ICER AIR Interviews: Travis Rice, Chas Guldemond and Andreas Wiig

California’s Bay Area obviously isn’t known for its snow scene. This area is known for things like a progressive stance on gay marriage and excessive use of the word, “hella”. After a huck-fest like this year’s Icer Air, San Francisco will get more play in snowboard media than any snow-less city deserves. And the City has nobody to thank, but the generous professionals, who traveled far and wide to throw down over Icer’s scaffolding. So to all the riders, “Thanks for coming!” Here’s a few words with Chas Guldemond, Andreas Wiig and Travis Rice about their experience before, during and after the event.

CHAS GULDEMOND (Before)

(DS)How’s San Francisco treating you?
(CG)Well, I saw two crack heads smoking crack behind a wall today. That’s something I had never really seen before. That was pretty cool. I only live like three hours away, I’m up in Tahoe. [I] can just make a little drive, it’s kinda nice.

Have you hit other scaffolding jumps?
I hit the jump here last year and that was sketchy as all hell. I think they cleaned it up this year. Then I went to air and style in Germany and I was an alternate in that contest so I got hit that jump. I’m ready baby!

Is Icer Air the American equivalent of Air and Style?
I don’t know, give it a couple years maybe. I went to Air and Style and there was so many people there. Hopefully, we get a good turn out like that this year in San Fran.

What do you think of the rappers?
I’m not really that stoked. Mos Def, he’s alright. I don’t even know man.

Where in Tahoe are you going to ride this year?
I ride Northstar mostly, that’s my home resort. Then I hit up all the other ones when I get the time, you know.

ANDREAS WIIG (Between prelims and finals)

(DS)How is the jump this year?
(AW)It’s cool. It’s way better than last year. They took this concept from Stockholm, I did a contest there last year. It was really good. I’m stoked on it.

Is the competition fun?
It’s been good. It was a little hard to land in the beginning. Once you get used to it, it’s better. It’s going to be more firm now.

Your favorite trick so far today?
The best one was a backflip. It was awesome.

When was the last time you snowboarded?
Two days ago. I had some day trips from Denver up to A-Basin, Loveland, Keystone and Breckenridge.

What else are you doing in San Francisco?
Partying!!!

You’re not surfing?
The waves are way too big right now. Did you see Mavericks yesterday? It was like twenty to twenty five feet. You got to get a tow in for that. I don’t have a Sea-Doo

TRAVIS RICE (After)

(TR) I thought you were going to f#$king shock me. That thing is pretty next level.
(DS) Ya, it’s a taser-slash-audio recorder.

What did you eat today?
What was that thing we used to eat back in the day?…No I’m not even going to throw that out. I don’t know, a sandwich, some coffee, delicious oatmeal, a stale bagel for breakfast.

Pretty normal day then?
Ya totally.

So the double backside rodeo is an everyday thing?
It’s far from an everyday thing for me. I’ve been wanting to try to do that for f@#king so long.

First time you’ve tried it?
In competition. I’m pumped. It’s just high consequence.

What was it about today?
You know what it was, it’s such a small jump. Doing those kind of tricks on such a small jump is pretty difficult. I was really on the fence of whether to try it or not. I went up right before the contest was about to start and I saw Andreas try the frontside double-cork. When I saw him try that I said, “f*%k it, I got to try it other wise I’m going to regret not trying it.”

Didn’t you win ICER AIR last year with a back rodeo 7 last year?
I actually won it last year with a backside 7. I scored higher on the than I did [on the backside rodeo].

Any other plans in San Francisco?
Just going to taste the town. I’m off to the tropics tomorrow morning.

Other Links:

ICER AIR 2007

ICER AIR PHOTO GALLERY