LEGENDS
SBX Racing Team – Mentored by Ross Hindman
Quentin Sodogas PRO
Quentin is a young and promising rider with the French national snowboardcross team. Not only is Quentin a great snowboard riders but he also road and mountain bikes in the off season. We are looking forward to seeing Quentin on the World Cup circuit with Beijing 2022 in the crosshairs. Follow Quentin’s Instagram
Madeline Lochte Bono SEMI PRO
Riding Since: 2009
The Donek you ride: 163 B1S
Regular or goofy: Regular
Discipline: SBX
Hometown: Durango, Colorado
Home Mountain: Purgatory
Most memorable moment on your board: Snowboarding with my family in the Swiss Alps on a powder day and exploring new terrain. The ski resort, 4 Valleys, was so big that we ended up getting lost and it took us all day to make our way back to our car. We couldn’t stop laughing at our situation, but it was an amazing experience being in a foreign country with beautiful views.
Season riding goal: Top 3 in the NorAm overall, consistently make top 10 in Europa cups, attend multiple World Cups.
Long term riding goal: 2026 Olympics, World Cup finals
Biggest inspiration: My family
Best piece of advice: Snowboarders with goals succeed because they know where they are going.
Other hobbies: Mountain and road biking
Instagram: madsnowboarder
Snapchat : mlochte-bono
Facebook Athlete Page: Madsnowboarder1
Website: www.madelinelochtebono.com
Twitter: madsnowboarder1
Drew Moryn AMATEUR
Hometown: Harris, Minnesota
Home mountain: Wild Mountain
Favourite Discipline: Boardercross
The Donek you ride: Sabre & Twin Junior
Instagram : @drew_snowgirl
Facebook: @drewmoryn
Shout Outs:@wildmountain for being so supportive over the years.Also to @rideMN for supporting young action sport riders and last but not least a big thank you to Donek for the continued support and awesome snowboards!!!
Wesley Wolkowinsky AMATEUR
Hometown: Flagstaff, AZ
Home mountain: Arizona Snowbowl
Favourite Discipline: Giant Slalom
The Donek you ride: 140 Saber
How to follow and know more about me: @WesleyWolko557
Shout Outs: Thanks to my team, coaches, family, and everyone who has helped me along the way! Special thanks to Red Feather Lodge for the athletic scholarships to help me get to Nationals
Evan Russell AMATEUR
Riding Since: 2013
My Donek: B1 Super Sport
Regular or Goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Snowboardcross
Hometown: Kimberley, Ontario
Home Mountain: Beaver Valley Ski Club
Most memorable moment on your board: Placing 15th at a Jr FIS Comp in my first FIS season.
Season riding goal: To spend as much time on snow as possible, competing in NorAm events across Canada and the USA.
Long term riding goal: Representing Team Canada in the Olympics
Biggest inspiration: My family, coaches and friends continue to push me to step out of comfort zones and work through barriers with me.
Best advice: Ask questions when you’re on the chair with other racers. Learn from your experiences and remember that any feedback is good feedback. Have the time of your life!
Other hobbies: Mountain Biking, Surfing, Wakeboarding, Fishing
Shout outs: My amazing family and the best coaches at Mixed Movements
Instagram: @evan_russell_sbx
Ben Swaine AMATEUR
Riding Since: 2010
The Donek you ride (or will order): B-1s
Board Size: 154
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline : Snowboardcross
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario
Home Mountain: Blue Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: Love our preseason team trips to Banff/Sunshine. Able to make so many good memories
Season riding goal: Compete in a Nor-Am, make it into heats. This is my 1st year racing FIS
Long term riding goal: Make the National team or become a coach
Biggest inspiration: All my friends I ride with that push me and make me better
Best piece of advice: Just to remember that there are no bad days on a board and the whole reason we got into this sport was for fun
Other hobbies: Biking, wakeboarding, going to the gym, hanging out with friends and family
Shout outs: Coach Hans for putting up with me all these years and hopefully many more to come!
Snapchat: benswaine
Follow Ben @benjibobby07
SBX World Cup Racing Team
Camille Poulet
Riding Since: 2011, 7 years old
The Donek you ride: 163 B1 Supersport
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: SBX
Hometown: Le Grand Bornand, France
Home Mountain: Le Grand Bornand, France
Most memorable moment on your board: Winning the European’s Overall ranking
Long term riding goal: Participate in the Olympic Games
Biggest inspiration: Lindsey Jacobellis
Best piece of advice: Have Fun !!
Facebook Athlete Page: Camille Poulat
Adaptive Pro Athletes
Evan Strong -150 Saber and 158 Phoenix
Evan Strong captured the gold medal and led a U.S. podium sweep in the Paralympic debut of men’s snowboardcross at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Evan is the 2012 Para Snowboard Cross World Champion, and 2013 US National Champion.
Mike Minor – 162 Saber BX
Follow Mike @gnarlynubby
Ryan Knapton – 162 Knapton
Riding since 1989 and hailing from Breckenridge, this Colorado native is on his pro model, the Knapton Twin. He loves all the resorts in Colorado for the bigger mountains and darn good snow in general. Other than Breckenridge, he has had some of the most fun at Beaver Creek and the various Aspen Mountains because of how empty they compared to Breck / Vail / Keystone. Although he hasn’t been back in over 15 years, Ryan also has mad love for Buck Hill and Hyland Hills in Minnesota with very tiny little hills (less than 200 vertical feet). He has so many great memories growing up riding those tow-ropes next to a small park / pipe and just loving doing that all night every night after school. Nowadays his ‘discipline’ is just cruising around the entire mountain and playing around with whatever seems fun to do that day.
When asked about his Knapton Twin he said – “Twin with my own specs… stiffer cuz I’m a heavier rider, wider so I can turn extra hard without ‘booting out’, larger sidecut radius for bigger turns, offset inserts cuz of the width so my bindings are centered on it better than what ‘center’ is with burton bindings, custom base die cut graphics, extra inserts on my newest board towards the tail so I can set it back on pow days (haven’t gotten to try this feature yet on the new board). I DO NOT recommend my exact specs for most anyone! But that’s what’s rad about Donek Snowboards and their specialization in customizing boards… you can get specs that are actually good for you and how you ride, rather than having to settle like with most company’s boards which basically takes a primitive ‘one size fits all’ approach.”
Fun fact…Ryan used to be one of the fastest Rubiks Cube solvers in the world (top 20). Now I play foosball and have won tons of events including Amateur Singles at Worlds and a second in Pro Doubles at Worlds.
His shout outs are to All his MN and CO shred bros. Extra thanks to his YouTube subscribers who leave mad nice feedback for his vids and extra thanks to those who point the camera at Ryan so he can make the vids, especially his girlfriend Kristin and his homie Nate Dogggg.
Follow Ryan
www.youtube.com/rknapton3 www.instagram.com/ryan_knapton/ www.facebook.com/Ryan-Knapton-1527305297533563/
Everett McEwan – REV
Everett has been snowboarding since the early days of the late 80s, and competed in his first race in 1988. Despite his early start, instead of racing professionally he went off to college and had a career in TV news for 17 years. But over the years he kept at it as a part-time amateur including winning age class USASA US nationals seven times in alpine (GS and SL). Everett also was a snowboard coach in the late 90s at Stratton Mountain, Vermont where he coached the famous Lindsey Jacobellis and then went onto to found the Ski Round Top snowboard race program before moving to Colorado. The year Everett turned 40, he left his job in TV news to be a stay at home dad and start a business in video production. He also decided to give Pro racing a chance. He jokes that it’s his “midlife crisis” to race against people half his age and to beat a lot of them. He has consistently made finals at the NorAm Race to the Cup and has gone from top 16 to top 10 and even the top five. He also has climbed the podium in smaller pro races in Canada, including winning the Ontario provincial championships in PSL. As well as providing video production and marketing work for Donek Snowboards, Everett is also test rider helping with development of Alpine/Race Snowboards and plates. He is also a member of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, the top US team and helps with promoting the sport of racing on behalf of the club through video.
Mike Shea – Saber SRT
Mike captured the Silver Medal at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Teammates Mike and Evan seem to pass the top paralympic BX spot in the world back and forth. Mike is responsible for the development of our Baker banked slalom model, which he has taken to multiple World cup podiums.
Katie Tsuyuki – 138 Transition and 145 Phoenix
Katie Tsuyuki made her Olympic debut at Sochi 2014, where she missed a spot in the final by one place, finishing as top Canadian female halfpiper in 13th place overall, best Canadian out of both genders.
