Eric Messier: On Deck

By nature, chameleons blend into their environment in order to go unnoticed by predators. However, Eric Messier is the most unforgettable and noticeable chameleon you’ll meet, and his friendly demeanor and hodgepodge fashion sense make him an amazing addition to any outfit. It’s impossible for anyone not to love him—he fits in with everyone without being like anyone. A man of many masks and trades alike, E-Rock can melt a keyboard or two [and hearts…Oh, snap!] on stage. His band, The Fiz, has been featured in Trulli Love and as well as Finger On Da Trigger’s Moment of Truth. During this trip to Japan with David Benedek’s Blank Paper crew, Eric experienced life outside of North America for the first time, and those friendly Japanese smiled, gave the peace sign, and clung to Eric like he was the Messiah. Messiah…that sounds much more like Messier than Chameleon, actually.

Name: Eric Messier
D.O.B.: 1/27/84
Home Mountain: Squaw Valley, California
Years Riding: 11
Years Sponsored: Can’t remember
Stance: Regular
Width: 22.5
F Angle: 27°
B Angle: -6°
Foot Size: 10

Favorite Board Model and Length: Technine team board 159, and Deadlungs’ 155
Boot Brand and Model: Vans DK
Binding Brand and Model: Technine Darrel Mathes
Goggle Brand and Model: Airblaster white or purple
Outerwear: Holden
Gloves: Grenade DK Punisher
Accessories: WERRRM and Neff
Other Sponsors: Ambiguous Clothing, Squaw Valley USA

What’s your flavor?
Wasabiyaki!

You have a good assortment of nicknames, no?
Mess, E-Man, Mizzle, E-Span, Network dot commer, Messyhair, Poach, Eric the Ferret, Shmee, Ski-Man, & Ski-Bo-Dee-Bo.

What are your hobbies outside of snowboarding?
Skateboarding, swimming in beautiful Lake Tahoe, music (listening to and playing), designer weed, waterskiing is pretty fun, mashing around on my bike, my friends!

The names of your bands are?
The Fiz (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEFIZ) and Nastar (a Japanese freestyle band).

How do you describe your sound?
Nintendo poach music.

Your instrument of choice?
I like synthesizers.

Freestyle or written?
Sometimes we will freestyle a whole song at our shows-it's fun.

Pillows or bomb drops?
Surf-style tranny finders, skate style maneuvers.

Bomb drops or drop bombs?
[Laughs] Drop business cards on a muthaf**ka.

How many times have you left the United States of America?
Twice, [but] the first one doesn't really count.

Where did you go?
I went to Canada, eh, for a family reunion, and then this year I got to go to Japan!

What were your general thoughts on Japan?
Ichiban (#1). [Laughs]

Terrain?
Pillows! Powder! Cool birch trees, very clean, and natural hot springs everywhere.

Music?
I didn’t get to hear much music except the Rinken Band and these cute songs they were playing at the Tamamu BBQ.

Home sweet home, or home sweet Japan?!
I could see myself finding a lil' Japanese honey-bunny and possibly moving there.

Which country are you going to next, or will you repeat-offend Japan?
Maybe Chile this summer. Mikey and I definitely want to go back to Japan next year and hook up with Neil Hartman to surf some powdah.

Don't forget to check out Eric Messier in the August Issue of SNOWBOARDER Magazine in "La Familia in Italia".

Related Links:
See Eric Messier in FOTD's La Familia Teaser
La Familia in Italy: Online Bonus Gallery