He grabs his methods in the middle, so that’s a start!

He is more rock and roll than you, he is more thrashin’ than you, he will snake you in the park and go way bigger than you, and he couldn’t care less about the scene than you. He is, Brendan Gerard- a kid on the come up dropping a lot of jaws in Tahoe and pretty soon everywhere. Brendan isn’t the typical rail cat you see these days- he will hit the gnarliest rail you can put in front of him, and the next day hit some man-sized shit in the backcountry. I will easily put my bets on Brendan for a standout part in the new COMUNE movie dropping this fall, so if you don’t know who Brendan Gerard is yet, don’t worry, you will. — Dylan Thompson

DT: Would you be so kind as to share your statistics? Age. Hometown. Years riding. Ready, go.

BG: 20, Cleveland, OH, 8?

DT: What’s your sponsorship game looking like? Are they doing a good job of keeping you stoked on boarding or what?

BG: I’m very excited about my sponsors (COMUNE, SABRE, Capita, and Union). It’s great to be a part of a talented association of people who share and support my vision, or idea of what snowboarding really can be. I’ve felt real out of place for a long time and I’ve found a good group of friends that are easy to collaborate with. It’s a really good group of true individuals, everyone has something new and exciting to bring to the table and I’m honored to be a part of it all.

Urban action!

DT: How did your season go? Did you film with anyone? Do any contests?

BG: My season was interesting, I did a little bit of everything. I was on the road for a majority of the winter. I did a Trans-Canada/Trans-US tour with a few kids I met in Tahoe from Quebec. I filmed around Tahoe with just about everyone, it was pretty good, I’m really excited about the footage I got this year. There were a few shots more I wanted, but I guess there always is. It was a progressive year, I’ve had some losses, a lot of changes, growing, but snowboarding has remained an easy medium. Contests? I think I did two, haha. I got either second or first at a slopestyle contest in big bear, Gatorade free flow? and some Northstar rail jam. It’s not really my place, I can’t keep up with those kids.

DT: You seem to have a following of kids who either love your antics or kids who think you can only huck yourself. What do you have to say to all the haters?

BG: It’s not really about them, I’m going to keep doing exactly what I’ve been doing regardless of how they feel about me. Everyone’s a critique and anything can be justified. Plus, it seems kind of ridiculous to say I “huck” myself when I’ve managed to stay completely healthy all year, no matter what, they’ll find something to hate, but I’ll try to keep it from limiting progression. Really it’s a pretty amateur question, who even gives a shit?

The ninja mask is key for keeping in body heat! Photo: Ben Bishop

DT: Do you think people who ride reverse camber actually know how to press?

BG: Haha, I couldn’t tell you, I’ve never ridden one, but they sure look like badass presses.

DT: Say you get invited to go on a heli trip in Alaska and a rail trip to Canada. Do you head north to AK or east to Quebec?

BG: I think the “cool” thing to say would be the AK trip because only true snowboarders ride pow right? I don’t know, I guess it would depend more on the circumstances, I’m in for the experience, you know? As much as everyone likes to think, it’s not always about snowboarding, you could have a pretty shitty time in some cool places depending on the circumstances. Easy answer? Whichever trip has more strangers.

Corey, send this kid a new shirt. Photo: Ben Bishop

DT: Highlight of your season? Lowlight?

BG: Highlight, solo Northstar park laps, backountry days with Ben, Ty, Curt Wood, and Diggles, long nights in Reno. Lowlight, stuck in the Junkie van in Nelson, BC, no snow, no money, only 4 guys in the back of a van with 40′s of OE.

DT: If you had to stop snowboarding right now, who would you be, what would you be doing?

BG: It’s a big part of my life right now so it’s difficult to say, but I have a whole lot of stuff going on other than snowboarding. I’d probably be a whole lot weirder. The snowboarding community is pretty repressive, so it might keep me “in check” a bit. As much as I like to think it doesn’t affect me, it has to a little, which is a shame. I try to base a lot of my friendship networks outside of snowboarding for that reason, I enjoy the company of people who appreciate expression.

As seen in the YoBeat Firing Squad.

DT: Northstar-At-Tahoe Ski Resort, love it or hate it?

BG: You’re lying if you say you don’t love it.

DT: Do you have any snowboard related battle scars to show off to the ladies?

BG: How often do you hear of girls going for snowboarders? How many snowboarders do you know that are even good with girls? Who considers snowboarders cool? I try not to let them know I snowboard, I’ve learned. Scars aren’t cool anyway.

Snowboarder or gypsy?

DT: Is it true you’re a traveling gypsy? When was the last time you had a home cooked meal?

BG: No. Last night.

DT: What are your summer plans, going anywhere exotic?

BG: I’m working all summer so I can afford to continue being hated by Yobeat readers.

DT: Shout outs? Thanks? Praises?

BG: Friends, COMUNE, SABRE, Capita, Union, family, you; thanks for writing this.

Photo: Ben Bishop

Interview by Dylan Thompson.