Tsuyuki had made her World Cup debut in December 2005 in Whistler. She would record her best World Cup result in January 2010, finishing ninth in Stoneham, Quebec. Just a couple of weeks later, she was at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, not as a competitor, but as a forerunner for the half-pipe competition.
Katie is a four-time medalist at the Canadian championships, including her gold medal run in 2006 and 2014. She debuted at the 2013 FIS World Championships where she finished 15th
Katie is a five-time medalist at the Canadian championships, including her gold medal runs in 2006 and 2017. She debuted at the 2013 FIS World Championships where she finished 15th.
Currently, Katie is the marketing and brand manager for Donek and manages the team too. Her knowledge of the snowboarding world on the competitive side gives the Donek team an edge to help with their own endeavors.
Follow Katie @K_tronic_
Mike Schultz WWW.MONSTERMIKESCHULTZ.COM
Hometown- Saint Cloud, MN
US Paralympic Snowboard Team
Age 39
Donek setup– Banked Slalom, Saber, and Baker 160
Regular 23” stance +18 x -9
Known in the racing community as “Monster” Mike, the 36-year-old from St. Cloud, MN has trans-formed the world of adaptive action sports in more ways than one. In 2008, Mike suffered a terrible knee injury during a snowmobile competition resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Shortly after his accident, Mike engineered a new prosthetic knee to get him back in action. Within seven months, Mike was again competing on the national stage at the ESPN X Games, receiving a silver medal in Adaptive Motocross. In 2010, Mike founded BioDapt, Inc. after realizing the need for advancements in high impact adaptive sports prosthetics. Ten years and nine X Games gold medals lat-er, Mike added one of his biggest accomplishments to his list of honors, bringing home gold and silver in snowboarding from the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang. Another equally great honor, Mike was voted as the U.S. flag bearer for the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies. There were a total of 15 athletes from six different countries during the 2018 Paralympic games that were competing on equipment that Mike created.
Accomplishment Highlights
COMPETITION
Winter Paralympic Games 2018- Gold (BX) and Silver (BS)
World Champion 2019 Parasnowboard – Banked Slalom
Para Snowboard World Cup – multi-time Gold, Silver, Bronze
National Champion 2017
X Games Adaptive Moto X – 2 Gold, 1 Silver
X Games adaptive snocross – 6 Gold
X Games adaptive snowbike – 2 Gold
AWARDS
2018 ESPY award ‘Best Male Athlete with a Disability’
2018 Team USA Flag Bearer 2018 Paralympics
2017 Team USA Male Athlete of November
2014 ‘Ten Outstanding Young American’ by US Junior Chamber
2010 True Grit Award– International Series of Champions (Snocross)
Crispin Lipscomb 155 Transition and Park Twin
Want to know a guy who can ride it all? It’s Crispin. Two time halfpipe Olympian, backcountry specialist and current coach of the British Columbia snowboard team, this guy has grace and power. Crispin specializes in making snowboarding look easy and can teach that way too. He is husband to our artist Raffaella and they hold down a place called Area C, a jump, rail and skills improvement camp off the back of Silver Star and you can join them at anytime. Email Crispin for more information on attending his specialty camps. Crispin360@yahoo.com
Giri Watts – 162 Park Twin
This always smiling uber talented powder hound is the head of ski and ride at Copper Mountain. Giri has many years of experience and is one of our top freestyle and freeride board testers. His clean technique and creative eye for the lay of the land makes Giri stand out amongst the rest. Give him a high five when you see him, he’s a gem!
Follow Giri @giri_watts
Ambassadors
Marisa McKellar
Riding Since: 1991
The Donek you ride: Donek Knapton Twin
Board Size: 150
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Soft Boot Carving and Boardercross
Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Home Mountain: Mountain Creek, NJ in the winter and Big Snow, NJ in the off-season
Most memorable moment on your board: I don’t have one specific moment, but my favorite moments have been with the women’s snowboard community, either at a Beyond the Boundaries (BTBounds) camp or a Park Affair event, riding with my lady friends or taking my daughters to the mountain. I am very grateful for the women’s snowboard community of like-minded adventurous women and the acceptance, encouragement and positive vibes exchanged when we get together.
Season riding goal: Have fun, ride with my friends and family and inspire others.
Long term riding goal: To continue to snowboard and carve until I am super old.
Biggest inspiration: My 2 brothers, Marco and John. My oldest brother, John, introduced me and my brother, Marco, to snowboarding over 30 years ago. My brothers have always inspired me and continue to inspire me. I know I am a better snowboarder because of them.
Best piece of advice: Follow your passion and do whatever makes you happy.
Other hobbies: Onewheel, roller skating, boating and fishing with the family
Shout outs: My family- My mom for bringing my brothers and I (and our friends) snowboarding all the time when I was a kid. My dad for working hard and paying for it. My brothers for getting me into snowboarding and constantly pushing me. My husband, Cory, for being ok with me being gone all winter while I follow my passion and snowboard. Our 3 daughters who I am so glad I can share my love of snowboarding with.
Instagram: @marisamckellar
Facebook Profile: Marisa McKellar
Sky Hu – 145 Knapton Twin
Riding Since: 2013
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Free Carve
Hometown: China
Home Mountain: Breckenridge
Most memorable moment on your board: Carving down an empty, perfectly groomed run with Ryan.
Season riding goal: Make every single turn with heart.
Long term riding goal: Still able to lay these trenches down when I’m eighty.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton.
Best piece of advice: People with great passion can make the impossible happen.
Other hobbies: Barely anything significant enough compared to snowboarding.Instagram: @lakeskysea
Christian Sison
Christian Sison fell in love with snowboarding since his first turns in 1987 and spent the bulk of the mid 90’s snowboarding full time in Whistler BC. He now resides in Vancouver BC and rides regularly in the Pacific Northwest. He is a firm believer in having the right tools for the trade and since riding Donek supports the brand fully.
Instagram:_christian_sison
Jack Lee – 157 Park Twin
Using his competitive diving background Jack is taking the slopestyle scene by storm. You can catch him flying over the jumps at Breckenridge. It was a backflip that made Jack fall in love with snowboarding and sparked his journey to the Olympics. Inspired by passion of legend Jeremy Jones Jack uses each slam to get motivated to stay on his feet and push his limits. Disc golf, hut tubbing and 10-meter platform diving are other hobbies he enjoys. This season Jack will be working on his can and switch back double 1080 and front and back 1260’s with the aim of crushing the RevTour stops and beyond.
Follow Jack @jack_p_Lee
Carver Bowlby
Riding Since: 2001
The Donek you ride: Riding the proteus now, ordering a rev and pulse soon.
Board Size: 175
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): GS&SL
Hometown: Somerset PA
Home Mountain: 7SPRINGS
Most memorable moment on your board: The first time I got cheered at from the chair lift for carving the mountain.
Season riding goal: To go to more Noram and FIS races, and to nationals with USASA.
Long term riding goal: Just to keep the sport fun, and to go as far as I can with racing.
Biggest inspiration: My father, he taught me how to ride.
Best piece of advice: Give 100% at everything you do, and there’s no friends on a powder day.
Other hobbies: hiking, biking, kayaking, dirt bike riding, and motorcycle riding.
Shout outs: My dad for teaching me how to ride and always being there for me. Julia for pushing me to get into racing. Heidi Lewis for getting such awesome pictures at 7Springs. Shannon for giving me all the love and support I could ever ask for. Srrc for pointing me in the right direction with racing, Donek snowboards for excepting me on the team, and Clawson Snowboarding Crew. Thank you!!
Instagram:carverbowlby
Snapchat Carverbowlby
Dave Hollander
Riding Since: 2005
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin
Board Size: 152CM / 31.5 WW / 12M
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Free Carve
Hometown: New City, NY
Home Mountain: Keystone
Most memorable moment on your board: Waking up on a Binghamton University SnöCats bus at Mount Snow to a fresh foot of pow & disappearing into the trees with friends all day.
Season riding goal: Rack up 1M vertical, improve my switch riding, and get some fun footage in the process
Long term riding goal: Keep laying down big clean lines and helping others learn to safely do the same
Biggest inspiration: Pops. With his unparalleled determination and kindness.
Best piece of advice: If you’re passionate about something, share it with everyone you can.
Other hobbies: Onewheel, Longboarding, Whitewater
Shout outs: The whole family, plus Ryan, Matt, and Josh for helping me finally get back to Summit.
