Local snowboarder pursuing passion

By PATTY HUTCHENS

For the Bee

SANDPOINT — Since graduating from high school last spring, 18 year-old Dash Kamp has been traveling across the country and the world in search of snow.

“It’s been nonstop traveling and competing,” said Kamp of the last eight months.

The snowboard enthusiast spent June training at Mount Hood, Oregon, followed by a week in Whistler, B.C. at the Billabong Big Air event, where he won the rail event.

In August he took off for a month to New Zealand, financed by his winnings from the Billabong event, where he participated in the New Zealand Open and the Junior World Championship. The result was an amazing 24th out of the top 60 riders in the world.

“It was my first serious solo trip,” said Kamp, who stayed in youth hostels and did some important networking, meeting people who will help him in his pursuit of a professional snowboarding career.

In preparation for winter, Kamp spent time in Sandpoint and trained at Pneumex’s Fitness and Sports Training Enhanced Rehabilitation (FAST) with trainers T.J. Larson and Peter Falletto.

Kamp, who has been boarding since he was 5 years-old and skiing since he was 3, is calling Boreal Resort in Truckee, California near Lake Tahoe home this winter. He is a member of the Auburn Ski Club and travels with his fellow boarders and skiers to places all around the U.S. and Canada, where Dash competes in the Slopestyle and Big Air events.  

Kamp recently competed in the Revolution Tour at Mt. Hood where he placed first in the qualifying round and ended the tour in the top 10. He then won the next event at Mt. Hood Meadows  called the Burton TTR Am and got a pre-qualified position to compete at the U.S. Open at Stratton, Vermont in March.

Kamp was home schooled for much of his elementary, middle school and high school years which allowed time for his training. However, now that he has graduated he says his day is spent almost entirely on the slopes.

After breakfast he rides all day, foregoing a lunch break until his daily training is done.

“I pretty much ride until my body tells me not to and then past that a little,” said Kamp, who is living in a home with his head coach and other members of the ski club. “We are always pushing each other and trying to do better.”

His next stop is Wednesday, Jan. 26 when he will travel to Denver to compete in the nationally televised Big Air Show, which will air on NBC.

While local professional snowboarders Nate and Pat Holland have influenced Kamp, he says it was his personal choice to pursue a career in snowboarding.  

“I do look up to them (Nate and Pat),” said Kamp, adding that he has withdrawals if he cannot ride every single day.

Looking ahead, Kamp said that Slopestyle is being considered as an Olympic event for 2014 and if that is the case, he has every intention of representing the U.S. through the USSA Organization.

“I am hopefully right on track for being on the Olympic team,” said Kamp.

While contest winnings and sponsors such as Oakley, Boreal Resort, Litehouse, FASTER, Union Binding Company, Carusoe Enterprises, 7B Boardshop and Nike Snowboarding have all helped with the financial challenge of competition, Kamp credits his mother Paula — whom he calls his “momager” — as being the sole reason he is able to accomplish what he has.

“Without her I would not be where I am today,” said Kamp, who has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon. “And I want to go as far as I can with it.”

To follow Dash’s pursuit of his Olympic dream and a professional career, follow him on his website “www.dashkamp.com.”