What’s Up with Zak Hale

Interview Alba Pardo

Photos Jeremy Thornburg (UNLESS STATED)

A quick catchup with Zak about where he is at with his snowboarding, his plans, his old bones and ramen noodles. 

Hey Zak, what is happening these days? Any exciting plans for the season?

I feel I am at the point in my career where I just want to snowboard as much as I can and film tricks. I will be with Sage [Kotsenburg] a lot this year in the backcountry, and I would like to put something out in the fall.

Reflecting on your snowboarding career so far, what moments or accomplishments are you proudest of? 

Honestly, just the fact that I have been able to travel the world with all my best friends and that I have met so many new people and built connections I will have for the rest of my life. 

What are your ambitions for the near future, and what things are you hoping to achieve? 

I would like to just stay healthy and keep putting out footage that I am proud of. Also just being able to ride with all my friends.

As Sage’s cheeky comment on your Instagram pointed out… have you given up jibbing and transitioned into powder for good? 

Haha! No! I have not. Powder is just so fun! It’s hard to give up a trip to Japan to go to Minnesota to hit rails. No, I love jibbing, it is what has given me all this, I just needed a little break, just like anything you do.

Oh yes… the Japan trip looked fun, what was the experience like?

Japan was honestly the best trip I have ever been on. It was just Nils, Jerm and me. I didn’t stop snowing the whole time. We’d go back to these zones and they would just be completely filled again. We were there for 10 days, and I think by the 10th, it was another full-on pow day, and Nils and I both looked at each other and went,  “Dude I don’t think I can hike anymore”. It was just him and riding the whole time, so we were so beaten. Just riding waist-deep pow, eating ramen and staying at this insane spa-like hotel. I’ve been on so many trips in my career, but that one was hands down the best ever. I will always look back on that one.

It sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience indeed. Before I let you go, I am curious to know, what is “worth it” for you nowadays when it comes to putting your body at risk? 

Ah! It’s so hard, getting older makes you think, “Is this worth it?” or, “What’s the risk over reward factor?” I have always been pretty calculated with my trick choices, but the older I get, the more I think. I always want to progress but now I just want to do it safely.