IT TAKES A VILLAGE
An interview with Connor Gross on his solo project from this past winter. Read below about his recent changes in life, the crew that helped make this possible and what else it took to make this vision come true.
So how many winter’s of street has it been for you?
There are rails and spots in this video that I hit in highschool, which is 12 years ago by now. It’s always been a thing I’ve done in the winter.
What got you so motivated to make this solo project happen? Or did these clips just sort of organically amass themselves over the season?
There’s a couple things that went into it. This was the first winter where I had a nighttime work schedule. So, I just did a lot more boarding than in years past. Jake Aaronsen actually got the ball rolling. He was around here and he was like yeah dude lets go film, let’s get it going. My girlfriend also really wanted to be helpful and with me when I went snowboarding. So I asked her to maybe film me and she did and got really into it during the winter.
I mean my camera is like an old dinosaur camcorder, but she found it was a lot of fun and a creative outlet. She was having fun learning how to use it and quite literally learned how to portray snowboarding. Kelly ended up filming most of this video. She’s the best!
That is so sick! I feel like that's everything you could hope for when you bring somebody along who doesn't know much about it and they get infected with the passion, that's awesome!
Was it something that you pitched to any sponsors or splinters or anything. Or did you just go for it?
No I didn't tell anyone what was going on I just sorta started hitting street spots. I have my camera, so I don't need to rely on anyone else. I wasn’t really letting anyone know.
I’ve always pushed to make a video for the past 3 or 4 years, but this year I didn’t really have a crew, I decided to do something solo and it turned out to be a pretty substantial project.
Once I got the ball rolling I sort of touched base with Dino’s and Splinters and let them know I was up to something and they found ways to support which was awesome.
Where did you film?
It was all filmed in central VT. It was around here on spots that I dreamed of snowboarding on, in some cases for 10 years. Another reason I was super motivated to film this year, to check off some things I’ve always wanted to do. It was all central VT, diesel trucks and whatnot.
Being out in the brush do you think that you hit any NBD spots or has everywhere kind of been run up?
Only a few spots were hit by other people. Pretty much everything is nbd. Spots that I’ve scoped in an area where people aren’t getting after it.
Anyone else on the project with you? Dedicated or just they were always there? I know Ashley Rosemeyer is always shooting your stuff. You had mentioned Jake Aaronsen East (bummfucc)
I had a small group of people I could rely on. I mean it’s called ‘takes a village’. Jake, Ashley, Kelly or Urris White, who works at Sugarbush, Erik Roomet also works at Bush, Ezra filmed a clip. Really the two people I was out there with that weren’t Kelly were Taidgh and Sam, two skier kids. They made a little video themselves, they are some wreckless ass kids. So they helped me hit a bunch of spots too. Sam filmed my ender.
It’s cool to see more crews embracing the rural spots, the spots no one wants to travel to. Reis, book club, you Jake Aaronsen.
IPP Pete said yeah rural spots are what’s up because everyone’s seen street spots. I have a hard time saying street spots, I was in rural zones in towns and villages and spots people wouldn’t see snowboarding. It’s kinda a small town east coast thing like this is what we have to snowboard on who’s gonna do it and not many do.
Get in over your head a few times? Were you looking for big spots or just hitting up whatever you thought was fun?
Yeah, my ender was something I wanted to hit for years. I went there twice this year. The first time I showed Jake Aaronsen and he said alright, let's set it up. I was like damn, I am not ready for that. It was a 5 degree day and it was christmas. I wanted to just show Jake it and let it marinate. He was like lets just go. Next thing we know we are on the roof looking down and we both realized it wasn’t gonna happen.
Another time I got my life threatened by a guy he said he was going to bury me.
And did you get the clip?
Not even close! I was like believe me, I am not coming back. I saw @ActionJackson shoveling snow in the same lot and it was like his bosses just losing their fucking minds. Normies and old heads see it as a problem. If you don’t want me here I get it, but also it’s not like any snowboarder means offense and to damage a place. It’s just going down a hill. It’s just for fun and this property management guy who doesn't even own the property is telling me where he’s gonna bury me.
Did you get injured at all this winter while trying to film for this?
No injuries, just bangs and bruises. I’ve been sober and just overall healthier and was more focused on being active. I even noticed the difference in hiking rails in November. My body felt way better and I just stayed the course. Just to make that decision was huge and to reap the benefits was eye opening. It just made me want to make better decisions and kept me healthier and safer from injury quite honestly.
Big ups to everyone that helped anyone who feigned interest. Everyone that helped film or snowboarded with me. That’s really why this all happened. And otherwise I can’t wait to show it off.
Photos by: Ashley Rosemeyer & Urris White
Iphone: Connor
Interview by: Ely Campeanu