Romain de Marchi interview
HUCK catches up with the YES snowboards founder at Ispo to find out about his new collaboration with Rusty.
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HUCK: Can you tell me a bit about your collaboration with Rusty?
Romain de Marchi: Well, the way it started was that I was working with Dane (the director of Rusty in Europe), and we found similarities in how we perceive snowboarding so I went on board. Now, I'm kind of running the show for Rusty snowboarding.
When you say running the show what do you mean?
Just going through snowboarding slowly and seeing where it goes. Take it step by step and developing the products and the team as well so as to come up with a really like-minded team. Right now, it’s Stian Solberg, myself and maybe JP Solberg. I don’t know for sure, it’s not up to me, but I will be super stoked if he’s on.
You launched Yes snowboards last season, what makes it different?
It’s the only true snowboard company owned by snowboarders. That’s what makes it different. We talk to people one-on-one and we don’t have anybody else. You hear from us. That’s what makes us different from other companies, the story’s from us. It’s not a creative marketing thing.
And what plans do you have for YES?
For now, we’re going again with Absinthe for next year and maybe do a team video at some point in the next two years. We’re not quite sure yet. But that could be a good thing.
And do you plan to expand beyond making snowboards?
No, the whole philosophy with YES was that we wanted to make only snowboards. There are other brands out there who do other great products. That’s why the snowboarding industry got lost because people started doing everything. They lost the main focus, so that’s what we wanted to do.
What are your plans for your career?
Right now, I’m 30-years-old. I just want to enjoy as much as I can until I don’t enjoy anymore. That’s my goal. I don’t really plan ahead I just live for the moment.
You’re very much noted for things like clearing Chad’s Gap, is that the direction you’re going in?
I think I’m growing inside out. Now I’m drawn to big mountain riding and stuff like that. But don’t get me wrong, if one day I wake up and I want to build a huge kicker, I will. I live for the moment so it depends where I wanna go. So right now what I like is big mountains and backcountry riding.
It’s quite dangerous and you have a family: does that affect how you push yourself?
No, my kids give me more and more energy to go up there and do what I love to do. I want my kids to feel my passion through me. And they’re feeling that through me.
A lot of snowboarding nowadays, videos seem to be getting shorter, very short one minute clips on the internet to grab attention. But does it put more pressure on you?
Yeah, the internet got really huge on snowboarding. I think there always will be a place for snowboard movies. No, it gives me a lot of energy to go out there and do it. It doesn’t put any pressure, I just want to go and have fun and ride. I’m really stoked what
kids are doing now they’re pushing the sport to another level. I’m grateful to see new talents coming up. I just want to go ride. That’s what I want to do.
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Romain de Marchi interview (text) by Ed Andrews is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
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