Northwest Boarder | Portland Oregon Mt. Hood Snowboarding Skateboarding Surfing

In the hot seat with Shawn Wayne Craddick

Posted on Jul 23, 2010 by Landon in Events, Interviews, Snowboarding

So Shawn… a lot has changed since we caught with you last time. Winter has come and gone and the birds are flying back North. The summer sessions are flocking to Mt. Hood and the sun is cooking their faces off. How many summers have you been up here on Mt. Hood?

Wow, this is my 15th summer up on Hood if you can believe that… holly crap! 6 years straight at Windells, 3 summer’s at MHSSC, and a few years as a digger before all that. That makes over 300 summer sessions!

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

What exactly is a session considered for those who don’t know?
Typically it’s an 8-10 day period where a group of campers come to snowboard, get coaching from the pros and learn tricks, film video’s of themselves, and really just have fun. Kids freaking love it up here! We all have the time of our lives up on Mt. Hood in the summers.

The transition from winter to summer happened in like one day this year. How bizarre was that?
East Wind turned on (50 plus) and the snow, as well as the park, was gone… or in shamble’s after 3 days of that fricken wind. It went from a “EPIC” PUBLIC PARK, to crap over night with sand paper landings. The heat was on that week too, from riding the entire hill, to riding the vain’s of snow, as of July 16th there no more laps all the way to the chair.

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

Shawn and friends at MHSSC

Give me a run through on a typical day-in-the-life for you in the summer up on Hood
First off you have to get up early, because it get’s so hot out and the snow get’s super slushy by like noon. So I’m on the hill first thing. I usually start by shooting photo’s for 1 hour in the public park. I’ll take a look at who’s ripping and who the stand out kids are, because I like to hand pick the up and comers and get them headed in the right direction if I can help them. Then I go to MHSSC for some more shots. They are without a doubt my favorite camp on the hill. Rick and Mark are the coaches there, they are the coolest guys and they rip so hard it’s amazing.

Rick Millett / photo:Taylor Hanson Summer 2010 MHSSC

Mark S. Head Coach at MHSSC / photo: Taylor Hanson

So you have helped a bunch of kids get sponsors over the years right?
Oh man… so many I can’t even count. The one that I am most proud of is probably Megan Ginter. That girl rips so hard… and she’s pro for Ride, and a bunch of other companies. She’s all set up now, and totally deserves it.

SWC / SkiBowl

How do you keep your face from burning off with all that sun?
Snowboarding is my fountain of youth. I’m like a plant, I get happy from the sun (YEAH LIKE A HERB PLANT). Ever since I was a little grom, sunscreen or facemask’s were the rule. It would burn my eye’s when I sweat. I love sunblock & facemask, who needs to breath, it’s a full on effort to dodge that thing.

What boards have you been riding this summer?
Amplid Snowboards…… Branden P. (head of the US force) hooked me up. I’ve been helping them with R & D, riding their version of the VAPOR. This board stomps everything, it’s so responsive, you think & the board performs.

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

After 12 years with Sessions you just started riding/working with Volcom. Tell me more about that relationship.
Tim Snails is a true OG. He has done so much for the Northwest, from the snow scene, to skateboarding, to finding some of the true talent up here. Tim is good friends w/everyone… Jamie Lynn & Tim are tight… I just respect that dude so much… I’m going to help w/all of his events and get him a few upcoming groms, for the snow program… about Sessions, Joel rulz, he’s such a awesome guy.

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

Are you helping with the Volcom Skate tour this summer?
Yep, Volcom ARMY for Craddick from here on out – Tim from Volcom is the coolest guy. I’m going to be working on all the NW events with him from now on. The new Gigi movie premiers, a couple skateboard events, and all the snow events… we will keep you entertained forever.

Tell me about this show that your going to be staring in.
SSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!! I can’t talk about that! Um let’s call it second chance’s, I will tell you only this, all new teeth (I CAN’T WAIT) and a total make-over for Craddick. hahaha!!!

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

OK, so now it’s time to put you in the hot seat. A few years back… you got got banned for life from Timberline right?
Ohhhhh man. YES!

Tell me what happened!
hahahahah!!! So the story goes, it was from an illegal photo shoot… (yes I did), pouched the jump around 4:30 (sunset), when they had a private jump just built ($10,000 of cat time). I went & shot photo’s with a photographer, the funny shit is that I had 2 things published in the mag’s within a week or two “the jump was that magic” and so was the sunset and well… people got fricken pist. OOOPPPSSS! I crossed that line though, and I know it. I had so many times in the past and nothing happened, but this time there were repercussions.

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

SWC / photo: Taylor Hanson

But they let you back on the mountain just recently. That’s really cool of them. Anything you want to say to Timberline regarding that incident?
I will never f*%# up again… & I always walk the straightest line now. I am so thankful for Steve Cruz & Logan for letting me shred Hood… I have had over a hundred ads, throughout the past 20 years, & 80% of them are all from Hood. I was kicked out for LIFE, but they changed it to 2 years & that was good enough for me.

SWC / Bluebird powder slash

So what are you currently spending your time on right now when your not riding?
I’m coaching 3 of Oregon’s best up & coming groms (time to help create more little champs) these are kids I really believe in. I’m also working for Volcom, CTi KNEEBRACE’S, & being the OG BUM, which I am fully. And hanging w/my chicky and just loving life.

Who do you want to thank for everything over the years?
BRETT G. at CTi, Tim SNAILS @ Volcom, Blotto, Logan Fuquay (Candy Grind), Jon & SCOTT (Auviq), Charlie (DANKsquad), Brian Reed (Timberline), Pat Allen, Kele Rosecrans, Omar Hasan, MLG, MOM, Imagart @ Volcom, John G. @ Burton, Jeff Anderson (RiP), Steve Grahm (OG LEGEND), Daimen Sanders (OG), Bryan Iguchi, Jeff Brushie, Kevin Jones, Jim Rippey, Jesse Marley, Chris Bradshaw….. Utaka Hara (Marvel Comics & Hubs SNOWboards), Joel Gomez, Pat Bridges, Pat A… the list goes on forever, but that will do for now….

SWC / Late season powder slash @ Timberline / photo: Karim Hadid

NOTE: I wanna thank my chic CN. She fricken rulz and her entire family has taken me in and has helped me in so many ways… so THANKFUL! Check her son Juvaun out. He’s killing in on the skateboard!