Eric Pollard Interview – 12/14/2006

Eric Pollard Interview – 12/14/2006 Eric Pollard is one of the most innovative athletes in skiing. The idea to interview Eric came about while discussing some collaborative opportunities with, Jason Levinthal, the founder of Line Skis. We wanted to promote Line’s Elizabeth and Sir Francis Bacon skis which feature Pollard’s research, development, and exclusive artwork. I was less interested with his professional exploits (although stunning) as I was with his creative pursuits and other personal reflections, which appear below for your enjoyment. – Kirk Wimberley, evo employee

KW: Eric, would you mind describing where you are when
you answer these questions–perhaps briefly describe the setting you’re in
to set the tone?

EP: I’m at my house in Oregon. I got up at 6:00 this morning, stretched
out for a half an hour then consumed breakfast. Started up the hill and called
a buddy at the mountain. It just switched to rain after snowing almost a foot
last night. So now I’m back at my house catching up on some emails.

LINE RELATED

KW: How did you first get mixed up with Line and Jason
Levinthal? What was the clincher for that relationship?

EP: I met Jason almost 11 years ago. I was
skiing around on the glacier. He told me he made twin tips and to send him
a video. I took it serious. I spent the rest of the summer making a video,
taking low quality footage from the last winter and new footage of me poaching
all the jumps at Windell’s between sessions. It worked. We have built a solid
friendship over the past decade.

KW: How has the merger between Line and K2 Skis affected you? Have you more or less stayed out of that transaction
or did you have an opinion one way or the other?

EP: I was really happy to hear of the merger
from the get go. I didn’t know anything of it until it was done. For me it
meant that R&D was now only three hours away from my house, I had more
resources, and options for my graphics, we would
ship on time, have better ski testing facilities and we would still be able
to operate completely separate. It is ideal.

KW: Most of my family is from VT. I’m guessing you’ve
been out there a few times because of your relationship with Line. What’s
the best part of that state in your opinion? Do you have a place you go to,
like a bar or restaurant, when you’re in Burlington?

EP: I haven’t spent much time out there.
I went for the X Games and a few promotional events, but for the most part
I have communicated with Line over the phone and computer. I have had a
very hands on relationship with ski design, and graphic design with
Line, but with traveling all the time I didn’t get out to the factory much.
But my favorite aspect of VT is Cabot’s white cheddar.

KW: Have you visited the Burton
factory in Burlington? I went last
year and found it very fascinating. I figured since Line and Burton are so close you may have ventured over
there.

EP: Never been to Burton.

KW: From Line Skis UK: “Eric Pollard is the undisputed leader
of today’s backcountry freestyle revolution.” Are you comfortable with
that title?

EP: I have never heard that. Its promotional
stuff, so I’m okay with it. Obviously it would be very disputed if I were
to make such a statement and really believe it. I don’t think skiing can really
be judged. Too many styles. That’s what I like about
it.

KW: How many prototype skis did you go through before
coming to the Sir Francis Bacon and the Elizabeth?

EP: Many. I’m not sure what the number is
exactly, but it took a few.

POLLARD ON CREATIVITY:

KW: I read that you purchased a 16mm camera, what have you been into shooting? Any scenes not related to skiing? Why film?

EP: I bought a camera so that I could film
what I wanted to with my friends I grew up with. My friend Justin Wiegand
runs the camera. I take it and film surfing and seasons changing, stuff like
that. I really like the way 16 captures images. It seems to capture more mood
and feeling than digital.

KW: What films inspired you to take up directing?

EP: I’m not a director. I have had large
influence in directing films, especially the project I’m involved with this
year. But I’m only assistant director. Eric Iberg is the director.

KW: Do you subscribe to Netflix? If so, what was the last movie you watched?
If not, what was the last movie you watched?

EP: I don’t subscribe to Netflix. The last
film I watched was An Inconvenient Truth.

KW: How did you get into design? Have you always enjoyed
art?

EP: I have always liked art. Trying to manipulate
my painting for ski graphics brought me to design. Now I really like to work
in a lot of mediums.

KW: I found out that you put out a song. How did you
create that song and what led you to do it?

EP: No. You must be mistaken. My friend Chris
Stolz is a producer. He has made some music for me over the years. He is doing
our entire soundtrack for our movie called IDEA this year.

KW: Which designers/artists do you currently admire?

EP: To tell you the truth I pretty much keep
my head down. I’m not engulfed in that world. I do a lot of graphics, but
I ski and surf more. I was most influenced by Dali growing up. I most admire
my wife’s graphics now.

KW: What’s your creative set-up (Both high tech and
low tech)?

EP: I have an entire room in my house for
painting and drawing. Ink, brushes, water color, oil, acrylic
tables. Easels everywhere. Then there is another
room entirely for graphic work. Two desks, with Macs everywhere.
Dual monitors. I have the latest Intel 2 duo, it
rips.

KW: Has any piece of artwork stopped you cold lately
(Could be an advertisement, painting, sculpture, etc)?

EP: No, but I am constantly seeing impressive
works of art.

KW: I read from the Matchstick Production’s site that
Frequency was your favorite magazine. What makes you read that publication
over all the others?

EP: Simply the content. It speaks from and
to the culture I adhere to.

KW: Which publications, other than skiing or snowboarding
magazines, do you read most regularly?