Instagram: @dhollee
Facebook Profile: facebook.com/dave.hollander
Miltos Iliopoulos
Riding Since: 2013
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin.
Board Size: 154
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): Freeride, freestyle.
Hometown: Athens Greece.
Home Mountain: Helmos Kalavrita Greece.
( I’m spending most of my season now on Bear mountain in Sahoro Hokkaido Japan)
Most memorable moment on your board: shredding through the Japanese Powder in Hokkaido and my very first-night session in Mount Helmos.
Season riding goal: Have another successful season in Japan & Austria and experience the feeling of riding in the Desert. Move to NZ or Australia and have a full year on the snow.
Long term riding goal: Become a great snowboard & ski trainer, open my own ski school, teach, help & support the next generation of riders across the world, establish myself in the community.
Biggest inspiration: Dr. Giovanis, Travis Rice, Ryan Knapton, Stale Wallner.
The best piece of advice: Always think on the bright side, never look back and stay focused, learn to move on and always look at what you can learn from every big or small setback..
Learn to set up goals and commit to them, be honest with yourself and kind to people around you, give credit where its due and lost but not least,
always keep practicing!!!
Other hobbies: Playing Guitar, love to travel and watch lots of movies.
Shout outs:
I will always be thankful to my family, my two sisters and friends for always being there for me.
My mentor & University professor Dr. Giovanis for all the great lessons in and out of the ski slopes, for all the kindness, help, for not giving up on me and being there for me and for the unforgettable moments on Parnassos!
I would never be able to be where I am in my life if it wasn’t for you, thank you for everything!!!!
A huge shout out to my Snowboard trainer from Austria ”Stefan Wallner” for being a role model to me and one of my favorite riders.
Also, I would like to give another big shout out to my Ski trainer from Austria as well ”Wolfgang Heinzl” for being so patient and honest with me all the time and for his unique sense of humor.
Last but not least, I would like to give lots of credit to my Ski Director from Korea ”Jaesun Oh” for all the trust, help, understanding and
??? ?? ??? ?????. And of course, I would like to thank my new friends in Donek family and of course Katie Tsuyuki & Sean Martin for believing in me.
I would like to wish the rest of the team a great season on snow, cant wait to meet you guys!
Instagram: Miltos Iliopoulos https://www.instagram.com/miltos_iliopoulos/
Facebook Profile: Miltos Iliopoulos https://www.facebook.com/miltosiliopoulosnb
Bernie Konrady
RIDING SINCE:1994
DONEK YOU RIDE:Flux – I’ve had 5 Flux Models over many, many years. I have continually Decreased the Length, Increased the Width, and Increased the Variable Side Cut. And, along the way, shifted from “Hard Boots” to Soft Boots 8 years ago.
That’s the Beauty of a Donek Board – “Change” – as my snowboarding progresses and changes, so does my board and specs.
BOARD SIZE:159 CM
REGULAR/GOOFY:Snowboard GOOFY – (Surf REGULAR ! ?! )
FAVORITE DISCIPLINE / TERRAIN:I LOVE Beaver Creek Fresh Early Morning Groomers for the CARVE-ability and Trackless runs.
BUT! Give me First Tracks on 8 to 10 inches of Fresh Pow And I’m SURFING SNOW with a huge smile on My Face!
HOME TOWN:Michiana Shores, Indiana for the Summer and Fall
Beaver Creek, Colorado for Winter and Spring
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON YOUR BOARD:1994 in the beginning of learning to snowboard and making that Very First Linked, Real Edge to Edge Toe side Turn – Whoa, So that’s what this is about!!!!
Flash Forward to 2021 and my First Real Toe Side Laid Out Euro Carve – WHOAAAAAAA!!! (I am a slow learner)
SEASON RIDING GOAL:Laid out Heel Side Euro Carve
LONG TERM RIDING GOAL:Be of help to others
BIGGEST INSPERATION:Ryan Knapton – his Style, Tips, Teaching Videos, Inclusiveness AND HIS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY AND COURTESY ON THE MOUNTAIN. Ryan is my Mentor.
BEST PIECE OF ADVICE:Safety First! —– Then, HAVE FUN !!!
OTHER HOBBIES:Surfing the Great Lakes
INSTAGRAM:@berniekonrady
Daniel Richards
Riding Since: 2002
The Donek you ride: I ride a Donek Flux, and plan to order an Aloha soon as well
Board Size: 156-162
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline/Terrain: Free Carve, Moguls, Splitboarding, Big Mountain and Side/Backcountry
Hometown: Hillsborough, New Jersey
Home Mountain: Mount Snow, VT
Most memorable moment on your board: First time experiencing Vail’s back bowls in high school with one of my closest friends and snowboard buddies
Season riding goal: 40+ days on the mountain, 10+ days splitboarding, and sending it down Corbet’s Couloir
Long term riding goal: Work on seamless fakie carving and 360 transitions; I’d also like to play a role in fostering a connected carving community for “ice coast” snowboarders, and eventually increase D&I/access to the sport through intersectional programs for kids and marginalized communities
Biggest inspiration: What Ryan Knapton has done to ignite such widespread interest in free carving, and what Jeremy Jones has done for big mountain and climate activism
Best piece of advice: I used to believe that every snowboarder should try hard-booting… but brands like Donek make the free carve experience so much more accessible. My most universal advice right now would be that the body follows where the head is looking, which was critical for me to understand in unlocking my heelside.
Other hobbies: Fencing (2x national épée champion), music (listening, writing/recording, concerts, dancing), horology/watch collecting, running/hiking/trail running, holotropic breathwork, quality time with my partner Abbie and our dog Alfie
Instagram: @icecoastcarver
Claude Liu
152 knapton twin
Riding Since: 2019
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Free carve
Hometown: China
Home Mountain: Altai Mountains Keketuohai
Most memorable moment on your board: Practicing new tricks with my friends, encouraging each other and getting better together.
Season riding goal: Make my combo more stable and efficient.
Long term riding goal: Snowboarding safely and healthily and attracting more people to learn carving&buttering.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton, Yehluo
Best piece of advice: Feel the joy that snowboarding brings us and find your own rhythm.
Other hobbies: Surfskate
Instagram: @claude.snowboard
Chengqi Liu – Code #002 in the Chinese 54 team.
Followers: 2.8k
Lu Yang
155 Knapton Twin
Riding Since: 2016
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Free Carving/Ground trick/Park
Hometown: China
Home Mountain: Altai Mountains Keketuohai
Most memorable moment on your board: Snowboarding with the 54team crew
Season riding goal: Smoother combinations of carving and tricks.
Long term riding goal: Still snowboarding when I’m 90 years old
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton/ Kazunori Hirama
Best piece of advice: No limits, no restrictions, focus to get to the top.
Other hobbies: Trampoline/Tricking/Piano/
Instagram:@yehluo5
Lu Yang – The captain of the Chinese 54 team.
Followers: 35k
Jonah Boyar
Riding Since: 1995
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin
Board Size: 159
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favourite Discipline : All Mountain Freeride/freestyle.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Home Mountain: Marmot Basin, Jasper Canada
Most memorable moment on your board: Riding at Whitewater Resort in Nelson, British Columbia
Canada
Season riding goal: Ride every day that I can!
Long term riding goal: To keep progressing my style and skill and have fun!
Biggest inspiration: Craig Kelly
Best piece of advice: Never give up and do it for the dream.
Other hobbies: Camping, biking, disc golf, skateboarding, and dogs
Shout outs: The Glide Factory, Calgary; and Old Dutch Foods, Canada
Instagram: @SHREDDONKERS
Snapchat: pappa-jonah
Facebook Profile: Jonah Boyar
Twitter: @SHREDDONKERS
Other: YouTube: 1080JMAN
Rayndell Tan
Riding Since: 2018
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin, Flux, will ride Saber for 23/24
Board Size: Knapton Twin 151, Flux 158
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favourite Discipline: Technical Riding, Deep Carving, Carving Trick, Free
Carving
Hometown: Los Angeles, California (grew up in Philippines)
Home Mountain: Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board:
My solo snowboarding trip to Korea was thrilling and exceeded my expectations. The trip was a
dream come true because I followed and admired many talented snowboarders on Instagram and
YouTube and I never imagined meeting some of them in person. It reminded me of how social media can
unite people with similar interests and gave me lifelong memories and friendships. Korea's deep carving
culture and camaraderie made this adventure unforgettable.
Season riding goal: Continue being a student of the craft and continue improving.
