SBX Racing Team – Mentored by Ross Hindman

Madeline Lochte Bono SEMI PRO

Riding Since: 2009

The Donek you ride: 163 B1S

Regular or goofy: Regular

Discipline: SBX

Hometown: Durango, Colorado

Home Mountain: Purgatory

Most memorable moment on your board:  Snowboarding with my family in the Swiss Alps on a powder day and exploring new terrain. The ski resort, 4 Valleys, was so big that we ended up getting lost and it took us all day to make our way back to our car. We couldn’t stop laughing at our situation, but it was an amazing experience being in a foreign country with beautiful views.

Season riding goal: Top 3 in the NorAm overall, consistently make top 10 in Europa cups, attend multiple World Cups.

Long term riding goal: 2026 Olympics, World Cup finals

Biggest inspiration: My family

Best piece of advice: Snowboarders with goals succeed because they know where they are going.

Other hobbies: Mountain and road biking 

Instagram: madsnowboarder

Snapchat : mlochte-bono

Facebook Athlete Page: Madsnowboarder1

Website: www.madelinelochtebono.com

Twitter: madsnowboarder1

Drew Moryn AMATEUR

Hometown: Harris, Minnesota
Home mountain: Wild Mountain
Favourite Discipline: Boardercross
The Donek you ride: Sabre & Twin Junior
Instagram : @drew_snowgirl
Facebook: @drewmoryn
Shout Outs:@wildmountain for being so supportive over the years.Also to @rideMN for supporting young action sport riders and last but not least a big thank you to Donek for the continued support and awesome snowboards!!!

Evan Russell AMATEUR

Riding Since: 2013

My Donek: B1 Super Sport

Regular or Goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Snowboardcross 

Hometown: Kimberley, Ontario

Home Mountain: Beaver Valley Ski Club

Most memorable moment on your board: Placing 15th at a Jr FIS Comp in my first FIS season.

Season riding goal: To spend as much time on snow as possible, competing in NorAm events across Canada and the USA.

Long term riding goal:  Representing Team Canada in the Olympics

Biggest inspiration:  My family, coaches and friends continue to push me to step out of comfort zones and work through barriers with me.

Best advice: Ask questions when you’re on the chair with other racers. Learn from your experiences and remember that any feedback is good feedback. Have the time of your life!

Other hobbies: Mountain Biking, Surfing, Wakeboarding, Fishing

Shout outs:  My amazing family and the best coaches at Mixed Movements

Instagram: @evan_russell_sbx  

Adaptive Pro Athletes

Evan Strong -150 Saber and 158 Phoenix

Evan Strong captured the gold medal and led a U.S. podium sweep in the Paralympic debut of men’s snowboardcross at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Evan is the 2012 Para Snowboard Cross World Champion, and 2013 US National Champion.

Mike Minor – 162 Saber BX

Follow Mike @gnarlynubby

LEGENDS

Ryan Knapton – 162 Knapton

Riding since 1989 and hailing from Breckenridge, this Colorado native is on his pro model, the Knapton Twin. He loves all the resorts in Colorado for the bigger mountains and darn good snow in general. Other than Breckenridge, he has had some of the most fun at Beaver Creek and the various Aspen Mountains because of how empty they compared to Breck / Vail / Keystone. Although he hasn’t been back in over 15 years, Ryan also has mad love for Buck Hill and Hyland Hills in Minnesota with very tiny little hills (less than 200 vertical feet). He has so many great memories growing up riding those tow-ropes next to a small park / pipe and just loving doing that all night every night after school. Nowadays his ‘discipline’ is just cruising around the entire mountain and playing around with whatever seems fun to do that day.

When asked about his Knapton Twin he said – “Twin with my own specs… stiffer cuz I’m a heavier rider, wider so I can turn extra hard without ‘booting out’, larger sidecut radius for bigger turns, offset inserts cuz of the width so my bindings are centered on it better than what ‘center’ is with burton bindings, custom base die cut graphics, extra inserts on my newest board towards the tail so I can set it back on pow days (haven’t gotten to try this feature yet on the new board). I DO NOT recommend my exact specs for most anyone! But that’s what’s rad about Donek Snowboards and their specialization in customizing boards… you can get specs that are actually good for you and how you ride, rather than having to settle like with most company’s boards which basically takes a primitive ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

Fun fact…Ryan used to be one of the fastest Rubiks Cube solvers in the world (top 20). Now I play foosball and have won tons of events including Amateur Singles at Worlds and a second in Pro Doubles at Worlds.

His shout outs are to All his MN and CO shred bros. Extra thanks to his YouTube subscribers who leave mad nice feedback for his vids and extra thanks to those who point the camera at Ryan so he can make the vids, especially his girlfriend Kristin and his homie Nate Dogggg.

Follow Ryan
www.youtube.com/rknapton3 www.instagram.com/ryan_knapton/ www.facebook.com/Ryan-Knapton-1527305297533563/

Everett McEwan – REV

Everett has been snowboarding since the early days of the late 80s, and competed in his first race in 1988. Despite his early start, instead of racing professionally he went off to college and had a career in TV news for 17 years. But over the years he kept at it as a part-time amateur including winning age class USASA US nationals seven times in alpine (GS and SL). Everett also was a snowboard coach in the late 90s at Stratton Mountain, Vermont where he coached the famous Lindsey Jacobellis and then went onto to found the Ski Round Top snowboard race program before moving to Colorado. The year Everett turned 40, he left his job in TV news to be a stay at home dad and start a business in video production. He also decided to give Pro racing a chance. He jokes that it’s his “midlife crisis” to race against people half his age and to beat a lot of them. He has consistently made finals at the NorAm Race to the Cup and has gone from top 16 to top 10 and even the top five. He also has climbed the podium in smaller pro races in Canada, including winning the Ontario provincial championships in PSL. As well as providing video production and marketing work for Donek Snowboards, Everett is also test rider helping with development of Alpine/Race Snowboards and plates. He is also a member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, the top US team and helps with promoting the sport of racing on behalf of the club through video.

Mike Shea – Saber SRT

Mike captured the Silver Medal at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Teammates Mike and Evan seem to pass the top paralympic BX spot in the world back and forth. Mike is responsible for the development of our Baker banked slalom model, which he has taken to multiple World cup podiums.

Katie Tsuyuki – 138 Transition and 145 Phoenix

Katie Tsuyuki made her Olympic debut at Sochi 2014, where she missed a spot in the final by one place, finishing as top Canadian female halfpiper in 13th place overall, best Canadian out of both genders.

Tsuyuki had made her World Cup debut in December 2005 in Whistler. She would record her best World Cup result in January 2010, finishing ninth in Stoneham, Quebec. Just a couple of weeks later, she was at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, not as a competitor, but as a forerunner for the half-pipe competition.

Katie is a four-time medalist at the Canadian championships, including her gold medal run in 2006 and 2014. She debuted at the 2013 FIS World Championships where she finished 15th

Katie is a five-time medalist at the Canadian championships, including her gold medal runs in 2006 and 2017. She debuted at the 2013 FIS World Championships where she finished 15th.

Currently, Katie is the marketing and brand manager for Donek and manages the team too. Her knowledge of the snowboarding world on the competitive side gives the Donek team an edge to help with their own endeavors. 

Follow Katie @K_tronic_

Mike Schultz         WWW.MONSTERMIKESCHULTZ.COM 

Hometown- Saint Cloud, MN

US Paralympic Snowboard Team

Age 39

Donek setup–  Banked Slalom, Saber, and Baker 160

Regular 23” stance       +18 x -9

Known in the racing community as “Monster” Mike, the 36-year-old from St. Cloud, MN has trans-formed the world of adaptive action sports in more ways than one. In 2008, Mike suffered a terrible knee injury during a snowmobile competition resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Shortly after his accident, Mike engineered a new prosthetic knee to get him back in action. Within seven months, Mike was again competing on the national stage at the ESPN X Games, receiving a silver medal in Adaptive Motocross. In 2010, Mike founded BioDapt, Inc. after realizing the need for advancements in high impact adaptive sports prosthetics. Ten years and nine X Games gold medals lat-er, Mike added one of his biggest accomplishments to his list of honors, bringing home gold and silver in snowboarding from the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang. Another equally great honor, Mike was voted as the U.S. flag bearer for the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies. There were a total of 15 athletes from six different countries during the 2018 Paralympic games that were competing on equipment that Mike created.

