Very few snowboarders from Ontario are known from actually snowboarding in Ontario. Typically, a rider gets good, graduates from high school (or straight drops out), then moves west to live the dream. But what happens if your true passion is more skateboarding and art than being a sponsored snowboarder? Well, then you do what Ryan "Smolik" Helstern did and stay the hell put.

Against the advice of sponsors and friends, Smolik never strayed from his skateboarding and painting roots, preferring to lurk in the city rather than chase powder and live in some cheesy tourist trap mountain town. He gets his fill of creative, urban-style snowboarding when he isn't partaking in his other pursuits, making him a reluctantly sponsored snowboarder if ever there was one.

Riding may come third on his list of priorities, but don't hate just because he has a natural gift that makes sponsors want him in their gear. It's not his fault and it certainly isn't his style to get down on his knees for it like some of the kids out there. You won't find any corny sponsor resumes behind Smolik's success, just pure, raw passion mixed with natural talent.

Read on to find out what makes the enigmatic Smolik tick, tick... boom.

First up is the obvious question: Your name is Ryan Helstern although I knew you for about four years before this even came to my attention. Why "Smolik" and when did this start?
Smolik came from skating just after Fulfill The Dream came out [the Osiris skate video from ‘98]. I guess I was on some Smolik-type shit. Somehow it stuck.

Do you answer to Peter faster than you would answer to Ryan?
Nah, but I do like to introduce myself as Peter to confuse people sometimes.

"Trust" by Smolik.

What about Biggie Smol's?
I've heard them all.

Did you ever skate D3's?
Never. I did run some ODS's for a minute, though.

All right, enough of that. Where'd you grow up? When did you get involved with the boards?
I grew up in Barrie and started skating 14 years ago. Snowboarding came soon after that.

When did the paintbrush/spraycan start consuming your life?
I've done paintings for as long as I can remember but graffiti came in about a decade ago, thanks to skating and my homie Momar.

How did you first get sponsored for snowboarding?
I got hooked up with gear through Surf Paradise back in the day, just from always hanging around the shop and eventually working there. [Chris] Powling got me on the Salomon program a few years ago, thanks to spending all my time cruising Moonstone.

If you have to hang up one of these for life, which would it be: The skateboard, the snowboard, or the paint?
Sadly it would be snowboarding most likely. I just can't see myself not skating or painting.

What's your favorite place to shred in Ontario?
Hands down that's Horseshoe. It's got that good-times vibe.

Smolik at the Under Pressure Festival in Montreal.

Favorite place to skate in Ontario?
Around the corner at Dunbat or out in Scarbs. I'm still super fond of that busted-ass Barrie park.

Tell us about your various blogs.
Well, I have a Smolik Design blog (http://smolikdesign.blogspot.com/) just for people to get a better idea about me as an artist, and to see that new shit before it gets updated on my website. Then I have a music blog (http://bumpinmymusic.tumblr.com/), which is pretty fun to do. Its just music I find dope, funny, weird, or just interesting.

Why didn't you ever move out west like everyone else does?
I like Ontario and I'm not very into jumping so having Toronto's rails to ride is a good thing.

Kickflip.

How's living in the big city treating you so far?
My coffee intake has gone through the roof. I really dig our skate sessions, too.

You just did a trip to Montreal to paint in the Under Pressure festival. What was that like?
It's always fun... [It's] sketchy stand on scaffolding four stories high and maybe three feet wide, but it's worth it.

Over the last couple years you have had a few of your own art shows. Run down where those took place. Do you usually work with more skate-specific art galleries?
I've done a lot with The Bait Shop, Echelon, and Sleeping Giant. I guess low-brow art and skateboarding have the same D.I.Y. approach. It normally makes for a fun opening.

What medium do you prefer?
I love spray paint; you can go huge. The paint brush lets me get my O.C.D. on with detailed portraits. I like to mix the two.

Where are you looking to take your art in the future?
I want to show around the world. Hopefully I can do a good enough job to be living out of New York in the future. I just want to skate the city and maybe run into [Jason] Dill.

You're a pretty quiet dude. Being somewhat well-known in this little skate/snow scene that we live in, do you ever get concerned that people might think you're a dick or vibing them just because you are quiet?
I don't normally notice it. I always have friends confess to me that they were intimidated by me before they got to know me. I'm actually a pretty mellow guy.

Smolik Show at the Sleeping Giant Gallery in Toronto.

You spent the last season working in the terrain park at Horseshoe. What did this entail? How are things looking over there for the future?
It was really fun. It felt like the old days, when you would roll up to the hill and all the homies were there cruising. No egos, no stressing to film tricks, a serious lack of neon and sketchy landings, just playing around and learning. The future looks bright. There are some big things coming up over there for the season. Knowing how P.H. [Steve Powling] rides and that he's involved should tell you the level of creativeness going into the park. It's going to be the future of the Ontario shred scene.

Any last words?
I'm just going to keep skating, painting and get ready for the season. I'm definitely looking forward to taking it to the streets with you this winter... [laughs]

"A Good Ol' Boy" by Smolik.

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Related:
Down With Horseshoe
Mint Closet Showroom Shakedown