Long term riding goal: Establish and grow a deep carving/technical riding community in my area. Guide
other riders with the same passion. Shoot cinematic snowboard short movies of my friends and
teammates.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton and the FUNxR team riders.
Best piece of advice: Fun first, safety always!
Other hobbies: Bouldering, camping, overlanding, photography, videography, and self-hosting homelab
servers.
Shout outs: to Donek team riders Marissa, Dan, Jordan, and Dave for being so nice and approachable
even before I was selected.
Instagram: @rayndier
YouTube: @RAYNfilms
Facebook Profile: facebook.com/rayndier
Johnson Le
Riding Since: 2019/2020 season
The Donek you ride : 155 Knapton Twin. 160 Flux.
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: Free Carve
Home Mountain: June and Mammoth
Most memorable moment on your board: I had a goal in mind and I saw it in person for the first
time. This insane guy laid it out heelside right in front of me. The hype took over and I full sent,
trying to replicate. Washed out but had the biggest laugh and bigger motivation boost. Now we are
friends.
Season riding goal: Laid heelside
Long term riding goal: To have fun! And always have something to work on.
Biggest inspiration:
Best piece of advice: Don’t settle. Even if its small, have a goal to work towards and practice.
Whether its commiting one run a day or one turn a day, progression is progression.
Other hobbies: Camping, hiking.
Shout outs: Riding brother that lets me van camp.
Instagram: @elnosnhoj
Mellen Jay
Mellen Jay is a CASI Level 4 snowboard instructor, CASI Level 4 Evaluator and a 10-year team member of the Canadian
Association of Snowboard Instructors National Technical Team. A snowboard instructor for 25 years, Mellen is dedicated
and passionate to teaching the art of the arc. She loves turning: short turns, long turns; carving and turns through trees.
Mellen has represented Canada at Interski twice, in 2015 in Ushuaia, Argentina and 2023 in Levi, Finland; and as a
member of the CASI National Tech Team is part of the team that steers the direction of technical and program
developments for snowboard instruction in Canada.
Mellen lives, works and trains in endless winters in Big White Canada, Hakuba Japan, and Wanaka New Zealand. Big
White is home: with its incredible light champagne powder, perfect grooming and snow-covered trees. Mellen has run
instructor training internationally in Europe, South America, 6 provinces and 2 territories in Canada, USA, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand and even indoor slopes in the UK. As well as running CASI courses and training in both
hemispheres, she’s really stoked to be part of the coaching staff at Montucky Clear Cut this winter and looking forward to
more collaborative sessions riding with Donek Ambassadors.
Mellen is proud to represent and support diversity, equity and inclusion in the snowsports community.
After demo days in Colorado, Mellen couldn’t choose between her two favourites, and is looking forward to riding an Aloha
148 and Raven 144.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MellenJay
Instagram: @mellenriding
Association of Snowboard Instructors National Technical Team. A snowboard instructor for 25 years, Mellen is dedicated
and passionate to teaching the art of the arc. She loves turning: short turns, long turns; carving and turns through trees.
Mellen has represented Canada at Interski twice, in 2015 in Ushuaia, Argentina and 2023 in Levi, Finland; and as a
member of the CASI National Tech Team is part of the team that steers the direction of technical and program
developments for snowboard instruction in Canada.
Mellen lives, works and trains in endless winters in Big White Canada, Hakuba Japan, and Wanaka New Zealand. Big
White is home: with its incredible light champagne powder, perfect grooming and snow-covered trees. Mellen has run
instructor training internationally in Europe, South America, 6 provinces and 2 territories in Canada, USA, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand and even indoor slopes in the UK. As well as running CASI courses and training in both
hemispheres, she’s really stoked to be part of the coaching staff at Montucky Clear Cut this winter and looking forward to
more collaborative sessions riding with Donek Ambassadors.
Mellen is proud to represent and support diversity, equity and inclusion in the snowsports community.
After demo days in Colorado, Mellen couldn’t choose between her two favourites, and is looking forward to riding an Aloha
148 and Raven 144.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MellenJay
Instagram: @mellenriding
Joshua Gabriel
Seung Hwi Moon
Riding Since:2020
The Donek you ride (or will order):153 cm Donek Transition
Regular or goofy:Both
Favorite Discipline:(free)carving
Hometown:Wallington, NJ
Home Mountain:Big Snow, American Dream
Most memorable moment on your board:The first time I switched between regular and goofy carving with a FS toeside noseroll.
Long term riding goal: To find flow in my style of riding.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton. Who else?
Best piece of advice: Take videos of yourself from varying angles and analyze your footage to improve your riding quickly.
Other hobbies: Ski carving (big one), running, working out
Shout outs: All the carvers that helped me at the very start of my journey.
Instagram: seunghmoon
Wesley Krason
Riding Since: 2006
The Donek you ride: Knapton Twin
Board Size: 148cm long, 31waist width, 11m side cut , 1.5cm offset, 8/12 Flex, Ref Stance 56cm
Regular or goofy: Regular or goofy
Favourite Discipline: All mountain riding and turning carves.
Hometown: Castle Rock, Co
Home Mountain: Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte
Most memorable moment on your board: One of my most memorable moments on my board was when I
had the incredible opportunity of being spotted by Ryan Knapton himself while I was riding with my 2-
year-old son, Ryan. It was a truly special experience that I will always cherish.
Season riding goal: My season riding goal is to ride goofy, improve my carving turns, buttering, jumps,
and ride with my crew while working on new skills together. Each day and condition presents new
opportunities for growth and learning. I particularly enjoy making turns with my family and creating content
for social media. This season, I have the exciting opportunity to teach my youngest two family members
how to ride. Additionally, I am focused on improving early in the season with the other three members of
my crew, so that we can truly excel when the snow conditions are at their best.
Long term riding goal: Looking ahead, my long-term riding goal is to create awesome media content with
my family and Donek Snowboards. I aspire to ride at the Next Level, just like Ryan Knapton and many
other favorite snowboarders.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton.
Best piece of advice: The best piece of advice I can offer is that knowledge has the power to inspire
dreams and make them come true. It is important to follow your dreams and pursue them with passion
and determination.
Other hobbies: In addition to snowboarding, I have a variety of other hobbies that I enjoy. I am an artist,
expressing my creativity through various mediums. I also love biking, hiking, tubing, paddleboarding, and
camping. These activities allow me to connect with nature and explore the outdoors in different ways.
They provide me with a sense of adventure and relaxation outside of the snowboarding season.
Shout outs: I would like to give a special shout out to my wonderful wife, Sandra, and our crew! She
introduced me to the incredible gift of snowboarding, and I am deeply grateful to her for everything that
makes my life special. Additionally, I extend my sincere appreciation to Ryan Knapton and Tommy
Bennett for their exceptional media content and the continuous inspiration they provide. Their
contributions have significantly influenced my progress and have empowered me to share my passion
with my snowboard crew.
Instagram: @KrasonSnowboardCrew
Instagram: @WesleyKrason
Huan Yang
Riding Since: 2016
The Donek you ride (or will order): Knapton Twin
Board Size: 154
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS, CARVE): free carve
Hometown: China
Home Mountain: Breckenridge
Most memorable moment on your board: strangers approached and offered to videotape my riding.
Season riding goal: ground-tricks done on Donek boards.
Long term riding goal: Riding with my kids and even grandkids
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton
Best piece of advice: Never blame the equipment.
Other hobbies: Surfing
Shout outs: to those encouraged me to have a bigger footprint in snowboarding realm.
Instagram: @huankernel
Video Team
Jordan Michon
Raised in the small ski town of Wakefield Quebec Canada, Jordan got his start on an alpine board in 1996. His passion for snowboarding and adventure let him across the country to Whistler BC where he switched on to soft boots and earned high certification as an instructor. Flash forward through 20 years of teaching at resorts across Canada and trying to get lower and more dynamic carves, his size 12 feet are back on the icy slopes of Quebec leaving trenches and never booting out on an extra-wide Aloha, Knapton Twin or Nomad.
Jordan is also passionate about music production and DJing spending his summers playing at music festivals across the country under the monikers Stripes and Strange Future. You can find his music on Spotify and SoundCloud
Follow Jordan @strangefuture808
Dev Gupta
Hometown: Portland Oregon
Home mountain: Mt. Hood Meadows and Mt. Bachelor
The Donek you ride: Saber 160 and Knapton 157 and Donek Split Board
Look for my series DevLaps
How to follow and know more about me: Instagram @transsnowboarder
Shout Outs: MBSEF Freeride for coaching me and helping me become the snowboarder I am today. Also thanks to Black Strap Industries for the facemask sponsorship.
