I was baffled when I talked to Alex Andrews during my tenure at ESPN about his decision to step away from filming to work for Burton, mostly because I really like the way he rides a snowboard. Little did I know that it would mean Alex would be traveling around the country making rad edits with local crews, and shedding some much needed light on their scenes.
His first stop was in Minnesota, a place that holds a special place in my heart because I spent the first 27 years of my life there, and well I still haven’t found a better place to ride my snowboard with really good people than the old frozen tundra. Sure I have slashed waist deep powder at Baker and rode opening day at Mammoth with legends like Dave Lee, but there is something truly special about riding the rope tow at Highland Hills with amazingly talented shredders like my homies Jake OE, Joe Sexton, Zac Marben, and the Michilot Family.
Minnesota breeds amazing snowboarders and the first episode of Snowboarding’s Dead gives us a brief insight into what make the Heartland such a hotbed of snowboard talent. If you ever get the chance, book a flight or steal your parent’s car, and hightail it to Hyland and Troll and get on the rope, you’ll make friends in no time.
