Girl On: Tara Dakides
Jan 12 2007 / Los Angeles, CA
|
There are so many reasons why Lat34 loves Tara Dakides from her style in the pipe to out of the pipe.
If there has ever been an athlete who can be attributed with making snowboarding sexy it is Tara Dakides. As one of the biggest names in the sport since the mid-90s she helped define what the living large snowboard lifestyle is all about. She parties with rock stars like Eddie Vedder, Less Claypool of Primus, Metallica, and the Beastie Boys backstage, she jet sets around the world chasing powder, waves and good times, and she does it all with a smile on her face. Ask any top female rider who their influences were as they came up and it’s guaranteed that Tara’s name will be on the list. The casual clash of Tara’s good looks, positive vibes, punk rock style and raw snowboarding talent have made her the face of women’s snowboarding as it skyrocketed from a rebellious off-shoot of skateboarding and surfing in the mountains to a full blown Olympic sport with international superstars and an industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Recently Tara has been busy co-founding Omatic Snowboards with Todd Richards and Andreas Wiig, along with filming a documentary done by Josh Landin whose last project was none other than “Flow,” the documentary on Al Merrick. I caught up with Tara on the beach, enjoying the surf and asked her a few questions about her past in the sport of snowboarding and her plans for the future.
If there has ever been an athlete who can be attributed with making snowboarding sexy it is Tara Dakides. As one of the biggest names in the sport since the mid-90s she helped define what the living large snowboard lifestyle is all about. She parties with rock stars like Eddie Vedder, Less Claypool of Primus, Metallica, and the Beastie Boys backstage, she jet sets around the world chasing powder, waves and good times, and she does it all with a smile on her face. Ask any top female rider who their influences were as they came up and it’s guaranteed that Tara’s name will be on the list. The casual clash of Tara’s good looks, positive vibes, punk rock style and raw snowboarding talent have made her the face of women’s snowboarding as it skyrocketed from a rebellious off-shoot of skateboarding and surfing in the mountains to a full blown Olympic sport with international superstars and an industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
|
||||||||||
Recently Tara has been busy co-founding Omatic Snowboards with Todd Richards and Andreas Wiig, along with filming a documentary done by Josh Landin whose last project was none other than “Flow,” the documentary on Al Merrick. I caught up with Tara on the beach, enjoying the surf and asked her a few questions about her past in the sport of snowboarding and her plans for the future.
Lat34: What’s your schedule looking like this winter? Any specific trip that you’re realluy excited about?
TD: I’m actually just plain excited about the winter, and looking forward to a lot of pow days with friends.
Lat34: You’ve played a leading role in female snowboarding for the last decade. Tell me about some of the changes you’ve witnessed in the last ten years?
TD: Oh man, there have been a lot of changes…seems like everyone and their Grandma snowboards now, which is cool, but I’m glad I came up in the days when it (snowboarding) was more of an act of rebellion and defiance against society. Where I grew up, it was like that. I hope the kids today are appreciative of their parents support cause everything has gotten more expensive, that’s for sure. There are a lot more girls charging out there as well and I love seeing that!
Lat34: You’ve recently started a new company, Omatic snowboards, how does it feel to be on the “other” side of things? Do you have a desk? What’s that like?
TD: Right now, my desk is beachfront at sunset with my laptop and cell phone. I can work from wherever I happen to be and, and far as I’m concerned, that is the best kind of desk job to have. Funny, I enjoy my “work” therefore is it work? 
After 18 years of riding and 14 of those years being pro, it’s real nice to have my own gig, especially with one of my favorite people, Todd Richards. Andreas and I were on Jeenyus together before Omatic and he’s not only awesome to hang, travel, and ride with but he’ll be a dominating force for a while. We are slowly building our team and Louie Vito is our first team rider/ Omatic family member and I coulddn’t have asked for a better dude. Reall, Omatic snowboards is all about fun, it’s ours, and it’s an amazing crew to work with.
After 18 years of riding and 14 of those years being pro, it’s real nice to have my own gig, especially with one of my favorite people, Todd Richards. Andreas and I were on Jeenyus together before Omatic and he’s not only awesome to hang, travel, and ride with but he’ll be a dominating force for a while. We are slowly building our team and Louie Vito is our first team rider/ Omatic family member and I coulddn’t have asked for a better dude. Reall, Omatic snowboards is all about fun, it’s ours, and it’s an amazing crew to work with.
Lat34: What Makes Omatic Snowboards different?