JP (John-Phillip) Fok
Riding Since: 1998
The Donek you ride : 160 Park Twin & 165 Aloha
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline: Freeride and Slopestyle. But who doesn’t love a
good Banked Slalom & those BX tracks look fun. It’s all one Discipline. Snowboarding!
Hometown: Whistler, BC
Home Mountain: Whistler Blackcomb
Most memorable moment on your board: My first time presenting in the Fire and Ice show. It was the first time I’d ever presented my riding infant of as large a crowd as that. It was New Years eve. Jumping through a hoop of fire in a massive train with other pros. Doing a Laid out backflip and stomping it clean somewhere in the middle of the lineup.
Season riding goal: Have as much fun as possible. Make something beautiful happen.
Long term riding goal: My long term goal is to keep riding and keep creating beautiful moments for myself until I die of old age. Side bonus if I can share it with others.
Biggest inspiration: There’s too many inspirational people in snowboarding I can’t narrow it down to a reasonable list. Maybe the more Kudos goes to Pioneers like Craig Kelly, and Terje. Early Snowboard pro’s setting a path for so many to follow. Students of the sport. Without them there’d be no legitimacy to the sport. I’m also stoked on the next generation of riders coming up. Snowboarding is so inclusive now. It’s always been attractive to the free thinkers, and expressive types, as well as the thrill seekers and those with a need for speed. It’s become so exciting to see all the families out there enjoying it together. It’s become a genuine and beautiful Culture.
Best piece of advice: Have fun. Practice things in bite sized steps. Make each step feel smooth as butter before moving on. Don’t skip steps. Each of them is like a trick. Gotta stomp it at least “two to make it
true!”
Other hobbies:Mountain Biking.
Shout outs:To Katie Tsuyuki . Proud to have shred some snow with you!
Instagram: @JPFok
Facebook Athlete Page:https://www.facebook.com/JPFOK89
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/jp.fok/
YouTube: My YouTube Channel
US Amateur Athletes
Serina Verduzco
Riding Since: 2013 / 3 years old
The Donek you ride: Saber / Park Twin
Board Size: 130 Saber / 125 Park Twin
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: BX
Hometown: South Lake Tahoe
Home Mountain: Sierra at Tahoe
Most memorable moment on your board: Winning 2 gold medals at 2018 Nationals
Season riding goal: Win Nationals
Long term riding goal: Make the US Olympic BX team
Biggest inspiration: Jamie Anderson
Best piece of advice: Always follow your dreams
Other hobbies: Skateboarding, Horseback riding, going to beach
Shout outs: Mom and Dad
Instagram: verduzcos
Ashton Grogg
Riding Since: 2006
Hometown: Woodland Hills, UT
Home mountain: and Park City, Brighton Resort
Favorite Discipline: GS
The Donek you ride: 185, 163 Secret
Most memorable moment on my board: Winning at the 2023 USASA Nationals
Season riding goal: Winning an open class race
Best piece of advice: Go fast, go faster and end fast.
Other hobbies: My dad Aries Grogg
How to follow and know more about me: Follow me on Instagram @ashton_snowboard
Griffin Kleinle
Riding Since: 2013
The Donek you ride: 163 Pulse and 147 Talon
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: GS and SL
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Home Mountain: Roundtop Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: My national championship winning run on the Donek BX course
Season riding goal: National Champ
Long term riding goal: To make the US Olympic Team
Biggest inspiration: Pete Rubincam and Mick Dierdorff
Best piece of advice: Train hard and have fun!
Other hobbies: Surfing, golfing, volleyball, fishing, biking
Shout outs: My teammates and coaches for being the best crew to train with, Mom and Dad for your love and belief in me, Grandma and PopPop for supporting me always, Mr. Jakobsen for pushing me hard in training.
Instagram:gromgriff
Facebook Athlete Page: Griffin Kleinle
Levi Decareau
Hometown: Bethel ME
Home mountain: Sunday River
Favourite Discipline: Boardercross
The Donek you ride: 125 Junior with park flex
How to follow and know more about me: Instagram @levid2548
Shout Outs: Mom,Dad and my brother Travis. Gould Acadamy for the Great coaches and training. Maine Mountain Series for their hard work providing amazing events to compete at.
Riley Wolkowinsky
Hometown: Flagstaff, AZ
Home mountain: Arizona Snowbowl
Favourite Discipline: Slalom
The Donek you ride: 135 Saber
How to follow and know more about me: @RileyWolko
Shout Outs: Thanks to my Mom and Dad for getting me started early so I could be here now! Special thanks to Red Feather Lodge for the athletic scholarships to help me get to Nationals
Reese Moryn
Riding Since: Winter 2010
The Donek you ride: Donek junior twin and Donek Sabre
Board Size: Sabre 132, Twin 130
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): Giant Slalom
Hometown: Harris, MN
Home Mountain: Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls, MN
Season riding goal: My goal for this season is to continue to improve in every event.
Long term riding goal: I don’t know… keep having fun
Best piece of advice: My dad said to me when “You can achieve anything, if you keep working at it.”
Other hobbies: I love to play soccer and read.
Shout outs: I would love to give shout outs to @skiwildmountain, @ridemn, @fastwaxskiwax and of course @doneksnowboards for allowing me to be apart of an amazing group of athletes. Good Luck to everyone this season!!!
Instagram: @reesesnowgirl
Cooper Callaway
Riding Since: 2006
Hometown: Onalaska, WI
Home mountain: Mt. La Crosse
Favorite Discipline: Slalom
Board Size:163
Regular or goofy: regular
The Donek you ride: Looking at purchasing the Rev or Secret
Instagram: #supercoop_callaway
Facebook: www.facebook.com/supercoop.callaway
Shout Outs: Thanks to Katie, Mark, Sean and the whole Donek crew for their support. And thank you to my mom, dad, brother and other friends and family that support and challenge me to be the best that I can be.
Hobbies include: Snowboarding Mt Biking Motocross Coaching youth Soccer Playing Violin Kayaking
Additional interests and things that keep me busy include; maintaining a 3.70 gpa, managing and working a lawn mowing and snow removal business with my brother, working in sales and parts at 2Brothers Powersports, scoring trap at our local Trap Shooting Club and working at Old Towne Strings doing stringed instrument repairs, tuning & cleaning instruments and help with sales.
Sloane Alexander
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Home mountain: Mad River Mountain
Favourite Discipline: Slalom and Giant Slalom
The Donek you ride: S.A. 110
How to follow and know more about me: @tinyshreddersloane
Shout Outs: Mad River Mountain(Bellefontaine Ohio), Aspen Ski and Board (Columbus, Ohio), Phillip’s Original (Columbus, Ohio) and of course Mom & Dad for supporting these ambitions of mine!
Follow me @tinyshreddersloane
Lyla Stubblefield
Riding Since: 2014
The Donek you ride: Saber BX
Board Size: 140
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: I love everything snowboarding!
Hometown: Placerville, CA
Home Mountain: Northstar
Most memorable moment on your board: Winning first place in Slalom and Giant Slalom at USASA Nationals in 2022.
Season riding goal: I have a lot of goals this season. I would like to land backflips, 360s, 540s, and stomp frontboard’s on rails in competitions. I would like to learn cripplers and land 720s in the pipe. I also want to defend my National Championship title for SL, GS, and overall.
Long term riding goal: I would like to go pro and compete on the world stage: US Team, X Games, Olympics
Biggest inspiration: My two inspirations are Maddie Mastro and Chloe Kim.
Best piece of advice: Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams!
Other hobbies: Equestrian, Gymnastics, Skateboarding and Surfing
Shout outs: I would like to shout out to my Mom, Dad, and the rest of my family and friends who have supported my goals and dreams and all those that continue to. I would also like to shout out to all of my coaches at Sierra At Tahoe and Northstar who have been so supportive and helped teach and mold me into the athlete I am today.
Instagram: @lyla.stubblefield
Nathan Bautista
Hometown: Kinnelon, NJ
Home mountain: Camelback, NY
Favourite Discipline: Giant slalom
The Donek you ride: Pulse 175, Secret 168
How to follow and know more about me: instagram @Natee.Bautistaa
Shout Outs: davehirschberg @snowride0 , @garet.snowboards , @ccapela98, and Mom & Dad
Jax Allen
Riding Since: 2015
The Donek you ride: 153 Saber / 139 Park Twin
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline Slopestyle & Racing
Hometown: Rancho Murieta, Ca
Home Mountain: Sierra At Tahoe
Most memorable moment on your board: Racing at Nationals at Copper.
