Back home where the goods are at.

Its no question I've been in this game for awhile now, I've been around the world, endured just about every weather situation and most all types riding. To be honest this year I've struggled to find the goods... As much as I love Colorado and even though we did had the first chair open in the country, our season didn't really start till the end of December. I've had a few solid days in the streets of Denver, and a couple of decent park days but for some reason the weather patterns just haven't worked with my schedule.

Until a trip back home that is, to Southern Oregon's Mt. Ashland to be exact where I found 2 days of riding pow that truly brought that love back. Don't get me wrong I will never stop loving and being passionate about snowboarding but sometimes cloudy, cold park laps just don't cut it... That was far from the case while up at Mt Ashland. Yes we had clouds and cold but we also had fresh perfect knee deep powder, insane tree runs and some really fun jumps. On top of all of that and I think what really made the trip as amazing as it was, was the group of staff, locals and other riders sharing the stoke and positive vibes!

All in all the trip was unreal, thank you to all the locals for letting us help out the media staff with a few early ups with the ski patrol, and thanks to all the staff for the support and help while out there.

Here is to the hidden gem called Mt. Ashland and an amazing rest of the season a head of everyone!

Is it worth it?

Arapahoe Basin, First Chair...... Is it worth it?

To be honest when the opportunity was presented a few weeks ago I really wasn't so sure. With Nate Dogggg retiring after his amazing 20 consecutive streak last year, and a chance to fill his seat on opening chair this year I started weighing the pros and cons. Don't get me wrong I love snowboarding, and am more than pumped to kick off the 2016/17 nice and early. But spending the night in the freezing cold Abasin parking lot, just to grab the coveted title of first chair didn't sound that appealing. It was hard to really see the point until that time came; the crowds piled up, the excitement rose, and the hype finally made sense. This first chair means so much more, it officially kicks off winter; it means the mountains are open, and we can finally do the thing that makes us the most happy again.

 

When you think about it, the idea of the first anything is a pretty cool feeling. I can now say that I rode the first of the entire winter, but what's more I worked for it. I think that's really what makes that first chair so coveted, it's that concept of putting in the effort to make sure you get it. That means hanging out day and night with only your couple homies, taking shifts sleeping in the cold under the chairlift and warding off any drunk stragglers trying to steal your spot in line. If you think about it, there aren't many opportunities to work for it at the resort, so when the chance comes to make something worth it why not. 

As far as the day goes I'd say it was a success.

10:00am Thursday load the car and head up to the mountain

11:30am get to abasin, say what up to the boys who had been there for a whole day already.  

12:30pm head into town to go grab supplies (beer/ snacks)

1:30-4pm shoot the shit, hang out play pinball and snowboard monopoly.

4pm try and sort out season pass.

5:30pm finally send the liability waver to Vail resorts after they decided the one I filled out at Abasin wasnt good enough.

5:30-10 Abasin Photo taking mission

10-12 Setting up the sleeping arrangements for the night, air mattress set up in the back of the Subaru, sleepying pad set up for first chair

12-3 Try to get some sleep in the car

3-5 Try to get some sleep underneath the chair

5-7 Hang in line, get snowboard gear on and do some interviews with the news and get excited for that first chair

7-9 So stoked for first chair and so much excitement behind, definitely as much of a 9am lift party as Ive ever seen

9am countdown to first chair and the inaugural banner rip

9-11am Shred our faces off, enjoy some surprisingly good snow and have a blast sliding sideways

1pm Back in Denver to enjoy some 80 degree fall biking around the city.

GottaBoard Series on RB

New Post in depth about my new project GottaBoard coming soon! in the mean time Check out the three episodes up on RedBull and let me know what you think!

Episode 1, Gotta Work It
The story of what it takes to snowboard backcountry like a boss!

Episode 1, is the first installment of the three part series of GottaBoard, it follows riders such as Nicolas Muller, DBK, and lots of other amazing riders as we explore and take on Switzerland at its best!

http://www.redbull.com/us/en/snow/stories/1331809742033/seth-hill-work-it-episode-1?items=1331809742033%2C1331789017978%2C1331717256305%2C1331758093797

Episode 2: Gotta Create It
A look behind the scenes as Jamie Nicholls, and Nick Hyne do what ever it takes to make it in the world of snowboarding.

Two riders on opposite sides of the world, show what it takes to make it in this industry, putting in the work and getting create to keep living the dream we call snowboarding.

http://www.redbull.com/us/en/snow/stories/1331810982569/episode-two-of-web-series-gotta-work-it-with-seth-hill?items=1331810982569%2C1331809742033%2C1331811643670%2C1331760049351

Episode 3: Gotta want it
The least glamour-us, hardest working part of the snowboard world, wanting it and getting after it in the streets.

Two Colorado locations, two crews and so many crazy moments, these riders understand what it means to Gotta Board, putting in the time, dedication and dropping everything to make the most out of street snowboarding.

http://www.redbull.com/us/en/snow/stories/1331812804392/seth-hill-gotta-work-it-snowboarding-series-ep-3


If you liked this series please check out my movie which sponed my interest in video production: Really Gotta Wanna, a look at what it takes to make it as a pro snowboarder!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/really-gotta-wanna/id948066450

2015/16 Season going off

Now if you're reading this I imagine you've at least read a few of my others, have a vague idea of who I am or maybe simply met me along my adventures... if not let me break it down for you real quick.