Accomplishment Highlights

COMPETITION

Winter Paralympic Games 2018- Gold (BX) and Silver (BS)

World Champion 2019 Parasnowboard – Banked Slalom

Para Snowboard World Cup – multi-time Gold, Silver, Bronze

National Champion 2017

X Games Adaptive Moto X – 2 Gold, 1 Silver

X Games adaptive snocross – 6 Gold

X Games adaptive snowbike – 2 Gold

AWARDS

2018 ESPY award ‘Best Male Athlete with a Disability’

2018 Team USA Flag Bearer 2018 Paralympics

2017 Team USA Male Athlete of November

2014 ‘Ten Outstanding Young American’ by US Junior Chamber

2010 True Grit Award– International Series of Champions (Snocross)

Jordan Michon 

Raised in the small ski town of Wakefield Quebec Canada, Jordan got his start on an alpine board in 1996. His passion for snowboarding and adventure let him across the country to Whistler BC where he switched on to soft boots and earned high certification as an instructor. Flash forward through 20 years of teaching at resorts across Canada and trying to get lower and more dynamic carves, his size 12 feet are back on the icy slopes of Quebec leaving trenches and never booting out on an extra-wide Aloha, Knapton Twin or Nomad.
Jordan is also passionate about music production and DJing spending his summers playing at music festivals across the country under the monikers Stripes and Strange Future. You can find his music on Spotify and SoundCloud

Follow Jordan @strangefuture808

Giri Watts – 162 Park Twin

This always smiling uber talented powder hound is the head of ski and ride at Copper Mountain. Giri has many years of experience and is one of our top freestyle and freeride board testers. His clean technique and creative eye for the lay of the land makes Giri stand out amongst the rest. Give him a high five when you see him, he’s a gem!

Follow Giri @giri_watts

Ambassadors

Marisa McKellar

Riding Since: 1991

The Donek you ride: Donek Knapton Twin

Board Size: 150

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Soft Boot Carving and Boardercross

Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Home Mountain: Mountain Creek, NJ in the winter and Big Snow, NJ in the off-season

Most memorable moment on your board: I don’t have one specific moment, but my favorite moments have been with the women’s snowboard community, either at a Beyond the Boundaries (BTBounds) camp or a Park Affair event, riding with my lady friends or taking my daughters to the mountain. I am very grateful for the women’s snowboard community of like-minded adventurous women and the acceptance, encouragement and positive vibes exchanged when we get together.

Season riding goal: Have fun, ride with my friends and family and inspire others.

Long term riding goal: To continue to snowboard and carve until I am super old. 

Biggest inspiration: My 2 brothers, Marco and John. My oldest brother, John, introduced me and my brother, Marco, to snowboarding over 30 years ago. My brothers have always inspired me and continue to inspire me. I know I am a better snowboarder because of them.

Best piece of advice: Follow your passion and do whatever makes you happy.

Other hobbies: Onewheel, roller skating, boating and fishing with the family

Shout outs: My family- My mom for bringing my brothers and I (and our friends) snowboarding all the time when I was a kid. My dad for working hard and paying for it. My brothers for getting me into snowboarding and constantly pushing me. My husband, Cory, for being ok with me being gone all winter while I follow my passion and snowboard. Our 3 daughters who I am so glad I can share my love of snowboarding with. 

Instagram: @marisamckellar

Facebook Profile: Marisa McKellar

Sky Hu – 145 Knapton Twin

Riding Since: 2013

Regular or goofy: Regular 

Favorite Discipline: Free Carve

Hometown: China

Home Mountain:  Breckenridge 

Most memorable moment on your board: Carving down an empty, perfectly groomed run with Ryan.

Season riding goal: Make every single turn with heart.

Long term riding goal: Still able to lay these trenches down when I’m eighty.

Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton.

Best piece of advice: People with great passion can make the impossible happen.

Other hobbies: Barely anything significant enough compared to snowboarding.Instagram: @lakeskysea

Christian Sison

Christian Sison fell in love with snowboarding since his first turns in 1987 and spent the bulk of the mid 90’s snowboarding full time in Whistler BC.  He now resides in Vancouver BC and rides regularly in the Pacific Northwest.  He is a firm believer in having the right tools for the trade and since riding Donek supports the brand fully.

Instagram:_christian_sison

 

Bernie Konrady

RIDING SINCE:1994

DONEK YOU RIDE:Flux – I’ve had 5 Flux Models over many, many years. I have continually Decreased the Length, Increased the Width, and Increased the Variable Side Cut. And, along the way, shifted from “Hard Boots” to Soft Boots 8 years ago.

That’s the Beauty of a Donek Board – “Change” – as my snowboarding progresses and changes, so does my board and specs.

BOARD SIZE:159 CM

REGULAR/GOOFY:Snowboard GOOFY – (Surf REGULAR ! ?!  )

FAVORITE DISCIPLINE / TERRAIN:I LOVE Beaver Creek Fresh Early Morning Groomers for the CARVE-ability and Trackless runs.

BUT!  Give me First Tracks on 8 to 10 inches of Fresh Pow And I’m SURFING SNOW with a huge smile on My Face!

HOME TOWN:Michiana Shores, Indiana for the Summer and Fall

Beaver Creek, Colorado for Winter and Spring

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON YOUR BOARD:1994 in the beginning of learning to snowboard and making that Very First Linked, Real Edge to Edge Toe side Turn – Whoa, So that’s what this is about!!!!

Flash Forward to 2021 and my First Real Toe Side Laid Out Euro Carve – WHOAAAAAAA!!! (I am a slow learner)

SEASON RIDING GOAL:Laid out Heel Side Euro Carve

LONG TERM RIDING GOAL:Be of help to others

BIGGEST INSPERATION:Ryan Knapton – his Style, Tips, Teaching Videos, Inclusiveness AND HIS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND COURTESY ON THE MOUNTAIN. Ryan is my Mentor.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE:Safety First! —– Then,  HAVE FUN !!! 

OTHER HOBBIES:Surfing the Great Lakes

INSTAGRAM:@berniekonrady

Carver Bowlby

Riding Since: 2001

The Donek you ride: Riding the proteus now, ordering a rev and pulse soon. 

Board Size: 175

Regular or goofy: Regular 

Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): GS&SL

Hometown: Somerset PA

Home Mountain:  7SPRINGS 

Most memorable moment on your board: The first time I got cheered at from the chair lift for carving the mountain. 

Season riding goal: To go to more Noram and FIS races, and to nationals with USASA. 

Long term riding goal: Just to keep the sport fun, and to go as far as I can with racing.  

Biggest inspiration: My father, he taught me how to ride. 

Best piece of advice: Give 100% at everything you do, and there’s no friends on a powder day. 

Other hobbies: hiking, biking, kayaking, dirt bike riding, and motorcycle riding. 

Shout outs: My dad for teaching me how to ride and always being there for me. Julia for pushing me to get into racing. Heidi Lewis for getting such awesome pictures at 7Springs. Shannon for giving me all the love and support I could ever ask for. Srrc for pointing me in the right direction with racing, Donek snowboards for excepting me on the team, and Clawson Snowboarding Crew. Thank you!!

Instagram:carverbowlby 

Snapchat Carverbowlby 

Dave Hollander

Riding Since: 2005

The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin

Board Size: 152CM / 31.5 WW / 12M

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Free Carve

Hometown: New City, NY

Home Mountain: Keystone

Most memorable moment on your board: Waking up on a Binghamton University SnöCats bus at Mount Snow to a fresh foot of pow & disappearing into the trees with friends all day.

Season riding goal: Rack up 1M vertical, improve my switch riding, and get some fun footage in the process

Long term riding goal: Keep laying down big clean lines and helping others learn to safely do the same

Biggest inspiration: Pops. With his unparalleled determination and kindness.

