Who is Erik Olson?

Wednesday, August 8th 2007

What’s your theory on grabs? You hold them in your tricks longer than anyone

Grabs are a way of making a trick look different and showing your individual style I guess... I find that the more traditional grabs are the ones you can manipulate the most and give your own style to.

What’s your favorite grab?

That depends on the trick I’m doing. Some grabs work better with different rotations and such.

What’s going to be the hot new grab this upcoming season?

The one I wont be doing.

What grab is played out?

Geoff with his huntony

You’re a great all-around skier, not just a park rat. How did you learn how to make real turns living in central New York?

Well, I got my start at Brantling ski slopes which sports an amazing 250ft vertical feet. It has a decent pitch so you’re forced to make some turns unlike many ski hills in the area. When I transferred schools and started skiing in Vermont it was like I moved out west or something, powder, trees, steeps, I was loving it. Skiing outside the park was actually challenging and a lot of fun. Since then I’ve been working on my all-mountain skills, trying to ski everything. I think it is important to be a well-rounded skier because everything you learn from one aspect carries over into another, even the park.

Describe your experience on our trip to the Tug Hill region this past winter

Yeaaahhh, the Tug hill trip was one of the highlights of my season for sure. I knew that the region gets slammed with snow every year but wasn’t really sure if there was anything worth skiing out there. With a super late start to the season I think Geoff was willing to take the risk and go out and explore. All in all it was pretty cool the way we went about the trip, didn’t really know much about the terrain. The only thing we did know was there was already five feet of snow on the ground. We pretty much just had a topo map and drove down the roads looking for the steepest lines. Its not everyday you get to drop what your doing and go on an adventure like that, definitely a good time I’ll remember.

Are you going to grow out another beard? That was cool

I don’t know yet I cut my hair so I don’t know if it will have the same attitude. I mean I guess I could just go for the psycho look get a big beard and keep my hair buzzed.

What’s the deal with working at the can factory? How was that? Is it over for good?

I worked in a can factory for 3 summers to fund my skiing. It paid pretty well but I was definitely earning that paycheck. I think its safe to say that I’ve hung up my earplugs and safety glasses for good.

Do you like dogs? I get the feeling you have a beef with Baxter

Baxter just needs to chill out sometimes. He’s just high strung although I would say I’m getting used to dogs and can tolerate them a bit more. But I mean if all the dog does is bark and jump allover people then I might have some beef but if he just chills out and doesn’t talk then we are good.

How did you like Newfoundland?

They need to make a mad max 4 and have it set in Newfoundland

What do you think of Hammer?

He’s the man, he followed his passion in life and you have got to respect that.

Do you think Hammer respects your bump skills?

I don’t know but he did compliment me on my style after skiing a line in Newfoundland then asked me if I skied bumps.. I’ve only been skiing bumps for like 3 years or so, didn’t really have them back in NY where I skied. I guess its just another aspect of skiing that I want to improve on and I feel like it helps you become well rounded.

Moguls: good, great, amazing?

Depends on the weather

Urban skiing: good, bad or ugly?

I think urban skiing is just another way for skiers to be creative. Sometimes you can get board with what’s setup in the park and urban can provide a new challenges or may allow you to look at things differently not just handrails any physical thing in your way can be jibbed one way or another, it’s up to you to figure that out.

You’ve been making some music lately. What’s your process and inspiration?

For me, music is about creating. If you were an artist would you want to paint another artists work? Or would you want to create your own paintings? I use some pattern-based programs for most of my creations but also I like to incorporate a lot of stuff I come up with on my guitar and or other instruments. I don’t really take myself that serious it’s more of an outlet and a thing I do to relax and zone out of the world.

(http://myspace.com/wiglafmusic is Erik's music if you're interested)

Name two things you like about skiing and one thing you hate

Likes – soft snow and good vibes
Hate - injuries

Where are some places in the East you want to go this winter but haven’t gone before?

Last winter was the first time I went up to Jay but we got shutdown due to the wind so I’d like to get up there and ski some. I hate to say it but I still haven’t been to Tuckerman’s, I feel like I need to make that pilgrimage at some point next year.

It seemed like no one had a good pipe in the East last year, what’s the deal?

Yeah, a lot of places didn’t even build them last winter due to the rough start. There was only a handful.

Will anyone have a good pipe this year?

Hopefully we get an early winter so the mountains can get their pipes up early. Also, the nice thing about getting an early pipe is that by March they need to rebuild them so you end up with a pretty good spring pipe too. As far as who will have good pipes I don’t really know who exactly you just have to play it by ear. They are generally the best during and after comps and obviously when they are first cut.