DCP Goes on Epic ‘Kerouac’ Rant | “Why live a life that’s perceived as mad?”
There’s always a fine line between living the life that makes you happy, pushing the limits, and taking it a step too far. It’s why many people chill out once they start having families and others depend on them. But you still gotta live! DCP knows this and took to social media to release it. The YES snowboards captain and Canadian snowboard legend went all Jack Kerouac on us and it hits home.
Give it a read.
‘’WHY LIVE A LIFE THAT‘S PERCEIVED AS MAD?‘’
When I was 10 years old , my grandpa passed away and my parents split up and it made me very sad. That February, on the 14th, my dad gave me a valentines day gift, probably feeling like he needed to prove his love to me. Truthfully, I ‘ve kept unconditional love for both my parents, always have… He gave me a snowboard. He actually, at that moment, had changed my life, forever …
I was truly hooked, like really deeply hooked. And snowboarding was much more similar to skateboarding then skiing was. I spent all my free time riding. I got good, won a few events, got noticed, sponsored, stood on multiple peaks, filmed 20-years of video parts, travelled across the world in search of snow, mountains, beaches, waves, met tons of friends, met this amazing woman, married her, and we are now raising 2 amazing children travelled with them in search of snow, beaches, mountains, surf.
I’m now passing my passion, that same passion that lead my life for the last 25 years. I developed a habit of wanting to be active in nature, connecting with the element and flowing through adventures and travels.
I also have the habit of wanting to do it as much and as hard, for as long as I can .
My favorite days are when I get to surf for 8-hours in a row in pumping surf or if I go on a riding-filming mission in the mountains from pre-sunrise to post sunset .
What hooked me was not only the actual feeling of gliding on water, wether frozen or liquid, but also the feeling of freedom it gives you, entirely free in the moment. That’s probably the main reason why I strive to do as much of it as I can when it s firing. When the conditions are optimal. It would be hard to explain to most .
My kids know I ‘m happier when I can push myself and ride hard. They are, themselves, pretty passionate active people. We adore each other .
Then there‘s the feelings of accomplishment, gratefulness, stoke, when you win an event or land a new trick, when you ride away from something you considered difficult in your mind, but felt effortless at that moment. Or it could also be the addiction to the endorphins being released while performing our gliding passions .
Regardless, just like I heard it many times, when I go and attend my 20th year private high school reunion next year, where I was 1 of only a handful of skateboarders, I know we are gonna end up talking about our career choices and what not. Lawyers, teachers, doctors, tv host, firefighters, physicians, web designers. I’m sure they’ll be all there wondering why am I still snowboarding and making a living snowboarding. Why, at 36, I am still getting a rush from jumping off 50-foot cliffs or straight lining a couloir. Some will think I’m mad, They ‘ll say: But you have a family, how can you expose yourself to avalanches and injuries risks, “you are irresponsible!”
Aside from having to explain to them that feeling and the things we get to learn in snow science, physics, snow feature engineering, and construction, marketing, sales, event organizing, life balance, healing, intuitions, decision making (ego or fear?), to deny their assumption of our recklessness in the mountains .
I will know that they are wrong and that my kids are learning the true meaning of following your passions through activities that make you happy, sharing them with the ones you love, determination, that hard work pays off and that it’s rewarding. That you can fail and get back on your feet and succeed. They are also learning respect of nature, geography and culture. They are happy.
Everyone has the choice of the life they wanna live. Snowboarding and adventuring makes me happy.
Am I mad for wanting to live a thrilling-loving happy life or would I be mad not to? #questionmadness #neverstopexploring #TNFturns50
dcp
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