Best piece of advice: If you’re passionate about something, share it with everyone you can.

Other hobbies: Onewheel, Longboarding, Whitewater

Shout outs: The whole family, plus Ryan, Matt, and Josh for helping me finally get back to Summit.

Instagram: @dhollee

Facebook Profile: facebook.com/dave.hollander

Miltos Iliopoulos

 Riding Since: 2013

 The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin.

 Board Size: 154

 Regular or goofy: Goofy

 Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): Freeride, freestyle.

 Hometown: Athens Greece.

 Home Mountain: Helmos Kalavrita Greece.

( I’m spending most of my season now on Bear mountain in Sahoro Hokkaido Japan)

Most memorable moment on your board:  shredding through the Japanese Powder in Hokkaido and my very first-night session in Mount Helmos.

Season riding goal: Have another successful season in Japan & Austria and experience the feeling of riding in the Desert. Move to NZ or Australia and have a full year on the snow.

 Long term riding goal: Become a great snowboard & ski trainer, open my own ski school, teach, help & support the next generation of riders across the world, establish myself in the community. 

 Biggest inspiration: Dr. Giovanis, Travis Rice, Ryan Knapton, Stale Wallner.

The best piece of advice: Always think on the bright side, never look back and stay focused, learn to move on and always look at what you can learn from every big or small setback.. 

 Learn to set up goals and commit to them, be honest with yourself and kind to people around you, give credit where its due and lost but not least,

always keep practicing!!!  

 Other hobbies: Playing Guitar, love to travel and watch lots of movies.

 Shout outs:

 I will always be thankful to my family, my two sisters and friends for always being there for me.

 My mentor & University professor Dr. Giovanis for all the great lessons in and out of the ski slopes, for all the kindness, help, for not giving up on me and being there for me and for the unforgettable moments on Parnassos!

 I would never be able to be where I am in my life if it wasn’t for you, thank you for everything!!!!  

 A huge shout out to my Snowboard trainer from Austria ”Stefan Wallner” for being a role model to me and one of my favorite riders.

Also, I would like to give another big shout out to my Ski trainer from Austria as well ”Wolfgang Heinzl” for being so patient and honest with me all the time and for his unique sense of humor.

 Last but not least, I would like to give lots of credit to my Ski Director from Korea ”Jaesun Oh” for all the trust, help, understanding and

??? ?? ??? ?????. And of course, I would like to thank my new friends in Donek family and of course Katie Tsuyuki & Sean Martin for believing in me.

I would like to wish the rest of the team a great season on snow, cant wait to meet you guys!

Instagram: Miltos Iliopoulos https://www.instagram.com/miltos_iliopoulos/

Facebook Profile: Miltos Iliopoulos https://www.facebook.com/miltosiliopoulosnb

Mellen Jay

Mellen Jay is a CASI Level 4 snowboard instructor, CASI Level 4 Evaluator and a 10-year team member of the Canadian
Association of Snowboard Instructors National Technical Team. A snowboard instructor for 25 years, Mellen is dedicated
and passionate to teaching the art of the arc. She loves turning: short turns, long turns; carving and turns through trees.
Mellen has represented Canada at Interski twice, in 2015 in Ushuaia, Argentina and 2023 in Levi, Finland; and as a
member of the CASI National Tech Team is part of the team that steers the direction of technical and program
developments for snowboard instruction in Canada.
Mellen lives, works and trains in endless winters in Big White Canada, Hakuba Japan, and Wanaka New Zealand. Big
White is home: with its incredible light champagne powder, perfect grooming and snow-covered trees. Mellen has run
instructor training internationally in Europe, South America, 6 provinces and 2 territories in Canada, USA, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand and even indoor slopes in the UK. As well as running CASI courses and training in both
hemispheres, she’s really stoked to be part of the coaching staff at Montucky Clear Cut this winter and looking forward to
more collaborative sessions riding with Donek Ambassadors.
Mellen is proud to represent and support diversity, equity and inclusion in the snowsports community.
After demo days in Colorado, Mellen couldn’t choose between her two favourites, and is looking forward to riding an Aloha
148 and Raven 144.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MellenJay
Instagram: @mellenriding

Daniel Richards

Riding Since: 2002

The Donek you ride: I ride a Donek Flux, and plan to order an Aloha soon as well

Board Size: 156-162

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline/Terrain: Free Carve, Moguls, Splitboarding, Big Mountain and Side/Backcountry

Hometown: Hillsborough, New Jersey

Home Mountain: Mount Snow, VT

Most memorable moment on your board: First time experiencing Vail’s back bowls in high school with one of my closest friends and snowboard buddies

Season riding goal: 40+ days on the mountain, 10+ days splitboarding, and sending it down Corbet’s Couloir

Long term riding goal: Work on seamless fakie carving and 360 transitions; I’d also like to play a role in fostering a connected carving community for “ice coast” snowboarders, and eventually increase D&I/access to the sport through intersectional programs for kids and marginalized communities

Biggest inspiration: What Ryan Knapton has done to ignite such widespread interest in free carving, and what Jeremy Jones has done for big mountain and climate activism

Best piece of advice: I used to believe that every snowboarder should try hard-booting… but brands like Donek make the free carve experience so much more accessible. My most universal advice right now would be that the body follows where the head is looking, which was critical for me to understand in unlocking my heelside.

Other hobbies: Fencing (2x national épée champion), music (listening, writing/recording, concerts, dancing), horology/watch collecting, running/hiking/trail running, holotropic breathwork, quality time with my partner Abbie and our dog Alfie

Instagram: @icecoastcarver

Claude Liu

152 knapton twin
Riding Since: 2019
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Free carve
Hometown: China
Home Mountain:  Altai Mountains Keketuohai
Most memorable moment on your board: Practicing new tricks with my friends, encouraging each other and getting better together.
Season riding goal: Make my combo more stable and efficient.
Long term riding goal: Snowboarding safely and healthily and attracting more people to learn carving&buttering.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton, Yehluo
Best piece of advice: Feel the joy that snowboarding brings us and find your own rhythm.
Other hobbies: Surfskate
Instagram: @claude.snowboard

Chengqi Liu – Code #002 in the Chinese 54 team.
Followers: 2.8k

Lu Yang

155 Knapton Twin
Riding Since: 2016
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Free Carving/Ground trick/Park
Hometown: China
Home Mountain: Altai Mountains Keketuohai
Most memorable moment on your board: Snowboarding with the 54team crew
Season riding goal: Smoother combinations of carving and tricks.
Long term riding goal: Still snowboarding when I’m 90 years old
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton/ Kazunori Hirama
Best piece of advice: No limits, no restrictions, focus to get to the top.
Other hobbies: Trampoline/Tricking/Piano/Motorcycle
Instagram:@yehluo5

Lu Yang – The captain of the Chinese 54 team. 
Followers: 35k

Jonah Boyar

Riding Since: 1995
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin
Board Size: 159
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favourite Discipline : All Mountain Freeride/freestyle.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Home Mountain: Marmot Basin, Jasper Canada
Most memorable moment on your board: Riding at Whitewater Resort in Nelson, British Columbia
Canada
Season riding goal: Ride every day that I can!
Long term riding goal: To keep progressing my style and skill and have fun!
Biggest inspiration: Craig Kelly
Best piece of advice: Never give up and do it for the dream.
Other hobbies: Camping, biking, disc golf, skateboarding, and dogs
Shout outs: The Glide Factory, Calgary; and Old Dutch Foods, Canada
Instagram: @SHREDDONKERS 
Snapchat: pappa-jonah
Facebook Profile: Jonah Boyar 
Twitter: @SHREDDONKERS
Other: YouTube: 1080JMAN 

Seung Hwi Moon

Riding Since:2020

The Donek you ride (or will order):153 cm Donek Transition

Regular or goofy:Both

Favorite Discipline:(free)carving

Hometown:Wallington, NJ

Home Mountain:Big Snow, American Dream

Most memorable moment on your board:The first time I switched between regular and goofy carving with a FS toeside noseroll.

