaves throughout the snowboarding community. It does not store any personal data. Pulling all the keys out of you pocket and jingling them, you think about what you really want from life. Soon you have to get a day job because youre not making enough money at night. It did not appear to have been triggered by the actions of any of the skiers or snowboarders; rather, the wall of snow released naturally and without notice as the victims were traversing a slope. A bit farther offshore, giant yellowfin tuna are crashing the surface after baitfish. The first leg of the Triple Crown was last month at Breckenridge, Colo. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Thats two more. There was a palpable outpouring of grief. News of Kelly's death sent shockwaves throughout the snowboarding community. He was a great example of not being a sheep in life., Craigs father Pat recalls, Craig was popular in all circles. While Terry Kidwell was undoubtedly the father of modernfreestyle, adapting many skate and surf tricks, Kelly took those moves,added his own style and, crucially, trained. You cant give her the key to your heart because snowboarding put a combination lock on it and only your snowboard knows the number. He attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity and studied Chemical Engineering. He attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity and studied Chemical Engineering. How to find the best blooms without the drama, Nature-curious? He returned from his journey with his new baby Olivia, as a "souvenir" he said, from his trip. He was honored with Transworld Snowboarding's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. Watching him ride was like watching water flow down a river. Craig would be really bummed if I stoped riding powder because of what happened to him. Not just because of his snowboarding, but also for his lifestyle and love for the mountains. But its hard to concentrate on riding halfpipes because they arent at every ski area. SNOWBOARDER has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. We're reprinting one of Craig's favorite columns written by Ken Achenbach from the January 1992issue ofTransWorld SNOWboarding to honor him. Angela Sun has been named lead correspondent for Fox Sports Nets action sports show, 54321, which debuts Monday at 5 p.m. Leeann Tweeden, Chad Towersey and Kip Williamson are co-hosts of the first daily program devoted entirely to the five core, or action, sports: skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX and motocross. Craig was the leader of a generation that essentially established snowboarding as a house-hold sport, inspiring both young and old to take up a pursuit that bucked the elitist image of skiing during the time. A haven he never took for granted. Craig Kelly was the first true professional snowboarder. Revelstoke, B.C., Canada, VOE 2S0; or via the Web at www.avalanche.ca. Published in Whitelines Magazine Issue 95, February 2011, On the morning of the 21st of January in 2003,competitors, industry folk and spectators at the Burton European Open awoke to some sad news. Im sure his guard was up too, but. . He won four world championships and three U.S. titles, and during that period, competitive snowboarders didnt necessarily specialize. It was sponsored by Baldface Lodge and Burton Snowboards. A place where he found inner peace. Craig Kelly passed away January 20, 2003. Nor do I know anybody who had the style and grace coming down the mountain. Bob Marleys Three Little Birds played quietly from a mini disc player on the nightstand, and I buried my nose in the first half of James Clavells epic novel, Whirlwind. His GPA at Mount Vernon High School was a 4.0, and the only student in his computer science class with a higher grade was his younger brother Brian, who was a freshman. Then you backhand your girlfriends apartment key out the passenger window. Running back to your car, you reverse out of the parking lot and squeal a Rockford in the middle of the four-lane highway. When I finally met him he turned out to be the best possible role model.. Theyre high-maintenance items. Site Navigation. The memorial is a 10-ft welded steel sword (often mistaken for a cross), with coloured glass set within and a prayer wheel made from local yew wood beneath. His daughter, Olivia, was born a few months after, a beautiful souvenir from the road, as he once said. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). After that, he was way more careful with his pranks. Those championships were both in halfpipe and the now-antiquated snowboard slalom racing. Downing and his wife, freestyle pro Shannon Dunn, are expecting their first child this spring, but he does not intend to cut back on his backcountry excursions. Craig Kelly is survived by his daughter, Olivia, and partner, Savina. A glistening canvas on which he worked his awe-inspiring magic. Press play for a hell ride through Helsinki. A humble statement by the humblest of snowboarding pros, who totally removed himself from the bustle within boundaries of lift-serviced facilities and commercialization of the contest world, choosing instead the soulful art of free-riding as far from the crowds as possible. If I chatter out on a heel turn, I think, Why did that happen? Burtons AK line and high end products increased,and snowboardings popularity didnt just increase amongst kids, itwidened its whole demographic. On weekends, Craig would go home to Mount Vernon, raid the refrigerator on Friday night, then hang out at Mount Baker until Sunday, when hed drive back to Mount Vernon, raid the refrigerator again, and return to the university. If Id come in and bother him, hed shhhh me because he was so focused., During an interview in the late 80s, Craig told Wiley Asher, an editor at International Snowboard Magazine, about his seriousness: When I train Im very analytical, and I constantly think about working a certain muscle group or perfecting a particular technique. Like many earlier pioneers, he hadno inkling of a career in the sport until it actuallyhappened. Kelly was in in the process of becoming the first fully certified snowboarder guide in the Canada Avalanche Association, and at the time of his passing had achieved the highest level of certification of any snowboarder. He was part owner and on the board of directors of Island Lake Catskiing near Fernie B.C. Twenty-one pages of stunning imagery and intelligent thought with snowboarding's greatest all-time talent. He blew out dozens of mattresses and broke boards monthly. Craig eventually became known as the sports first truly professional athlete, but dont mistake that for being a saint, says longtime friend Ken Achenbach. Craig Elmer Kelly was born on April Fool's DayApril 1, 1966. Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. SNOWBOARDER has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. More than any other ski resort a term that only loosely applies here Baker is full of lift-accessible death traps that will take ones ego along with their life if not paying attention. Tom Sims, from 1983 until 1987 caseremained unsettled, Burton had to market the boardas the was... Day in 1966, Craig Kelly is considered to be the best possible model... By Baldface Lodge and Burton Snowboards moved to Mt Vernonin Washington State in 1979, K2 snowboarding Presents | Jussila. Be the best blooms without the drama, Nature-curious ( April 1,.. World Peace VOE 2S0 ; or via the Web at www.avalanche.ca of days! 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