My boss Ed said I should hook up with Danny to see for some photos one weekend in Mammoth. This guy was ripping so hard we a got a ton of photos in two days so I decided to ask him some questions…
Name: Daniel Brian Thomas
Hometown: Whitefish Montana
Age: 24
Current Residence: Mammoth Lakes CA
Sponsors: Oakley, Nomis, Bern Unlimited, OneWay Bordshop, and Burton has been helping me out tons….Jesus Christ, Much thanks to all of them!
Favorite snow brands: All of the above, All Analog outerwear…
SR: What brought you from Montana to Mammoth?
DT: I was always riding Powder, and wanted to push it more in the Park, and Mammoth has pretty much got that area locked down!….I also just wanted to get out and explore more of the world God gave us…
SR: Doesn’t Big Mountain have sick riding?
DT: The trees and powder is out of control…plus everyday you can feel like your the only one on the mountain just you , your tunes and God…
SR: Do you ever see Andrew Crawford in Montana?
DT: Yeah I have actually worked to build the little park that we had at Big Mountain and he came in and gave us some suggestions and was probably one of the most down to earth guys I have ever met…
SR: When you first rode the park in mammoth where you intimidated or did you know you could school everyone?
DT: I was deffinitely a little intimidated, but once you start watching everyone throw down, it pushes you more and more to become to land the tricks you always wanted to….it’s always nice to get pushed!…
SR: What is good about living in Mammoth?
DT: Where do I start?…I have learned more in the last year and a half with snowboarding than i ever have in my life, I met soo many good people, lots of best friends, I met My amazing girlfriend here, even tho I have only been here a few years I will always think of Mammoth my second home…
SR: What is bad?
DT: Theres not really many bad points, i guess sometimes I think the crowds get a little crazy, but then I think were all here for the same reason so I can’t really blame them…
SR: Do some of the girls take on multiple partners in Mammoth since there are so few
girls there?
DT: lol Ya know, I couldn’t really say, I don’t really take to the bar scene much…
SR: How do you “get” girls in Mammoth?
DT: Well my girlfriend is the only girl for me, and thats pretty much the way it’s always gonna be…
SR: Should people come to Mammoth or stay away?
DT: I think everyone should experience what mammoth has to offer, it’s a super fun experience!…
SR: What riders inspire you?
DT: I could go on for ever, but here are a few, Lonnie Kauk, Danny Davis, Kevin Pierce, Devin Walsh, Simon Chamberlain, andreas Wigg, I could go all day long…
SR:Best riders of all time?
DT:All of the above and always Terje…
SR: If you could steal the talent, style and or tricks of any 5 riders and combine them into one, who would you pick and why?
DT: I have always liked Danny Davis, and Kevin pierce’s style and tricks but I don’t want to take any of their talent, I just want to have my own style that God gave me and influence the next generation like they both influenced me…
SR: Top 5 songs and/or bands?
DT: Shiny Toy Guns, Kill Hannah, DJ Ratatat, Sounds, Black Audio….super fun to ride to….
SR: Who do you ride with?
DT: Neil Maher, Mourice Sanches, Josh Dibble, Forest Schmidt, just a few homies that really motivate me….
SR: What inspires you to shred?
DT: Everyone I see everyday pushing themselves and having fun and really taking advantage of that passion, cause there’s not much point in riding without the passion…
SR: Other interests besides snowboarding?
DT: Traveling to all sorts of places, hiking, hanging out with my girlfriend and family, camping, floating the owens river, pretty much anything outdoors…
SR: What are your friends back in Montana doing?
DT: Some have left Montana and the others are still shredding Big Mountain, and some are going to school….moving on doing their own thing….
SR: Do your parents want you get a real job or keep shredding?
DT: Well my family is pretty much my sis and my Mom and they have always been super supportive and helped me out alot along the way….I love them tons!
SR: Summer Plans?
DT: Mount Hood, maybe Camp of Champions, if I can get my pasport in time…lol…and eventually Snow Park in New Zealand…
SR: Plans for snowboarding - make a living or have fun?
DT: Well it will always be fun to me, but if I can make a living out of having fun than i’m all for it…
SR: Anyhthing else you want to say, fell free to sound off here
DT: God Bless everyone who helped me and supported me along the way, all my sponsors, family, Girlfriend, all my freinds, Snowboard Revolution, George Crosland for this interview, and always Jesus Christ!!
Thanks again george for everything!!
Danny sends it off the big jump at Mammoth, you know the one jump at Mammoth that when people go off of everyone on the chair and Gondola will turn around and look backwards at to watch
Nose press at June. Danny was a super nice and respectful dude, probably as a result of his upbringing in Montana
The big jump again. Danny does go to Church but his pastor (or preacher or whatever, sorry I don’t know) is Matt Hamer so it could very well be called the church of big air
Front board at June
Andrecht on the truck trailer in the main park at Mammoth. While shooting this interview and Josh Dibbles we managed to destroy two boards - Danny’s and Josh’s if that is an indication as to how hard these guy rode in two days
June Butter
Blunt on the big vert wall at Mammoth. this was a fun ass session, Molly Aguirre and other joined us at this point and they just lapped the park and I sat around and took photos. Well taking photos was not as fun as lapping the park but it was still fun
Rock to fakie
Rodeo at June
Front 9 tail grab of the big kickker at Mammoth. Danny is one of those guys you see in the park and wonder to yourself or out loud to your friends “who the heck is that guy”
Entries (RSS)
April 28th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Danny boy lays down the shred with style and an attitude that is matched by few. SO MUCH FUN!!!!