1. Snowshred
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2. no 2. snowshred
Tyler Lepore
Randy Torcom: Text
Joel Fraser: Photos
Having been a manufacturer’s team manager for
professional snowboarders for eight years,
there’s something blissful about the pure
honesty and simplicity in which Tyler Lepore
approaches his snowboarding career. It’s one
I’ve gained an utmost appreciation for. While
other riders fade in and out as quickly as the
trends that we all attach ourselves to in this
business, Tyler has stayed true to himself and
what he believes is the essence of snowboard-
ing. Although he might not have a name as high
profile as Shaun White, never the less, his
humble approach coupled with his as his ability
to creatively mock the things in this business
that we all find ourselves questioning is what
separates Tyler from an ever growing sea of
nameless snowboarders.
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3. Randy: What are your views on the current state to get caught up in thinking that everything sucks.
of the war in Iraq?
Randy: What are some of your views on Corpo-
Tyler: I don’t know much about the Iraq war other than rate America? Major corporations like Wal-Mart
what my roommate tells me. I don’t listen to the radio & McDonald’s…
and I don’t have cable or even a TV. I know that we
shouldn’t be there and it’s just a war for fossil fuels. I Tyler: It’s hard for me to do my job in this industry
know that George Bush is fucked and I know that if we without giving in a bit. I mean, you can only take it so
didn’t have him as a president we probably wouldn’t far (boycotting) before you wouldn’t have any clothes
even be at war. on your back. You have to draw the line. For me
drawing the line means I don’t eat at any fast food
Randy: Why don’t you like to watch TV or read restaurants. I don’t shop at Walgreen’s or Wal-Mart. I
the newspaper? try to support local businesses, especially in my own
neighborhood. If there is a part I need and it’s going to
Tyler: I’ve been starting to listen to CBC (independent cost a little more, I would rather give my business to
news radio station) a bit more in the morning. I like the local guy. He’s been on the corner for twenty-five
watching TV sometimes because it’s nice, you can turn years and he’s a hard working dude.
your brain off. I would rather read or do something
more productive than watch television. As far as news Randy: Why do you practice these types of
goes, anything you see on TV is going to be totally consumer habits?
biased and watered down anyway. I’m bummed when I
hear about war shit. To hear about people dying, that Tyler: Wal-Mart is so strategic about where they place
affects me. It’s just such a crazy downer and it’s easy their businesses. They’re whole goal is to move
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4. no 2. snowshred
into a small community and shut down any competing play football and frat boys. I hate how they’re always
small business. That’s fucked! Nothing about that is pushing so-called “cool” products. It just doesn’t have
good. As far as the fast food thing goes, it’s a health anything but titties, pussy, air brushed fuckin’ chicks,
thing. Nothing you’re going to get at any fast food and bullshit contraptions.
restaurant is going to be good for you regardless of
how they try to market it to you. I mean, you get a Randy: How do you like to spend your spare time
salad at McDonald’s and it still has tons of bullshit in it. when you’re not snowboarding?
Randy: Last Fall I asked you if you were Tyler: I like to mix up how I spend my spare time.. Like
interested in going to a photo shoot that Maxim yesterday I went on a bike ride with my friend Sam. We
Magazine had invited you on. You expressed a drove up Seymour Canyon on this crazy trail that Sam
moral conflict with magazines like Maxim. Can found. It’s like this thirty kilometer bike ride back to
you reflect on that? Seymour Dam. It was so fun! It was the best bike ride
I’ve ever been on! It’s always changing though. For the
Tyler: With the content that Maxim has, it’s only a last two weeks I’ve been drawing tons. For awhile I
specific type of person that they’re targeting. Even if was constantly working on my motorcycle. Sometimes
they we’re like “We’re gonna have this photo shoot and it’s all about home renos. I just want to do something
it’s going to be really cool and we’re going to do all this that I like to do, all the time. Sometimes I like to stay
awesome shit.” It’s only going to be awesome for inside and read a book. Sometimes I just want to get
them. It’s not going to be awesome for me. You know on my motorbike and ride until I’m super tired and fall
like, “Here put these rollerblades on. They’re super asleep in a ditch or something.
hot.” They just don’t get it. I hate the airbrushed girls
on the cover. I hate how it appeals to meatheads that Randy: It sounds like you’re not interested in
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5. getting caught up in a normal routine? and Terje. He has the sickest style. J.P. Tomich rides
really well too. I like watching TJ Schneider ride. He’s
Tyler: I have a semi routine. I like to get up fairly early. like the modern day Jamie Lynn. Those are dudes that
I like to have coffee. I don’t drink very much. I have to when I watch them snowboard, I’m jealous. Temple
do something physical everyday. Whether it’s walking Cummins is gnarly. He just has this crazy shock system
or riding my bike. I need to break a sweat just so I can built into his leg that makes him go over choppy
stay sane. I like clean sheets. I like to make my bed. I powder faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.
like designer furniture. I fuckin’ love bicycles. I like
anything that’s good. A lot of it is catching up with Randy: What do you think about the fact that
friends too, man. Snowboarding really consumes all of over 85% of the ownership of the snowboard
my time in the winter so you lose touch with people. I industry is divided between 4 different major
don’t have a cell phone so it makes it kind of hard to corporations now?
stay in touch. So I usually like to get together with
people and say hi. Tyler: It’s scary, right? I wish there were way more
independent brands but the cookie has crumbled in
Randy: Why don’t you have a cell phone? that direction. It’s fucked, but you can’t do anything
about it. In a way, a lot of ski companies have helped
Tyler: When I have one, I get lazy. I start using it all the out snowboarding because they’ve helped brands
time. Even when I know I shouldn’t be. When I buy a survive. But at the same time, they’re also fucking it…..
