How did you get into skiing?
We moved to the west coast when I was 10 and it was out of hockey and into skiing. I fell in love and at 13 was hitching up here every weekend We got really serious and I stayed into it. It was for fun, I was training with racers, competing locally and then nationally. Then I went to Uni and half way thru checked in with some buddies who were traveling the world on the I did the lifestyle comparison, weaned out of school and got back on the team. So within 2 years I was back on the team and then went Olympics. I ended up competing for 10 years on the world cup – great stint and great time, exactly what I wanted. Purely lifestyle. I was in it at the right time.

What was life on the National team like?
I don’t think you could cast a better job, everything was covered. I loved every minute of it – it was always a learning experience, sometimes we would go from Japan to Canada – every aspect of it was enjoyed – 3 months off a year – cruise the gorge and windsurf and train every day – It’s the only job where you can be so selfish and they respect you for it. I knew it was the shit when I was in it.




Working and travelling with world class coaches must have been a different experience.
At the beginning we never really had coaches. Steve Desovich was brought on and he was one of the top US competitors at the time. When he first started I told him I didn’t want a coach. I was anti coach and was self taught from the get go. He was awesome – said no problem, I’ll be here for support when you need. We had an awesome coach/athlete relationship and I built a great relationship. Steve Desovich is still one of the best coaches out there and everyone knows it. – awesome technician and he just instills that winning attitude. He can see if you are a winner.


Lets talk about the transition from skiing to owning a company.
There is a translation from sports to business. It takes the same kind of discipline and commitment – more mental.


What inspired you to start SMS ski camps?
I worked and coached for World Mogul Camp and Steve was one of the owners. Somebody said hey – do your own thing and I said sure, and it just kept growing from year to year.




How have you managed to continue to grow the camps?
We put our hearts into it and really care about these kids and the word of mouth is what has built our reputation and steadily.


You went from being an Olympic Skier to starting Summer ski camps - what was it like making the transition?
Luckily I started SMS camps while I was competing. It was 92 and I was in the Olympics at the time and decided started the camps in the off season. That turned out to be a lucky move on our part. We figured we’d run it for 10yrs and then get out, but we just finished year 14, Its been good to us. It keeps me rooted right to the sport and that’s the fun part. Being a part of the new evolution is fun.


So do you hit all of the stunts that you build for your campers?
No I can’t hit all the big kickers or rails like the kids these days, and that’s what is so impressive, every year they are bigger better and faster.




What about the Safety concern? With stuff as big as it is, don't kids hurt themselves?
Safety is key and that is what we really focus on it. The reason that we want the kids in these camps is so we can train them properly so that they learn safely and not hurt themselves. If a kid doesnt know what they're doing and goes for a big hit without having air awareness then its too late. We use the water ramps and start small and then build up to the big stuff.


How does the coaching work - do you have beginners and expert camps?
We run 8-9 coaches and each one takes a group from the beginners up to the advanced for moguls or for freeride.


You started a clothing line about 5 years ago. What triggered that decision?
It was right around 97 or 98 and someone said hey – why don’t you start this? I laughed it off at the time. So I am competiting world cup and Hiro Kobayashi who started the first line for the mogul skiers. He said "John, make something for the kids that come to the camp", so I sat with it for a few months and then he said, "I’ll do it and you just put your name on it." We did that for 4 years and then Hiro moved BFA to Japan and I had the option to buy the Company. That was when I really started working. Ever since then we took it and got really serious about making it happen. I took over everything and started to work my ass off, moved the distribution to China and trying to compete internationally is pretty tough. When I do things I just jump in and put my head down. Subsequently we have improved on every level, but it takes all year round. Getting it to market, distribution, manufacturing,- its super multi level. Fortunately the business degree rubbed off, but it’s an endless challenge and you gotta enjoy the ride. We’re still in Whislter and that is key. My objective is to take this to the level where we are travelling around and doing fun stuff, we’re growing now and want to take it to the where it’s a World Wide recognized brand that is built around what we love – skiing.




How has running SMS Clothing affected your recreational habits?
I’m not skiing quite as much – we’ve got deadlines and all that stuff – tradeshow trips, production trips. Those deadlines are pretty specific, but outside of that I can go out and play when I need to, I can pick and choose.


What sort of things have you learned by running your own companies?
Work in the evening, in the morning, in the afternoon. I’ve learned a shitload, I have to be the guy with all the hats and make sure that I keep on track of everything that’s going on. The plus is that I can get somehting personal out of it and be constantly creative.


So who is out there representing the SMS line?
Just got 2 new awesome guys – Mike Riddle and JD Zicat. Both of those guys were the top 2 guys at the camp and that’s how we pick’em. We've also got Jay Mahou, Charles Bedard. The freestyle side is what we’re the closest to and this gives us the best shots and what we need. We also have quite a few other key guys, coaches like Jay Vaughn and guys that are ambassadors for the sport.




Can you offer advice for skiers who want to make the leap from skier to entrepreneur?
It’s a tough one, I haven’t planned it. Just listen to yourself and do what you need to do, it's too hard to tell someone what to do. You can’t bank on one thing. Do whats right for you and then you’ll never loose. Keep the fun spirit that got you into the sport and incorporate it into everything you do.

Thanks John. Thanks Biglines