January 7, 2007Todd Richards is a full-time shredder.
Todd Richards can totally walk but in 2001 he starred in the movie “Out Cold” as a dude in a wheelchair. He’s not even an actor by trade, he’s a professional snowboarder and has been fer ages – but the kind who is so impossibly handsome that he could easily double as a JC Penneys runway model or, like, a senior member of Panic! At The Disco. He has seen the whole world a zillion times over from the bindings of a snowboard but has never been too cool to act like a total wingnut. Someday if you wanted to, you could have a job just like his.
*** telling us what yr job is. Also, how do you even know me and do you think I am funny? I think you are one of the funniest humans I have ever known and at this point in life I know alot of humans. My name is Todd Richards. I have been a professional slacker for the past 17 years. My jobtitles as of now are as follows: pro snowboarder, snowboard company owner, TV commentator and shit talker. I have known Teeter Sperber since a long time ago through her sister. She has one of the most challenging vocabularies these ears have ever tried to decipher. Honestly, she uses like six SAT words in a sentence describing a cup of coffee. You were a skate nerd-4-life in suburban before you even touched a snowboard, right? Yes, I was a skate nerd. Actually, more of just a nerd that found skateboarding.
*** the global/ commercial explosion of the sport did you used to get hassled by jocks? Dear Baby Jesus, I sure did. Not only did my stature make me a target, (5'2 until I graduated high school) I had some really fucked up hair and wore clothes that were considered offensive to insecure steak neck types, so they tried to kill me alot.
*** Yeah, who would have thought that the whole skater thing would get you action in high school now?
*** I started snowboarding in the end of my freshmen year of high school. The winter was particularly shitty that year, so there was no skating to be had. One of my friends had a snowboard so I tried it. That was my first time. Actually, the equipment was so shitty then that it was more like sledding standing up. *** arrested development of mine are: Nixon Watches, Boost
*** even entails. What do they do fer you and what are yr responsibilities to them? The whole deal with being a sponsored athlete for these companies is that I am essentially an indentured servant. I go where they want and do what they want me to, but I love the life they provide so...
*** In terms of yr on-snow career, was it more about entering competitions or filming and freeriding?For sure I loved the whole contest thing with snowboarding, as long as I was winning. No, for real, the traveling circus of contests was really fun. You basically went to compete, but ended up seeing the world with all your pals. Now I really like the no stress approach, filming and the like.
*** When you started shredding, did you ever imagine it would take you this far in life? I mean really, you wrote an autobiography! (I totally read it, cover to cover, no lie.)No friggen way. I was just looking for something to take the place of skating in the winter months. I still can’t believe that I get paid to do something that I would do anyhow.
*** have traveled on the company dime? I would say the most awesomest place is If you have ever seen Lost in Translation, it’s pretty much that exactly. Um, there have been alot of places; Europe, all over the really name five. Oh wait, I could live there.
*** In 1998, you competed in the Nagano Olympics - was that completely surreal bananas?It was surreal. It didn’t hit me that I was really in the Olympics until the Opening Ceremony.
*** US Team gear and everything? Yeah, it was great. I mean everyone feels comfortable in a fleece trenchcoat and a cowboy hat.
*** played Barry, a dude in a wheelchair, in the movie "Out Cold." This was one of the first batch of films to try and capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of snowboarding. Lee Majors, the dude that played "The Six Million Dollar Man" for like 137 1/2 years on TV - starred in this movie - did you guys kick it!?If by kick it you mean, did I see him hamsteaked, dancing around a bar air-guitaring with a pool cue to Who Let The Dogs Out, then yes, we hung.
*** It was really cool to see all the behind the scenes of a movie set, and to be in a feature film is really a funny life experience. The shitty part was all the hurry up and wait crap. Get up at 5:30am and not do a thing till 3 in the afternoon.
*** Did yr friends make fun of you at all? They would not be my friends if they didn’t give me shit about that one.
*** Somewhere along the line, you transitioned slightly out of competitive snow shredding and more into the realm of being a Sports Announcer Guy (oof, so sorry, what's the actual name for that?) for both ESPN and NBC, covering not only the Alt Alt Alt Games, but the Olympics as well. How did that come about and did it take formal training?Well, I got hurt one year and was sidelined. ESPN thought it would be cool to have me announce some runs for a contest. I guess I did a good job since I’ve been invited back every year to do the same thing. And no, there was not any formal training. I figure I’m going to have a running commentary for everyone around me, I might as well get paid for it.
*** do you and Bob Costas roll deep? Bob Costas is 2 feet tall with heels on.
*** Fer as long as I have known you existed, which has been like 137 ½ years, you have been obsessed with toys. Is this still the case?I do have quite the toy collection. It’s all put away now. As soon as my son is of age I will have the unveiling. He will crap his pants.
*** So check it: you may or may not be aware of this - but yr the reason I got into good music in the first place. Before I knew you I was a total hippie dirt merchant, following Phish on tour and selling Snapple and Grilled Cheese in the parking lot at their shows. You’ve got great taste. Hit us with the names of some of yr fave bands of the moment and tell us about of yr way of discovering new music.Well, at least you can admit that. I am currently listening to: Most Serene Republic, The Figurines, Years Around The Sun, Goodbye Blue Monday. Pretty much my way of finding obscure bands and claiming that I heard them first is the interweb. There are a few sites that I can sniff around on and find bands by region. I really like certain regions sounds; have been producing good sounds lately.
*** Oh - Jawbreaker, At the Drive-In, The Jazz June, Pinback, Hot Snakes, Samiam,
What can kids look for from TR in the next 5 years? Oh man, just more of the same. I really want to have another good video part before I check out of this game. We are doing another DC Mountain Lab video this year so look for that.
*** Yeah, I pretty much do.
http://www.omaticsnowboards.com
Posted on 01/07/2007 5:31 PM Comments (1)
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