Another Luke Wynen Interview
Luke at Killington, long before he was old enough to drink. Photo Tim Zimmerman |
Sure, his board sponsors drop him, and he's really not that cool, but he's an inter-nerd like you and me, and that's good enough. Good enough, that is, to be deserving of a second Yo Beat Interview. If you missed the first one, it was a gem, somewhere back in issue six. Anyway, I caught up with Luke on America Online one day, and thought I'd see what he was up to. Sure, Snowboarding Online already did this interview format a few years ago, but being fresh and original is so last season. Stale, boring and repetitive, on the other hand is great...Well anyway, Luke was kind enough to talk to me for a few minutes, and this is the result.
Please note, with the exception of the two handed stiffy, all these photos were taken several years ago, but you'll get the idea anyway.
YoBeatMag: All right, When were you born?
ZNOBRDR1: March 29 1977
After his defeat at the Killington Boarder Battle, Luke went home and cried for weeks. Although, in retrospect, 2nd place wasn't that bad. Photo Brooke Geery |
ZNOBRDR1: Wilmar, Minn.
ZNOBRDR1: damn I’m good
YoBeatMag: how long after that did you start snowboarding?
ZNOBRDR1: 13 years
ZNOBRDR1: 10 years I’ve been riding
YoBeatMag: Do you ride for anyone, or did they all drop you when they realized pipe riders don't sell?
ZNOBRDR1: ummmm, no comment
ZNOBRDR1: hahahha
YoBeatMag: Come on, I know you've got a couple sponsors left.
ZNOBRDR1: No, actually I’m getting a new sponsor who actually likes me and halfpipe.
ZNOBRDR1: I just signed Arnette, 686 is in the renew works , and a super secret new board company of only pipe riders.
YoBeatMag: Okay, what's your favorite trick?
ZNOBRDR1: cork backside five
ZNOBRDR1: (pa role)
There it is, Luke, just days before getting dropped by Sims. Okemo, VT. Photo Brooke Geery. |
YoBeatMag: Do you grab mute stiffy when you do those?
YoBeatMag: or is that just for USSA events?
ZNOBRDR1: hahahah
ZNOBRDR1: For fun, they feel cool.
YoBeatMag: What's this I hear about a "serious" girlfriend?
ZNOBRDR1: yes, yes
YoBeatMag: That must be a mammoth thing?
ZNOBRDR1: I’m in love.
YoBeatMag: Do you have to have a serious girlfriend to live there?
ZNOBRDR1: No, but you do have to get married within three years of residence
ZNOBRDR1: hahahahahahahaha
ZNOBRDR1: It seems.
YoBeatMag: Did Matt Kass make that one up?
ZNOBRDR1: It was him, yup.
ZNOBRDR1: She’s from PA.
YoBeatMag: Wait, so it's long distance?
ZNOBRDR1: It was long distance but she’s coming out,
ZNOBRDR1: hopefully for good.
ZNOBRDR1: I went back to pa every two weeks.
YoBeatMag: What's your favorite part about being a world-renowned snowboarder?
ZNOBRDR1: a who?
ZNOBRDR1: I am?
ZNOBRDR1: Me?
YoBeatMag: Yeah, you. I saw you on ESPN.
ZNOBRDR1: Luke Wynen is world-renowned.
YoBeatMag: so what do you like about it?
ZNOBRDR1: ohhhhh…
ZNOBRDR1: The recognition for riding pipe is nice…
ZNOBRDR1: My mom likes it because I’m now respectable athlete.
ZNOBRDR1: Actually she has supported me for a awhile now.
YoBeatMag: Okay, so what's with the funny colored hair? Does you mom like that too?
YoBeatMag: Or do you just do it cause Hinkley does it?
ZNOBRDR1: She loves it.
ZNOBRDR1: Hinkley for sure.
ZNOBRDR1: Except I don’t get all the Mt. Dew commercials.
ZNOBRDR1: I like the extra attention, I think hair should come in more colors, they just get boring after twenty years of blonde or brown you know.
YoBeatMag: Have you tried out for any commercials?
ZNOBRDR1: Not yet, nobody has asked me, although I’m waiting... for the residuals that is.
ZNOBRDR1: By the way, who did you hear the serious girl from?
YoBeatMag: I have my sources
ZNOBRDR1: Ka keeping track of me, huh? Probably Shanti.
Luke at a pipe contest, what are the odds? Copper, CO. Photo Shanti Sosienski. |
ZNOBRDR1: are you at Blue Torch?
YoBeatMag: Yeah
YoBeatMag: Wait, this is an interview about you.
ZNOBRDR1: sorry
ZNOBRDR1: So what’s the question
YoBeatMag: Okay, Britney or Christina?
ZNOBRDR1: Neither.
ZNOBRDR1: I’m over them.
YoBeatMag: You know you like them, don't lie to yourself.
YoBeatMag: Who then?
ZNOBRDR1: Danielle (his girlfriend)
ZNOBRDR1: :)
YoBeatMag: You are such a cheese ball.
ZNOBRDR1: She's my baby.
YoBeatMag: Okay, do you want to kill any member of a boy band in particular?
ZNOBRDR1: ohhhhhh hmmmmm
ZNOBRDR1: I’m not down to kill but maim is alright, the head blondy of N’Sync must go down!
YoBeatMag: You don't like Justin?
ZNOBRDR1: Bye Bye shit has got to stop
ZNOBRDR1: justin two thumbs down
YoBeatMag: Okay.
YoBeatMag: Who do you ride with?
ZNOBRDR1: lately Keir, Matt Hammer, Ricky Bower, and Tricia Burnes
ZNOBRDR1: I think I killed Tricia's last name, ooops.
ZNOBRDR1: Oh, and a new kid, up and comer, Steve, he rides an Option.
YoBeatMag: Is Tricia better than you at riding pipe? She always gets first or second, and you always get 8th, so she must be, right?
ZNOBRDR1: Crazy mofo
ZNOBRDR1: Yes, she is.
ZNOBRDR1: I’ve been training hard and drinking milk so maybe next year.....
YoBeatMag: Do you get scared when you have to take drug tests?
ZNOBRDR1: Nope
ZNOBRDR1: I’m clean
ZNOBRDR1: :) and happy about it too.
YoBeatMag: What are you doing this summer?
ZNOBRDR1: Road trip: climbing and camping across the US.
ZNOBRDR1: Then to Hood to Windell’s to coach, then back to climbing and camping
ZNOBRDR1: I’m a hippy now.
ZNOBRDR1: granola and every thing.
YoBeatMag: do you still wear shoes?
YoBeatMag: and take showers?
ZNOBRDR1: ummmm sandals I own yes, but I shower daily.
ZNOBRDR1: so I’m ok then?
YoBeatMag: then you're not really a hippy.
ZNOBRDR1: Ok, the just an outdoor enthusiast.
ZNOBRDR1: hhaahahahah
YoBeatMag: I see
ZNOBRDR1: I like Elliot Smith's new album
ZNOBRDR1: It’s good.
YoBeatMag: If you say so.
ZNOBRDR1: I do.
YoBeatMag: Okay, anything else?
YoBeatMag: Can you do shout outs without talking about your girlfriend?
ZNOBRDR1: what are you over interviewing me, you slacker?
ZNOBRDR1: slacker
ZNOBRDR1: slacker
ZNOBRDR1: loser
YoBeatMag: No, I have other stuff to do now.
ZNOBRDR1: Fine I’m over you then. My family, my friends and god.
YoBeatMag: Okay then. Thanks.
ZNOBRDR1: thanks Brooke, see ya.
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