Season riding goal: I want to win all of my events!
Long term riding goal: Riding for TEAM USA!
Biggest inspiration: Hannah Teter has been my inspiration all along the way.
Best piece of advice: Always find a way to get back up & stay humble!
Other hobbies: I love mountain biking, surfing, fishing and studying the martial arts.
Shout outs: Thanks to Coach Mike D for teaching me how to ride. Coach Jonny & Garrett @ Sierra! Mel @ Blue Iron. Trav @ CCE. Mom and Dad for helping me chase my dreams.
Instagram: @tahoejax
Gabriella Bday
Riding Since: 2012
The Donek you ride: Saber
Board Size: 135
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: All of them
Hometown: Lake Tahoe, NV
Home Mountain: North Star
Most memorable moment on your board: When I landed my first ever 720
Season riding goal: Placing top three in all racing events at USASA Nationals
Long term riding goal: To place top 3 at the Olympics
Biggest inspiration: All the pros that I have met
Best piece of advice: Never give up because the world has many opportunities
Other hobbies: Surfing, skateboarding, and soccor
Shout outs: Jamie Anderson, Shaun White, Chole Kim, Maddie Mastro
Instagram: @unicornshredder
Dominic DeStefano
Riding Since: 2016
The Donek you ride: 130 Junior and Talon
Board Size: 138 cm
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Slope Style, Slalom, and Giant Slalom
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Home Mountain: Snowbowl, AZ
Most memorable moment on your board: Hitting 30 foot jumps at Woodward
Season riding goal: Backflip.
Long term riding goal: To be a snowboard coach
Biggest inspiration: My older sister Briana
Best piece of advice: Never give up
Other hobbies: Geology and pakour
Shout outs: GCFT and the Grand Canyon Series directors Scott and Josh
Instagram: @domdestefano
Emma Smith
Name: EMMA SMITH
Riding Since: 2016
The Donek you ride (or will order): Saber BX, Secret Racing Alpine Snowboard
Board Size: Saber BX-150cm
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Boardercross and Giant Slalom
Hometown: Slinger, Wi
Home Mountain: Little Switzerland
Most memorable moment on your board: The time I got 4th place in Giant Slalom at 2022 USASA
Nationals at Copper Mountain.
Season riding goal: My goal is to advance my riding skills and technique on a Donek alpine racing board.
Long term riding goal: To maintain state and national titles throughout my high school riding career.
Biggest inspiration: My big brother, Ethan, who was on the Donek team and had individual placings at
state and USASA Nationals in 2022.
Best piece of advice: “Send it and have fun.”
Other hobbies: Competitive horseback riding and showing and I am a member of my local FFA chapter.
Shout outs: Ethan Smith, Paul and Paula Bullis, Lexi Bullis, Jayna Schmittinger, Darrell Weidmeyer, and
all of my teammates for pushing me throughout the years.
Instagram: @esmith.snowboard
Snapchat: esmith.7
Izzy Edlen
Riding Since: 2014
The Donek you ride (or will ordering): Junior or Saber BX
Board Size: 125 – 130
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): BX, SL, GS
Hometown: Lakewood, CO
Home Mountain: Copper Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: My most memorable moment on my board is when I went to the top of the mountain in steamboat and it was freezing, so I decided to go into the trees and I found a bunch of powder, so I raced through it like a lightning bolt.
Season riding goal: Continue to improve on everything!
Long term riding goal: Keep improving and keep having fun!
Biggest inspiration: My coach Nolan and one of my first coaches William Borregard
Best piece of advice: Just keep leaning and having fun, and even olympians admit they could use improving.
Other hobbies: 4 wheeling in our jeep Badgercon, painting, and much more.
Shout outs: @doneksnowboards of course! @williamborregard @jade_sheds my bsf (best snowboarding friend) @nolanquinnin and @earth_surfer and my mom and dad.
Instagram: @littlepowslayer
Brynn Diehl
Riding Since:2017
The Donek you ride: 148 Saber SBX
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: SBX
Hometown: Commerce, Michigan
Home Mountain: Alpine Valley Ski Resort
Most memorable moment on your board: Getting the queens of the hill trophy with my Lakeland Highschool girls team.
Season riding goal: Make it to nationals
Long term riding goal: compete for the US olympic team
Biggest inspiration: My mom, dad and brother.
Best piece of advice: If you’re not first you’re last.
Other hobbies: Horses, snowmobiles, jet skis, surfing, wakeboarding, dirtbikes, photography
Shout outs: My Family, Maculey Kilmer for all the board tuning, riding tips and out of state racing adventures, Team Ripturn and my coach JP, My highschool team and coaches
Instagram: @brynndiehl
Snapchat @brdiehl
Facebook Profile: @brynn diehl
Thomas Lutz
Riding Since: 2012
The Donek you ride: Secret
Board Size: 158 secret, 170 Secret
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): GS
Hometown: Redding CA
Home Mountain: Mount Shasta
Most memorable moment on your board: Learning to ride my race board through four-five feet of powder in trees at mt. Hood
Season riding goal: Top 10 at states
Long term riding goal: Ride on a college team
Best piece of advice: When you fall make sure to get back up
Other hobbies: White water, Mt. biking, Hiking, Exploring
Shout outs: Big thanks to mom and dad for taking me to the mountains and supporting me. Another shout out to SHS alpine for the supportive coaches and teammates.
Instagram: tlutz_02
Snapchat: tlutz02
Grace Govan
Riding Since: 2010
The Donek you ride: 154 B1
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: GS
Hometown: Vienna, VA
Home Mountain: Bryce Resort (Virginia)
Most memorable moment on your board: Placing 3rd in the Southeast conference in one of my
alpine races this past season.
Season riding goal: To compete in as many alpine races as possible and more national events
placing in the top three. I also would love to compete in boardercross events.
Long term riding goal: To eventually be a part of the Official US Snowboard Team and compete
in National as well as worldwide events.
Biggest inspiration: My dad because he taught me everything I know about snowboarding and
his passion for the sport is what really drove me to want to pursue it.
Best piece of advice: Resilience is a key attribute to have in life.
Other hobbies: Running, going to the gym, computer programming, and baking J
Shout outs: To my amazing family for giving me so many opportunities and cheering me on at
all my races!:)
Instagram: gracegovan
Snapchat: ggovan11
Carrick O’Neill
Riding Since: 2018
The Donek you ride (or will ordering): 135 Saber SBX
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: Boardercross
Hometown: Excelsior, MN
Home Mountain: Hyland Hills
Most memorable moment on your board: Learning to rip up side hits at Steamboat and shredding the Woodward park at Copper Mountain in the spring of 2021 with all the USASA riders who were gearing up for the last big contests.
Season riding goal: My goals for this season are to finish first in Minnesota for Boardercross, qualify for nationals, and finish in the top 3 at Nationals. I also want to qualify for Nationals in Alpine, Halfpipe, and Slopestyle like my big brothers.
Long term riding goal: I hope that I will be riding a lot
Biggest inspiration: My dad and my brothers who encouraged me to get out there and ride!
Other hobbies: When I am not snowboarding I love to play baseball and football.
Shout outs: To all my friends in the Upper Midwest and my crew the BENT OXEN.
Instagram: @carrickshreds
Cian O’Neill
Riding Since: 2014 and competing since 2017
The Donek you ride (or will ordering): 145 Saber BX
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Boardercross and Halfpipe
Hometown: Excelsior, MN
Home Mountain: Hyland Hills
Most memorable moment on your board: Hearing my name being called for a top 10 finisher at Nationals…3 times!
Season riding goal: I have three goals for this season!
- Learn at least five new tricks
- Finish first in our Region
- Get on the Podium at Nationals
Long term riding goal: Would love to compete at the X-Games
Biggest inspiration: Shaun White and Red Gerard
Other hobbies: I play on a traveling baseball team and love it! I am also trying out tackle football for the first time. I love to ride around on my skateboard, too! I like to build stuff including jumps for our front yard snowboard park!
Shout outs: Big shout out to the USASA, especially the awesome people in the Upper Midwest Snowboard Series. And to my mom, she is awesome.
Instagram: @cianrides
Seamus O’Neill
Riding Since: 2010
The Donek you ride (or will ordering): 150 Saber BX
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Boardercross
Hometown: Excelsior, MN
Home Mountain: Hyland Hills
Most memorable moment on your board: The first time I sent “Super” which is the biggest jump at my home mountain Hyland Hills. I love the feeling of overcoming my fears.
