The Godfather of Freestyle Snowmobile talks shop

 

Most action sports are pioneered by a few free-thinking individuals who tirelessly lay the groundwork for what will one day become a youth culture phenomenon. Enter Jay Quinlan, who’s been shaping the world of snowmobile freestyle riding for years, waiting for the sport’s time to come. That time is now; Quinlan and his compatriots have been invited to the 2007 Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, where they’ll finally get to bust out flip variations and FMX-inspired moves in hopes of winning a coveted X Games medal. It’s been a long road; previously sponsored for snocross racing, Quinlan decided to focus on freestyle years ago out of sheer love and dedication to the sport. Of course, he’d love to leave Aspen with a medal around his neck, but it’s easy to tell that he’ll be happy as long as snowmobile freestyle gets the respect and exposure it deserves.

What opportunities were available to riders in the snowmobile industry when you decided to switch from racing to freestyle?
There was nothing. We had a lot of doors shut on us. I didn’t get it; I thought they should want to be a part of what we were doing. They’re starting to see it. I’m glad I made the push back then.

Because of that, you’re often referred to as the Godfather of snowmobile freestyle; how does that make you feel?
That whole “Godfather” thing came from when I did David Letterman’s show. The producer had talked to somebody who said that, and it just stuck. Now everybody’s saying it. There’s really only one other kid that was doing the same stuff I was doing back then, and that’s Kourtney Hungerford. I’ve been doing it for a while.
How do you feel about how the sport has progressed since those days?
It’s been really slow. A lot of my growth came from outside of the snowmobile industry. Companies like Oakley and Red Bull—Red Bull especially. Those deals made going out on a limb and moving to Colorado worthwhile. The sled industry is still lagging. I think it’ll stay that way until we put on a good show in Aspen.

Were there many opportunities for competitive events?
It’s definitely been pretty sparse. Red Bull’s Fuel & Fury is the best one that we count on every year. We do a lot of shows. The Ski Tour, Steve Miller at SCS, and Red Bull do all these weekend events that help promote the sport. I think people are really pumped on it.

So this is your first time in the X Games; what are your expectations?
I don’t really have a lot of expectations for this first time. I’m just worried that we aren’t going to get the attention we need as far as the design and set-up of the course. They’re intertwining us in the Snocross course; I think it should be a separate venue.

You were the first to pull a flip at a contest; do you have anything big planned for X?
I did, but I’ve been running into a bunch of dead-ends and problems in practice. A lot of it is going to depend on what I get done in the next week. I really want to get the barrel roll dialed; it would be pretty cool to pull that off.

Have you pulled one yet?
I haven’t yet, not off a ramp. In the backcountry, I’ve come close, landing on the side of the sled and getting worked.

Does snowmobile freestyle have a pretty tight-knit scene?
Yeah, we all pretty much grew up together. We see each other at the demos; it’s been basically the same group of guys for the last ten years. We all know each other really well, so it’s pretty cool in that sense.
 
Have any new riders popped up recently?
The younger kids who were supposed to be the up-and-comers had an opportunity to come to Minnesota for the X Games qualifiers, but they didn’t show up. There is a kid from Norway that’s really good, Aleksander Nordgaard. I think he’s going to do really well at X.
Give us a rundown on some of the other riders at Winter X.
Kourtney Hungerford is really consistent and smooth. He’s dialed, but he doesn’t really push it; he’s not a risk-taker. I think he’ll be really solid, but he still hasn’t flipped off a ramp, and I think it’s going to take a flip to get on the podium. Justin Hoyer is also consistent and smooth, he’s got flips, and he does a Kiss of Death—which no one else is doing—and he’s tall, so he gets good extension. Heath Frisby is full of energy; he’s like Pastrana when he comes out of the berms—just pinned. He’s really fun to watch, because you never know what he’s going to do. He’s got good extension, one-handed flips, and he’s coming here to practice no-handers with me. I think we’ll see a lot of crazy stuff out of Frisby; I’m putting my money on him for sure. He’s got a whip like no other. Chris Burandt just started flipping two days ago, he’s got good extension and does some cool tricks, but I’m not sure if he’ll be able to pull a flip in his run. Jimmy Blaze is pretty solid and has a good flip, so he’ll be one to watch. I think it’s going to come down to having a smart, clean run, and getting your sled through it. I’m pretty comfortable flipping, so I’m just trying to get a handful of tricks really dialed with good extension. I want to be able to throw flips throughout my run, keep people excited.

How would you like to see snowmobile freestyle evolve?
I think it’d be cool to be in Winter X for the next couple of years. The sleds are evolving, too, so that’s going to allow us to do a lot more in the air. I’d also like to see the sport grow with respect to freeriding in the backcountry.

How much time to you spend on freestyle vs. freeriding?
This season I’ve only been out backcountry riding four or five times. All I’ve been doing is getting ready for X. They’re totally different, from the sled setup to being more cautious and smart when you’re in the backcountry.

What are your goals for the next five years?
I want to get off-axis backflips and different flip variations. I’d really like to get a contest put together in the backcountry with a remote heli-drop, just big-mountain riding. That’s what I enjoy: really technical, big lines.

Related Link: Winter X Games