Who are some of the most important and influential people in your life and career?
My family. The people who believed in me and gave me a shot when I was just starting out - Harookz, Hylands, Steve Blick, Aaron Lutze, and the fellas at Bike magazine were instrumental in the growth of my career. All the guys who dragged me down mountainsides as a teenager and said "jump this", particularly Brant and Curtis. All of my sponsors throughout the years - you know who you are. Thank-you. One of my all-time best friends Annie who I first started mountain biking with and still love riding with more than anyone to this day (even though she's almost a doctor and gets mad at me for all my bruises). Amy for motivating me to ride my bike to school everyday when we were fat kids - you made biking fun and still do. My dad for taking me trail riding whenever I wanted to go. My good amigo Ruben for showing me what style is, working so hard with me to get some, and teaching me some of the most important lessons I've ever learned about biking. Anne Caroline Chausson for being so f-ing good it blows my mind. Everyone I meet influences me in some way, so I guess this list could go on indefinitely...

Do you have any hobbies outside of cycling? If so what?
Skiing, music (piano and guitar mostly), surfing, painting, reading, looking at other people's good photography (because mine is so bad), making mini movies, traveling, eating, dancing.

If you weren't a pro mountain biker, what would you be?
Who knows!? I'd probably push to be a pro skier. Most likely though, I'd be in university getting my PhD or traveling around the world without rhyme or reason.

Where is your favorite Place to Ride?
Silverstar, Whistler, Woodward, and anywhere with nice jumps and t-shirt weather.

Where's your favorite place to travel?
Anywhere warm! I like to go to a new place every time I travel, but it seems like I keep going back to Spain and California because of good friends and great riding.

What would you list as a career highlight?
Being able to develop the Vixa bike. That was a dream come true.

What has been your best riding experience?
Too many to count! Sunny days in Whistler are hard to beat, but doing a dirt jump demo on the shore of the Dead Sea in Israel makes for a pretty unforgettable memory.

And the worst?
Well, all bad riding days usually have to do with injuries. Even those aren't too bad.

What band or song have you been listening to the most lately?
Today it's going a little something like: "Shempi" by Ratatat, "Cross the Fader" by Poney Poney, the new Kings of Leon CD, "Sleepyhead" by Passionpit, anything by Beirut, and quite a bit of Cassius.

What are your biggest strengths on the bike?
Flow and wallrides

Do you have any advice to beginners?
If you're not having fun, do something else. It's riding bikes, not going to the dentist - it should always be fun.

What's your best idea of having good time?
Sun is shining and it's warm out (first and foremost), with my best friends and family, ride perfect hero dirt trails, ride both the mtb and bmx, go for a swim in the ocean, be able to surf without a wetsuit, go on a rollercoaster, eat good vegetarian food, eat some chocolate, play music for hours, dance in a humid Costa Rican open-air bar, then do it all again the next day.

Why do you ride?
Because it puts a smile on my face and for the feeling you get immediately after you do something that scares you.

Do you remember what your first Bike was?
It was a blue bike with white splatter paint from Canadian Tire called the "all terrain" and I thought that was rad because "terrain" sounded a bit like Turenne. My first real mountain bike was a Norco Bushpilot. It was black with pink and purple splatters. Maybe I'll bring that design back on the '10 Vixa!

What first got you into riding?
As a teenager I wanted to try EVERYTHING! Biking was one of those everythings and I got hooked. The people I met immediately were so cool and the freedom of mountain biking was just as great, if not better than skiing (my other passion). I thought tacky jerseys, spandex, and clipless pedals were the coolest things going.

What do you enjoy most about riding for Norco?
The people behind the product. I know if I up and quit biking tomorrow they'd be there to support me in anything I did. They're that good. Norco really gives their athletes a say in everything from product development to media initiatives and everything in between. It's such a great thing for an athlete to feel needed like that!

Key goals for 2009?
Go bigger, film a lot a lot, do stuff that hasn't been done before, and land that damn 360 without annihilating my body in the process!

Sponsor Shout out:
Norco
Oakley
Shimano
Dakine
Gravity
Skullcandy
Etnies
WTB
Kenda
Marazochhi.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.