So what happens now? Are they done? Do they no longer have the juice? Are they washed up over the hill or just over it?

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1 Yes, They Are. Volume 06/Issue 03 snowboard-mag.com Written by Nate Deschenes In snowboarding, there are few riders who have reached legendary status. They are the men by whom we all measure our own greatness. David Carrier- Porcheron, JP Solberg and Romain demarchi are examples of snowboarders who pioneered the sport into an age of undeniable progression. They took the technical aspect of freestyle riding and brought it to a level to which we, as mere mortals, cannot even relate. As young as snowboarding is, we need to recognize that we may never see the likes of their talent again. In the beginning, this interview seemed like a great idea, chiefly because everyone wanted the dirt on what really happened with their release from Burton. These three riders had provided the backbone and the substance to the Burton team for as long as anyone could remember before they were unceremoniously let go last year, a move that had the entire industry buzzing. However, it seems that a bigger picture has emerged as feelings have moved away from bitterness and matured into appreciation and hope. Perspectives have changed. In fact, each one of the guys is very thankful for his previous life and will admit that he wouldn t be where he is today without it. They liken this opportunity to being released as small fish into a big, wide sea. What felt at first like a crushing blow has, in the end, given rise to a world of endless opportunity. So what happens now? Are they done? Do they no longer have the juice? Are they washed up over the hill or just over it? Yeah, right! And what did they do when no company was able to step up and give the guys the respect and the support that they deserved? What happened when every question they posed was answered with a big, fat, NO? They fucking took back snowboarding! That s what! Here is the story of how three legends turned their luck around, planted some seeds, and are now watching the steady growth of their own company on their own terms.

2 JP Solberg, David Carrier-Porcheron and Romain demarchi. Scott Sullivan photo.

3 Yes, They Are.

4 JP Solberg. Ports Du Soleil, Switzerland. Creager photo.

5 Yes, They Are. DCP. Bonneval Sur Arc, Switzerland. Matt Georges photo.

6 JP Solberg. Cole Barash photo. Romain demarchi. Matt Georges photo. DCP. Matt Georges photo. Scott Sullivan photo. On that company Romain demarchi: The point was forgotten that you can go fuck around on your snowboard and flip flip, pow pow around just for fun. At least, I forgot that JP Solberg: Snowboarding the last couple of years has been a kind of confusing thing for me. I found that I wasn t getting what I wanted out of it. DCP: I think there was just too big a team of marketing people and sales people. You have to please everyone, and in that obligation, something gets lost. RDM: It was like, Are we sales agents, or are we snowboarders? DCP: There is this ideology there that brainwashes you a little when you are a kid. They talk about this big family but as you grow up, you see how the world really works. RDM: Everything I have is because of them, so I don t want to shit on them, but it s like a very good relationship with a girl you loved that just ended so badly for what reason? I don t know. It sucks!

7 Yes, They Are. Romain demarchi. Les Crosets, Switzerland. Julien Petry photo.

8 Scott Sullivan photo. Scott Sullivan photo. On moving on JPS: We are so excited! It s like we finally graduated on to the next mission. DCP: Exactly! It s like we went to a great university and we finally graduated. RDM: We got expelled actually! JPS: Even better. DCP: We could have been like Van Wilder though, and tried to stay there forever, but I think we know that this is way better. JPS: We just want to snowboard, man! For all of us, knowing that there is stuff out there that we can do now because we re not locked into someone else s agenda is so refreshing. I am actually enjoying myself now when I ride. I don t have to call in with a weekly report, ya know? DCP: I think we came up a little bit bitter about the whole thing at first. And I have had some people ask me, What is up with you guys shitting on them? or whatever rumors they may have heard RDM: All we were doing was telling the truth and giving out some information that people needed to know. DCP: We need to set the record straight. We feel the way we do because of what we went through, but it shouldn t determine anyone else s idea of what is good or bad. They need to figure that out for themselves. RDM: It took a little bit to get the sour taste out of my mouth, but I think after the response this season, I was like, Okay, I like my new adventure. To be honest, The Man even came up to us and was genuinely happy to see what we were doing.

9 JP Solberg. Ports Du Soleil, Switzerland. Creager photo. Scott Sullivan photo. The industry response JPS: When all of us were feeling it out and looking around for our own different sponsors, everyone was really excited and wanted us on their team, but with the state of the economy right now there was just no money out there to get us travel budgets, let alone a salary. So in the end all the answers were the same: No! No! No! DCP: At least everyone was very honest. I think when people started hearing about each of our stories, they knew that the least they could do was be honest with us and not give us the runaround. RDM: It s hard for the companies, I think. They would be expressing interest, but at the same time when there is no money they don t want to disrespect you with some weak offer. So it has been hard from all angles trying to get sponsorship deals that will support our level of commitment to riding and filming. JPS: It didn t take a genius to figure out that times were tough and even the best riders out there were going to have a hard time locking something down. After all of us kept hearing the same answer so many times over, we had a laugh and decided, Yes we can! We decided that this time we were going to take control of the situation ourselves. Yes Please DCP: I remember seeing Todd Richards a while back surfing in San Diego and he was like, You guys should just start your own company I did it! I took that suggestion pretty serious at the time. JPS: I m so glad we did it. We re all in the same position. I don t want to ride for someone I don t know and make them money! When you have to go ride for a team manager that you don t know and who has an agenda set for you, that sucks. We want our own deal. This is YES. Now Board! RDM: The good thing is that we have worked all together for a long time before this, obviously. DCP: Yeah, we go way back. RDM: We re just missing Gigi! But he s working for us under the table hehe DCP: And Jeffy Anderson. He is a YES man for sure! JPS: Since my cut from the other side to now, this one winter free of that stuff has been the sickest season I have ever had in my life. Not just riding-wise but also the pure enjoyment of it. When you don t have a million obligations, you can just enjoy snowboarding for what it really is, and for me I am rediscovering it. I am rediscovering snowboarding!

10 Romain demarchi. Whistler Backcountry. Phil Tifo photo. Yes, They Are

11 Realistically? RDM: Everyone else has a lot to lose. We don t. If we can inspire anyone to have a YES philosophy, then we will be okay. DCP: Even just a small company philosophy. We have to support our own in these times. JPS: I just want us to be a voice of snowboarding that is heard. Look at the companies that actually mean something and you will see that they are sticking with who they are, not trying to go in for a bigger piece of cake than they can handle. DCP: Back in the day, companies like Joyride and Silence and Evol were not huge, but they were all super rad in their own way. That is starting to be missing a little bit in snowboarding. It needs to just be all about the shredding. We all need something to be proud of again! RDM: So we are bringing it back to that with some limited releases and artist series that will be available throughout the year on our website, We always thought it was lame to only release one board for the year. Why not have some originality and be diverse? In the end DCP: Our goal is to NOT have our board at the Olympics! Just so you know. JPS: Now I am happier than ever and snowboarding on my own terms. You are going to see it, dude! I m not even halfway there yet! And as far as the YES boards go, they are insane. That makes it a lot easier. I mean, if the boards were not up to par, that would be one thing, but they are even better than the ones we were riding before! Truthfully, I rode the same deck all year, which is just crazy. I got sentimentally attached to that bitch! RDM: The thing is, we have had pretty good careers so far. Now it is time to give back to snowboarding a little bit. As we went to print, we learned that YES has signed rider Tadashi Fuse, proof positive that YES Snowboards now has a truly powerhouse professional snowboarding team. Romain demarchi. Cervinia, Italy. Matt Georges photo. 064 Yes, They Are.