Chris is a Rookie snowboard Team member, from Verdi, Nevada, and he brings a passion for connecting with instructors and riders. Growing up in Oregon, Chris learned to ski and snowboard at Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood. There he found a passion for teaching and sharing his love for snowboarding. He has worked at summer camps for the last 18 years and has spent the last 19 winters coaching, teaching, consulting, and designing terrain parks and education programs. Inspired by a core belief that "we can change lives by empowering students to do things they never thought possible" he works to innovate and create new ways for people to fall in love with snowboarding and with skiing.
His most recent projects include working with Burton to develop the Burton Snowboard Academy, a terrain-based learning and movement-based teaching system at resorts across the country. Hargave is the Director of Operations Woodward Tahoe. He is supported by his wife, Kim, and his three beautiful mini shredders: Jackstan, Hannalyse, and Wyatt.
Vital Stats
Hometown: Born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Now in Verdi, NV (North Lake Tahoe region)
Resort: Woodward Tahoe
Sponsors: Burton
Favorite run: Santa De Teresita Tres Valles Chile
Snowboard breakfast: Scrambled eggs with cheese and a cinnamon roll
Average days on snow each season: 220-250
Favorite on-mountain restaurant: Cobra Dogs, Park City, Utah
Coolest place I've ever been: Oregon's Whale Cove Pacific Coast—I'm pretty sure there's buried treasure there.
PSIA-AASI makes me . . . fill out bio info! Seriously, as a trainer I've met so many passionate individuals that inspire me to keep pushing my understanding of the sport. That helps me be a create innovator, teaching and training concepts to help more people to achieve their goals and dreams. Our association also makes me way more attractive. I'm pretty sure that's what got me a first date with my beautiful wife!
Top three off-snow activities:
1) Spend time with my family (especially at a good sci-fi action movie)!
2) Skate
3) Golf
Secret to shredding success: I make a plan that includes clear steps to success. With that I can plan ways to soften the blows of my errors and learn quickly from my mistakes. I always innovate complex movements in simple and carefully designed environments.
Favorite off-mountain restaurant: Depends on the craving, but probably the Gilt Club, Portland, Oregon.
Biggest snowboard influence: The desires of my students. Second--hands down--the slashing of Craig Kelly, the pipe riding of Terje and Shaun, the creativity of Travis Parker, and then a general outlook on snowboarding that resembles Danny Davis. This should be fun!
Snowsports goal: Write more and film more to help folks. Our success is a larger growth pool of kids under 12 (especially those 6 and under), more women passionate about the sport, and helping new adults learn pain free.