Long term riding goal: To find flow in my style of riding.

Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton. Who else?

Best piece of advice: Take videos of yourself from varying angles and analyze your footage to improve your riding quickly.

Other hobbies: Ski carving (big one), running, working out

Shout outs: All the carvers that helped me at the very start of my journey.

Instagram: seunghmoon

Johnson Le

Riding Since: 2019/2020 season
The Donek you ride : 155 Knapton Twin. 160 Flux.
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: Free Carve
Home Mountain: June and Mammoth
Most memorable moment on your board: I had a goal in mind and I saw it in person for the first
time. This insane guy laid it out heelside right in front of me. The hype took over and I full sent,
trying to replicate. Washed out but had the biggest laugh and bigger motivation boost. Now we are
friends.
Season riding goal: Laid heelside
Long term riding goal: To have fun! And always have something to work on.
Biggest inspiration:
Best piece of advice: Don’t settle. Even if its small, have a goal to work towards and practice.
Whether its commiting one run a day or one turn a day, progression is progression.
Other hobbies: Camping, hiking.
Shout outs: Riding brother that lets me van camp.
Instagram: @elnosnhoj

Ashton Grogg

Riding Since: 2006

Hometown: Woodland Hills, UT

Home mountain: and Park City, Brighton Resort

Favorite Discipline: GS

The Donek you ride: 185, 163 Secret

Most memorable moment on my board: Winning at the 2023 USASA Nationals

Season riding goal: Winning an open class race

Best piece of advice: Go fast, go faster and end fast. 

Other hobbies: My dad Aries Grogg

How to follow and know more about me: Follow me on Instagram @ashton_snowboard

Joshua Gabriel

Riding Since: 1995/1996ish. Before then, I rode a plastic snurfer board.
The Donek you ride: Turner FC Alpine Board
Board Size: Length: 163cm. Waist 19.8 Sidecut 10.5
Regular or goofy: Goofy. But I’m trying to teach myself Regular.
Favourite Discipline: Carve and Jumps and whatever I can hit
Hometown: Nazareth, PA
Home Mountain: Jack Frost/Big Boulder, Blue Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: Most importantly… Riding and Carving with Friends both in
Montana/Idaho, and Pennsylvania! Also…. riding at Schweitzer in Idaho with others that were gonna be at
the Montucky Clear Cut. And the snow was hardback groomed Ice and I felt RIGHT AT HOME because
the conditions were like what we have at home. Tweaking out a Tindy Air off a hip jump. And hitting a
round rail at the end of ONE Park at Jack Frost.
Season riding goal: Hitting rails Urban Style. Doing Full Cabalearos. Toeside Euro to 360 Noseroll,
Heelside out. And ….getting people to try Alpine Snowboarding.
Long term riding goal: Show people what can be done in the hardshells and get people stoked and trying
something new that they normally wouldn’t try.
Biggest inspiration: My Parents.
Best piece of advice: Think of the positive… then you will have a good day. Don’t dwell on the negative for
it will only bring you down.
Don’t let anyone (including yourself) tell you that you are not good enough. Prove them (or yourself)
wrong.
Other hobbies: Skateboarding, Disc Golf, Hiking, Origami, Reading, Motorcycles, Swimming, Kayaking,
Camping, Art/Photography, Gardening, Woodworking
Shout outs: My parents, family both near and far, and Sarah (my wife). Also the Montucky Clear Cut
Riders and Staff. Friends and co-workers.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriel.joshuaa/

Huan Yang

Riding Since: 2016
The Donek you ride (or will order): Knapton Twin
Board Size: 154
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS, CARVE): free carve
Hometown: China
Home Mountain: Breckenridge
Most memorable moment on your board: strangers approached and offered to videotape my riding.
Season riding goal: ground-tricks done on Donek boards.
Long term riding goal: Riding with my kids and even grandkids
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton
Best piece of advice: Never blame the equipment.
Other hobbies: Surfing
Shout outs: to those encouraged me to have a bigger footprint in snowboarding realm.
Instagram: @huankernel

Wesley Krason

Riding Since: 2006
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin
Board Size: 148cm long, 31waist width, 11m side cut , 1.5cm offset, 8/12 Flex, Ref Stance 56cm
Regular or goofy: Regular or goofy
Favourite Discipline: All mountain riding and turning carves.
Hometown: Castle Rock, Co
Home Mountain: Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte
Most memorable moment on your board: One of my most memorable moments on my board was when I
had the incredible opportunity of being spotted by Ryan Knapton himself while I was riding with my 2-
year-old son, Ryan. It was a truly special experience that I will always cherish.
Season riding goal: My season riding goal is to ride goofy, improve my carving turns, buttering, jumps,
and ride with my crew while working on new skills together. Each day and condition presents new
opportunities for growth and learning. I particularly enjoy making turns with my family and creating content
for social media. This season, I have the exciting opportunity to teach my youngest two family members
how to ride. Additionally, I am focused on improving early in the season with the other three members of
my crew, so that we can truly excel when the snow conditions are at their best.
Long term riding goal: Looking ahead, my long-term riding goal is to create awesome media content with
my family and Donek Snowboards. I aspire to ride at the Next Level, just like Ryan Knapton and many
other favorite snowboarders.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton.
Best piece of advice: The best piece of advice I can offer is that knowledge has the power to inspire
dreams and make them come true. It is important to follow your dreams and pursue them with passion
and determination.
Other hobbies: In addition to snowboarding, I have a variety of other hobbies that I enjoy. I am an artist,
expressing my creativity through various mediums. I also love biking, hiking, tubing, paddleboarding, and
camping. These activities allow me to connect with nature and explore the outdoors in different ways.
They provide me with a sense of adventure and relaxation outside of the snowboarding season.
Shout outs: I would like to give a special shout out to my wonderful wife, Sandra, and our crew! She
introduced me to the incredible gift of snowboarding, and I am deeply grateful to her for everything that
makes my life special. Additionally, I extend my sincere appreciation to Ryan Knapton and Tommy
 
Bennett for their exceptional media content and the continuous inspiration they provide. Their
contributions have significantly influenced my progress and have empowered me to share my passion
with my snowboard crew.
Instagram: @WesleyKrason

Stuart Rowland

Name: Stuart Rowalnd

Riding Since: 1990

The Donek you ride : Aloha 158, Knapton twin 163, park twin (this year)

Board Size: 163

Regular or goofy: reg

Favourite Discipline : carve

Hometown: Mountianburg AR   

Home Mountain: Wolf Creek

Most memorable moment on your board:  The first time I was able to carve in powder.

Season riding goal: Progress with carving and riding switch.

Long term riding goal: 100 day season

Biggest inspiration: My Kids

Best piece of advice: only compete with yourself

Other hobbies: bbq, riding one wheels, splitting wood, building stuff, nutrition

Tobey Garner 

Riding Since: 2019

The Donek you ride: Phoenix, Aloha, and soon to be park twin.

Board Size: 159

Regular or goofy: regular 

Favourite Discipline: Carve/ free riding 

Hometown: Elkridge 

Home Mountain: Brighton Resort 

Most memorable moment on your board: Back 540 off a cat track 

Season riding goal: Rails 

Long term riding goal: Back country big mountain freeriding 

Biggest inspiration: Travis Rice, Arthur Longo.

Best piece of advice: Don’t Let fear stop you from progressing.

