He was no slacker, telling onemagazine I constantly think about working a certainmuscle group or perfecting a particular techniqueif my riding doesnt feel technically perfect. It paidoff: in 1986, he won the slalom event at the WorldChampionships in Breckenridge, Colorado, and asthe 1980s came to an end and his star was rising, heswitched teams from Sims to Burton in the sportsfirst acrimonious court case, and claimed Burtonsfirst pro model. A place where he found inner peace. Its you. Baker is, but if youre reading because you want to know more about Craig and are willing to make the trek, and possess the gear and skills to be safe, then you probably deserve a couple laps there as well. Taking in the mountains had become an addiction for the innovative powder hound from Nelson, Canada. This just scratches the surface of what Craig Kelly meant to snowboarding, and what he means to the history of Burton. During that era, he won four World Championships (1988-91) and three U.S. Open Championships (1987-89). You cant give her the key to your heart because snowboarding put a combination lock on it and only your snowboard knows the number. With fresh pow to be found out there, you know what else you need to do to honor his memory. Annett remembers a soft-spoken, spiritual man who loved snowboarding almost as much as he loved his infant daughter. He said he wasnt sure if there would be enough interest in the life of a snowboarder to warrant a book. While this ode is a few days after the anniversary of his and the six others who died in that devastating avalanche on the Durrand Glacier near Revelstoke, British Columbia in 2003, I have a good feeling Craig is happy we chose snowboarding over work. Craig wrote, If this (list) comes across as uninteresting or meaningless to you, please consider it an educational experience. In that list of eleven people, Craig included both Tom Sims and Jake Burton Carpenter-Craigs quiet way of giving credit to all those who helped him along the way. Dave Downing, 34, one of Kellys close friends and also a backcountry specialist, said that while he keeps telling people that Kelly died doing what he loved and where he loved to be, his passing is extremely hard to accept because Kelly was an expert in avalanche awareness and always studying the science of snow. It was caught aboard the Red Rooster III off Puerto Vallarta and estimated at sea, using a tape-measure formula, to weigh 308 pounds. In 1983, says Tom, there were only about a dozen really good riders in the entire country. If this boats a rockin : Boaters are healthier and happier -- and have sex more often -- than non-boaters, according to a recent survey conducted by Impulse Research Corp. In each case, people laughed and couldnt understand why he was wasting his time with these non-mainstream sports, remembers friend Barry Minor. "Craig Kelly embodied the sole of . The productive blue water has moved to within only a mile or two from the beach and anglers are finding dorado and sailfish that close. Theyre weighing you down. He attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity and studied Chemical Engineering. Details: www.vans.com. Craig was a Sims Snowboards rider, founded by Tom Sims, from 1983 until 1987. Telluride, CO during Burton training camp (Nov 1988). Baker Banked Slalom snowboarding competition in 1988, 1991, and 1993. Flick, there goes the key to the storage unit, then the key to her car. Baker Hardcore posse a famous group he ran with on the mountain launch the ridge at Chair 5, and later when Chair 8 came in, the insane spectacle that occurs when Shuksan Arm has the stability to properly send. The four-time World Champion was literally the best of the best, and brought serious freestyle credibility to Burton. His daughter, Olivia, was born a few months after, a beautiful souvenir from the road, as he once said. TransWorld SNOWboarding debuted in 1987. His first published photos-one racing, and one in a halfpipe doing a tabletop (method) air-appeared on pages fourteen and fifteen. I just go out and ride powder all the time. Craig eventually became known as the sports first truly professional athlete, but dont mistake that for being a saint, says longtime friend Ken Achenbach. Kelly is known as the 'Godfather of Freeriding'; Terje Hkonsen called Kelly the best snowboarder of all time. Craig Kelly starred in a "Wrigleys Gum" commercial in 1988/1989 where he was featured doing a 540. SNOWBOARDERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. One of the most influential snowboarder to ever live. I dont know anybody else that loved mountain riding as much as he did, said Terje Haakonsen, one of the worlds top riders and, like Kelly, sponsored by Burton Snowboards. Then he said, Maybe you could help me out? I was flattered, because not only was Craig a longtime snowboarding hero of mine, he was also one of the few snowboarders I felt really had something to say. As the 1990s progressed, Kelly was regarded as the most bankablename in the sport. Kelly also appeared in an enormous number of video and photo shoots. According to fraternity brother Mark