Fawcett Photo Design

High Cascade Photo Workshop and Trevor Graves invited me to present my history of snowboarding photo slideshow again this summer at Government Camp, OR. Here it is in case you missed it.

Jim Zellers at Donner Ski Ranch Lake Tahoe, ISM, Season Annual, Winter 1987 (Photo by Larry Prosor)

Now this is truly a classic issue of ISM. Their first 4-Color cover in 52 pages; there was no turning back. Check Out the following snowboarding stars of the eighties. You can look at the mag in flip-format here!

Keith Kimmel, Donner Quarterpipe, Lake Tahoe, 1986

Along with Terry Kidwell, Bob Klein and Allen Arnbrister of Tahoe City, Keith Kimmel was one of the original pioneers of modern day snowboarding. He was featured on the cover of the first International Snowboard Magazine (ISM) in March of 86, ripping the original Tahoe City halfpipe, a natural gully near the TC dump.

In this photo, published in the ISM Interview and Thrasher Magazine, Keith is pictured here in one of the first “switchstance” moments in snowboard history. You can read more about the early days of snowboarding halfpipe here.

Tom Burt and Damian Sanders at Mt. Rose Nevada before mainstream ski area acceptance, 1987

Tom Burt and Damian Sanders were two of the original founding fathers of snowboarding. While Damian’s freestyle flare and movie debuts drove mainstream acceptance and explosive growth, Tom (and Jim and Bonnie Zellars) fathered the backcountry movement in early media. Damian was FLF Films early poster boy and starred in their earliest snowboard movies which further fueled snowboarding’s popularity into the early nineties. Together, the four were sponsored by Chris and Bev Sanders/Avalanche Snowboards of South Lake Tahoe.

Damian Sanders at the first Squaw Valley Halfpipe (Lake Tahoe, 1989)

Tom Burt at the first Squaw Valley Halfpipe (Lake Tahoe, 1989)

Dave Seoane, Sugarbowl, Lake Tahoe, from Roadkill

Question – Dave Seoane is a:
1) Sculptor?
2) Pro snowboarder?
3) Professional cinematographer?
4) Furniture Designer?
5) all of the above, plus some?

Dave Seoane, Pyramid Lake, Nevada

Craig Kelly Backside, Soda Springs, Sims World Championships, 1985

At the third world championships, Craig ruled the pipe along with Kidwell, Kimmel, and Palmer. Craig had just picked up his sponsorship from Tom Sims a month before, and he’s sporting Raybans, Moto Gloves and Levis. In this photo it’s funny to see people sitting on the walls which is generally prohibited at today’s events. The World Championships moved to Breckenridge the following year.


Craig Kelly, Mt. Baker, 1991