Other hobbies: Drums, Longboarding, one wheeling, cars

Shout outs: Simon Garner, Ashton Grogg

Instagram:@tobeygarner

Snapchat tobey_garner

Video Team

JP (John-Phillip) Fok

Riding Since: 1998
The Donek you ride : 160 Park Twin & 165 Aloha
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline: Freeride and Slopestyle. But who doesn’t love a
good Banked Slalom & those BX tracks look fun. It’s all one Discipline. Snowboarding!
Hometown: Whistler, BC
Home Mountain: Whistler Blackcomb
Most memorable moment on your board: My first time presenting in the Fire and Ice show. It was the first time I’d ever presented my riding infant of as large a crowd as that. It was New Years eve. Jumping through a hoop of fire in a massive train with other pros. Doing a Laid out backflip and stomping it clean somewhere in the middle of the lineup.
Season riding goal: Have as much fun as possible. Make something beautiful happen.
Long term riding goal: My long term goal is to keep riding and keep creating beautiful moments for myself until I die of old age. Side bonus if I can share it with others.
Biggest inspiration: There’s too many inspirational people in snowboarding I can’t narrow it down to a reasonable list. Maybe the more Kudos goes to Pioneers like Craig Kelly, and Terje. Early Snowboard pro’s setting a path for so many to follow. Students of the sport. Without them there’d be no legitimacy to the sport. I’m also stoked on the next generation of riders coming up. Snowboarding is so inclusive now. It’s always been attractive to the free thinkers, and expressive types, as well as the thrill seekers and those with a need for speed. It’s become so exciting to see all the families out there enjoying it together. It’s become a genuine and beautiful Culture.
Best piece of advice: Have fun. Practice things in bite sized steps. Make each step feel smooth as butter before moving on. Don’t skip steps. Each of them is like a trick. Gotta stomp it at least “two to make it
true!”
Other hobbies:Mountain Biking.
Shout outs:To Katie Tsuyuki . Proud to have shred some snow with you!
Instagram: @JPFok
Facebook Athlete Page:https://www.facebook.com/JPFOK89
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/jp.fok/
YouTube: My YouTube Channel

 

Dev Gupta

Hometown: Portland Oregon
Home mountain: Mt. Hood Meadows and Mt. Bachelor 
The Donek you ride: Saber 160 and Knapton 157 and Donek Split Board 
Look for my series DevLaps
How to follow and know more about me: Instagram @transsnowboarder
Shout Outs: MBSEF Freeride for coaching me and helping me become the snowboarder I am today. Also thanks to Black Strap Industries for the facemask sponsorship.

Matt Larson

The Donek you ride: 180 Donek Secret!  shhhhhh!

Regular or goofy:  GOOFY

Favourite Discipline :   CARVE

Hometown: Bozeman, Montana

Home Mountain:  Big Sky Resort

Most memorable moment on your board: 

Season riding goal: Switch Layed-out Carving  (it’s scary just to type that)

Long term riding goal: Sliding on snow as a centenarian

Biggest inspiration: My daughter Maija.  She has had way more than her share of challenges in her life and she drives forward with grace!

Best piece of advice: You do You

Other hobbies: Whitewater Kayaking

Shout outs: My team is my wife and daughters!  Shout out to my ladies! 

Instagram:  @slipperyslopes

YouTube: @slipperyslopes

TikTok: @slipperyslopes

US Amateur Athletes

Serina Verduzco

Riding Since: 2013 / 3 years old

The Donek you ride: Saber /  Park Twin

Board Size: 130 Saber / 125 Park Twin

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: BX

Hometown: South Lake Tahoe

Home Mountain: Sierra at Tahoe

Most memorable moment on your board:  Winning 2 gold medals at 2018 Nationals

Season riding goal: Win Nationals

Long term riding goal: Make the US Olympic BX team

Biggest inspiration: Jamie Anderson

Best piece of advice: Always follow your dreams

Other hobbies: Skateboarding, Horseback riding, going to beach

Shout outs: Mom and Dad

Instagram: verduzcos

Reese Moryn

Riding Since: Winter 2010

The Donek you ride: Donek junior twin and Donek Sabre

Board Size: Sabre 132, Twin 130

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS):  Giant Slalom

Hometown: Harris, MN

Home Mountain: Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, MN

Season riding goal:  My goal for this season is to continue to improve in every event.

Long term riding goal:  I don’t know… keep having fun

Best piece of advice: My dad said to me  when “You can achieve anything, if you keep working at it.”

Other hobbies: I love to play soccer and read.

Shout outs: I would love to give shout outs to @skiwildmountain, @ridemn, @fastwaxskiwax and of course @doneksnowboards for allowing me to be apart of an amazing group of athletes. Good Luck to everyone this season!!!

 Instagram: @reesesnowgirl 

Griffin Kleinle

Riding Since: 2013

The Donek you ride: 163 Pulse and 147 Talon

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: GS and SL

Hometown: Bethlehem, PA

Home Mountain: Roundtop Mountain

Most memorable moment on your board:  My national championship winning run on the Donek BX course

Season riding goal: National Champ

Long term riding goal: To make the US Olympic Team

Biggest inspiration: Pete Rubincam and Mick Dierdorff

Best piece of advice: Train hard and have fun! 

Other hobbies: Surfing, golfing, volleyball, fishing, biking

Shout outs: My teammates and coaches for being the best crew to train with, Mom and Dad for your love and belief in me, Grandma and PopPop for supporting me always, Mr. Jakobsen for pushing me hard in training.

Instagram:gromgriff 

Facebook Athlete Page: Griffin Kleinle

Levi Decareau

Riding Since: AGE of 2

The Donek you ride:  140 SABER BX 

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline:  BX

Hometown: Bethel Maine

Home Mountain: SUNDAY RIVER

Most memorable moment on your board: 2ND PLACE AT USASA NATIONALS 2024 

Season riding goal: TOP 3 BX AT USASA NATIONALS

Long term riding goal: MAKE THE USA SNOWBOARD BX TEAM

Biggest inspiration: NATHAN PARE 

Best piece of advice: “Just put down your best run” Mike Mallon once said that on a chair lift with me

Other hobbies: FISHING, MTN BIKING, SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY

Shout outs: MY PARENTS, BROTHER -Travis, CHRIS BARLOW – MY COACH, DONEK

Instagram: levid2548

Lyla Stubblefield

Riding Since: 2014

The Donek you ride: Saber BX

Board Size: 140

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: I love everything snowboarding!

Hometown: Placerville, CA

Home Mountain: Northstar

Most memorable moment on your board:  Winning first place in Slalom and Giant Slalom at USASA Nationals in 2022.

Season riding goal: I have a lot of goals this season. I would like to land backflips, 360s, 540s, and stomp frontboard’s on rails in competitions. I would like to learn cripplers and land 720s in the pipe.  I also want to defend my National Championship title for SL, GS, and overall.

Long term riding goal: I would like to go pro and compete on the world stage: US Team, X Games, Olympics

Biggest inspiration: My two inspirations are Maddie Mastro and Chloe Kim.

Best piece of advice: Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams!

Other hobbies: Equestrian, Gymnastics, Skateboarding and Surfing

Shout outs: I would like to shout out to my Mom, Dad, and the rest of my family and friends who have supported my goals and dreams and all those that continue to. I would also like to shout out to all of my coaches at Sierra At Tahoe and Northstar who have been so supportive and helped teach and mold me into the athlete I am today.

Instagram: @lyla.stubblefield

 

Cooper Callaway

Riding Since: 2006 

Hometown: Onalaska, WI 

Home mountain: Mt. La Crosse

Favorite Discipline: Slalom 

Board Size:163 

Regular or goofy: regular 

The Donek you ride: Looking at purchasing the Rev or Secret 

Instagram: #supercoop_callaway 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/supercoop.callaway 

Shout Outs: Thanks to Katie, Mark, Sean and the whole Donek crew for their support. And thank you to my mom, dad, brother and other friends and family that support and challenge me to be the best that I can be. 

Hobbies include: Snowboarding Mt Biking Motocross Coaching youth Soccer Playing Violin Kayaking 

Additional interests and things that keep me busy include; maintaining a 3.70 gpa, managing and working a lawn mowing and snow removal business with my brother, working in sales and parts at 2Brothers Powersports, scoring trap at our local Trap Shooting Club and working at Old Towne Strings doing stringed instrument repairs, tuning & cleaning instruments and help with sales.

