Adam Dowell Is More Metal Than You

Adam Dowell lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where the mountains are big and the women are lacking. He warms up on lines that would make most people crap their pants and curl up into the fetal position, all while listening to metal. He’s paid his dues, worked his ass off to get where he’s at, and now he wants to give you some answers to some questions I shot at him. So here’s a look into one of Jackson Holes up and comers.

The obligatory sponsors list?

Camber or Reverse Camber which one do you ride and why?

Jackson Hole has some serious snowboard legends there, what was it like growing up in the presence of these guys and how has it helped shape you as a rider?

AD: I feel very blessed to have the roll models I do here in Jackson. Every one of them is on the level and takes snowboarding seriously. I was very lucky that my brother Brodi was a pro back in the day and so I sort of had an in with guys like Bryan Iguchi, Lance Pitman, Rob Kingwill, and Willie Mcmillon. I definitely had to prove that I deserved to ride with them, but they all took me under their wing which is important in snowboarding. Rice was only a few years older than me so him and I were friends before we ever even rode together. I work very hard in the backcountry with the people I ride with around here because they’re all extremely knowledgeable and don’t fuck around. A major part of being the youngest guy in the crew is the fact that those guys will make you hit shit first and prove yourself which has for sure shaped my riding.

Adam Dowell Think Positive Part from Lamar Snow on Vimeo.

How’d it go this year filming for Dobre Hombres? Anything crazy or interesting happen?

AD: This year was rough, to say the least. We had the worst snow year in Jackson since like ’75 or something and also extremely high Avy danger all season. Plus we had extremely low budget, plus only 1, maybe sometimes 2 filmers willing to go out and not get paid, plus bla bla bla. I was hurt a lot this year too which didn’t help. A huge highlight though was that Kevin Jones moved to Jackson and was filming for the movie. The dude is ridiculous. It all worked out in the end and i think the movie is going to turn out great.

There’s always good and bad with any profession, what are those with being an up and coming pro snowboarder? Is it everything people make it out to be?

AD: Before you get sponsors and are “pro,” you’re constantly looking for any opportunity to show off, go bigger, and prove that you deserve to get paid. For me personally my parents didn’t have the money to send me all over so I had to work multiple jobs all summer and during the winters to make it happen. Then if you’re actually lucky enough to get some people to back you, there is a constant pressure of getting more shots and better shots. If you have a rough season or whatever there is a lot of anxiety to perform and keep what you’ve accomplished, but also not die trying. Sometimes you have to step back and realize how lucky you are that you’re anxiety is over something as rad as snowboarding. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Adam Dowell Rider Profile from Snowboard Magazine on Vimeo.

This is always a hard question to ask any rider, but why do you feel you should be sponsored?

AD: But you had to ask didn’t you? I feel I deserve what I have because each rider has their own way of expressing what they think is progression and I have my niche in the backcountry with big cliffs and jumps.  I do whatever it takes to get out there and get the job done and hopefully inspire other kids to do the same.

AD: Don’t half-ass it. It takes a lot of commitment and hard work. There are a million snowboarding fish in the sea so you better hustle harder than the rest of them.

Going to Alaska and competing in King of the Hill had to be a huge career highlight for you. How was it spending time up there, riding with all sorts of legends, and killing it in some of the biggest mountains on earth?

AD: Living in Jackson I was like “yeah, OK, Alaska is gnarly but we get gnarly here too.” Oh how ignorant I was. As soon as you see the mountains up there you have nothing to say but “holy shit!” I mean I was up there with the Bluebird posse so we didn’t have heli budget or anything. We were just hiking off the road and the shit we were hitting was still epic. We did get to take a couple heli runs one day just for fun and it was one of the best days of my life. It is worth ever penny and I’d recommend it to anyone who really thinks they know how to ride real mountains.  We went up there on our own but we knew a lot of people up there from Jackson like Mark Carter, Kevin Jones, Rob Kingwill, T Rice and our friends who were filming Rice for Brain Farm. It helps the pressure level when you have people you know in the same boat. King of the Hill went off without a hitch and I can’t wait to compete again. It’s an incredible contest and i’m really stoked it’s back.

Top 3 big mountain lines you want to do?

AD: I don’t know the names of any of the lines but i just want to keep going to Alaska each year from now on. Jackson also has some super burly lines that we’re still finding each year. It always depends on the snow pack though.

Your top 3 metal bands people should be listening to?

AD: The Black Dahlia Murder, Abigail Williams, and Job For A Cowboy

Thanks and shout outs?

AD: Thank you to my dad Rick, my sister Lindsey, my brother Brodi, and rest in peace to my mom Terrie and my brother Levi! Shout outs to the whole Bluebird Wax crew, 22 crew, Biomecca, Drago, J-bird Massage, Excel PT, and anyone who has ever helped me along the way, I love you all!

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