My name is Seth Hill and I am a professional snowboarder, this is my 6th year fully living off snowboarding and living the dream as one could say. For my first 4 years as a pro snowboarder I focused mainly around contests and the contest circuit, competing in the world snowboard tour as well as FIS and the more sanctioned events. At my prime I was ranked 7th in the US and 18th overall in the world.
Splitting the seas to Sochi


After breaking my back and going into surgery July 2nd of 2014 things changed a bit for what I knew of my life. No it did not slow down my snowboarding but made me take a second look at what made me happy. I love the contest world but was definitely not in love with competing.
Full story of breaking my back

Since then I filmed, produced and stared in my own snowboard documentary REALLY GOTTA WANNA which can be purchased HERE and tells the story of what really goes into being a professional snowboarder.
Really Gotta Wanna on Itunes

After taking a year focusing more behind the lens I have decided to spend this year more in front of one and working on filming a video part called "Dont call it comeback" which will be featured on many of the main snowboard media outlets around the world.

Even with all the filming, I do still have a passion to compete when its a contest I want to do. One of those contests is Dew Tour, this year I got a last minute invite to compete in the Street style event in down town Breckenridge and ended up on the podium. Pretty sweet feeling after being just on the bubble for 3 years of this event. Dew Tour Recap

Aside from that I am working closely with my main sponsor Sims Snowboards. I am putting out a monthly edit, as well as helping build the brand back up to what it once was. (If you would like to see those edits please follow to my youtube channel or watch below) SUBSCRIBE
Youtube Channel

One might think that being on the cusp of never walking again would slow me down or even make me revalue if snowboarding is worth it, but it has done none of the sort, it has pushed me to get stronger, work harder and appreciate what a blessing Ive been given and to never give up on my dreams.

I hope you enjoy my blogs, the content I produce and follow my career because as much as I love doing these things for myself, you all are the ones that make it worth it.

Thank you for spending some of your precious time checking in on my career and I would love to hear more of what you would all like to see.

Have a good one, and remember to stay sideways and loving life.

Gotta get back on snow

So if your just tuning in and have not read anything before than I should explain that I broke my back 7 months ago out at Mt Hood trying to take a feature a bit to big. "Full Story here"

Now I never really imagined I'd be where I am already, I mean im not the type to just sit around and hope things look up. but you also dont figuring on being 100% healed from a major broken back in 6 months either. I have to say my Doctor never officially gave me the "go" to snowboard. But he also said my back had completely fused, and it wasn't necessarily any worse off then before the accident. So I took that as a "take it easy"

I was fortunate enough to have a purpose and slow approach back onto the board by hanging and coaching Chris Corning around Colorado for the month of December. I basically just followed him around telling what tricks to try and filming for little edits and review, literally the perfect way to spend some time on the slopes with out too much motivation to try any tricks.

As the month passed and I got my take it easy from the doc I started working on a few tricks and getting my legs back. For the most part nothing more then a trick every now and then, but enough to know that I was feeling pretty strong. And on that note I thought it would be fun to put together a little Top-to-Bottom. Far from my best work, or best run but definitely a testament to working hard, wanting it, and not letting your fears rule your world.

So here is that video, 1 T-to-B run through Breckenridge's park-lane terrain park.

Thanks for tuning in and please subscribe to my youtube channel to see the most up to date videos and action. SUBSCRIBE 

RGW on iTunes

I have to say it still doesn't quite seem real that my movie "ReallyGottaWanna" is up on iTunes. It was literally just over a year ago that I was contemplating what I should do with my winter. After some guidance from my Coach - Pat A, Team Manager - Marc Vitelli, and Dad we came up with the idea that I would set out to document my winter and attempt to show the stories behind the riding.

Now to say that, that this little movie idea is up on iTunes is a bit surreal. Obviously this project couldn't have happened with the help from my assistant producer Tom Howell (redbull.com/snow), assistant editor Jeremy Dubs, and most importantly Kurt Jenson who transformed my footage into a true story.

Really Gotta Wanna on iTunes

I will forever hold Really Gotta Wanna as a true testament as to what I can accomplish, I couldn't be more proud of what the movie became, and so stoked to have worked with so many great riders and people!

Really Gotta Wanna... RECOVER!

MY FIRST VLOG

Its crazy to think, just a month ago I was getting surgery in Portland Oregon for my broken back (see the last blog post). I was not only insanely fortunate in the accident and how I broke my back, but in the recovery as well. Seeing as the two vertebrae I broke are the two which don't move very much I was released for walking the day after my surgery, and for simple/ moderate activities (stationary biking and swimming) after a week.

Any of you who know me through snowboarding, know that I don't really have a "slow" or "moderate" switch... I pretty much only have a "go" switch, which is full blast. This characteristic; which may haunt me later in life is consistent through exercise and most other activities I partake in. Let's just say that simple stationary biking has already turned into 35 miles in an hour and a half, and casual swimming is full laps and movement for a solid hour. 

On that same note I'd cut out my pain meds two weeks after surgery and have been fully drug free now for a week and am feeling about as mobile as ever. My level of pain is low and consists mainly in my lower back where I most likely blew out some muscles. 

I know many of you have been following my progress through my social media posts and what not, which I can't say how much I appreciate. But wanted to tell everyone how much all the support, well wishes and messages have kept me motivated and having a positive attitude.  I couldn't be doing this with out all of your support, and am so grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life!