See Her Board Click below for audio and transcripts Download a FREE media player [RealPlayer] [Windows Media] click to [hear and read it] click to [hear and read it] click to [hear and read it] click to v[hear and read it] click to [hear and read it] click to [hear and read it] click to [hear and read it] click to [hear and read it] SEE ALSO |
An interview with Tina Basich could be considered the "Godmother of Boarding." She started riding when Bananarama hit #1 on the Billboard music chart and was offered $200 a month to ride for Kemper in 1988. In talking to her, it seems she doesn't simply love snowboarding, but envelopes it. She designs her own boards for Sims, has her own line of clothing, helps to organize and faithfully supports Boarding for Breast Cancer and Board Aid...the list goes on.
"That's a really cool way to get a compliment from a kid taking the time to write you a letter," Tina says. And, in turn, she's takes the time to encourage the kids involvement in a sport she say has been nothing but positive for her and her family. A tomboy growing up, Tina and, brother and best bud, Mike, had a BMX gang, "built forts out of everything" and, in 1986, started riding together. (There's a story somewhere about Tina sitting on the hill in her socks after her boots still strapped in, took off with her board). Tina and Mike soon started hitting the local contests and then just rode it from there. Since then, snowboarding be berry berry good to her (and to him).
"As snowboarding grew we just sort of grew with it: then there was a Colorado series so we went and did that, then there was a US Tour and we went and did that and then there was World Cup so we went and did that," she said. Grew they did, Tina's bustin' out 720s and is always a presence on the evnt circuit.
Confident, and obviously for good reason, in her ability, Tina doesn't though take it for granted. You may think she's fearless when you see her pulling huge airs, like those she "surprised" everyone with in Alaska last year. But, she knows her limits and, basically, she ain't lookin' to impress. "It's totally progressive. You can't just step right up to something you've never done or something you haven't come close to doing before because that's how you get in trouble. It's really important to work your way up to anything," she says. The progression of her riding is a small part of what keeps her so involved, the rest is the fact that her life has been tied to this sport, her family's into it, her friends are into it, she's still into it so...why not? "It's still the big part of my life. So it's still fun and all my friends are involved in it so it's a big circle you make around you that you don't want to leave," she says. But she is ready to start doing a different kind of riding, riding just for herself. "I feel like I've really devoted myself to snowboarding and to my sponsors and to things that I needed to do and to women in snowboarding," Tina says. "This year I'm really looking forward to having lots of days to just go riding with my friends and spin laps at the resort which I haven't done in a long time." And she'll be teaching, at least "friend" Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, whom she met at last year's Boarding for Breast Cancer event. Hopefully he already knows, but she got him a CAT boarding trip for his birthday and they'll be heading to those hills together. "He has never had an uncut fresh powder turn before so that's my goal is to get him hiking and practice up for this trip," Tina says. Now that's the gift that keeps on giving. Tina will probably always include snowboarding in her repertoire, along with her graphic design, Hewalina, the soap and lotion company she started with her mom, her music, her clothing line...just go click on the transcripts on the left and hear her for yourself. Sarah Love, Mountain Zone Staff
|