Dave White,
23 year old ripper originally from Grass Valley, reminds me
of an egg. There, I said it! I've thought it ever since I
worked with him at Boreal three seasons ago. He's got no hair
which may lend to the association. But he also rides smooth
like I would imagine an egg would roll down a hill or a half
pipe; he fits into the tightest of trannies like an egg fits
into a good egg cup. A Slinky through moguls, Dave will bust
some pretty darn elliptical moves just when you're least expecting
it. He also rolls his words around like a nice fresh egg feels
when you turn it to see if the yolk's still in there. But
he's hip as eggs go - chicks dig him, and he's got what Q-Tip
might call rudeboy composure: he's never bent over. Now he's
into transferring pipe/park moves to powder and steeps, but
he's shown he can do the contest thing with a halfpipe: 15th
at the `92 Japan contest Terje won, and a 16th at the `91
OP Pro. Here's some snippets of a conversation we had the
other day:
Eesha Williams: So how often do you get out of Truckee?
Dave White: I don't leave Truckee ... I've been working Boreal
for the last five seasons. Now I just work there on weekends
at the snowboard shop. I work as a lifeguard at night during
the week at the Truckee Community pool. In the summer I lifeguard
at Donner Lake. I ain't no halftimer, I'm a Truckee full timer.
Not that I have anything against people that just come up
for the winter, it's just that sometimes all snowboarders
get flak because of things part-timers do.
EW: What is the best part of snowboarding?
DW: Riding with a couple of friends and no one else on a good
day at KT-22.
EW: Why don't you get a Squaw pass?
DW: I have one. I paid for it - I'm Mr. Pass Man this winter.
I have a pass at Boreal, and Sugar Bowl too that I got through
my girlfriend. She's head of the children's ski school. It
doesn't matter because it hasn't snowed. But when it snows
I'll be ready.
EW: Who is good?
DW: Chris Hagen rips; Tracy (Latzen) too - I don't know his
last name though. Clint Eastwood's good.
EW: Who do you ride for?
DW: Wave Rave, stuff from Black Flys. I quit Avalanche. I've
got a loaner board from Burton.
EW: Are you into the whole pro rider thing?
DW: If I get sponsored I will be.
EW: Music.
DW: I listen to FM radio `cuz I don't have enough money to
install the stereo I got for Christmas into my truck. God
this is my first interview - I've been thinking about this
for a long time. You only get to put three bands in, right?
EW: This is Heckler, you can put in all the bands you want.
DW: I like Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, some rap, Bob Marley.
I like Pennywise. There's a band I got in my head but I don't
want to say because they're so trendy now. Oh, I don't care
about trendiness, it's Bad Religion.
EW: Last words?
DW: I'm kinda bummed, no, not bummed, I don't like that word
- I'm unhappy there's no snow in Tahoe this year. At least
maybe if it doesn't snow this season all the new people that
came here will leave and we'll have it all to ourselves next
season. We've got to have a better interview than Carnel and
Andrews'.
EW: You're right. Think of something outrageous to say and
give me a call back.
DW: All right, I'll give you a call.
When he called back the next night he didn't have anything
particularly outrageous to tell me. In fact, he asked me to
take out a few things. Which is like Dave - he's rather get
laid back than outrageous. And it wasn't until after I had
asked him a bit patronizingly "Are you thinking of going back
to school?" (Read: "Why aren't you going to college?") that
I realized he might be better off then lots of people that
are struggling to get ahead in college. (Anyway, he is planning
on enrolling at U. of Reno to get the twelve credits he needs
for an AA degree.) He's chillin' like a villain and getting
better at it every season with better jobs, a better house
and his new girlfriend. He comes across as one of the more
honest people I've met, and unlike some top riders I've asked
the same question of,
Dave says he's having as much fun riding now as ever.
