Kamp to compete in slopestyle events in New Zealand

SANDPOINT — This is what it says under the “something about me” portion of his bio on a snowboarding website, and it says much about Sandpoint’s Dash Kamp: I love the summer, but I live for the winter.

So much so that the 18 year-old rising star in the high-flying sport of Slopestyle is willing to trade a month of his summer for a month of winter. Kamp will spend August in Wanaka, New Zealand, competing in two big invitation-only competitions featuring the top riders in the world.

Kamp, who is ranked No. 32 in the world in Slopestyle, is hoping to improve his pro ranking by competing in the Burton New Zealand Open beginning Aug. 10, followed by the Junior World Championships on the 20th.

“If I can get my point ranking to the top 20, it opens up more doors and opportunities,” said Kamp, eager for the chance to compete on the grand stage. “I want to do the best I can and not come back with a sad head on my shoulder.”

Slopestyle features big ramp jumps and huge air, with riders performing spins, grabs, grinds and flips before landing. Kamp can execute double flips and also spin each direction as many as 1,260 degrees, all while soaring high through the air.

He’s sponsored by Oakley, High Society Free Ride, Bat Waves Gloves and 7B Board Sports, the latter two of which are located in Sandpoint. He recently won $5,000 for performing the best trick at a competition in Canada, and hopes more payoffs await in the future.

“I want to have a good time but also make my life of it,” described Kamp, whose parents Slate and Paula Kamp both live in Sandpoint. “All I do is eat, sleep and snowboard. In the long run, I only want to snowboard.”

Kamp has notched some top finishes at big competitions, including a third place finish at the USASA Open in 2008 and a third at the last Revo Tour Slopestyle. He calls a few of his favorite tricks homespun names like “slashes, peanut butter pancake and chicken wings.”

He grew up shredding the ample free ride terrain of Schweitzer, and while being home schooled, also played tennis for Sandpoint High School.

His enthusiasm for the sport is high, as evidenced by his answer to the question of what he loves most about snowboarding.

“I can go out and have fun and not worry about anything else in the world but snowboarding,” said Kamp. “Everything stops when you’re snowboarding. You’re only focused on one thing, not a million things in your head.”