GETTING SCHOOLED BY THE BEST SNOW SCHOLARS IN THE BIZ
The MGT Snowboard Camp Academy Provides a Sponsorship Fast Track to a Promising Rider

Following close behind the Marie & Marie face off, another power combo has hit the pages of the MGT Academy text: Leanne & Emily. Official MGT mascot and super pro Leanne Pelosi finds time between photo shoots in Argentina and her High Cascade Signature Session to grill Emily Park on motovations and drive to become a graduate of the MGT Academy. What is the Academy? Well, MGT Snowboard Camp has created a program that places a rider on a fast(er) track to a snowboard career by choosing 1 promising MGT camper and placing them under the tutorial wing of the MGT pro coaches to get a head start on pursuing a snowboard career in 2010. This year, 5 extraordinary campers have successfully made the Honor Roll by calculating the square root of a cab 540 and applying the molecular formula of 2 parts dedication and 2 parts raw talent. Or something like that. Now it’s down to the final exam. The final exam is an oral; a conversation between pro and am to explore each other’s craniums. Check out what Emily has got ...

Leanne Pelosi & Emily Park

Leanne: Tell us a little bit about YOU. Ex.: How on earth do you get to snowboard so much living in the UK?  Is it true you're down under right now?  How long you there for, your plans for competing at all?

Emily: Hi Leanne that's right, I have returned to the land of the long white cloud! I love New Zealand SO much! I worked out here for a season winter 07' at the Woolshed, up at Snow Park and it was a brilliant 6 months living in Wanaka.  It's great to be back and I am getting my shred on for 3 weeks riding at The Remarkables, Cardrona and Snow Park. The freestyle scene in NZ is so progressive, friendly and fun! I love it! I haven't entered any comps out here but I have been lucky enough to watch some.  The Parklife Invitational Street Jam in Queenstown was so sick and the Pipe and Slopestyle finals of the Burton Open literally blew my mind. Back to back double cork 10s! WHAT!! Danny Kass and his ghetto sound system - too funny! (check out some of my pics at http://bsasnowboarding.com/?p=364 if you like).

So...Me. I'm a PE teacher (Sports/Phys Ed Coach) during the UK summer and for the last 2 winters I have been working and playing in Banff, Canada! Teaching people to get gnarly at snowboarding. I used to teach PE fulltime, but in 2007 I went to Canada and qualified to teach snowboarding with NONSTOP (http://www.nonstopsnowboard.com/). It's been a snow life for me ever since and I can't see a future without it. Snowboarding has become such a major part of my life. I have never been so passionate about anything before.  I think it will mean moving to Canada at some point to make the mountains my home.
 
Leanne: Who are you inspired by for shredding? Where do you see these riders? In movies? Contests? Magazines? Any favorite video parts?
 
Emily: I am most inspired by the crew of riders at Sunshine Village (Adam, Burgie, Chamberlain, Carmicheal, Mr Wells, Kaz, Daryl and Page). The real life people, doing real life tricks right before my eyes! I am so lucky that I get to ride with such stylish and techi riders and not just in the park, but also all over the mountain.  I love trying to copy their tricks. I try to make mine look just as stylish and I don't like to claim a trick till I stomp it 3rd hit. I enjoy watching videos and my favorite riders are the ones with steeze, you know that lazy "I don't need any upper body limbs to do this trick kind of style". My favorite rider is Torstein Horgmo; his Northstar follow cam run is my favorite footage. He is such a great jumper and this jib run shows he has ALL the skills, so stylish! I would like to ride with more girl shredders because I think that will inspire me to push myself more. 

Leanne:  Animals: Which animal is the symbol of Canada. It’s on a coin, in countless cartoons and it was in the old Hudson Bay trading post days it took a stack of this animal's pelts as high as a rifle to purchase the rifle.  Do you know which animal this is?
 
Emily: What is a beaver.

Leanne: Who won the 2009 X Games slopestyle for women? Hint. She's from your country!
 
Emily: The insanely talented Jenny Jones!! Not only from the UK but also a fellow West Country girl! I met her in NZ, she is really friendly and doing a great job flying the flag for the Brits.  

Leanne: What else consumes your time other than snowboarding?
 
Emily: My name is Emily Park and I used to be a crochet addict! ...ha ha. I find it hard to sit still so it's the perfect hobby for the bus and gondola journeys to and from the hill. I don't find the time to do it as much as I do when I am living in the UK. I prefer to stay active so I am fit and strong for another winter season. My favorite team sport is cricket but I enjoy pretty much all sports.
 
Leanne: What is your dream trick?
 
Emily: Switch front tail same ways on a street style rail.

Leanne: When are you coming back to North America?

Emily: This November. I'll give you a wave as I fly over Calgary! I can't wait to be in the Canadian Rockies again.

Leanne: What is your best recipe?
 
Emily: Mango chicken!

Leanne: Where is your favorite place to snowboard? Why?

Emily: My favorite place to snowboard is in the park. Jibbing is what I enjoy the most, getting locked onto rails and learning new tricks is the best feeling, so wherever there is a park with fun features to play on. My favorite place to ride powder and tree runs is Kicking Horse because I had an epic day there last season riding 50cms of POW midweek getting freshies with friends all day long!

Leanne: What is your most embarrassing moment?

Emily: Erm...I always remember stepping on a skateboard in front of this guy I liked and wanted to impress. I can't skate but thought I would give it a go…you know to maybe impress him with some skills...I stepped on it and it flew out from under my feet.  I pretended like it hadn't hurt when really I was crying inside! I can be a bit of a klutz at times, but you get used to it after a while.

That wraps this round, but keep your eyes peeled for Interview #3 coming this way soon...