Snow team rider Beau Cummins was recently added to the BlackStrap team. Even before he was a apart of the BlackStrap family he was always rocking the Hood Balaclava. Check out his interview with BlackStrap team manager, Justin Sampson.
Name: Beau Cummins
Home Mountain: Willamette Pass/ Mt.Hood
How long have you been riding for Tactics/ BlackStrap?
I do believe I have been riding for Tactics for two and a half or three years…can’t quite remember the exact time it all happened. But I just got on Blackstrap during the beginning of this season.
What made you want to ride for Tactics and BlackStrap and why?
Tactics has always been the go-to shop before I was riding for them. They always had the best deals and skate decks and everyone that worked in the shop was really sick. I started to appreciate Tactics the most though once I started working for them, for about a year. Tactics does so much to help out the skate and snow community, and for Eugene in general.
Since Blackstrap masks and goods have come out they have been the only way to go for me. Now I’m not just saying that… When Blackstrap asked if I would like to ride for them this season it was a definite yes. The quality of products is second to none, plus I know quite a few people that ride for them and every one of them are great.
What are your thoughts on BlackStrap and Tactics growing up in the Northwest?
I think all of us here in the Northwest couldn’t ask for a better place to live and a place for companies like Blackstrap and Tactics to begin. Being in the Northwest makes any outdoor activity easily accessible and can be just right off your back porch. You can go snowboard in the morning, go skate in the afternoon, then whatever else your heart desires after that.
Where do you look for inspiration? What’s shaped your riding style?
I can find inspiration for my riding in the usual spots, like watching a really good video part or seeing a photo that gets you excited to go ride. I think my biggest inspiration in my later days of riding have been finding things that make it new and fun. For example, doing a simple trick on a fun feature or pushing yourself to try a trick you have been thinking about even though it can be terrifying. Both the terrifying and the fun tricks get me excited to keep pushing myself. What shaped my style? That’s if I have any in the first place… haha. I think some things that I try to add to my riding is trying to stay “loose”. Anytime someone is stiff when they are riding, doesn’t matter what trick it is, it makes the trick look bad. So pretty much I try to ride like Randal.
With such little snow in the Northwest, how have you kept it fun/ interesting this season?
At the end of last season I had high hopes for the upcoming one. Plans on doing lots of hiking around and building some fun features in the woods but as everyone knows a lot of that wasn’t possible. So without doing those things I have just been riding lots of park, which is always fun to do anyways.
Any plans to travel this season?
I don’t have any big plans for traveling this year. Wish I could chase some snow in the east but I don’t think that will happen. I think my plans are to spend some serious time up at hood riding and camping.
What’s been your best day/ trip of the season thus far?
This year Tactics did a snow team trip to Bachelor and we stayed in Sunriver with Randal for days and that had to be the best trip so far. We saw some really nice weather while we were riding and filming and of course after we were done up there we came down to do some drinking. It was just a good time with no one getting hurt too bad.
What’s your setup this year?
This year I have been riding the Burton Easy livin’ 152 with Genesis bindings.
What is your favorite BlackStrap piece and when does it come in most handy?
Definitely my favorite piece is “The Hood”. It comes in handy all the time. I ride with one every day, doesn’t matter if it’s blazing hot or bitter cold.
We’ve done a few collaborations w/ Tactics; what would you like to see in the future for product collaborations?
I would like to see a Tactics x Blackstrap “the hood” made. Also I’m all about windbreakers so that’s always a good choice.
Any shout outs? I might as well. Shout out to my Dad and the rest of my family, my old ball and chain Sarah, and my dog Zeppelin.
Check out all of the BlackStrap gear at Tactics.com