Janna Meyen
When did you start snowboarding?
I started in 1989.
How did you get started?
I live by the snow.
Who gave you your first snowboard?
Santa.
What inspires you to snowboard?
I love it. I don't know any different.
What do you enjoy more, powder or park?
Whatever's fun that day.
Touring or staying at home?
Staying home.
Who would you rather ride with, guys or girls? Why?
Guys, because they are not freaks.
Who is your favorite snowboarder?
I always grew up looking up to Jamie Lynn a lot, cuz he just had that super-powerful, smooth, fluid style. Even though no one sees that much of him nowadays, that's always been an image in my head since day one. I've kind of always been inspired by Jamie to ride solid. As far as now, there are so many people out there pushing it. I think Eddie Wall's amazing, Matt Hammer's amazing--there are so many people.
Where are your favorite spots?
Snow Summit is obviously going to be my first pick, because I grew up there, that's my home mountain and all of my friends live there, work there and it's always sunny. I'd never really been to Mt. Baker until this last year. I went there for the banked slalom in January and it was amazing and I can't wait to go back there next year. It's always cool to go anywhere new. Japan's always rad because the people are super-friendly and outgoing. Wherever I go is fun, but I'd say Snow Summit and Mt. Baker.
What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Where do I start? In third grade, I tripped running up the stairs at school and 2000 kids laughed at me.
How did last season (2003-2004) go?
It was the best year of my life!
What did you accomplish last season?
I filled in a lot of gaps in my riding. I learned a handful of new stuff.
Did you learn any new tricks?
Yes, sir...plenty to go around.
What did you do over the Summer?
Lots of painful physical therapy. I've shed many tears to earn my right to shred in 2004-05.
What do you have planned for the upcoming season?
I think I'm going to skip out on the contests and focus on filming the best part that I can for Volcom's new snow movie.
What's wack about snowboarding now?
Too many kids doing it because they want to be part of the cool group. They don't seem like they know what snowboarding has to offer them. It's a great way to learn about yourself and express yourself. When I started shredding, we did it to show the cool kids we didn't need their football. We had our own thing going on. We were real.
Where do you see snowboarding going?
It will probably be dried-up, used and abused...everybody will be rollerblading! Unfortunately, I see parents getting way too involved. They think it's like coaching their kid in football, back in their generation. They don't understand what snowboarding is. As a result, their kids, our next generation of shredders, are basically going to be jocks on snowboards. The kids don't know that shredding is about being creative. It's a fucked-up future for snowboarding. I blame a lot of this on the Olympics. It's made the general public think we want to follow skiing's footprints. Skiers can @#$ $%&*!
What kind of job do you want after your snowboarding career is over?
I want to fight wildland fires, spend my Summer on a hot-shot crew and make good money so I can keep my dream alive. I'll work in the Summer and shred like crazy in the Winter, with little or no work.
Do you have any advice for beginners?
I think they should just try and have fun, cuz kids who try too hard annoy me. I don't know how team managers feel, but I just know that some kid that's pestering me and bugging the hell out of me is probably not going to get as far, because there's always going to be another kid that's way better than you, who has a good attitude and surprises the hell out of everyone. That's the person I'd rather see be successful. So, just go out there and try to have fun.
What do you want for Christmas?
To become more open-minded.
Have you ever seen Bigfoot? If not, would you like to?
No, but I have seen a spaceship. It was on a really cold Winter night growing up in Big Bear, around 1991.
What bugs you?
When I say, "Thank you," to someone, or, "Have a nice day," and they don't acknowledge me.
What kind of dreams do you have (night dreams and things like you'd like to do in the future)?
I dream about snowboarding, and how it challenges me on and off the mountain.
Where would you rather be right now?
Snowboarding.
Random Collections:
Shot glasses.
Half-full or half-empty?
Half-full.
Something about me that's surprising:
I might be a little more sensitive than everybody thinks.
In my past life:
I was a porn star.
I've always wanted to:
Go skydiving.
I have $1,000 in my pocket and fifteen minutes to spend it.I would:
Take all my friends to sushi!
Favorites
ThirtyTwo boot: Vela, size 7.
etnies shoe: Anything in black.
Snow conditions: Powder or packed powder in the park.
Temperature: High 20s, no wind. I hate wind!
Time of day: Sunrise and sunset.
Mountains: All of them.
Home away from home: My truck.
Parks (snowboarding): The fun ones, uncrowded in the middle of the week.
Street spots (snowboarding): Everywhere.
People: Friends and family, I love them. Snowboarding, Jamie Lynn and the original Volcom groms. Anyone who is passionate about what they do.
Food: Coffee! Or anything I can put hot sauce (tabasco, chaloua, tapatio, etc.) on.
Sights: Alaska. I've never been. I'd love to go.
Sounds: Stock cars and grinds on rails.
Smells: Just after it rains.
Textures: New socks and shoes on my feet.
Music: Metallica, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Beck.
Movies: Rad, Thrashin', North Shore, Stand by Me.
TV shows: King of the Hill, Discovery Channel.
Books: The Way is Within by Ron Rathbun, Companions in Courage by Pat LaFontaine, As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. I like books that inspire me to be a better person and learn about myself.
Last book read: Matt Hoffman's biography, Ride of my Life.
Magazines: Frequency, Water.
Websites: Blah.
Art: Scottie Daniels, featured Volcom artist; Chris Oakley, ex-digger; and all of my friends that have painted pieces for my house.
Museums: I need to go check some out.
Dinosaurs: They're going to come back and kill all of the humans...it will be perfect!
Cities: Portland, Seattle, Vancouver.
Colors: Black.
Holidays: 4th of July. I like to blow stuff up!
Hobbies: I mostly just hang-out with my friends or family, no matter what we're doing--hanging-out watching a movie or whatever. As far as activities, I skate every once in a while. I wouldn't call myself a skater--in the Summer, maybe I skate a little bit, but I mostly ride bmx, moto-x, etc.
Fantasies: The perfect guy does exist.