Thayne Mahler
Sponsored by: Burton, Oakley, Mt. Bachelor
Age: 24 Origin:
Chicago, ILThayne grew up in Boise, Idaho and got into snowboarding
through a friend of his who was a snowboarder. But Thayne was
a skier and constantly gave his buddy shit for being on a snowboard.
The next year, Thayne climbed to the other side of the fence
and switched to snowboarding. His first board was a Burton Asym.
Years later Thayne and 2 friends were hiking the summit of Mt.
Hood from the Hood Meadows side on August 25, 1996. Coming down,
Thayne lost his edge and fell 75 feet off a cliff. He landed
in a combination of bushes, snow and rocks, but was miraculously
alive and conscious; compound fracturing his “tib and fib,”
as he puts it. Lost from his companions, he stayed overnight
in a hole. 24 hours after the incident happened a rescue helicopter
from overhead was searching and Thayne having his 35mm camera
with him used the glass lens element as a reflector of light
to signal the chopper. He was spotted and within an hour a double
propped Huey Army helicopter showed up and evac’ed him
out. “That Huey was the only helicopter stable enough to
fly in the high winds that were happening on that day,”
he tells me. “They almost called the search off from the
air it was so bad up there. It would have all been on foot;
luckily I signaled that first helicopter.”
Thayne found himself in the hospital and now had to make a conscience
decision from his home in Boise. Would he try and save his leg
injured in the accident or have it amputated and deal with the
consequences?
“I decided to have it amputated and I never looked back.
I was bummed, but I wasn’t depressed. I received my first
prosthetic limb on January 24, 1997 and went snowboarding on
January 26th just two days later.”
Now five years later, with one artificial leg and a hell of
a mind, Mahler rides like it’s no big deal at all. In fact
the guy rips, as witnessed on a South Tahoe backcountry hiking
day. The only bummer was Thayne called it quits after a few
jumps off a corniced cliff because he broke his prosthetic leg.
In fact he had to rig it up with tape temporarily to hike back
out. Back in Bachelor he would just send it back, being he now
tests prosthetics and contributes to the progression of their
development. “I’m really stoked to help with the design
of these limbs so to speak; and construction wise they’re
getting better and better. A few years back they would only
last a week, now they last me a month.”
Speaking of progression Thayne has become a better rider since
his accident and has gotten more into rails and parks the past
few years. His first year riding with a different leg he went
to Alaska just to freeride. He rides the area around Bachelor
nowadays where it occupies his winter months. In the summer
he lives in Government Camp and coaches up at Hood.
If you’re ever around him for long enough he might out
of the blue in a somewhat serious context whisper in your ear
something like, “Hey, you know what they told me? ‘You’ll
never ski again.’ Then he’ll yell out loud, “And
I won’t!”
Rickie Dixon
Sponsored by: Status skateboards, Axis wheels, Venture trucks,
DVS shoes, Elwood clothing (flow), and Southern Boarder skate
shop in St. Pete
Age: 22
Origin: St. Petersburg, FL I’ve
known Rickie for a bunch of years now. He’s one of my best
friends and an amazing skateboarder. If you ever get a chance
to skate with Rickie, watch out he’ll blow your mind. His
skateboarding speaks for itself, but if you see him, go say
hi. Oh, and tell him he still owes me ten bucks from the “P***
P***”. Pay up Dixon!
Where do you like to skate other than St. Pete?
East coast cities like Philly and DC.
Have you been traveling a lot and what’s your favorite
place you’ve been?
I haven’t been traveling as much as I want to. I really
liked Prague, but as far traveling to skate, I’d say DC
is one of my favorite places.
What gets you hyped to skate?
Just skating with my friends and a good set up. You know, a
new board and wheels.
Which bands have you been listening to that get you motivated
before you go skate?
Modest Mouse, The Dismemberment Plan, The Faint and Kool Keith
is a must when ev’s.
Who do you owe thanks to?
I would like to give thanks to my family, Allan and Lisa, the
“southern blingers,” Josh Stewart, Ozzy (not Osbourne),
Rod James, Bonnie, Steve Brandi, Stankonia, and everyone who’s
helped me out, I appreciate it.
Origin:
Chicago, ILThayne grew up in Boise, Idaho and got into snowboarding
through a friend of his who was a snowboarder. But Thayne was
a skier and constantly gave his buddy shit for being on a snowboard.
The next year, Thayne climbed to the other side of the fence
and switched to snowboarding. His first board was a Burton Asym.
I’ve
known Rickie for a bunch of years now. He’s one of my best
friends and an amazing skateboarder. If you ever get a chance
to skate with Rickie, watch out he’ll blow your mind. His
skateboarding speaks for itself, but if you see him, go say
hi. Oh, and tell him he still owes me ten bucks from the “P***
P***”. Pay up Dixon!