Rising Up: Justin Phipps

Interview Stella & Alba

PHOTOS Theo Acworth 

22-year-old Justin Phipps is no longer flying under the radar and he is definitely on the rise. Growing up in Colorado, Justin’s passion for street riding was sparked by his dad, who filmed his first hits on a GoPro. After moving to Salt Lake City for college around four years ago, he found his way into the scene, filming standout parts for Dorothy and L1’s Tomorrow World. Riding for K2, Justin blends technical skill with creative flair, drawing inspiration from skateboarding and music. 

Hey Justin, thanks for taking some time out to talk to us. So… how did you get into snowboarding and where do you draw your inspiration from?

My dad was the one who got me into snowboarding. Back in the day he used to do boardercross competitions and was even getting hooked up by Palmer for a while which is cool. He taught me to snowboard when I was four years old and took me up to the mountains to ride basically every weekend throughout my childhood. Besides my dad being a huge supporter in my formative years, some of my first inspirations were people like Mike Rav and Scott Stevens. I feel like a lot of kids my age can say the same as they had such different riding styles and trick selections from anyone else that really impressed the younger generation. 

Nowadays, I like to find inspiration from things outside of snowboarding, mainly music and skating. I like listening to music a lot, and I feel like whatever I’m listening to on a particular day will kind of dictate how I ride, so I feel like my snowboarding reflects the music I am into in that way. I also take plenty of inspiration from skating. This is something I’ve been paying more attention to lately, especially when it comes to spot selection and trying to find locations that emulate skateboarding in a way. To me these are the coolest spots to session – it would be great to see more of them. 

What does snowboarding mean to you?

Snowboarding to me is just a way to go out and have fun with your friends. Of course when it comes to filming it has its ups and downs, like the toll it takes on your body, the battle with jet lag, and the hours you spend aimlessly searching for spots! That can all be tough. But at the end of the day none of these downsides outweigh the experience you get. And to me, the experience is the most fun part of it all. 

How have your roots affected your snowboarding?

Growing up in Colorado I was exposed to a lot of jumping when I was young. Pretty much every park in Summit County from like 2010 – 2017 had perfect jumps in any size you could imagine, and I think that really helped me to establish air awareness from a young age. I did some USASA contests at the time too, but I was never interested in learning double corks or spinning over a 720, so while I wasn’t the most technical jumper, I’d say that growing up in that environment definitely influenced my riding.

What do you do when you’re not riding?

When it comes to things outside of snowboarding, my two favorite hobbies are music and skateboarding. I love skateboarding, sometimes even more than snowboarding – but that’s a conversation for another time! I also injured my ankle at the beginning of the summer and haven’t been able to skate at all so that’s kind of a bummer, but I did get to spend a lot of time making music. I have a band with my friends called Gap Year, which we started about two years ago. Since then, we’ve played a lot of local shows and put out a couple tracks, but it’s nothing too serious, we just really like playing shows. 

What do you believe is the biggest challenge snowboarders are facing today?

Probably money. I think we’re in a somewhat of a transition period right now in snowboarding where we’re seeing a lot of independent crews going out DIY style and making videos on their own, which is awesome. The thing is though, that it can be really expensive, and with a lack of funding from brands it can be a challenge. It’s a time where street snowboarding seems to be at its most popular phase, but brands seem to be turning the other cheek and putting their assets elsewhere. 

Who’ve been your biggest cheerleaders on your journey so far? 

My family have always been my biggest cheerleaders from day one. My dad got me into it, my mom supported me in any way she could, and both my younger siblings have always been encouraging to me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. My friends of course have also always been huge supporters, special shoutout to my boy Henry Macomber who I grew up riding with and has always had my back. I’ve also got to pay homage to the sponsors, both K2 and L1 have opened up so many new opportunities for me over the last few years, helping me get to where I am now, and I’m super grateful for that.

What short-term goals would you like to accomplish in the next season?

I mainly just want to increase my trick selection next season. I’m not the most technical rider, I never have been, but I’d like to improve in that area as much as I can. 

Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

Hopefully doing the same thing I am now, just at a higher level. I want to keep progressing and pushing myself to do better than last season, but I also want to learn more about being a leader on trips. People like Tommy Gesme and Jake Kuzyk have always stood out to me on trips not just for their snowboarding, but for their knowledge and their ability to lead the crew. Whether it’s searching Google Earth for spots, constructing a game plan for the day, or building the perfect lip for a spot, they’re always dialed. I think that’s very admirable, and I’d like to be more of an asset to my crew like that one day. 

Top five priorities in your life.

Family; friends; school; self-care; music

Favorite trick?

Hardway cab 270 

Next trick?

Maybe something Switch Backside because that scares me…