COLD SNAP
ALL TERRAIN TAG TEAM
The dynamic duo of Noah Salasnek and Aaron
Vincent bonded as young teenagers by skat-
ing spots all over the San Francisco Bay Area.
Over the years, Noah and Aaron have pushed
each other's progression on skateboards and
snow sticks as they continue to cruise around
-Matt Kennedy
the world.
How long have you guys know each other?
NS: Around eight years. I used to go skate Bill
Briethaupt's ramp in Novato and the weasel
was lapping Smithies on the vert. Then we
used to charge the Dish and HP ramp in the
City every weekend.
When did you start skateboarding?
NS: When I was eight years old. My older
brother used to go to the skateparks in Bur-
lingame and Rohnert Park, so I would go with
him. I skated for about two years, and then
chilled till I was thirteen. Then I started skating
a lot of ramps and fully got back into it.
AV: I was in twelfth grade when I seriously
started skating ramps and trying shit.
Where did you start skateboarding?
AV: I started skating to school and skating
my friend's six-foot tranny vert ramp.
Where do you like to go now?
AV: Any skatepark, but it's always best to trav-
el and skate new shit.
NS: When I'm home I try to go to the Daily
Grind, or I'll street skate downtown with Joey
Polaka, Toland or whoever is around, it's rad
to cruise around and skate different shit. Last
summer I went to New Zealand, and Austral-
ia a year before that, those are the sickest
places I've ever skated.
E
In the snow or on a skate, Aaron Vincent (left) is simply
bionic: Snowbound Miller flip of a well-placed rock.
Lighting the ceremonial herbs (above) before a session.
Noah Salasnek (above right) sports a cast from going
for it and eating it. Over-torqued stalefish (opposite
right) at a spot known simply as the Heine Hit.
When did you start snowboarding?
AV: About 1987 is when I first tried it. I saw an
ad in Thrasher for Burton snowboards and I
sent away for a woody. We tried to ride the
lifts over at Donner Ski Ranch, but then they
wouldn't let us, so we hiked.
NS: Aaron used to ride at Donner and I used
to ski with him. I started skiing when I was two
years old because my parents lived in Tahoe
every winter. So I was stoked on skiing until I
learned how to snowboard.
What was a good trip snowboarding?
AV: Most of the places are fun, highlights are
the far and exotic places, like New Zealand,
Chile and Alaska.
NS: Probably Valdez, Alaska, last year. The
mountains are super hairball there. You just
charge in a helicopter to the sketchiest shit
ever, sometimes the landing zone is so small
that the heli has to hover a few inches off the
ground while you jump out and grab your
board. The pilot is an ex-Vietnam guy named
Chet, who sports a gun in his Northface pants
and isn't scared to fire off a few rounds when
you're not expecting it. Last year, Adam Yauch
from the Beastie Boys was there and that was
sick to ride with him. He's getting super good,
and charges some steep shit!
Did you guys ever like the same chick?
AV: Noah was seeing this girl named Jill and
I liked her twin sister, Jan. I guess that's kind of
the same girl.
What's the difference between skate-
boarding and snowboarding?
NS: I've skated a lot longer than I've boarded,
so it just looked sick when people started
busting out. I saw some footage of Kidwell
that John Malvino shot way long ago. Terry
was tossing 540's, airs, and dropping cliffs.
That's what got me psyched to try it.
AV: They're not really the same. Skating is a
lot harder and way more tech. Snowboarding
is easier, but you can go hella fat.
Do you take tricks from one sport and try
them on another?
NS: Some tricks you can cross-over. I learned
frontside 360's boarding and then learned
them skating. Mostly, it's just that snowboard-
ing lowers the fear factor for skating. If you do
90 THR