OSU-Cascades caught up with snow team rider Justin Norman to talk school, work, injuries, and snowboarding. Check it out below.
Justin Norman takes on the powder of Mt. Bachelor with the South Sister in the background. (Photo courtesy of Pete Alport)
Justin Norman, is a tourism and outdoor leadership student (almost graduate actually) pursuing a career in professional snowboarding. He was recently featured on Snowboarder.com. We caught up with him to hear about his exciting (and scary) year.
Q. Hi Justin! You are so close to completing your degree. What have you been doing this summer and fall?
A. I was close enough to graduating that I was able to participate in commencement in June and will officially graduate this fall. This summer I took a terrain park position up at Mt. Hood working for Windells skateboard/snowboard/ski summer camp in Welches, Oregon. The terrain park position is so beneficial because of the networking opportunities it presented, and I got to help build and ride one of the best terrain parks in the world.
Since I ended my summer early due to a severe crash that fractured my T-7 vertebrae — which I am almost completely healed from now — I have had a lot of down time to focus on pushing my career as a professional snowboarder. I am working with local companies (Mt. Bachelor, Hydro Flask, JemRaw, BlackStrap, Tactics Boardshop, and Humm Kombucha) and non-local companies (DC snowboarding, Smith Optics, Flux Bindings, and Jiberish clothing) who support what I love to do. My goal this winter is to travel around Oregon and around the world to snowboard in new places, and work with professional videographers and photographers.
Q. Tell us about how moving to Bend from Eugene influenced your snowboarding.
Growing up in Eugene until 2004 was a great experience! I started skateboarding and snowboarding with my good friends in 2000, but knew that being a weekend warrior just wouldn’t cut it because I loved snowboarding too much. Once I found out how many amazing opportunities Bend had to offer, I had to move here and ended up graduating from Summit High School in 2005. Moving to Bend really pushed my level of snowboarding because I could ride and go to college at the same time. I graduated with a degree in culinary management from COCC in 2009 and then continued with school pursuing a degree in tourism and outdoor leadership at OSU-Cascades.
Q. How did OSU-Cascades help prepare you for life after graduation?
My college experience was long…most people say why didn’t you just get a medical degree!? Well, the answer is because I love what I have done so far with my time, making quality connections in the culinary and snowboard industry. OSU-Cascades has helped in many ways. Going through the TOL program opened up my eyes to a lot of wonderful concepts directly related to my interests in the outdoors involving sustainability practices, risk management techniques and entrepreneurial business approaches.
The biggest takeaway from my college experience was finding out who I am, and what I want to do with the knowledge and skills I accumulated from the quality classes I completed. One of the most memorable courses was an entrepreneurship in TOL class because we used so many tools in that class to organize a business plan and present it with passion. Life after graduation has been a lot of reflection at this point, and taking action to purse my snowboarding in a more professional mindset. My plan is to use the connections I have acquired thus far to start my own business entity.
Q. This summer you were featured on Snowboarder.com – what was that experience like?
I felt so honored to have my summer edit featured on Snowboarder magazine’s website because I was in a vulnerable state at this point, recovering from my back injury. This type of exposure was huge for me because I have so much respect for everyone over at Snowboarder Mag and everyone in the snowboard industry who cares about the sport. It is such a pleasure to be able to work with other professionals and help facilitate these types of quality projects! I look forward to this upcoming season and staying heathy throughout the winter.
Q. Where are the best places to play in the wintertime in Oregon?
Honestly, Mt. Bachelor is one of the best places to ride at in the winter, especially during the week or when the crowds are minimal. They have one of best terrain parks and some of the best terrain to ride during big powder dumps! I also suggest getting up to Mt. Hood in the summertime to enjoy one of the only places in North America to ride when all other resorts are closed.
Q. Any words of advice for our current Bend Beavers?
From my experience thus far, I always try to encourage others to follow their dreams, and be adventurous while you have this life to live. “I do not regret the things i’ve done, but those I did not do.” – Rory Cochrane
Photo courtesy of Pete Alport