Thomas, It wasnt just Mount Bakers insane terrain that kept him going back, it was his affection for a girl named Kelly Jo Legaz who worked on the mountain. Craig and Kelly Jo would become one of snowboardings first publicized romances. Those championships were both in halfpipe and the now-antiquated snowboard slalom racing. You dont even slow down for the tollbooth, paying instead with the tossed key to your office and the executive washroom. This year's Craig Kelly tribute episode is an interview with his daughter Olivia Kelly. How fortunate we are to be able to honor them by following in their footsteps. . It's time to rejoice, for Ullr has answered Mammoth Mountain's prayers. He won four world championships and three U.S. titles, and during that period, competitive snowboarders didnt necessarily specialize. Copyright a360media 2023. Everybody knew the Mystery was Craig Kelly.. When I left, I gave Craig my personal board, a 1500 FE, and shook his hand. You have to take care of them. Craig Kelly was an American professional snowboarder. Durrand Glacier near Revelstoke, British Columbia in 2003. It did not appear to have been triggered by the actions of any of the skiers or snowboarders; rather, the wall of snow released naturally and without notice as the victims were traversing a slope. Mt. Our ability to see through the snowpack, and see what is happening everywhere with the snow in a given month is not possible.. Copyright a360media 2023. Box 2759. When it was hoisted onto the H&M; Landing scale Sunday morning it was officially weighed at 310 pounds. His input and collaboration on refining and creating new product, including Burtons [ak] line of top-tier backcountry gear, solidified Burtons rider-driven ethos.Towards the end of his life, Kelly had found a place of peace and contentment deep in the mountains. The skiff Porpy brought in a 100-plus pounder on four consecutive days. He spent the remainder of his life riding for Burton Snowboardsowned by Jake Burton Carpenter. It was done in conjunction with another founder of the sport, Bob Barci. Other . Investigators ruled the deaths accidental, caused by asphyxiation. 20, 2003 in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. The first weeks list: skateboarder Andy Macdonald, motocross rider Carey Hart, snowboarder Torah Bright, surfer Kelly Slater and BMX rider Stephen Murray. Kelly was in in the process of becoming the first fully certified snowboarder guide in the Canada Avalanche Association, and at the time of his passing had achieved the highest level of certification of any snowboarder. Learn more about Craig, and find out how you can support the Craig Kelly scholarship fund that helps snowboarders pursuing guide training as a career path through Avalanche Canada. Craig Kelly - The Snowboarders Journal Craig Kelly From his amazing road trips from AK to Chile, to the birth of his daughter, to his interest in quantum physics The Master lays it all down for historical record. Catch of the week: Hector Lopez of San Diego gets credit for the first 300-pound tuna of the San Diego long-range season. Over his 15-year professional career, he won 4 world championships and 3 U.S. championships; he won the Mt. [1] Downing and his wife, freestyle pro Shannon Dunn, are expecting their first child this spring, but he does not intend to cut back on his backcountry excursions. Pulling all the keys out of you pocket and jingling them, you think about what you really want from life. Not long after, legendary board makerTom Sims made a detour to Baker to see Craig ride.When I left, said Sims in a recent interview, I gaveCraig my personal board, a 1500 FE, and shook hishand. He was on the Sims snowboard team. Craig kelly is survived by his daughter, olivia, and partner, savina. Host Lynn Neary talks with Jake Burton, owner of the Burton Snowboard Company about Craig Kelly, a champion snowboarder who was among those killed in an avalanche in British Columbia this . He had no enemies. These circles included baseball, football, and soccer-early foreshadowing to the well-rounded life Craig would lead.When Craig first moved to Mount Vernon, Washington in 1979, a local kid named Dan Donnelly rode his bicycle past Craigs house to check out the new kid., Dan and Craig lifelong friendship was subsequently forged over BMX races (they were both sponsored by Fultons Schwinn, a shop in Mount Vernon) and jumps, and then, one day during the winter of 1981, their friend Jeff Fulton, whose father owned the Schwinn shop, invited them to try snowboarding. Craig Kelly passed away January 20, 2003. He looked like you used tosnowboard and nothing else. His style and personality were magnetic, and through ongoing video parts and magazine coverage, Kellys progression from halfpipe to cliff lines proved there was a viable path beyond the podium. Your information has been successfully processed! And the australian comedian, 40, certainly hit the jackpot with the handsome philanthropist, 29, who is not only 11 years her junior but also filthy rich too. Advanced Search Cancel Login / Join. After that, he was way more careful with his pranks. Okay, next time put more weight on your rear foot.'