Welcome back to the Canadian Selkirks where the lines are steep and the snow is deep. Our next piece in the series is with a Rogers Pass local who frequents one the largest ski resort in the world, located in a once small railroad town called Revelstoke. Joey has the perfect balance between riding resort and the backcountry in what could easily be called the North American freeride mecca. In this interview I was able to talk to Joey about what it’s like touring in the Yukon and what his upcoming plans for this season are.
Name: Joey Vosburgh
Primary Location, Home Mountain, or Home Range: I live in Revelstoke which lies between the Selkirks and the Monashees. There is a pretty fun ski hill here as well.
Age:33
Primary Solid Board: I ride anything around 164. Last year I broke a board at the Masters and ended up on a ski shop demo board. I think it was a Battaleon triple base tech… funny… but fun.
Primary Split Board: S-series 165
Preferred Binding System: Dyna-split
Boot: Scarpa F3 with forward leaning mods… its da shit!
How Long Have You Been Snowboarding Semi-Professionally? I have been snowboarding for 18 years. I wouldn’t call it that. I just love to go out with friends who may be photog/ filmers and just have fun, bag shit and shred pow!
How Long Have You Been Splitboarding? Made my first split 5 years ago
What Compelled You to Begin Splitboarding? Like everyone else I realized that snowshoes wer not cutting it and that Voile was onto something.
Most Memorable Glacier Travel: Abyss Glacier in the Northern Selkirks hands down. Super complicated slots and a killer keyhole that we found to gain access to Bridgeland Peak (10 000′ )
Where has Split Boarding taken you? Its taken me to a place of freedom. from the lift lines and the crowds to the peace of the backcountry.
Gnarliest or most Extensive Approach for a Single Line: Mt. Steele, Yukon. all I can say is the Yukon is a warp… things are decieving up there. 30 hours drive, 2 days wait, 1 hour flight, 2 days acclimatizing ( need more), 4 days shuttling gear closer,1 slip into a crevasse, 17 hours to summit and 3 more days hunkered down in the fog!
Ideal Backcountry Day: They’re all so unique, but any day with good friends and good stability
A Line You’ve Been Eyeing for a While, or What Would Be your Dream Trip? All my friends, base camp style somehwere wicked… say Alaska or anywhere with large mountains. There is also a line off Tilley ( S.Monashees) Ive been looking at for a 3 years… maybe this will be the year.
Favorite Backcountry Meal: Anything that tastes good and didnt weigh a ton… it a bit of an art.
Favorite Piece of Gear: I love the Anorak Jacket from North Face. its 159 grams and packs down to nothing.
Favorite Place You’ve Travelled: I love Vancouver Island. Not for the mountains but more for the ocean. Something about the coast soothes me.
Sponsors: The North Face Canada
Print/ Movie Appearances: Snowboard Canada, Snowboard,Snowboarder, Frequency, Transworld (in 1999)… seems like a shot every year or two.
Local Causes You’re Passionate About: Avalanche awarness. Not just the bulletin but call your friends and find out what they saw… actual observations are much more valuable than a bulletin put together from an office.
Other Stuff You Do: I love to work in my small wood shop.
Check out Joeys wild trip out to the Yukon here