Emma Smith

Riding Since: 2016
The Donek you ride (or will order): Saber BX, Secret Racing Alpine Snowboard
Board Size: Saber BX-150cm
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Boardercross and Giant Slalom 
Hometown: Slinger, Wi
Home Mountain: Little Switzerland
Most memorable moment on your board: The time I got 4th place in Giant Slalom at 2022 USASA
Nationals at Copper Mountain.
Season riding goal: My goal is to advance my riding skills and technique on a Donek alpine racing board.
Long term riding goal: To maintain state and national titles throughout my high school riding career.
Biggest inspiration: My big brother, Ethan, who was on the Donek team and had individual placings at
state and USASA Nationals in 2022.
Best piece of advice: “Send it and have fun.”
Other hobbies: Competitive horseback riding and showing and I am a member of my local FFA chapter.
Shout outs: Ethan Smith, Paul and Paula Bullis, Lexi Bullis, Jayna Schmittinger, Darrell Weidmeyer, and
all of my teammates for pushing me throughout the years.
Instagram: @esmith.snowboard
Snapchat: esmith.7

Dominic DeStefano 

Riding Since: 2016

The Donek you ride: 130 Junior and Talon 

Board Size: 138 cm

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Slope Style, Slalom, and Giant Slalom

Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

Home Mountain: Snowbowl, AZ

Most memorable moment on your board: Hitting 30 foot jumps at Woodward

Season riding goal: Backflip.

Long term riding goal: To be a snowboard coach

Biggest inspiration: My older sister Briana

Best piece of advice: Never give up

Other hobbies: Geology and pakour

Shout outs: GCFT and the Grand Canyon Series directors Scott and Josh

Instagram: @domdestefano

Jax Allen                    

Riding Since: 2015

The Donek you ride: 153 Saber / 139 Park Twin

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline  Slopestyle & Racing 

Hometown: Rancho Murieta, Ca

Home Mountain: Sierra At Tahoe

Most memorable moment on your board:  Racing at Nationals at Copper.

Season riding goal: I want to win all of my events!

Long term riding goal: Riding for TEAM USA!

Biggest inspiration: Hannah Teter has been my inspiration all along the way.

Best piece of advice: Always find a way to get back up & stay humble!

Other hobbies: I love mountain biking, surfing, fishing and studying the martial arts.

Shout outs: Thanks to Coach Mike D for teaching me how to ride. Coach Jonny & Garrett @ Sierra! Mel @ Blue Iron. Trav @ CCE. Mom and Dad for helping me chase my dreams.

Instagram: @tahoejax

Nathan Bautista

Riding Since: 2011
The Donek you ride: 180 Secret, 168 Secret, 155 Park Twin
Board Size: 180, 168, 155
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: GS
Hometown: Kinnelon, NJ
Home Mountain: Camelback
Most memorable moment on your board: First time making podium at USASA Nationals 2022
Season riding goal: Become more consistent on steeper courses
Long term riding goal: My long term goal is to Podium at a FIS race
Biggest inspiration: My parents
Best piece of advice: My best piece of advice is when working towards something you have to embrace
the hardships. There will be times when you won’t have the motivation to work, or when you find it in you
to work, it will be grueling, annoying and even boring at some points. But you have to realize that you
have accepted them when you set out on whatever you’re working towards. This is where motivation
cannot be the only thing that gets you up and moving, but consistency and perseverance knowing that it
all be worth it in the end.
Other hobbies: Flying, swimming, running, sailing, soccer, and basketball
Shout outs: Mom, Dad, Coach Brian Cook, Coach Dave Hirschberg, Coach Yuri C and my teammates
Instagram: @Nate.bautistaa

Brynn Diehl 

 

Riding Since:2017

The Donek you ride: 148 Saber SBX

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: SBX

Hometown: Commerce, Michigan

Home Mountain: Alpine Valley Ski Resort

Most memorable moment on your board:  Getting the queens of the hill trophy with my Lakeland Highschool girls team.

Season riding goal: Make it to nationals

Long term riding goal: compete for the US olympic team

Biggest inspiration: My mom, dad and brother.

Best piece of advice: If you’re not first you’re last.

Other hobbies: Horses, snowmobiles, jet skis, surfing, wakeboarding, dirtbikes, photography

Shout outs: My Family, Maculey Kilmer for all the board tuning, riding tips and out of state racing adventures, Team Ripturn and my coach JP,  My highschool team and coaches

Instagram: @brynndiehl

Snapchat @brdiehl

Facebook Profile: @brynn diehl

 

Thomas Lutz

Riding Since: 2012

The Donek you ride: Secret

Board Size: 158 secret, 170 Secret

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS):  GS

Hometown:  Redding CA

Home Mountain:  Mount Shasta

Most memorable moment on your board:  Learning to ride my race board through four-five feet of powder in trees at mt. Hood 

Season riding goal:  Top 10 at states

Long term riding goal:  Ride on a college team

Best piece of advice: When you fall make sure to get back up

Other hobbies: White water, Mt. biking, Hiking, Exploring

Shout outs: Big thanks to mom and dad for taking me to the mountains and supporting me. Another shout out to SHS alpine for the supportive coaches and teammates. 

Instagram: tlutz_02

Snapchat: tlutz02

Abe Cronkhite

Riding Since: 2014

The Donek you ride: Saber

Board Size: 153

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Slalom Alpine

Hometown: Whitefield, ME

Home Mountain: Sunday River

Most memorable moment on your board: Riding the Spruce Peak chairlift at Sunday River when all the trees were covered with snow.

Season riding goal: To improve my SL finish from last season.

Long term riding goal: To have fun, keep improving, and always do my best.

Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton

Best piece of advice: Go with the flow and keep shredding!

Other hobbies: Reading and chess

Shout outs: Coaches April, Barlow, Anna, Dustin, and KC!

Instagram: @abecronkhite

Remy Coker

Riding Since: 2019
The Donek you ride : Jr, Park Twin, Talon
Board Size: 127, 125
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favourite Discipline: GS, SS, BX, CARVE
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Home Mountain: Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and App Ski Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: My first time riding at Copper Mountain for USASA Nationals in
2022 was definitely my most memorable moment. I had never experienced the excitement surrounding
an event like that and it was amazing to be there with all of my friends.
Season riding goal: Top 5 Overall
Long term riding goal: The Olympics
Biggest inspiration: To keep doing my best and get better every year.
Best piece of advice: Don’t quit, and keep pushing.
Other hobbies: Skating, Surfing, Swimming
Shout outs: I would like to send a shout out to my family, for all of the help and support they have given
me. I would also like to send a shout out to Alex Ettinger, Adam Thompson, Alex Sylvestri, Brian Hoeh, and Van Littlejohn.
Hoeh for their leadership and always showing up for me on the slopes.
Instagram: @TheRealRemyCoker

Izzy Edlen

Riding Since: 2014

The Donek you ride (or will ordering): Junior or Saber BX

Board Size: 125 – 130

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): BX, SL, GS

Hometown: Lakewood, CO

Home Mountain: Copper Mountain

Most memorable moment on your board: My most memorable moment on my board is when I went to the top of the mountain in steamboat and it was freezing, so I decided to go into the trees and I found a bunch of powder, so I raced through it like a lightning bolt.  

Season riding goal: Continue to improve on everything!  

Long term riding goal: Keep improving and keep having fun! 

Biggest inspiration: My coach Nolan and one of my first coaches William Borregard

Best piece of advice: Just keep leaning and having fun, and even olympians admit they could use improving.   

Other hobbies: 4 wheeling in our jeep Badgercon, painting, and much more.

Shout outs: @doneksnowboards of course! @williamborregard @jade­_sheds my bsf (best snowboarding friend) @nolanquinnin and @earth_surfer and my mom and dad.   

Instagram: @littlepowslayer

Carrick O’Neill

Riding Since: 2018

The Donek you ride (or will ordering): 135 Saber SBX

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline: Boardercross

Hometown: Excelsior, MN

Home Mountain: Hyland Hills

Most memorable moment on your board: Learning to rip up side hits at Steamboat and  shredding the Woodward park at Copper Mountain in the spring of 2021 with all the USASA riders who were gearing up for the last big contests.

Season riding goal: My goals for this season are to finish first in Minnesota for Boardercross, qualify for nationals, and finish in the top 3 at Nationals. I also want to qualify for Nationals in Alpine, Halfpipe, and Slopestyle like my big brothers.

