Timmy Kempson
Snowboard Pro Forum

Name: Timmy Kempson

Nickname: White Lightning

Date of birth: 03/06/1984

Started riding in what year? 1993

Sponsor/s? Oakley, 32,Tech 9, Endeavor, Bakwoods, RedBull, Revival, Tripple Eight,

What snowboard related business activites are you involved in? Since 2004 iv participate in EWSRA - NEWSR On Snow Demos and Trade Shows. As a exhibitor for Allian, Academy, Celsius and Tech Nine I am looking for a more consistant means of employment in the world of action sports. Competing as a snowboarder most of my life has allowed me to experience hundreds of events and the work that goes into them. From coordinating events, building aparatus, judging, announcing, coaching athletes or competing as one myself , snowboarding has been a way for me to market my own image and be a part of many film projects as well. Being around the industry has also exposed me to the business side and I have a good knowledge of manufacturing and selling snowboards and apparel .

Where did you grow up? Hidden Valley in Vernon New Jersey is my stomping grounds i grew up in a slope side condo that i still live in now. I was on skis buy the time I was 3 years old and started snowboarding around 8. i was pretty heavy into racing skis but by the time I was 10 cutting race practice to snowboard I knew I was destined to be a rider. My first board was Kemper Rampage 130 still have it and its a cool reminder of how far the sport has come.

Live now? I live in the Hidden Valley Condo in Vernon NJ. Although Hidden Valley is slightly out dated Mt Creek is only a mile down the road. Mountain Creek is known as the place in Jersey to get your jib on. Jib Lab has put a lot into the expansion of the parks making the south peek a all terrain park mt. Its really sweet to have some of the best jibs right around the corner and being open till 10pm allows for some all day/night sessions.

Fave places to ride? Its nice to live in Jersey and Mountain Creek is for sure one of my favs its my home mountain and has sick rails. Stratton is my home away from home commuting up to VT in highschool to work as a coach for Stratton Mt Riders it quickly became my FAV place to ride. Brek in Colorado is maybe my number 2

Do you warm up each day before you ride? If so, what do you do to warm up? I stretch out a little bit then usually take a few free runs throw some strait airs befor i start chucking off stuff.

How keep in shape in season? How keep in shape for snowboarding out of season? 12 ounce curls baby

Fave riding buddies? Matt Bates , Juice, BK, Sprullie, Eva Bonner the whole jersay crew of course then you got my out west boys Kyal Earl, Taggert, Dave Schift, Sketchy D Danny Kass and the grenade crew! All my Jersey Cats!!

Who do you admire in snowboarding or outside and why? Travis Pastrana for sure seeing him stomp the double back on a dirt bike proved to me that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Do you ever get bummed out about your riding, and why? During competition its very easy to get bummed out over results. If you feel like you could have or should have done better. In the last few years Iv really try to enjoy my time on the snow and look at every day contest or not as a fun time with friends and i think its really shown in my riding. When nerves don't get to you its amazing whats possible.

Do you use visualization, and if so, how? I feel like visualization is everything once you can see yourself do it in your head thats the hardest part you can let the physical side of your brain take over and stomp it. Once you see it in your mind then try it most of the time you realize i wasn't that hard at all.

What safety equipt. do you wear, use for snowboarding? helmet only if required

If you're pro, when did you decide to “go pro” — and what happened to get you there? Im not signed yet but have placed in pro contests and i get invites so major events.

Where have you traveled to lately that you like? Brek in Colorado is sick for the five days i was there its snow all night and was blue bird all day and the pipe was perfect. Grenade Games in Seattle was crazy id never been to Seattle and we def left our mark hahaha.

Any guilty pleasures? dancing girls :)

Have you done well in any contests lately that you want to tell us about? 1995-2000 USASA MId-Atlantic Snowboard Series
Undefeated Champion

2000 USASA National Championship, Waterville Vally NH

2001 USASA National Championship, Mammoth Mt. Ca
28th of 60 competitors

2001 Specialty Sports Pro Am
8th of 23 pro men

2002 USASA Southern Vermont Series
1st overall Halfpipe
2nd overall Slopstyle

2002 USASA National Championship, Mammoth Mt. Ca

2003 USASA National Championship, Sunday River Maine

2005-2007 US Open Snowboard Championship, Stratton VT

2007 East Cost Team Challange
1st Place team Revival

2007 Grenade Strikes Back Tour
1st Place AT Mountain Creek

2008 3rd Rail Rail Jam
3rd Place

2008 Transworld Trans AM
1st Place Winner

2008 Union SQuare Street Sessions
2nd Place in alternates

Anything that not many people know about you that you would like to share? Im nasty at juggling, unicycle and yo yos.

Encouraging words for beginners? Go big or go home and BE A CROWD PLEASER

Advice you want to share? Don't eat yellow snow