Knew Management

Walking across the street from Edelweiss Mountain Deli back to Darkside Snowboards in Stowe, I could feel the sweat running down my brow. Indian summers are super common and always bring temps into the seventies when we should be expecting flurries, inspiring just a touch of worry among our tight Green Mountain community. But this year we’re not worried. I walk into Darkside Snowboard Shop and throw a round of high fives as I make my way to the backdoor. The atmosphere is that of your typical core, rad, “I never wanna shop anywhere else in my life” kind of shop and things were definitely feeling like a warm, late fall. Customers were shopping blissfully, Rock N’ Roll was jamming out of the speakers, Rome’s “Any Means” vid was playing on the TV and everything was as it should be. I opened the back door and emerged into a wintry, grom filled jib festival complete with screaming children, resounding “booyeahs!” and two jib lines with more snow than we’re liable to get in mid January. As I walked past the drop-in to grab my boardI looked down the line to see the familiar faces of Knew riders Keith Bennett, Tucker Speer, Chris Hagerty and Riley Nickerson and I knew that the session was getting underway and that these guys we’re going to be killing it. Let the games begin!

The fact that Darkside can set up snow and bring all of these kids together puts a smile on my face and this is what Snowboarding is all about; simply shredding with your friends and having a great time. Darkside is an exceptional shop filled with employees who are completely committed to the shred and is the host of Friday Night Fights, a weekly jib fest that draws shredders from Stowe, Morrisville, Burlington. and Bolton, out of the woodwork to exercise their skills on the “U” box, the flat bar, and the bank ramp. On this particular evening, the kids were in full force as parents, coaches and friends of the Mount Mansfield Snowboard Club gathered around the bonfire to scarf hot dogs and pizza while they watched their kids get nasty on the rails. As the session progressed, Pete Donin of Darkside, Riley Nickerson (Darkside) and Danger Dave of the Mount Mansfield Snowboard Club began gapping the grass in between the jibs with 360’s, nasty rail bonks and the highly anticipated October back flip while Ebo Singleton, Darkside’s manager captured the action on film.
One thing that has always amazed me about Snowboarders is that they will stop at nothing to ride their Snowboards no matter what season it is, no matter how much concrete they’re surrounded by and no matter what other people have to say about that. The passion that I see in the youth at Stowe is unparalleled: Creativity, commitment, progression, and fun are embodied in every front board, every 270 and each switch up performed by these kids who are quickly climbing the ranks to greatness. Keep your eyes on our Knews section for more team updates and photos.

*Special thanks to Darkside, Knew team riders Riley Nickerson, Keith Bennett,Tucker Speer, Chris Haggerty, the Mount Mansfield Snowboard Club and Snowboarding.

-Toohey

Photo Credit: Ebo Singleton, Darkside Snowboardswww.darksidesnowboards.com