EP: I pick up surf mags all the time. My
wife gets other snowboard mags; I spend some time checking them out.

KW: Are you a blogger? If so, what’s the URL of your
blog?

EP: No.

KW: If you like to read books, what’s on your reading
list?

EP: I don’t read much, but when I get a moment
I read. I just finished Lance Armstrong’s autobiography (It’s Not
About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life),
and F.U.B.A.R by Sam Seder and Stephen Sherrill. Now
reading Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress and Flowers in the Dustbin
by James Miller.

PERSONALLY SPEAKING:

KW: Do you remember the first girl you ever kissed?
If so, what would you say to her if you ran into her at the grocery store?

EP: Yes and hello.

KW: What was the best part about your neighborhood as
a kid (if you lived in a neighborhood)? Otherwise, just a favorite thing about growing up.

EP: I grew up 15 minutes away from a ski
hill and my parents are cool.

KW: What’s one thing people would be surprised to find
out about you?

EP: I have an ugly hairy chest.

KW: Is there someone you’d want to go skiing with, but
haven’t yet? Who?

EP: John Kerry.

KW: If you enjoy going out for a beer, what kind of
a place do you prefer? A club type atmosphere or some divey place that serves
Rainier? If you don’t drink beer, how do you take your coffee? If you
don’t drink coffee then what do you like to drink?

EP: I don’t drink much coffee, but once in
a while. I like to go out for a drink with friends and family. I don’t much
like the club scene.

ABOUT BEING A PRO:

KW: I read that your favorite or most influential athlete
of all time is Peter Line and Devun Walsh. I grew up seeing these guys in
the magazines. Have you had a chance to hang out with them on the mountain?

EP: I once rode with Peter Line all day.
Very fun.

KW: When I mention your name people tell me you’re a
“good” snowboarder too. What made you pursue skiing instead of snowboarding?

EP: I love skiing, snowboarding is fun.

KW: Was there a crucial point where you could have decided
to ski or pursue something else or was playing in the snow a given for you?

EP: I never thought I would be a pro skier.
It just happened.

KW: When you head out to the mountain do you bring your
skis AND a snowboard?

EP: Yes.

KW: What’s your favorite time of day to be on the mountain?
Do you spend much time going to resorts and standing in lift lines like the
rest of us? The films make it seem like once you reach pro status you never
have to endure a chair lift line ever again.

EP: I like to ride everything from ski resorts
to heli access terrain. Ski resorts can drive me crazy sometimes, but hiking
and digging my sled out gets old too.

KW: Some people look at pro skiers and just think they
landed there one day. How long did it take for you and what’s one piece of
practical advice to others coming up?

EP: Just ride for yourself. Have fun. If
you think you are amazing then get in front of a camera or compete.

KW: Do you keep a scrapbook of your career?

EP: No.

KW: You’ve been in a lot of publications. Do you have
a favorite piece?

EP: Not yet.

KW: If someone on the mountain recognizes you and asks
you to take a run with him/her do you agree to go?

EP: For sure.

KW: I searched your name on Newschoolers.com and the
max of 50 posts came up. How do you connect with your fans? Do you have any
crazy fan experiences?

EP: I’m so stoked that people know who I
am and respect how I ski. I’m just a skier who will be cool for five years
and burn out, so I just try to level with people.

KW: If you could take a year off and do something totally
different, call it a Ski Career Gap Year, what would you do?

EP: Surf around the world.

KW: Since you travel a lot you must have your essentials.
What products are a must for your bag before you leave for the airport?

EP: Tooth brush, sketch book, computer, camera
etc.

RANDOM QUESTIONS THAT CAME TO MIND:

KW: BMX, Downhill
Mountain Bike, or Beach Cruiser?

EP: I’m no good with handlebars.

KW: Have you ever chopped a cord of wood?

EP: Yes.

KW: Did you own the original Nintendo Entertainment
System? If so, what was your all-time favorite game?

EP: Nope.

KW: Did you have a favorite teacher growing up?

EP: Nope.

KW: Do you have dreams at night? If so, do you try to
remember the dreams you had. Do you have a consistent character that keeps
showing up in your dreams?

EP: My wife would paint her dreams when we
were dating. So I used to try to remember mine, but I don’t put much effort
into it anymore.

QUESTIONS FROM A COUPLE EVO EMPLOYEES:

From Josh in Customer Service:

Yea I got a question for you. Pertaining to the prophet
130’s, what was the driving inspiration behind having the widest parts of
the ski setback from the tip and tail? It’s a novel idea, and haven’t seen anybody emulate it yet. I ride my pair of 130’s
every time I go out, (Due to the fact they are the only skis I own) and Love
them! A+ to you Mr. Pollard for creating new toys that all we good little
girls and boys can enjoy!

EP: I can’t take credit for the tapered tip and
tail, though the rest of the ski I played a large role in. That was a tweak
that Franois thought up. But I have applied it to skis since, I like it too.
We did it to eliminate hook and drag on tips and tails. When you put the ski
on edge it can hook at the tip and drag at the tail.

From Steve in Customer Service:

I was curious if Line was thinking about adding reverse
camber to any of their fat skis next year?

EP: We have been using the term early rise for
a while now. The second generation Prophet 130’s had early rise. It’s like
reverse camber, but with a long effective base and edge still.

Check out the latest Line Skis at evo