TD: Well, for starters, we had more orders in our first year than two other start-up companies had in their first 2 years. Which has never happened before. It’s been so amazing that we had to start turning down orders cause we couldn’t keep up. I haven’t quite figured it all out, but I know my goal is to just be cool and not bum anyone out like you can when you start getting into the biz. It’s real nice being able to hook my friends up and people who have flowed me shit for years…oh yeah and we are actually rider owned, nothing corporate here.
Lat34: If you could have four houses anywhere in the world where would they be and why?
TD: Number one would be in Australia, because I love how friendly the people are and the endless empty beaches and great surf. Number two would be in Alaska because of the natural beauty, the mountains, the rivers and the wildlife. New York City is always fun to visit and I love the energy there. The last one would have to be at the Ranch in central California…if you’ve ever been there you know what I’m talking about.
Lat34: Your personal style on and off the hill has played a large part in your success. What would you tell up and coming female riders about the importance of personal style?
TD: I would say don’t try to fit into the trends and the hype, just be who you are and the people who see you for you will bee all that much closer and important to you. As for style on the hill the same goes, have fun with it. Having a personal; style is a great way to express yourself, as long as it’s genuine and you, it’s all good. I’ve found people like to hang out with somebody who feels comfortable about who they are.
Lat34: Any war stories from the road you want to share?
TD: One war story happened in April of ’06. All was going well, I was up in whistler filming with the mischief crew and I had driven my truck so my dog buddy could come. On the way to Whistler I sopped off in Steven’s Pass for their last day of riding and decided to skate some mini-ramps while I was there. Everything was great, the sun was shining, the park was going off, and I was riding with the likes of JJ Thomas and Anne Flore. On the third day I went out to film a kinked, down-flat-down rail. I did the rai once but it was kind of sloppy so I gave it another go. On my next try I squared up on the rail, hit the kink, and got totally ejected! I went flying through the air over the last section of ten stairs and headed into the concrete face first. Luckily I know how to fall so I tucked my head under and started to do a front flip. The concrete missed my face but unfortunately my shoulder took all the impact. I broke my collarbone in two places and dislocated my shoulder. I spent the next three days in a hotel room wondering how the hell I was going to dive home. Eventually my boyfriend flew up and it took four days and many pain killers to dive home because every bump and curve in the road hurt and because of my broken collar bone I couldn’t have my shoulder relocated. Glad that’s over…on to the next!
Lat34: As a veteran road warrior what’s one thing you won’t leave home without?
TD: You know, the more I travel the less I need. I like my bags light. I have to have my Harley moto boots and a good pair of jeans, my computer, my digi camera, and my journal…some face care and conditioner are good to, but I gotta have my moto boots.
Lat34: How about top five concerts?
TD: This summer I saw Pearl Jam at the Coors Ampetheater and partied with eddie backstage, which rocked. The Beastie Boys at the Long Beach Arena was awesome, they were super cool to hang with and all love snowboard. Metallica in San Fran with the San Francisco Orchestra was incredible. I sat front and center next to Sean Penn and Robin Wright…the after party was at Lars’ house, One of the highlights of that night was meeting Las Claypool of Primus. I have a huge crush on him…I know that’s kind of weird but no one plays a six string base like he does. I saw Primus play in a small bar in Waikiki and got kicked out. There are lots more but those are the ones that stick out in my head.
Lat34: You have quite a cult following of male riders. What’s the worst pick-up line you’ve had to endure? Any good ones I should know about?
TD: I tend to find that even bad pick up lines are good because they’re funny. I don’t usually attract weird, creepy guys…maybe just the dorky, cheesy ones but I like those kind of guys…how about “your underwear is going to look great on my bedroom floor,” that’s all I’ve got.
Lat34: Sponsors?
TD: Omatic snowboards (check us out at Omaticsnowboards.com), Billabong, Vans, Von Zipper, Gofast Energy Drink, Pro-Tec, Mammoth Mt., Grenade Gloves and Active.
Lat34:Anything else you want to say?
TD: I’m working on a project this year that is fairly intimate. Josh Landin, the producer/director of the Al Merrick documentary called “flow” is spending this year doing a documentary on me. I’ve only spoken about it a couple of time as we are just now realeasing that we are doing it…but it’s official now so you’re one of the first to hear about it. The name will be released soon but you can expect to hear more about it in the near future. You can also get more info at my website, taradakides.com. By the way, I think Lat34 rocks! It’s a great way to show our shit and the people who do it.
- Kitt Doucette