Long term riding goal: I hope that I will be riding a lot

Biggest inspiration: My dad and my brothers who encouraged me to get out there and ride!

Other hobbies: When I am not snowboarding I love to play baseball and football. 

Shout outs: To all my friends in the Upper Midwest and my crew the BENT OXEN.

Instagram: @carrickshreds

Website: https://www.bentoxen.com/the-team/carrick

Cian O’Neill

Riding Since: 2014 and competing since 2017

The Donek you ride (or will ordering): 145 Saber BX

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Boardercross and Halfpipe

Hometown: Excelsior, MN

Home Mountain: Hyland Hills

Most memorable moment on your board:  Hearing my name being called for a top 10 finisher at Nationals…3 times!

Season riding goal: I have three goals for this season!

  1. Learn at least five new tricks
  2. Finish first in our Region
  3. Get on the Podium at Nationals

Long term riding goal:  Would love to compete at the X-Games

Biggest inspiration: Shaun White and Red Gerard

Other hobbies: I play on a traveling baseball team and love it! I am also trying out tackle football for the first time.  I love to ride around on my skateboard, too!  I like to build stuff including jumps for our front yard snowboard park!

Shout outs: Big shout out to the USASA, especially the awesome people in the Upper Midwest Snowboard Series. And to my mom, she is awesome.

Instagram: @cianrides

Website: https://www.bentoxen.com/the-team/cian

Seamus O’Neill

Riding Since: 2010

The Donek you ride (or will ordering): 150 Saber BX 

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favorite Discipline: Boardercross

Hometown: Excelsior, MN

Home Mountain: Hyland Hills

Most memorable moment on your board:  The first time I sent “Super” which is the biggest jump at my home mountain Hyland Hills. I love the feeling of overcoming my fears.

Season riding goal: I have three goals for this year:

  1. Make the podium in at least three boardercross events!
  2. Win at least one boardercross event.
  3. Qualify for Nationals.

Long term riding goal: Continue to race boardercross and get faster each time! 

Biggest inspiration: Red Gerard

Other hobbies: My other love is baseball where I play on a traveling team!  I also enjoy playing football, wiffle ball, and playing video games.

Shout outs: Shout out to all the awesome people who run the Upper Midwest Snowboard Series and to the riders who make it an awesome community.

Instagram: @seamusrides

Website: https://www.bentoxen.com/the-team/seamus

Riley Miller

Riding Since:2017
The Donek you ride :155 Sabre BX
Regular or goofy:Goofy
Favourite Discipline:BX
Hometown:Silverthorne, Colorado
Home Mountain:Copper Mountain
Season riding goal:Top 10 at USASA Nationals in Boardercross
Long term riding goal:Get better every day and never stop having fun
Best piece of advice:Practice riding switch!
Other hobbies:Once the snow melts, I’m either skating a local park or exploring Summit County trails on my mountain bike.
Shout outs:@marcusshreds @elliot_kubick @rhysee_rhys @nolanquinnin @jimmieblunder
Instagram:@freestyleriley

Haley Goff 

Riding Since: 2007
The Donek you ride (or will order): B-1 or B-1S
Board Size: 156
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): SBX
Hometown: Jay Vermont
Home Mountain: Jay Peak
Most memorable moment on your board: The most memorable moment on my Donek Saber was winning
BX at USASA Nationals. Done
Season riding goal: Riding at USASA Nationals Again.
Long term riding goal: To Ride for the US Olympic Snowboard Team
Biggest inspiration: Lindsey Jacobellis
Best piece of advice: Never Give Up and always keep going no matter what
Other hobbies: Running, Hiking, Yoga, Biking
Shout outs: My family and UVM snowboard team
Instagram: @haleygoof
Snapchat: haleygoff9802
Facebook Athlete Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084999476939
Twitter: haleygo38724488

Zaria Steeves

Riding Since: 2014/ 2 years old
The Donek you ride: 132 Saber 
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: BX, SS, HP
Hometown: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Home Mountain: Sierra-at-Tahoe, Northstar
Most memorable moment on your board: Winning first place in the all-around division at the 2023
USASA Snowboard Nationals
Season riding goal: Place 1st in SBX at the 2024 USASA Snowboard Nationals
Long-term riding goal: To become the next South Lake Tahoe Olympian
Biggest inspiration: Jamie Anderson, Chloe Kim, Lindsey Jacobellis
Best piece of advice: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time
we fall”
Other hobbies: Competitive soccer, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, and all that Tahoe has to offer
Shoutouts: Thanks to my family and Tahoe community for supporting my journey!
Instagram: @zaria.steeves

Kendrick Keene

Riding Since: 2020

The Donek you ride: I’m currently riding a Pulse and a Saber. I’m going to order a B1 and a REV.

Regular or goofy: Regular.

Favourite Discipline:

GS

Hometown: Silverton, CO

Home Mountain: Kendall, Mountain and Purgatory, Resort

Most memorable moment on your board:  

When I got 10th place at USASA Nationals last year.

Season riding goal:

To get Top 5 at USASA Nationals.

Long term riding goal:

To podium at Nor-Am’s

Biggest inspiration:

Ken (my Boss)

Best piece of advice:

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t to work hard.

Other hobbies:

Soccer, hiking, fishing, ping pong, riding my one-wheel, 14ers, and snowmobiling

Shout outs: my dad, mom and Heather

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kendrick_s_keene

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/kendrickskeene

 

Ethan Edwards

Riding since 2017

The Donek you ride Pulse, Knapton Twin, Saber

Board size 163

Regular or Goofy. Regular

Favorite Discipline Giant Slalom and Slalom

Home town Snow Camp, NC

Home mountain Sugar Mountain, NC

Most memorable moment on your board. Riding with Ryan Knapton at USASA Nationals

Season riding goal top five in GS at Nationals

Long term riding goal NORAM/FIS racing

Biggest inspiration Nevin Galmarini and Ryan Knapton

Other hobbies Surfing, Skateboarding, Motorcycles, and Slack-lining

Shout outs Adam Thompson, Pew Lee, Teammates at sugar, and Family 

Instagram @EthanBurkeEdwards 

Kate Gunn

Riding Since:  2018

The Donek you ride:   130 Saber SBX

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS, CARVE):   Giant Slalom

Hometown: Powell, WY

Home Mountain: Red Lodge Mountain, Red Lodge, MT

Most memorable moment on your board:  Beating all the adult women snowboarders in our Town Series GS race.

Season riding goal:  Compete in my first boardercross and land some new grabs in the park.

Long term riding goal: To medal at USASA Nationals

Biggest inspiration: My family (Mom, Dad and Max) and the grown-up carvers at my mountain who help and encourage me.

Best piece of advice: If you want to be good at something, you have to be willing to be bad at it first.

Oher hobbies:  Soccer, Legos, playing with my brother

Shout outs: Audra and Forrest at Red Lodge Mountain for helping me get better every day on the mountain and just being nice.

Instagram:  MontanaGroms

Max Gunn

Riding Since: 2018 (2 years old)
The Donek you ride : Saber for racing a SBX, Custom Junior for park
Board Size: 125 – park board, 127 – racing board
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favourite Discipline: BoarderCross and Slopestyle
Hometown: Powell, WY
Home Mountain: Red Lodge Mountain, Red Lodge Montana
Most memorable moment on your board: Having Lindsey Jacobellis volunteer to be our Boarder Cross
Coach at USASA Nationals last year since we don’t have a travelling coach
Season riding goal: This season I’d like to land a Tame Dog, a board slide to 270 off a rail, and to beat my
Dad in racing
Long term riding goal: I’d like to make it to the Dew Tour or the X-games
Biggest inspiration: Forrest Logan – I see the things he does in the park, then I want to do it
Best piece of advice: You’re not going to be great the first time you do something
Other hobbies: Soccer, Legos, building things out of cardboard, and working in the timber shop for the
family
Shout outs: Silver Run Snowboard Team! All of our Red Lodge Snowboard racing family (Eirik, Stefan,
Gretchen and David)
Instagram: MontanaGroms

Maru Kaneshige

Riding Since: 2 years old at mt. Brighton, Michigan.

