Holy Top 5’s!!!

So we had a little back storage room at the Capita booth in Vegas. It holds our stereo, coffee pot and most importantly three coolers full of Heineken, Heineken Light and Tecate’s. Being that Blue, Brad and Hor Hey are all former shreds, they have a plethora of pro shred and ex pro shred friends that come by the booth for a mellow sauce. I like to ask the same question to all, “If you had a snowboard company called “Pro Shred” snowboards, who would be your top 5 snowboarders from any period in time that would make up your team?” Dudes always rip out an easy three choices then choke on the last two. Over the last couple of days we had some great talent pass thru and some top 5’s chosen.

Mikey Leblanc
Mikey’s an ole bro from back in the day when he was a rep rider for Brad Albert in Colorado. I met him in Aspen and challenged him to a method off which he promptly cleaned my clock at. Mikey got two sets of questions as he was the first dude at the trade show to get the top 5’s.
Mikey Leblanc’s top 5 snowboarders of ALL TIME:
Noah Salasnek
Peter Line
Terje Haakonson
Scotty Whitlake
Gigi Ruf

And of course Mikey Leblanc’s Top 5 Snowboarders of TODAY:
Terje
Keegan Vaalaka
Matty Ryan (yes…Matty Ryan)
Gigi
Scotty Whitlake

Cody Dresser is on Blue Montgomery’s all time top five list and one of his bro’s. Cody’s running the snow marketing for Monster Energy these days and easily threw out the first three of his top 5, before spitting out the last two.
Cody Dressers top 5 Snow Shreds of all time would be:
Shawn Palmer
Tarquin Robbins
MFM
Devon Walsh
Danny Kass

JF Pelchat used to ride for us at Northwave and Drake way back when and for some reason held a grudge against Hor Hey for clipping him from the team. I heard he was talking shit to George and well you know, us against them is always the motto. So when JF tried poaching beers from us in the back room, he got told to “find your rep and they’ll pour you one.” Respectful he walked away and came back a half hour later with two cups saying “I have Blues cup and he said that I could pour one for myself.” I made him work a little more before caving in and letting him have a brew then he sat down and chatted. Being a “Wildcat” he let me know that “this little guy isn’t afraid to kick a big guys ass” where I quickly responded with a “this big guy isn’t scared to beat your little ass.” Soon hi 5’s were thrown and two assholes hugged it out and quickly became friends. JF Pelchat gave me these 5 dudes as his top 5 snowboarders of all time:
Craig Kelly
Jeff Brushie
Damian Sanders
Devon Walsh
Jamie Lynn

Once upon a time there was an all around snowboarder racking up as much footage, awards and X-Games coverage as Travis Rice does now. His name was Kevin Jones. And coming out of Tahoe quickly on his heels was a dude touted as the “next KJ.” His name was Steven Duke. Steven quickly disappointed all and never became KJ but became kinda known and kinda loved by all. He hung in there and did things his way regardless if it got him coverage, a paycheck or a movie part. Duke just duked it out and you got to love him for that. Dukes all time top 5 are:
Chris Roach
John Cardiel
Jamie Lynn
Devon Walsh
Scotty Whitlake

Following in the Wildcats footsteps is French Canadian Benji Richie. Benji is a big mountain rider who’s made his career in the back country, where he’s made it look like his personal snowboard park. Benji is fresh off having the part of his life in Grenade’s Boned Age and for some reason is now board sponserless as the ski company he once rode for didn’t realize how sick his footy was. Benji’s top 5 dudes are:
Travis Rice
Danny Kass
Devon Walsh
Jamie Lynn
Terje

Robbie Sells another Nor Cal bro who transferred from in front of the lens to behind it. Robbie’s shots are seen all over and as he was being the mellow Nor Cal guy in a sea of East Coast assholes in the back room, he shouted out these 5 guys:
Nate Cole
Kevin Jones
Joni Maakinen
Joel Mahaffey
Noah Salasanek

Travis Parker is on my all time 5 list of top 5 guys ever and it’s always nice to ask the question “what’s up Travis” as he’ll let you know what’s up. Travis is in college further smartening himself these days as he helps run his ever prospering snowboard clothing company Airblaster. Travis had a simple and quick to the point top 5 all time shredi’s:
Craig Kelly
Todd Richards
Peter Line
Jamie Lynn
Terje

Last but not least up on the top five list of who’s who of pro shredism was Mike Basich. Mike’s riding for Smokin Snowboards along with running his super popular Japanese clothing company 241. Mike belted out these 5 guys:
Nicholas Muller
Travis Rice
Andy Hetzel
Noah Salasnek
Chris Roach