. He met a longhaired guy named Mark Thomas at the Delta Upsilon fraternity house-like Craig, Mark liked heavy metal. Nitro Snowboards just dropped a new series called Hard Drive. And no one did it better than Craig Kelly. Subscribe to SNOWBOARDERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. Mt Baker Washington powder day on Hemispheres, Same weekend as Legendary Banked Slalom, Craig on unbranded board. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. A true legend, Jason "J2" Rasmus turned his persona into a professional "Snowboarding was born, lived, and died in the mid 1990s." Kelly is known as the 'Godfather of Freeriding'; Terje Hkonsen called Kelly the best snowboarder of all time. Over his 15-year . I know Craig would want us to respect the loss of the other victims as much as him. On page 21 were the results of his second competition, the Sierra Snowboarding Championships, where Craig placed third in the halfpipe event behind Terry Kidwell and Tom Sims. He wasno fool, said Russo recently. Madison Blackley, Ozzy Henning, Aspen Weaver, Nate Haust, Joey Leon and more! Who should we be thanking for that storm? When he pivoted away from the contest spotlight and cash prizes, it was a shock at the time. By the end of that winter, Craig was sponsored by another local bike shop, The Bike Factory, which also carried snowboards made by Burton and the other top brand at the time, Sims. MILD HIGH | ROME SNOWBOARDS @ Woodward Copper! Back at school during the week, Craig would set bamboo gates and train two or three nights under the lights at Ski Acres, outside of Seattle. Craig Kelly was the first true professional snowboarder. He was myinspiration before I met him. said Haakonsen in an interview yearslater. The soft-spoken 36-year-old, often described as the Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky of snowboarding, was one of seven. Kelly made it clear that the backcountry was where he was heading. If my riding doesnt feel technically perfect, exactly the way it should, I concentrate completely on the problem. Its also where my own snowboarding career began nearly 30 years ago when Craigs legendary status was already cemented. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Jacob grew up with two siblings, philip a. You begin throwing them out the window as you blow down the highway. He won virtually everycompetition there was, including four world championship titles ina row, and along the way, helped shape, research and design manyof Burtons products. Craig died on 20 January 2003 near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada in an avalanche which trapped 8 people and killed 6 others. Craig spent a lot of time at the Pac West ski area (Hyak, WA) in 198586. Craig was a four-time World Champion, a three-time U.S. Open Champion, three-time Baker Banked Slalom Champion, and the 2002 recipient of TransWorld SNOWboardings Tranny award. Anything that lets you snowboard more is a scam. Craig had starring, uncredited, roles in Siberia and P-Tex, Lies & Duct Tape, which were both Greg Stump films. If Id come in and bother him, hed shhhh me because he was so focused., During an interview in the late 80s, Craig told Wiley Asher, an editor at International Snowboard Magazine, about his seriousness: When I train Im very analytical, and I constantly think about working a certain muscle group or perfecting a particular technique. But its hard to concentrate on riding halfpipes because they arent at every ski area. Craig Kelly was the first snowboarder to appear in an IMAX movie. When we were out in the backcountry, he wasnt into taking risks, but taking the path of least resistance and riding the smoothest. In kindergarten, coloring and the ABCs were boring to Craig because he could already read. Bob Marleys Three Little Birds played quietly from a mini disc player on the nightstand, and I buried my nose in the first half of James Clavells epic novel, Whirlwind. We get alot of requests for reprints of this column, Craig knew there was a message worth following in here. Thats how we keep his legend alive. Among the findings: Non-boaters have been hospitalized slightly more than boaters (14% to 11%) and tend to be more overweight; boat owners experience greater self-esteem (plus 10%); a better sex life (plus 7%); feel more useful (plus 8%), less lonely (plus 7%) and less fatigued (plus 4%). Download the original design pdf here: Keys To Reality. Craig Kelly should undoubtedly be considered as one of the forefathers of modern snowboarding. All rights reserved. If Craig got into it, says Fulton, all the kids would get into it., Jeff took them up to Mount Baker, and they rode powder off the side of the road because Mount Baker Ski Area didnt allow snowboarding in 1981. By Craigs senior year in high school, he was already an ambassador to the sport-spreading the word to his friends-but he still didnt see any career potential. Was the first craig kelly snowboarder daughter to warrant a book Jo would become one of the bankablename! 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