Season riding goal: I have three goals for this year:
- Make the podium in at least three boardercross events!
- Win at least one boardercross event.
- Qualify for Nationals.
Long term riding goal: Continue to race boardercross and get faster each time!
Biggest inspiration: Red Gerard
Other hobbies: My other love is baseball where I play on a traveling team! I also enjoy playing football, wiffle ball, and playing video games.
Shout outs: Shout out to all the awesome people who run the Upper Midwest Snowboard Series and to the riders who make it an awesome community.
Instagram: @seamusrides
Lochlan Swanson
Riding Since: 2014
The Donek you ride : Baker
Board Size: 140
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: backcountry/freeride
Hometown: Plain, Wa
Home Mountain: Mission ridge
Most memorable moment on your board: Qualifying for the Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom
Season riding goal: Learn to 360 and wildcat
Long term riding goal: To ride the fullest of my ability for as long as possible, if I win some contests, make some friends all the better
Biggest inspiration: It started out as watching Shaun White in the olympics in 2014 which got me to start then I started to get inspired by people like Craig Kelly, Jeremy Jones, Travis rice and Austen Swettin who inspired me to get off the beaten path and ride more backcountry and free ride and recently I’ve been inspired by everyone in the most recent Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom.
Best piece of advice: Stay low be powerful, and remember that any day on the Mountain is a good day
Other hobbies: Skateboarding, Mountain biking
Shout outs: My parents for always being very supportive of my riding.
Instagram: @lochlanswanson
Ian Zuroski
Riding Since: 2018
The Donek model you ride: Junior
Board Size: 129
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Snowboardcross
Hometown: Eagleville, PA
Home Mountain: Blue Mountain, PA
Most memorable moment on your board: Riding in my first real race in 2019.
Season riding goal: To make nationals in Copper, CO.
Long term riding goal: Olympics!
Biggest inspiration: Shaun White
Best piece of advice: “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but by all means, keep moving. Martin Luther King Jr.”
Other hobbies: Golf, Fishing
Shout outs: I want to thank my parents and my head coach
Instagram: ianzuroski
Abe Cronkhite
Riding Since: 2014
The Donek you ride: Saber
Board Size: 153
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: Slalom Alpine
Hometown: Whitefield, ME
Home Mountain: Sunday River
Most memorable moment on your board: Riding the Spruce Peak chairlift at Sunday River when all the trees were covered with snow.
Season riding goal: To improve my SL finish from last season.
Long term riding goal: To have fun, keep improving, and always do my best.
Biggest inspiration: Ryan Knapton
Best piece of advice: Go with the flow and keep shredding!
Other hobbies: Reading and chess
Shout outs: Coaches April, Barlow, Anna, Dustin, and KC!
Instagram: @abecronkhite
Adam Lapham
Riding Since: 2018
The Donek you ride: Saber BX
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: BX
Hometown: Easton, PA
Home Mountain: Blue Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: When I got to ride Mount Copper for the first time. Getting to ride the national’s course and getting into semi finals.
Season riding goal: National Champ
Long term riding goal: To make the US Olympic Team
Biggest inspiration: My Dad
Best piece of advice: Race like it’s your last.
Other hobbies: Golfing, swimming, lacrosse
Shout outs: My teammates and coaches for helping me. I started racing in 2020 and have come very far thanks to my team and friends. I aim most of this to my parents for dealing with all that I’ve done. They have helped me like when I was first starting out and even now they push me to be a better rider. They make sure I get where i need to be on time even if I don’t want to go or i’m feeling down. They push me to be the best.
(and my siblings but mostly parents)
Instagram: adam_lapham
Haley Goff
Riding Since: 2007
The Donek you ride (or will order): B-1 or B-1S
Board Size: 156
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): SBX
Hometown: Jay Vermont
Home Mountain: Jay Peak
Most memorable moment on your board: The most memorable moment on my Donek Saber was winning
BX at USASA Nationals. Done
Season riding goal: Riding at USASA Nationals Again.
Long term riding goal: To Ride for the US Olympic Snowboard Team
Biggest inspiration: Lindsey Jacobellis
Best piece of advice: Never Give Up and always keep going no matter what
Other hobbies: Running, Hiking, Yoga, Biking
Shout outs: My family and UVM snowboard team
Instagram: @haleygoof
Snapchat: haleygoff9802
Facebook Athlete Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084999476939
Twitter: haleygo38724488
Zack Zaman
Riding Since: 2009
The Donek you ride: B1-S
Board Size: 163
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline: Snowboard Cross
Hometown: Bar Harbor, Maine
Home Mountain: Sugarloaf
Most memorable moment on your board: The most memorable moment on my board has to be when at Copper Mountain, Colorado, I got the opportunity to go up the chairlift an hour before the mountain fully opened, so I spend an hour riding an empty mountain and enjoying the fresh tracks completely in my own zone.
Season riding goal: Consistently place higher in time trials and advance further in heats at FIS events than I ever have.
Long-term riding goal: Ride and compete at a high enough level where I can help grow the sport and inspire other athletes.
Biggest inspiration: All the sick snowboarders I’ve gotten the privilege to grow up riding, training, and competing with.
Best piece of advice: Push yourself. The best way to get better at the things you love is to push past your limits and fears and see how far you can truly go.
Other hobbies: Skateboarding, cliff jumping, slacklining, exploring, and doing anything adventurous and fun.
Shout outs: My family, friends, all my former coaches and teammates, Brady Harvie, Joey Minutolo, and Nash Hawkins
Instagram: zackaryzaman
Snapchat: zackaryzaman
Facebook Athlete Page: https://www.facebook.com/zackaryzaman
Facebook Profile: Zack Zaman
Website: N/A
Twitter: zackaryzaman
Joe Hefter
Riding Since: 2015
The Donek you ride: 163 B1
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: SBX
Hometown: Allenton, WI
Home Mountain: Little Switzerland
Most memorable moment on your board: My BX run at the WIARI high school competition. I
took 4 th place and help lead my team to first place.
Season riding goal: Taking podium at the state high school competition this year.
Long term riding goal: To make the US border cross team
Biggest inspiration: Alex, my older brother, I’m always striving to be better and beat him.
Best piece of advice: Trust yourself to make the best decisions for yourself while still listening to
your mentors for advice.
Other hobbies: Football, weightlifting, competitive target shooting, fishing, obstacle mud runs
Shout outs: Alex, my older brother. Coach Bullis, Slinger Snowboarding Team
Instagram: joehefter
Snapchat jo_hefter
Facebook Athlete Page: Joe Hefter
Facebook Profile: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071306117235
Remy Coker
Riding Since: 2019
The Donek you ride : Jr, Park Twin, Talon
Board Size: 127, 125
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favourite Discipline: GS, SS, BX, CARVE
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Home Mountain: Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and App Ski Mountain
Most memorable moment on your board: My first time riding at Copper Mountain for USASA Nationals in
2022 was definitely my most memorable moment. I had never experienced the excitement surrounding
an event like that and it was amazing to be there with all of my friends.
Season riding goal: Top 5 Overall
Long term riding goal: The Olympics
Biggest inspiration: To keep doing my best and get better every year.
Best piece of advice: Don’t quit, and keep pushing.
Other hobbies: Skating, Surfing, Swimming
Shout outs: I would like to send a shout out to my family, for all of the help and support they have given
me. I would also like to send a shout out to Alex Ettinger, Adam Thompson, Alex Sylvestri, Brian Hoeh, and Van Littlejohn.
Hoeh for their leadership and always showing up for me on the slopes.
Instagram: @TheRealRemyCoker
Lia Vocu
The Donek you ride : 141 Park Twin
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline: Jam
Hometown: Oley, Pennsylvania
Home Mountain: Bear Creek
Most memorable moment on your board: Being surprised with 2-3 feet of powder on my home mountain
the morning of my riding clinic. Even though it is not much compared to out west, it was so fun to be able
to play in terrain that we only get a day or two a year.