phone, I’ll get the cheapest plan and then I get crazy I wish every snowboarder owned his own snowboard
bills! Its like, do I even need it? It’s just this form of company and it was like, “Yeah, I ride for Jim
laziness. It’s just like you’ll talk to someone and you’ll Snowboards”. “Who’s the owner?” “Jim is! He’s been
be like “Hey, do you want to go out?” and they’ll be like snowboarding since1960!” I think now you just have to
“Yeah, totally!” But instead of making a plan right then pick the companies that you want to support the best
people will procrastinate. They’ll be like “Well, I’ll call you can. You may have to make some moral sacrifices
you in like a half hour when we get there and we’ll see and possibly ride for a company that doesn’t represent
what we’re doing”. I like the old school shit! I like your ideal perception of snowboarding. The companies
calling people and being like “Wanna meet for coffee? I ride for, I really like. I respect them. There is that point
Ok, when do you want to meet?” and then you’ll be where you have to draw the line regardless if you ride
there! There’s not this chance to re-neg. It’s like you for fuckin Hooger Booger.
make plans and you do them! I don’t get a hold of
people as much as I would like but that’s a sacrifice Randy: You’ve been a pro rider for over ten
I’m willing to make. But yeah, I still totally wish I had years. How do you manage to keep your
one. There are times when I’m in my truck and I’m on enthusiasm for the sport?
the side of the road and my truck is broken down, I’ll
be thinking “I could really use a cell phone right now”. Tyler: There have been ups and downs with the
industry but the main thing is that it’s still fun! There
Randy: Who are some of the pro snowboarders are still those times when I’m up there and I just forget
who had a major influence on you when you first about everything and I’m just snowboarding. Then at
started riding? the end of the day, you have those realizations that
fuck man, that’s cool. I just got paid to go snowboard-
Tyler: There were the big dudes like Noah Salasnek, ing and I wasn’t even thinking about any aspect of it
Damien Sanders, Jimmy Halopoff, and I used to be being a job. I went snowboarding! I went through the
really hyped on Tom Burt too, even when I was like trees and rode pow! Just taking laps and some flicks.
twelve years old. His lines were sick! Then there were Just a normal day.
the Road Kill days. That was like Iguchi… All that crazy
buttery shit. Jamie Lynn and Chris Roach too. Blaise Randy: What do you think about the obligations
Rosenthal was amazing! But I guess when I was that are placed on a pro snowboarder these
younger the dudes that really inspired me were Kevin days?
Jones, Jason Wordell and John Summers.
Tyler: The last couple of years it’s changed a lot. It‘s
Randy: With all the pro riders on the scene right like you’re half snowboarder and half model. I travel a
now, is there anyone that you can say that is lot now just for lifestyle photo shoots. As fucked up as
presently inspiring you? it sounds, there aren’t very many pro snowboarders
that are ugly. Why are there no ugly people in
Tyler: Now I’m really critical. Now everyone is good snowboarding? He could be the best snowboarder in
but 80% of the dudes still have shitty style. I’m like, the world but homeboy has acne on his face so it’s
you’re way better than me but you still suck! My like, “Oh, we can’t use him. It’ll be bad for PR.” You’re
favorite dude to watch snowboard right now is Curtis marketed now not just as a snowboarder but as a
Ciszek. He rides like a cross between Billy Anderson
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6. no 2. snowshred
Randy: I remember you telling me in it there was
buying your entire identity. I think for me, it shows how
something that you wanted to learn about people.
far I’ve got with snowboarding. I don’t consider myself
By exposing yourself you would learn if they were
the best snowboarder in the world but I know my
going to be that person that was going to freak and
strong points. I’ve never been afraid to show people
call you out?
the things I’m into. As stupid as it sounds, it’s just
about being marketable and being a good person. I try
Tyler: No one can call you out when you’re naked man.
to be really cool to everyone and treat people with
What are they going to say? Are they going to call you a
respect. There are a lot of kids that are great
faggot and say you have a small dick? What’s like the
snowboarders that are assholes! You just need to be a
worst that could happen? Maybe I’d get beat down at
hard worker. You get paid to snowboard so keep
Vegas? But that didn’t happen. In fact, no one said shit to
snowboarding. Go take some photos. Go on an
me! I did it to show people that I don’t fuckin care what
editorial trip. Snowboarding is just a different world
anyone says. I did it to be like, fuck it! I’m gonna get
now.
naked! To be comfortable with my body and my sexuality,
that was rad! I remember when I was a kid I was so
Randy: What were some of the reasons you posed
self-conscious because I was small. I was so nervous
nude for your personal zine and distributed it
to go skinny-dipping. Even when I would fuck my
amongst all of your snowboarding peers?
girlfriend, I would stand up afterwards and feel
uncomfortable. I didn’t like that feeling. I did for my
Tyler: Being frustrated with the snowboard industry
own personal satisfaction and growth. I did it to make
because people are afraid to do be who they really are. To
people laugh. If you get it because you think you know
show people that it’s easy to not be a follower. You don’t
me, then that’s rad. If you don’t get it and you think I’m
have to die your hair eight different colors and look like
a complete psychopath then perfect, you were my
Corny the Clown. I could have had tattoos all over my body
target as well. You’re the close minded idiot. That’s the
and some face paint with like a nose piercing. People
guy that’s self-conscious about everything. He’s gonna
would be like “Oh yeah, that’s Tyler. I guess he’s on to
be the dude that is always looking over his shoulder. I
some new trend” But instead, all I had to do was get naked
just want nothing to do with those people.
and take some funny ass photos. I just wanted to fuck with
people.
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