Sims
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Gaetan Chanut
Rider Details
Home Mountain:Whistler/Blackcomb
Sponsors:Whistler/Blackcomb, SIMS Snowboards, Rusty Outerwear, Bula headwear, Axis Boardshops, Alterna Films, 8 Miles, Electric Goggles, Union Bindings, Nike boots, Cheatha Racks, Hestra Gloves
What got you into riding a snowboard?Skateboarding.
Who are the riders that impress and inspire you the most and why?Devun Walsh, Terje Hackensten, Shin Campos, Martin Gallant, Kale Stephens, JP Walker, Jeremy Jones and Jeremy Jones, BJ and Erik Leines, Mikey Leblanc, Chris Dufficy, Chad Otherstrom and Romain Dermarchy with their longevity, strength and uniqueness.
What trick do you wish you could master?Triple Wildcats!
If you could pick any song in the world to use in a video part what would it be?A song from Jimi Hendrix (Oh yeah right! I already got that!).
When you aren’t shredding what are you up to?I am trying to make as much money as possible working as a project coordinator in high end home renovations so I can go back and focus only on my snowboarding during shredding season.
What do you plan on doing once your snowboarding career ends?Enjoy retirement like I'm supposed to! Just kidding...! I will keep being a jack of all trades for a while. I might go get some extra knowledge through some kind of degree after and then hopefully build myself a self sufficient home one day.
You do a lot of boating in the summer, what kind of boat do you have?I have a 25' Bayliner Sunbridge Ciera with an upgraded V8 383 stroker engine. The boat is loud and fast despite the appearance. It features two double beds and living room downstairs with a fridge and a bar-b-q strapped at the back. All the essentials to have a great weekend out on the ocean!
What is the best perk of being a Wildcat?To live and be recognized as part of a movement that brings the fun back in snowboarding for what it is! Now a days, the guys have grown their wisdom but are still wild deep down. You can tame a wildcat but you can’t kill it!
You have a long history with the SIMS brand. How many years in total have you ridden for the brand?I rode for Sims on and off since 2001! A couple more years and I will celebrate my 10th year anniversary with the brand! Apart from Tom Sims, I might be the rider that rode for Sims the longest! That’s why I thought it would be appropriated to go back to the roots and ride some the old boards like the Salasnek to commemorate the long life brand!
If you could go on a date with any person in the world, who would it be?That’s a tough one! There are so many interesting and beautiful people in the world!
Snowy pow day or sunny park day?Snowy pow day all day long!
What are your thoughts on the recent progression of snowboarding?It has gone more freestyle then ever! It is probably a natural progression of the sport since you always want to go a notch higher… Seems like young guys are doing well in contests while older guys are still setting standards for style and techniques. I think the natural terrain riding aspect of it is doing a comeback. Less cheese wedges and more freeride mixed with the freestyle backcountry.
Which 11/12 SIMS board do you prefer to ride?The Switchblade 157cm.
SIMS is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year. What does that mean to you?For me, it means the brand has a long history that goes back to the early beginning of the sport. The name that is familiar to everyone and that brings back good memories in mind. It also means it is a brand that is mature but that is still in its prime. Just like me!
What did you do over the summer?I started the summer with a good spring clean around the yard, treated myself with a new mountain bike to keep in shape, went to Whistler and helped a friend build a house, came back to Squamish and put a bunch of new windows at my house, put my collector motorcycle back on the road for some nice relaxing cruises, imported a turbo diesel truck from Japan to go up the mountain and snowmobile in July, kept on going all the way to the hotsprings in the middle of nowhere and came back to eat some vegetables off my garden. I had some friends and family coming to visit so I took them to the lakes around Squamish and then we went party it up in different events and special nights in Whistler.
What are your goals for the 11/12 season?Shoot photos that will get published in interviews and covers. Be all I can be to represent well as a multi-generation ambassador.
What is your first memory of the SIMS brand?The original Switchblade that I rode back in 1990. I was still skiing at the time but was thinking of doing both sports full time. I had a Black Snow at the time and I had a hard time doing edge to edge turns. One of my friend lend me his Sims board for a run and it changed my life! Thanks bro!
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