Harry Kearny - High Fives | Teton Gravity Research

Photo courtesy of Harry Kearney.

Considered one of snowboarding's most hallowed grounds, The Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom is the one snowboard contest where your diehard pro, seasoned legend, and weekend warrior can take on not only fervent shredheads, but also the likes of pros like Terje Haakonsen and Temple Cummins. If you are lucky enough to make it to the gate to compete, say your prayers because you’ll be greeted by an icy, windy, stomach churning, make-you-puke, leg-burning run that’s filled with icy banks and berms. If you survive the course, there’s still almost no chance your time will enable you to top Terje and snag the duct tape trophy that often winds up in his hands.

Nonetheless, Harry Kearney has won two of the last four Legendary Banked Slaloms—but you’ve probably not heard of this radical dude. If the LBS was Formula 1, or hell, NASCAR, Harry Kearney might be a household name. Instead, this 20 year old Telluride native—who now tends to call Mt. Baker his home—spends most of his time freeriding Baker's finest fluff and carefully plotting a defense of his banked slalom title. Dedicated to shredding for all the right reasons, Harry Kearney checked in from the top of Telluride to share some stoke.

What makes going to Baker Banked Slalom so legendary?

First and foremost the history of it. This year was the 29th year. You are on hallowed ground, so to speak, and around all the people you look up to. It’s just a massive festival-it’s pretty much all time.

There have been two 17-year-old winners in Banked Slalom history – Shaun Palmer in 1986 and Harry Kearney in 2011. How did you feel when you won the LBS in 2011?

Pretty unbelievable, I guess. I wasn’t ready for it, that’s for sure. I was just like, “Holy shit!” Unbelievable, if I could sum it up in one word. Crazy but really fun. It’s hard to explain. It just happened.

You beat Terje, amongst other people that year.

He’s a competitive dude. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone up to him and asked him to sign my jacket. I didn’t mean to come off as a dick but maybe that’s what happened. It was funny meeting him that first time. He didn’t have a whole lot to say. Writing “you suck” on my jacket was pretty funny, but then talking to him a couple more times this year he’s a cool guy. He’s gnarly. He scares the shit out of me, honestly. You just see him up there and you just know he’s such a force to be reckoned with on a snowboard. You just look at him and know he is gnarly. Being around him is pretty sweet, though. It’s definitely an honor to be on the same race course as a guy like Terje. There are all kinds of legends floating around up there, you know.

A view from the top of the LBS course.

What’s the sign on the race shack say at the top of the Baker Banked Slalom before you drop in?

It says, “Say your prayers...” I just try to chill out as hard as I can. Not even think about it. Just take deep breaths and just chill yourself right out. That’s what helps me I guess.

How did it feel winning the pro division for a second time?

It was cool. The two wins had different aspects about them. The first one was just awesome and this last one was sweet because I wasn’t on a race board and it was a gnarly race course. Just a real level playing field. I definitely got more into the weekend itself and I was less concerned about the racing. That really made it good for me.

Are you telling me partying made it better?

Yes! Partying afterwards. I wasn’t really getting too rad during the weekend as far as partying goes. Seeing all your bros and riding with all your bros made it that much sweeter.

Harry hitting a big ole' booter. Photo Credit: @bigfloopydonkey

Are you still living in Baker?

Sorta. I have a room there. If it gets good, I will be there. Yeah, I am paying rent throughout the winter, so I guess I am living there.

What’s living in Baker like?

It’s pretty cool, honestly. Your whole day-to-day life is straight snowboarding. I often wonder how healthy it is. I will wake up and throw down whatever I can find for breakfast and go snowboarding. Come home tired and start a fire. Throw down stuff for dinner then go right to sleep and do that every day.

So it's great. I end up reading a lot because there is no cell phone service or internet. You are definitely out there. Every inch of your life is for snowboarding, which is awesome. I don’t know if I should comment about how I am underage because of the partying comment, but going out to the bars doesn’t happen here too much.

Milk and cookies.

Milk and cookies and then Harry goes to bed!

Late season slash. Photo Credit: @bitchin_camaro

You have had quite a good race career. You have now won Baker twice at the pro level. You are somewhat of an obscure name in snowboarding, but twice you have come and beat the world's best. You kicked their ass Harry! How do you go about keeping the dream alive?

Definitely. It’s an interesting thing. As far as sponsors go, it’s been interesting. I’ve had a few. Some don’t work out. Some go under. Some dudes just don’t have a budget. As far as that goes, it’s been tough. Then I sit there and sometimes you can get worried about it like, “Fuck! I need to get exposure! I need to get out there in front of everyone!”

But then it’s like, what do you really need to do? Maybe I am wrong. I feel like I just need to go out and ride. That’s the important thing for me. Riding everyday. Trying to ride hard. Today I am riding like shit, but I still try to ride everyday. Whatever happens happens. I am hoping for whatever comes along my way. I like being a little bit obscure, I don’t know. I just like riding Baker and hanging out there everyday. Maybe that’s not the best place to market yourself as a snowboarder.

Why do you keep snowboarding?

Sometimes I ask myself that. I guess it’s cliche to say and you hear people say it but you just get this crazy sense of personal freedom when you are just riding a snowboard. I love riding with friends but it’s important to ride by yourself because then you really feel it. No restraints. I am lucky enough. That’s where I am trying to take my progression as far as snowboarding goes. Being able to ride anything exactly how I want it.

Then you get that ultimate freedom. Just that freedom! That’s what it’s all about. Just interacting with mountains and your natural surroundings. It’s pretty awesome. Hauling ass straight down them. Or, making crazy little quick turns in crazy places. Freedom of movement! You get a pretty good peace of mind from that. Good snow sure helps.

[Terje] is a competitive dude. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone up to him and asked him to sign my jacket. I didn’t mean to come off as a dick but maybe that’s what happened. It was funny meeting him that first time. He didn’t have a whole lot to say. Writing “you suck” on my jacket was pretty funny, but then talking to him a couple more times this year he’s a cool guy.

Tell us about growing up in the San Juan Mountains.

Oh man, I am looking right at them right now. It’s starting to cloud up here and looking pretty gnarly. It’s big vertical—at least here in Telluride. Big vertical, big long groomers, so you get to be hauling ass, which is super fun. Then you get on some steep stuff and you want to be able to do some turns. You will want to turn around rocks because there are a lot of them here. You get in some pretty tight spaces as far as couloirs go and there is a lot of stuff here that shapes a snowboarder in a lot of ways.

It's interesting because there aren’t a lot of snowboarders-it's definitely a skier’s mountain. For better or worse, that’s just what I came up around. I have been lucky to have some good guidance along the way. Shoutout to Jason Troth and then just chasing all my skier buddies around. They go faster than anybody—it’s fucked up but that’s just how the big mountains here shape you. These mountains are big. It’s funny because Matt Edgers was down here in the San Juans last week and he was just like, “Holy Shit! These mountains are huge!” It’s pretty awesome.

Harry shredding a rocky big mountain line. Photo Credit: www.harrykearney.com

Who is Harry Kearney?

Oh boy, I guess I am just still trying to figure that out most of the time. Just trying to be a better human through snowboarding.

Where do you go from here?

I am hoping to get some filming in. I am hoping the snow turns back on in Washington. Just keeping my eyes and ears open. Just riding here in Telluride, too.

How do we ride as fast as you?

I tell everybody to bend their knees. Bend your knees and ride everyday no matter what. Turning down whatever fucked up shit you can find. Open ‘er up! I still get freaked out going fast down something when the light is flat.

Big Mountain Lines. Photo Credit: Harry Kearney