Snowboard Legend Shaun Palmer Speaks

Park City, Utah (Courtesy of the U.S. Snowboard Team)-He’s considered the “bad boy” of snowboarding and a legend in snowboardcross, but what you may not know is that Shaun Palmer has totally committed himself to riding this season. Palmer, who recently moved to Park City, UT to train during the pre-season at the USSA’s Center of Excellence, is ready to strap on his board and hit the slopes.

How’s the move from California to Park City?
It’s going pretty good. I like using the facility [Center of Excellence]. It’s a great gym and skate park, to have it all right here is pretty unique.

Tell us a little bit about your car, you have a pretty cool ride.
It’s a ‘61 Coupe de Ville that I have had since 1995. It’s one of the many Cadillacs that I have owned, but this one is good for the winter time. That’s why it’s out here.

After parking your sweet ride, what do you do in the gym?
I’ve been getting ready to go snowboarding and to get on the snow. I’ve been doing a lot of skateboarding and pumping tracks to get the legs ready before the season starts and working with Tschana [Breslin, the snowboardcross trainer].

How is it training with the young guns?
A lot of them are half my age, but I’ve been doing it for a while so it just seems normal.

When you aren’t making the legs burn, what are you doing?
Skateboarding and motocross riding. I also took a Moab, UT mountain bike trip for three days and it was a lot of fun.

Here until Thanksgiving, then what?
Right after Thanksgiving we head to Colorado for a camp. I’m excited and waiting for the runs to open up.

FOMO: www.ussnowboarding.com/athletes/athlete?athleteId=1192#

// Photo © FIS – Oliver Kraus