For riders living in the east, getting to meet pro snowboarders is a big deal. Think about it: if you live in Whistler, odds are good you'll bump into a pro often enough, whether it's in the chairlift line or the liquor store line. But in Ontario? Unless you're at a secret rail spot at 3 AM while a film crew's in town, it just isn't going to happen.

These odds change just once a year, when the annual Ski and Snowboard Show hits Toronto during the third weekend of October. With autograph signings held at the show, and video premiere parties happening each night, it's a rare opportunity to share a moment with someone you've typically only seen in the media.

This year the 8 Mile crew arrived in full force, with Mikey Rencz, Johnny Lyall, Dustin Craven, Benji Ritchie and Kevin Griffin. Kevin Sansalone and Andrew Hardingham came to town with Sandbox, and the ever-game Chris Rasman single-handedly repped Alterna. With Andrew Hardingham posted up in the Snowboard Canada booth filming his "Between Two Boards" interviews (search Zach Galifinakis on the Funny or Die website for the inspiration), and the beer garden in full effect, I corralled Rencz, Ritchie and Rasman for a group discussion outside to catch a little sunshine in lieu of the artificial lights and recycled air at the show.

Chris Rasman, Benji Richie and Mikey Rencz, together again.

So who's had the Andrew Hardingham interview treatment yet?

Chris: I have, but it's best if they don't know the angle he's taking...

Mikey: I can only assume what it'll be like, considering its Hardingham.

Benji: I probably won't even understand him. [laughs]

Mikey: He's going to ask Benji what he did this summer, and Benji will answer with one word: "Chilled." [everyone laughs]

Benji: The language barrier doesn't really help...

You guys come to these shows all the time and travel out to video premieres. What motivates you? What makes you want to get on the plane to come to something like this?

Chris: I think it's super important because all of these kids in Toronto don't really get to see pro snowboarders; they don't get to come out west unless it's for a trip. They just watch the movies, read the mags and go on the websites... so it's super important to meet them and get them hyped. It's real!

Mikey: I love doing it, honestly. Meeting people and meeting that one dude who just loves snowboarding so much. You do it for that guy, you know? And when we all get to travel together and don't have to wake up early to go film like we do in the winter... it's just fun. We get to have a good time and party. It's a bonus.

Benji: And we haven't seen each other in a long time, since we're all off doing different things, so it's great to hang out together.

Yep, it's a Ski Show.

Often these trips are team based, but you guys are all here together as friends, not because of sponsors.

Mikey: Usually I do a Burton trip and you're in and out in one night. But it's cool with Eight Mile because we brought everyone together and Rasman is here for Alterna, so it's cool to bring everyone together not on a team level, but just as shredders.

Chris: We didn't get sent out here, we want to be here.

Benji: And we're making our own schedules, so it's great.

What makes different parts of Canada unique on trips like this?

Benji: Well, people are a little more aware of what we're doing on the west coast because that's where we live and film. So it's good to come back here or go to Quebec to talk to people and educate them... make them feel part of it.

Did you get any unusual questions at your signing today?

Chris: I got asked what team I was on, which was funny...

Benji: Someone asked me if it was me on my poster.

Mikey: I always get asked where I get my Red Bull hats from, since you can't buy them... a dude last night was all over me about it; I just told him I got it on eBay. And he said, "Dude, that's crazy... I heard they only give those out to their team. I knew that wasn't a legit Red Bull hat!"

Kevin Griffin, Johnny Lyall, Benji and Kale sign autographs at the SBC booth.

You're in Kale's home territory now. Do you have an all-time Kale story to share?

Benji: [laughs] There are so many... he's always doing something funny.

Mikey: Just on this trip alone! Last night he was lounging in his Ed Hardy boxers in the hotel room... what did they say on them?

Benji: True to the tattoo! [everyone laughs]

Mikey: He doesn't even know or care that he's wearing Ed Hardy boxers... someone probably gave them to him and he just thinks they're comfortable. So amazing... just the shit that comes out of his mouth.

Chris: He doesn't even know how funny he is.

Mikey: And those are always the funniest people.

Kale getting the Hardingham treatment. Watch for the videos on SnowboardCanada.com.

What's it like starting the Eight Mile project and getting to put someone like Kale in the video?

Mikey: I just think it's cool that he wants to do it... he can do whatever he wants. Just for him to want to film with us is amazing.

What are you guys most looking forward to this winter?

Benji: I am going to be riding with DCP and Romain (DeMarchi) this winter, because I'm riding for YES now and they're doing a team video... so it's going to be really exciting to ride with those guys. I haven't been able to ride with DCP a lot in the past few years and he's a good friend of mine, so I am really looking forward to that.

What about you, Mikey? Another Eight Mile video?

Mikey: Yeah, another Eight Mile video and... [pauses] filming with People again. And there might be a Burton team movie... I don't know if I'm supposed to say that! [laughs] So if that happens I will do that. But I don't really care... I just want to be snowboarding and filming! Who it's for doesn't matter as much.

Chris? Another Alterna part?

Chris: Yeah, for sure. I am honestly just stoked to film a lot at home. Travelling is fun, but it's nice to stay home for a while, too. But I was talking to Phil Tifo, the photographer, about doing a trip to Africa, so we'll see... that would be fun.

Where do you guys think progression is going right now? Are double corks and triple corks good for snowboarding? What's your take on that?

Benji: It's not even on my mind when I go into the backcountry... I don't ever plan to do a double cork. But if we get a good enough jump for it, then I would sure try. I think we're more into freeriding and being creative with natural stuff; that's more how I am trying to progress. It's also pretty rare that we hit jumps that allow those tricks.

Chris: Building a jump big enough to do those tricks in the backcountry would be two to three days of work... so it's better for us to keep riding and filming on natural stuff, typically. I think it's more fun to watch that kind of snowboarding. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about trying double corks, but it's not personally of great interest to me.

Mikey: People can do whatever they want. If they want to do that shit they can do it, but like Benji said, that's not how we film and ride. We find something that looks fun to ride, and a lot of times it's a cliff or a natural hit. And sometimes we'll build jumps, but it's about what the terrain allows. I had a couple of goes at the double cork last year, but I didn't have the right jump for it, so I didn't land it. And I don't go looking for double cork jumps.

Benji: My progression is more about trying to ride new stuff... it's the exploration that's important to me.

What do you think watching someone like Joe Sexton's ender in the People video? It's all jibs, whereas you guys are all freeriding... does that make it hard to relate?

Benji: I like it, but I prefer watching freeride-style videos.

Mikey: I don't jib, but I have total respect for it. But I'd rather watch a backcountry part... and I'm sure those guys would rather watch a jib part, so it just comes down to what you like about snowboarding.

Chris: I have respect for it... I tried to do a rail mission in Vancouver with [Matt] Belzile and it was so hard! [laughs] But I'd just rather be in the mountains and in the wilderness; that's just what I like.

What video parts have you seen this year that impressed you?

Chris: Mark Sollors... I was really hyped by his part. He's doing great.

Benji: I always like seeing Jake Blauvelt. His part is all natural and it gives you ideas... but I haven't seen all the videos yet, so it's hard to say.

Mikey: I've been hyped on all the videos... I like seeing all the riders. But Sollors for sure, because he has legit backcountry and rail footage... and that's really, really hard to do. And I think a lot of people know how hard he works, so I was hyped to see what he did.

And what Ski Show is complete without dance routines and BMXing...?

-----------------------
Related:
There's No Stopping Chris Rasman
Party Your Sock Offs with Mikey Rencz
Benji Ritchie's Not Done Yet