NZSnowboard.com - The home of New Zealand Snowboarding

11th June 2009

NZsnowboard.com - Mr Nick Hyne... where are you at the moment?
Nick Hyne - Queenstown.

The Hynekin was all over the show in 2008... the face of NZsnowboard.com Newsweek, getting tech on Diaries Downunder with Reason Films, cleaning up the Remarks Slopestyle series and riding and killing it everywhere - tell us about how your whole season went?
This past season was such a good time. It was pretty hectic like usual, but a good hectic. It was good to be busy doing things that were fun. Things started off pretty early with the first episode of Newsweek in May. Then exams finished in Dunedin and there was no snow until the end of June really. In July I started coaching for Wintech, then a few competitions and Diaries Downunder got under way with a few photo shoots in between with Newsweek in between those.

August was super good with amazing snow conditions and heaps more filming and competing. In September things got warm for a bit and then super cold again. After Style Wars, things mellowed out a bit and the end of Spring was a bit more relaxed with less commitments but worse weather. The end of season slush and snowstorms in October were rad as well.

Photo: Tim Pierce

Highlight of 2008? Why?
Highlight would have to be winning the Remarkables Rampage. I learnt some new tricks the day before and managed to put together some runs I was stoked on and got to go home with a sweet cheque to bank.


You have been pushing the technical envelope of jibbing with some of the craziest combos and tech trickery. Explain your process and motivation for getting so gnarly....
I get inspiration from others and think of some stuff myself that has maybe stemmed from something I have seen or thought of. It seems like the longer people have been riding the more they go on about creativity but it is for good reason and makes sense. When I was a grommet all I wanted to do was copy what the pros and the best guys were doing. Now I want to do that AND think of stuff that is new and progressive but not neccessarily gnarly. Don't get me wrong, I love checking tricks off as much as anyone but getting creative gives a similar sense of achievement.

I love going home with something new under my belt whatever it is..a new type of food tried, a new sight seen or a new trick or spot discovered. So yeah I guess that 'today was worth it' feeling of progression is my motivation. As far as setup I am super stoked on rocker, it is amazing for rails and makes the board feel more free and easy to work with.

Photo: Tim PIerce

Who would win in a boxing fight between you and Dutchy? Why?
Dutchy possibly. The man has no hesitation to get gnarly and I think that would be my demise.


Diaries Downunder got some sick play on Transworld last season. This must have been an epic opportunity for international exposure? Has it opened up some doors for you?
It is by far the most stoked I have been in ages as far as legit video content, and it is awesome being involved with all parts of the project - not just the riding. Talking to sponsors, checking footage, thinking of new stuff, and filming regularly with a bit of pressure to push it has been good for my riding I reckon. Riding with Browner for almost every episode has been part of that too. After travelling to Europe, America and Japan for two years in a row I could see that everybody always talked about the videos on Twsnow.com so in April I sent an Email to them proposing the idea. They were all about it and luckily all my sponsors were too. Bugs from Reason Films is the man.

It is so dope going riding for the day then going to see the footage and see the way he has linked it all together and made it into a kind of storyline of events. We couldn't have asked for a better response really and next year is looking good too..so yeah over the moon with how it all turned out. It has definately been a good way to get New Zealand and the Queenstown fields on the radar. It has been good for everyone who has been on the episodes. Hopefully everyone gets some love from it all. As far as opening doors, my sponsors have been super helpful and the exposure from Diaries Downunder has been a big part of it. Newsweek has been good too I think.

Photo: Tim Pierce

What's your dream trick which you want to get before you retire?
Not sure. Would be dope to have an ender with something no one has really seen before. LNP's backside 180 in switch backside 180 out is something that comes to mind. Quite a few, but whatever really. Anything that feels good to do is what I love and I don't really want to retire. Something huge would have to happen for me to not go riding anymore.


You lived with Nick Brown and Karl Dunham in Qtown during the NZ winter. Who's a better cook?
Karl has a good Butter Chicken but Browner would have to take the cake with his venison meals. He has a banging venison salad! 

Photo: Vaughan Brookfield

In your opinion - who is going to be the next big thing in NZ snowboarding? Why?
There are a handful of grommets out there who easily have the potential to be next level. Between asking questions about every little trivial thing Benny Stewart got bloody good bloody quick. Mostly pipe but I always get stoked on the grommets that learn tricks quickly. Is James Hamilton still a grommet? He is good at learning tricks quickly too. I get SO stoked seeing grommets try new tricks or seeing them do something easily that they struggled with a week beforehand. I think it is the hunger, the urge to progress and make stuff happen that will get them to be 'the next big thing'.

Joram and Connor have been ripping. Some Queenstown grommets have been getting amongst it too. Leon McKay seems like he has something progressive in him that makes stuff happen which is rad. I think a down to earth attitude and a willingness to try everything is pretty key. Doing the same trick over and over again so you are seen not falling over is not the way to do it I reckon.

You can cut some serious shapes on the d-floor. You think you would take on Wallow in a dance battle? Who'd win?
I am working on my moonwalk.


If you could change anything about the NZ snowboard industry - what would it be? And why?
That is a tough question.I would have to say the amount of people that get to try snowboarding. It would be cool if schools got involved with annual snow trips. A students-ride-free day once a year would be rad. Getting people up to see the mountains and touch snow is a pretty rad thing and it would be a shame if people didn't get to experience it. You and I know how much fun you can have up the hill but others who live in cities might only need that one chance to get them hooked. There are a lot of things you can't change too much that affect that too though I guess..jobs, school, health, weather, money, transport, gear. I guess these are obstacles that can be overcome but it takes commitment to actually make a snow trip happen. 

In 10 years Nick Hyne will be.......
Snowboarding, skating, learning and having a good time hopefully.  I can't imagine not wanting to be involved with the snow and or skate scene in one way or another. I am stoked on what I am doing right now but 10 years is a long way down the track.


If I'm a grommet reading this interview that looks up to you and wants to be a pro snowboarder... what advice would you give them?
Hmmm, if you want to be PRO I think you have to immerse yourself in the industry. Take note of what goes on with everything. If you want to be pro, you need to take things a little bit seriously. Not crazy serious, but you need to make snowboarding your main thing. Credit cards are generally pretty bad news I reckon, because of the interest trap they can create.

Do stuff cheaply and save your money. Getting into instructing was something I did that I am stoked on. Coaching is a good way to earn money while you ride. It makes you get up the hill, whatever the weather, and you can learn stuff yourself while coaching. I have noticed that taking note of what goes on, makes every season easier and more opportunities arise. If you ignore the 'scene' and pretend you don't care I think things can get tougher and the barriers that stop you from riding become bigger. 

Last words and shoutouts?
Word to everyone who watched Newsweek, Diaries Downunder and Dero. Word to you and everyone that contributes to making snowboarding better. Ride, Smith, Lo.wer, Parklife, Grenade, Bugs and everyone else who knows they rule.






Nick Hyne is on the NZSBU National Team and is supported by:
Ride, Smith, Lower and Parklife