The Donek you ride :110 Junior

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline: BX.SL.GS

Hometown: Michigan, Ann Arbor

Home Mountain: big bear (this year, Copper)

Most memorable moment on your board: The day I was able to ride a high box for the first time

Season riding goal: 360° and winning gold medal

Long term riding goal: X-game champion

Biggest inspiration: My brother & friends

Best piece of advice: Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today

Other hobbies: baseball. skateboard. bike

Shout outs: enjoy snowboarding

Instagram: snow4_m

Koitaro Kaneshige 

Riding Since: 6years old at mt. Brighton, Michigan.

The Donek you ride : 127 Junior

Regular or goofy: Regular

Favourite Discipline : SS, BX

Hometown: Born in Osaka Japan, Raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Home Mountain: big bear (this year copper mountain)

Most memorable moment on your board: The day I rode the rails all the way for the first time

Season riding goal: complete a backflip and Nationals champion

Long term riding goal: going to the Olympics

Biggest inspiration: family & friends

Best piece of advice: just do it!

Other hobbies: skate board, bike, baseball,saxophone

Shout outs: Never give up

Instagram: snow4_m

Lucy Van Ampting

Riding Since: I could walk
The Donek you ride: Junior
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: Slopestyle, Halfpipe, rail jam
Hometown: Lake Elmo, MN
Home Mountain: Buck Hill, Minnesota
Most memorable moment on your board: My first urban build with two hits and a jump
Season riding goal: Bigger Jump on rails
Long term riding goal: To keep getting better
Biggest inspiration: My Dad
Best piece of advice: Have fun, never stop learning, don’t die.
Other hobbies: Wakesurfing, Skateboarding, Acting, singing, soccer, Ukulele
Shout outs: Minnesota Select Snowboarding, Shredding Sassy
Instagram:@lucyvanampting
Other: youtube @LucyBoards

 

Piper Beach

Riding Since: 2018
The Donek you ride: Pulse 158
Board Size: 158
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline : GS
Hometown: Roxbury, New Jersey
Home Mountain: Hunter Mountain, New York
Most memorable moment on your board: Breaking my wrist in 2023 while racing GS at Hunter
mountain.
Season riding goal: To get faster and lower in my GS turns.
Long term riding goal: To reach my full potential as a rider and to compete at the best of my abilities.
Biggest inspiration: My sisters, every time they work hard on the snow it makes me want to work twice
as hard.
Best piece of advice: To work hard and always show good sportsmanship to fellow athletes.
Other hobbies: Soccer and Lacrosse.
Shout outs: To Coach Brian Cook, Camelback Mountain, PA, and PASEF where I learned the basics of
racing and developed a lot as a rider.
Instagram: 3snowboarders

Ripley Rowland

Riding Since: 2021

The Donek you ride : junior

Board Size: 135

Regular or goofy: regular

Favourite Discipline : jumps

Hometown: Mountianburg AR   

Home Mountain: Wolf Creek

Most memorable moment on your board: Riding with my dad on black diamonds

Season riding goal: hit jumps and carve

Long term riding goal: double back flip

Biggest inspiration: My daddy

Best piece of advice: get sleep

Other hobbies: dance, cheer and sing

Kayley Warren

Riding Since: 2022
The Donek you ride: 125 Junior Custom
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: All ?? But if I had to choose only one, Boardercross!
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Home Mountain: Copper Mountain, Keystone & Breckenridge, Colorado
Most memorable moment on your board:
It was January 2023. I just started learning how to snowboard the year before. I liked racing in the family
cross course with my teammates at Copper Mountain, so I asked my mom to sign me up for a USASA
boarder cross competition there.
It was my very first competition. I was nervous and excited. I was the only girl in my age group that day,
so I was going to go race against a boy who was part of a large crowd. More than half of the 100+
athletes competing that day were from his team.
The official course that was built for the competition was much different and a lot harder than I expected.
That morning, we had 9” of fresh snow, which is not good for racing! On my first practice run, I fell after
the first jump and landed at the bottom of the 2nd jump. I got up, hopped to the top of the next jump with
my board still strapped on, and pushed myself up so I could keep going. A lot of people starting cheering
for me! After that, I ended up winning the race and earning my first gold medal.
Season riding goal: To learn new skills and to HAVE FUN!
Long term riding goal: To make it to the Olympics!
Biggest inspiration: Chloe Kim & Lindsey Jacobellis
Best piece of advice: Never give up!
Other hobbies: Skiing, swimming, tumbling, cheerleading, surfing, ice skating, skateboarding, hiking,
biking, traveling & academics
Shout outs: God, my SLBC family, @Baltagismondi, @jcig_, @_panyutian_, @_liuzhiiyou_, Mattie
Voegtle, JW & my Team Summit coaches, @pappasnowz, Curtis, Holly, A-Max & @Coppermtn crew.
Last but not least, Mommy & Daddy for all their love and support.

International Amateur Athletes

Zayn Butt

Riding since: 2015
Donek model you ride:Junior
Board size:133
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite discipline: Slope Style
Hometown: Sun Peaks, BC
Home mountain: Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality
Most memorable moment on your board: My first competition at BC Snowboard Provincial Series
Season riding goal: Dial in my 360s with style
Long term riding goal: Continuing to improve on all park features and trying something new each time I ride
Best piece of advice: Always have fun and stay humble
Other hobbies: DH Biking, Guitar, Drums
Shout out to Buff Canada and Sun Peaks Freestyle Club
Biggest inspiration: Sean Miskiman, Derek Molinski, Nayte Brown

Instagram: @butterzayn

Youtube Channel 

Neva Peterson

Riding Since: 2017
The Donek you ride: Junior 115
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): Boardercross because it has pumping and banked turns and you get to race people!!
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Home Mountain: Sunshine Village Banff
Most memorable moment on your board: Racing boardercross at the 2019 Nissan Supergirl Pro
and getting to ride with Lindsey Jacobellis and Zoe Bergmann!
Season riding goal: Learning spins and grabs in the halfpipe
Long term riding goal: To compete in the Olympics by doing flips in the halfpipe and racing
boardercross.
Biggest inspiration: Watching all the women’s competitions in X-Games and Olympics. I
especially love watching records be made, like Maddie Mastro landing her double crippler 900,
and Anna Gasser landing her cab triple underflip!! I can’t wait to set some records myself some
day!
Best piece of advice: Keep going after your goals, even when it gets hard. Eventually you will
get it!
Other hobbies: BMX Racing, Skateboarding, Mountain Biking
Shout outs: USASA Southeastern Series where I got my start, Team Utah where I trained last
season, and AMP Snowboarding Team where I’ll be taking it to the next level this season! Also,
Shred Dog Gear who keeps me ready to shred no matter the weather conditions!
Instagram: @AwakenArtemis

Sokolov Ilya

Riding Since: 3 y.o.

The Donek you ride: B-1s

Board Size: 167

Regular or goofy: goofy

Favourite Discipline: SBX

Hometown: Saint-Petersburg

Home Mountain: Red Lake resort

Season riding goal: Improve your skills and win medals

Long term riding goal: win the olympic games

Best piece of advice: improve throughout life

Other hobbies: basketball

Instagram: ilyysklvv

Snapchat ilysokl

Sergey Bakhtin

Birthday: 01.01.2006

Riding Since: 2011

The Donek you ride: Donek B1s

Board Size: 167/17/w

Regular or goofy: Goofy

Favourite Discipline: BX

Hometown: Saint-Petersburg

Home Mountain: Resort «Krasnoye ozero» (Red Lake)

Most memorable moment on your board: first 1st place on national junior championship

Season riding goal: Gaining experience, developing skills, getting into the adult team of the national team, Popularization of myself and my sponsor Donek

Long term riding goal: Become the best athlete in the country, get into international competitions and get into the top 10 best athletes in the world

Biggest inspiration: When everyone is watching TV and sees me snowboarding

Best piece of advice: Don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try!

Other hobbies: Graphic art, Programming

Instagram: bakhtin.sergey

Facebook Profile: Sergey Bakhtin

Twitter: S_Bakhtin