Profile... Mark Ruparelia
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Snowboarder Questionnaire
How old where you when you first began riding?
I first tried it when I was 8 when my dad bought these 2 "dudes" lunch and a couple of pints to give us a lesson. I loved it, but didn't get started until I was 13, took me 5 years to work on the parents to let me stop skiing and start snowboarding.
What/Who got you into it?
Skiing, the mountains, Skateboarding, my brother and his mates, especially Matt Harris, Ian Duguid and Martin Addison who took me under the wing I guess
What sort of board do you ride?
Nitro T1 56 for the Park Team series 59 for the pow
Do you ride Regular or Goofy?
Goofy
Stance width?
as wide as it goes, then turn the plates sideways and make it wider.
Stance angles (front and back)?
front 18 back -9
Favourite resort?
Loads Mt Baker is the latest! Also Tignes, Mayrhofen, Cairngorm love them all
How many seasons have you done?
5 full ones, but I had to do a 4 year gap for a degree after the first, kina got in the way.
Where and when did you do your seasons?
Val d'sere and Tignes mostly, Mayrhofen and Cairngorm as much as I could. Now im based in Mayrhofen and get to Travel all over Europe and USA.
What was your favourite trip and why?
The Vans team trip to morzine. Good snow, good riding, amazing people, good laughs, free beer, hot tub.. need I go on. Vans rule!!
Vans Team Week © www.nathangallagher.com
From Mark's Lifestyle & Portrait Gallery.
What do you love about snowboarding?
Stomping tricks, the mountains, my friends, baggy pants, being happy, corderoy pistes, halfpipes, rollers, basically freedom from normal life!!, powder powder powder powder powder!!!!! nothing better in the world.
What's your goal within snowboarding?
To enjoy it as much as possible, get my name out there and be respected in terms of free riding... one day..
What aspect of snowboarding gives you the most satisfaction (powder, kickers, halfpipe, competitions, big air, cliff drops, etc.)?
natural powder hits and long jibby powder runs.
What style of snowboarding best describes your riding (include a couple if you want)?
Used to be just balls out try anything.. but now id say a bit more consevtive balls out try anything.
What's your favourite trick?
Its always got to be a backside 180 no grab
What's your scariest snowboarding moment?
After I came up short on a kicker in Les Deux Alps at summercamp and felt my knee pop, the scaryest moment was when I was healed after 2 opps, new ACL, was getting back on it and hitting a big park jump again for the first time. It was in NZ and there was shawn white and DCP doing 9s like it was as easy as 2min nuddles and all I wanted to do was just bloody drop in.
What are your top safety tips when riding?
Dont fall over, dont start avalanches, thats bad, dont stand on the knuckle of the kicker in the middle of the park or someone might crack you one or land on you, dont ever hit a powder kicker you didn't build or that has already been sessioned. so many people land in crusty bomb holes and nail themselves, so dumb, thats karma for ya... build your own!!
What advice have you got?
Go snowboarding and get a copy of Bread & Butter on Novembers whitelines otherwise you dont know what might happen.
General Questionnaire
What are your other interests?
Skateboarding, Mechanical Engineering Degree was quite interesting, Movies, Filming, Surfing is amazing and soon my new Laptop.
Where would you like to see yourself in the future?
In a massive Chalet somewhere in Alaska waiting for it to stop snowing so i can go cruise on my 190 fish tail and fly my helicopter about, all because I invented this thing thats gona make me loads of money that I cant tell you about incase you steel my idea.
Backside 540 Stale
From Mark's Action Gallery.
Realistically, what will you be doing in the future?
making millions on my amazing Idea that I cant tell you about. Oil.
Who are your idols?
My dad. He worked so hard to get where he wanted to be, its shown me that thats what you have to do if you really want something or to be somewhere.(like spending 8 months of the year snowboarding)
What music are you into?
I love Metal, also stuff, Distillers, cheesy punk bands, The swinging Utters, dark hip hop, not that glossy bling bling rubbish, DJ Shadow, RJD2,Kings of Leon, there wicked, Pendulum!!! Katie perry? but my favourite at the moment is the tearoom soundtrack, Bread & Butter.
What's your favourite book?
"A Short History of Nealy Everthing" by Bill Bryson although im a really slow reader so they may need to write another one by the time im finished or Bringing down the house.
What's your favourite film?
Ferris Bulers Day Off and Bread & Butter
What's your favourite quote?
"Motha F*!^+n, Im gona F&%$"n Hit Myself Soon" Jon Weaver, Hungerpain
Best cocktail, shot or drink?
JD and coke or tequila
What's your most prized possession?
My Kia, I love it more than life itself, Id give up my girl for it!
Thanks to:
mum and dad, Ian@Urbanology for all your help over the years, Rich and Paul Lane, Weaver and Josh for being quality mates for years, Martin Addison RIP, All the Tignes crew from over the years, Henry Jackson, TC, Tom Elliot, Maryhofen homies, Dom and Cambell from Uni life, all the good people I've met through snowboarding and Jack Daniels for a fine tipple.
Anything else you want to say?
Bread & Butter, go get it, watch it, enjoy it, be inspired. www.tearoomproductions.com Bataleon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah for it!!
Mark's Results/ Achievements...
Year | Event | Discipline | Category | Position |
| 2008 | Wangle Tangle, Mayrhofen | Photo comp | Team UK | 1st |
| 2008 | Oakley Jib Vid | Video | Team Dalikfodda | 4th |
| 2007 | British Championships, Laax | Big Air | Seniour Men | 6th |
| 2006 | Protest Jib Vid | Video | - | 3rd |
| 2004 | Nevis Range Snowsports Scotland | Big Air | Senior Men | 1st |
| 2004 | Nevis Range Snowsports Scotland | Slopestyle | Senior Men | 2nd |
| 2004 | Headworx Highland Fling, Avimore | Slopestyle | Senior Men | 2nd |
| 2003 | British Indoor Championships, Castleford | Big Air | Senior Men | 6th |
| 2000 | British Championships, Mayrhofen | Big Air | Youth Men | 4th |
DalikfoddaBataleon Snowboards
