The kevin konings interview.

Here is a interview I did a while back with Kevin and never got around to posting it up. After his win at the Coors Light Triple Challenge this weekend I figured now would be a good time to let the readers here learn a little more about Konings. I met Kevin a few years back and noticed his adamant love for not only snowboarding, but for motocross as well and thought we ought to hook this guy up. We did some talking and next things you know we have him running the Brass Knuckle Therapy colors. Kevin is a pro snowboarder who is also the kind of guy you would not mind meeting your parents or coming to your wedding (which he did), he is down to earth, easy to chill with and you can trust the dude 100%. Other then that he also happens to kill it on a snowboard and slays big assed jumps like Slayer does metal. I have been fortunate to not only work with him, but also have him as a good friend, so take a moment check some pics out and learn more about Kevin Konings.

1) Where are you from, how long have you been snowboarding and when did you turn pro?

I am from Mississauga Onatrio and have lived in Collingwood Ontario for ten years now. I’ve been snowboarding for 18 years now and turned pro in 2002

2) You have a good run on the contest circuit here in Canada in the last few years. Breakdown what you have been competing in and what contests you are doing again this year?

Well for the last 5 years I have done the You Look Good Slopestyle series and have been the series winner for 3 of the 5 years. I compete in the Telus Big Air and Slopestyle events and do well with podium spots at those contest’s as well. I also do the Ride Shakedown contest and any other big event that I can make it to. As for this season I plan on doing the YLG series again, any Telus event, Shakedown and the Canadian and US Open’s as well. I really enjoy competing and will do as many contest’s as I can in a season.

3) Tell us about the coaching that you have been involved in. Who are you coaching for and is this something that you are going to continue?

I coach for Icarus Shreducation. Which is the premier coaching program in North America. We coach kids of all levels and turn them into great riders who win, and have a positive attitude with a goal to excel. I really enjoy working with the kids and using my experience to help them succeed in their riding skills and will continue to do this as long as I can.

4) What are some new tricks that you are working on this year and what is your secret weapon that you pull in big air comps? If I remember correctly you were stomping back side 1080’s last year.

Last season I had backside and cab 1080’s on lock, but would mainly use the backside 1080 in most comps. You really need to have a couple 10’s nowadays in Slopestyle and Big Air comps. As for this season double corks are a must I would say, and as far as the secret weapon trick….we will just save that until the show begins. You never want to let out your secret hahaha

5) What do you think is the hardest part about being a pro action sports athlete these days. Do you feel that the danger level has really escalated in the last little while?

The hardest part I would say is keeping a name for yourself, meaning go to comps and show the industry and fans that you have what it takes to be on top and be a crowd pleaser. As far as the danger level, ya it escalates every year more and more. Between both tricks and park elements things get bigger and crazier every year. Look at FMX for example, progression keeps escalating with your life on the line day by day. And I feel that snowboarding is the same with jumps and tricks getting as big as they are.

6) Give us a breakdown of some of your worst injuries.

With snowboarding I have had some pretty bad concussions that have put me into convulsions. I had crushed three vertebrae’s ending my season early in 2004. And I had a 3rd degree AC separation on my clavicle that same season. Other than that BMX and MX seemed to give me the worst of them with a broken jaw, shattered wrist and broken elbow at the same time. A torn ACL, which thankfully has never affected my snowboarding abilities, guess I have bionic legs with super powers.

7) When you are not out on the hill what things are you doing? What other sports do you enjoy?

I like to keep the adrenaline going in the summer as well, so I spend most of my time riding motocross doing with FMX and track riding. I also ride BMX, which I have slacked on a little. And when up at I like wakeboarding and cliff jumping.

8 You recently got married, how is the new life treating you?

I love it. My wife Leanne means everything to me. She understands how important my snowboarding is to me and is there 100% to support me. And after getting married, nothing really changed other than you realize that you have to grow up a little more and take more responsibility in life.

9) Who do you ride with what is your home mountain?

I tend to ride alone most of the time, because you tend to get a lot more practicing done that way. But when I just want to have fun I ride with my bro Matt, Mikey Walker, Joel Dalacker, Nick Marshall and JDB. And if I am not out of town, you will always find me in my home park at Blue Mountain here in Cwood

10) Do you take your style from any other pros out there or are there any pros that you look up to?

I have always taken after Joni Malmi I would say. I always liked his style and would feed off of that. But as far as other pros that I look up to, Andreas Wiig, Lauri Heskari, Pat Moore and Torstein Horgmo seem to stand out in my eyes.

Kevin and his wife Leanne

11) How long would you like to keep competing? Where do you see yourself in another three to five years in terms of your snowboard career?

I am going to keep competing until I feel that I am not going to progress anymore. And at 28 I am still learning new tricks, winning contests and loving what I do. So in 3 to 5 years, I could be doing the same? But I will definitely continue to coach a high level riders when I am no longer competing

12) Lets give your sponsors some love. Who do you ride for and who helps you pay some of the bills?

Lets start off with Brass Knuckle Therapy, who keep me fresh with lots of new clothing and promoting me. Forum Snowboards and FourSquare outerwear, Oakley Eyewear, Metal Mulisha for the constant supply of sick clothing, Meltdown Board shop and RedBull. I would like to drop some names and say thanks to Scott Moynihan, John Aplett, Julia Apblett Ian Nickson, Kevin Keller, Derek Heidt, Deen and Darius Kybartas and Chris Powling

13) Other then snowboarders who impresses you the most in the action sports industry?

I look up to guys in the world of Freestyle Moto-X. Guys like Jeremy Stenberg, Brian Deegan, Todd Potter, Adam Jones, Mike Mason, Drake McElroy and Jeremy Lusk R.I.P Brother. Because all of them do what they do so well and so many others look up to them for what they do. My dream would be to ride FMX like all of them do.

14) Last words?

Thank you to everyone who supports me, my family, friends and sponsors. Snowboarding is something that I have done for so long and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. So I will keep on killing it for as long as I can and win contests as frequently as I always have. Keep on shredding and accomplish your goals.