Season riding goal: Compete in the NorAm races for GS and SL
Long term riding goal: Get an invite to a World Cup
Biggest inspiration: All of my home mountain trainers who taught me to see snowboarding from different
perspectives
Best piece of advice: With great powder, comes great responsibility
Other hobbies: Pottery, skateboarding, and eating
Shout outs: Coach Dave, Jeff, and Neil, you guys always push me to be the best I can be. Phil Bowman
(my home mountain supervisor), you have raised my snowboard technicality to another level. And lastly,
Kaiya Kizuka, I remember when you first introduced all of this to me at Buckmans, without you, I would
have never known about competitive riding
Instagram: @liavocu
Snapchat: xliavocux
Kate Gunn
Riding Since: 2018
The Donek you ride: 130 Saber SBX
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS, CARVE): Giant Slalom
Hometown: Powell, WY
Home Mountain: Red Lodge Mountain, Red Lodge, MT
Most memorable moment on your board: Beating all the adult women snowboarders in our Town Series GS race.
Season riding goal: Compete in my first boardercross and land some new grabs in the park.
Long term riding goal: To medal at USASA Nationals
Biggest inspiration: My family (Mom, Dad and Max) and the grown-up carvers at my mountain who help and encourage me.
Best piece of advice: If you want to be good at something, you have to be willing to be bad at it first.
Oher hobbies: Soccer, Legos, playing with my brother
Shout outs: Audra and Forrest at Red Lodge Mountain for helping me get better every day on the mountain and just being nice.
Instagram: MontanaGroms
Zaria Steeves
Riding Since: 2014/ 2 years old
The Donek you ride: 132 Saber
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline: BX, SS, HP
Hometown: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Home Mountain: Sierra-at-Tahoe, Northstar
Most memorable moment on your board: Winning first place in the all-around division at the 2023
USASA Snowboard Nationals
Season riding goal: Place 1st in SBX at the 2024 USASA Snowboard Nationals
Long-term riding goal: To become the next South Lake Tahoe Olympian
Biggest inspiration: Jamie Anderson, Chloe Kim, Lindsey Jacobellis
Best piece of advice: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time
we fall”
Other hobbies: Competitive soccer, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, and all that Tahoe has to offer
Shoutouts: Thanks to my family and Tahoe community for supporting my journey!
Instagram: @zaria.steeves
Riley Miller
Riding Since:2017
The Donek you ride :155 Sabre BX
Regular or goofy:Goofy
Favourite Discipline:BX
Hometown:Silverthorne, Colorado
Home Mountain:Copper Mountain
Season riding goal:Top 10 at USASA Nationals in Boardercross
Long term riding goal:Get better every day and never stop having fun
Best piece of advice:Practice riding switch!
Other hobbies:Once the snow melts, I’m either skating a local park or exploring Summit County trails on my mountain bike.
Shout outs:@marcusshreds @elliot_kubick @rhysee_rhys @nolanquinnin @jimmieblunder
Instagram:@freestyleriley
Canadian Amateur Athletes
Jenna Walker
Name: Jenna Walker
Riding Since: Since I was 7 years old!
The Donek you ride : Transition
Board Size: 138
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline: Halfpipe
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Home Mountain: Lake Louise
Most memorable moment on your board: Competing in Jr. Worlds in Leysin Switzerland
Season riding goal: To air out of the half pipe about 8 feet when spinning and in regular laps.
Long term riding goal: 2026 Olympics!
Biggest inspiration: Chole Kim and Queralt Castellet
Best piece of advice: If you put your mind to anything, you can do it no matter the difficulties you may encounter.
Other hobbies: Volleyball, gymnastics and skateboarding.
Shout outs: One Exchange Corp, Vortex Academy and Alberta Snowboard Association
Instagram: _j.ennawalker
Facebook Profile: Jenna Walker
Zayn Butt
Riding since: 2015
Donek model you ride:Junior
Board size:133
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite discipline: Slope Style
Hometown: Sun Peaks, BC
Home mountain: Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality
Most memorable moment on your board: My first competition at BC Snowboard Provincial Series
Season riding goal: Dial in my 360s with style
Long term riding goal: Continuing to improve on all park features and trying something new each time I ride
Best piece of advice: Always have fun and stay humble
Other hobbies: DH Biking, Guitar, Drums
Shout out to Buff Canada and Sun Peaks Freestyle Club
Biggest inspiration: Sean Miskiman, Derek Molinski, Nayte Brown
Instagram: @butterzayn
Youtube Channel
Neva Peterson
Riding Since: 2017
The Donek you ride: Junior 115
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): Boardercross because it has pumping and banked turns and you get to race people!!
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Home Mountain: Sunshine Village Banff
Most memorable moment on your board: Racing boardercross at the 2019 Nissan Supergirl Pro
and getting to ride with Lindsey Jacobellis and Zoe Bergmann!
Season riding goal: Learning spins and grabs in the halfpipe
Long term riding goal: To compete in the Olympics by doing flips in the halfpipe and racing
boardercross.
Biggest inspiration: Watching all the women’s competitions in X-Games and Olympics. I
especially love watching records be made, like Maddie Mastro landing her double crippler 900,
and Anna Gasser landing her cab triple underflip!! I can’t wait to set some records myself some
day!
Best piece of advice: Keep going after your goals, even when it gets hard. Eventually you will
get it!
Other hobbies: BMX Racing, Skateboarding, Mountain Biking
Shout outs: USASA Southeastern Series where I got my start, Team Utah where I trained last
season, and AMP Snowboarding Team where I’ll be taking it to the next level this season! Also,
Shred Dog Gear who keeps me ready to shred no matter the weather conditions!
Instagram: @AwakenArtemis
The Donek you ride: Junior 115
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favorite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): Boardercross because it has pumping and banked turns and you get to race people!!
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Home Mountain: Sunshine Village Banff
Most memorable moment on your board: Racing boardercross at the 2019 Nissan Supergirl Pro
and getting to ride with Lindsey Jacobellis and Zoe Bergmann!
Season riding goal: Learning spins and grabs in the halfpipe
Long term riding goal: To compete in the Olympics by doing flips in the halfpipe and racing
boardercross.
Biggest inspiration: Watching all the women’s competitions in X-Games and Olympics. I
especially love watching records be made, like Maddie Mastro landing her double crippler 900,
and Anna Gasser landing her cab triple underflip!! I can’t wait to set some records myself some
day!
Best piece of advice: Keep going after your goals, even when it gets hard. Eventually you will
get it!
Other hobbies: BMX Racing, Skateboarding, Mountain Biking
Shout outs: USASA Southeastern Series where I got my start, Team Utah where I trained last
season, and AMP Snowboarding Team where I’ll be taking it to the next level this season! Also,
Shred Dog Gear who keeps me ready to shred no matter the weather conditions!
Instagram: @AwakenArtemis
Mia Guadgni
Riding Since: 2015-16
The Donek you ride: 120 Park Twin
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline: Slopestyle
Hometown: Cumberland, BC, Canada
Home Mountain: Mt. Washington, The Coast Club snowboard club
Most memorable moment on your board: riding deep powder in Revelstoke with my dad
Season riding goal: improving my spins on jumps, hopefully 540!!!
Long term riding goal: Go to the Olympics and Natural Selection
Biggest inspiration: Zoi Sadowski-Synnot because she competed in the Olympics but also Natural Selection
Best piece of advice: Keep trying to better yourself, Never give up!
Other hobbies: Gymnastics, Mountain Biking, Wakeboarding and Surfing
Shout outs: Mom and Dad, Nonna and Grandma and my coaches at The Coast Club Buddy and Andrew
Instagram: @therichmondsadventures
Edmond Lefebvre
Riding Since:2014
The Donek you ride:B1s
Board Size:154
Regular or goofy: Goofy
Favorite Discipline: Snowboardcross
Hometown: Montreal
Home Mountain:Bromont
Most memorable moment on your board:Riding powder at Revelstoke
Season riding goal:Being part of Team Canada
Long term riding goal:Being on the podium at U15 nationals
Biggest inspiration: Eliot Grondin
Best piece of advice: Never give up
Other hobbies: Playing football
Shout outs: My coach
Instagram: edmond_sb
Lauren Russell
Riding Since: 2010
The Donek you ride (or will ordering): Sabre
Board Size: 140
Regular or goofy: Regular
Favourite Discipline (BX, SS, SL, HP, GS): BX
Hometown: Georgetown, Ontario
Home Mountain: Beaver Valley Ski Club
Most memorable moment on your board: the adrenaline running through me during my first boardercross race
Season riding goal: land a 360
Long term riding goal: make team Ontario
Biggest inspiration: Mark McMorris and Mercedes Nicholl
Best piece of advice: friend the people you’re racing against
Other hobbies: wakeboarding and mountain biking
Shout outs: to mom and dad for sticking by me, my first coaches Tyson, Erik, and lastly my coaches from nationals the past two years
Instagram: @laurenrussell.sbx
Snapchat laurenmary.16