Spencer O'Brien
Spencer O’Brien
An interview by Laura Lynn Murphey
Full name: Spencer O'Brien
Nickname: Sko
Birthday w/ year: February.2nd, 1988
Hometown: Courtenay, BC
Current residence: Whistler, BC
Parents names: Brian O'Brien and Dixie Johnston
Siblings: Meghann and Avis O'Brien
High school: with honors!
College: negative
Degree: hah!
Sponsors: Burton, Dragon, etnies, Vestal, Coastal Riders
Years snowboarding: 10
Other action sports that you participate in: attempting to surf.
How did you start snowboarding? Both of my older sisters did it, so eventually it was my turn to learn.
What is your proudest moment in snowboarding? Winning Transworlds Rookie of the Year.
Who do you look up to? Inspiration? Too many people inspire me to name just one.
Worst injury: Fractured and dislocated shoulder.
Close call: Almost needing surgery for my shoulder.
Favorite spot to ride: Whistler/Blackcomb and Breck/Keystone,
Dream trip: Alaska with Victoria one day, when that place doesn't scare me silly.
What would you tell girls who are curious about learning to snowboard? It's really fun, so they should all probably try it out.
Favorite etnies Shoe(s): Callicut, Benzy, Fakie
Other etnies riders you keep in touch with: Marie France Roy, Leanne Pelosi and the BEV!
FAVORITES
Color: Black
Food: Sushi
Smell: Lavender
Place: Vancouver
Animal: my cat spike and keita baby
Love: snowboarding, boy, books, my cat spike.
Hate: spiders, needles and airports
Need: a car and a place to live.
Want: a car and a place to live...maybe some cold stone too.
Top 5 bands:
1.) The Smiths
2.) Modest Mouse
3.) MIA
4.) Bob Dylan
5.) Tegan and Sara
Currently listening to:
1.) MIA
2.) Girl Talk
3.) Moldy Peaches
The most recent band you saw live: MIA at the commodore. She's basically amazing and I'd probably trade lives with her if I could.
If you could have any song for a video part, what would it be? Like a Virgin by Madonna. My first promo video was to that when I was 14. I'm not even sure if I understood the song at the time.
Biggest fear: Spiders.
Happiest moment: not sure, too many.
5 Things you want to do before death:
1.) Go back to school
2.) Travel without my snowboard bag
3.) Marriage, kids.
4.) