Dropping in – Calum Paton.

Published on: 21st March, 2010

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Another Dropping in and this time round we’re in the face of junior ripper Calum Paton. Calum is one of those unknown treasures of the indoor world, with some fast progressing skills on his ripple stick and definitely one to look out for in the future.

Once again, a huge thank you to Jools Smith and Mark Harris for the photography of Calum. Enjoy the read.

Calum this is probably the first time that the UK has been fully exposed to you. Now you have potentially THE WHOLE OF THE UK listening to you, you’d better say something good. No pressure though!

You’re a very talented young man Callum, so why is this your first interview? Why haven’t we heard about you before?
<I dunno, ermm… I’ll get back to you on that.

For everyone who doesn’t know you, tell us about your shredding?
<img src=”images/block.gif”>I started snowboarding about 3 years ago and started freestyle 15-16 months ago. I ride at Snowdome Tamworth once a week and sometimes go
to other fridges when i can. i like rails and boxes mostly but I don’t mind the odd kicker.

Have you rode many contests this summer?
British Snowtour Slopestyle and boardercross. I got 2nd in my age group in boardercross. Burton freestyle camps as well. Just rode in
Santa Cruz Rookie rider and came 2nd.

Have you been abroad snowboarding yet?
I have been away to Saas Fee, Switzerland, Morzine-Avoriaz and Mayrhofen. They were all sick!

I heard that you did the One Camp in Morzine, enjoy it? What did you improve by having all this fancy coaching?
The jumps aren’t really here much in the U.K and I needed to practice. I managed to get good 5’s and a couple of 7’s, stoked to be
on the mountain in general.

I remember first seeing you at Tamworth Junior Club. What happens in these clubs, does the instructor make you practice getting your
boardslides 100 times until they’re perfect, or do you just chill with your mates?
Bit of both, helps you improve and you can chill out too. instructors must be good because I won the race days that they setup every year in both age categories

What’s good about going to these Junior Club’s?
Well, I learnt my first 50-50s, airs, grabs and I even learnt how to turn better.

On a different note, you break a lot of snowboards, why is this? Too many cream cakes?
Yeah its because I’m fat.

How many boards have you ruined now?
3 so far.

Your parents obviously help you out, but you keep snapping boards how do you stop them getting mad?
I say thank you for all they do, do well at school and do my homework, works every time.

Have you thought about getting a part-time job to fund your snowboard addiction/destruction?
Yeah.

What about selling a kidney, ever considered it?
If it is for a good snowboard then maybe.

So, what’s the last trick you stomped?
Kind of a front blunt 270 switch-up to 5050 on the tam gas pipe.

How many times did that take you to learn?
A fair few, also a few bails too.

When you grow up do you wanna be a pro-snowboarder or do you have some other plans?
That would be amazing, I’d love that!! It sounds a bit cliche but I want to go into the Winter Olympics in snowboarding one day.

What do you think the best way to make it pro is? Bribery, threats, steroid doping? Got any crazy plans on how you’re gonna make it big time or are you gonna do it the ol’ fashioned way; patience and practice?
My way is by patience and practice along with having fun with mates, that is what snowboarding is all about.

Do you follow fashion trends in snowboarding?
I don’t do jeans or tight trousers, I like baggy cos it is comfortable.

When are we going to see some more of you then? What are you up to next?
Well I’m off to Mayrhofen in February for a week and then going to go around the fridges in the U.K, enter a few comps and just enjoy myself!

Gonna drop us an e-mail, keep us updated or are you gonna avoid us now like a difficult ex-girlfriend?
I’m not gonna avoid you!

Difficult decisions: Choose one only!
Wet socks or wet gloves?Wet gloves cos I’m used to them, get them every week!
Breaking a board or some poor girl’s heart?! Seeing as I have already broken boards so i choose that.
Jibbing or Stomping heavy tricks? Jibbing cos i love it.
Competitions or fun-shreds? Shredding is fun all the time, even comps are, so fun shreds.
Sponsors or Friends? Friends are awesome so definitely them!!
Bro’s or Ho’s? Bro’s
Skiing or Ballet? Don’t tell anyone but I can already ski, though not very well. I would freeski though.
Getting a dream date or landing a dream trick? Dream trick at the moment.

Thank you’s:
MY PARENTS! Everyone from Tamworth Snowdome. Ross, Chris, Matt, Mike, Julie, Alex, Zoe, Maisie, Andy B & T, Will H, Dan W, James S
and a load more mates for all the help they have given and for just being there in general.

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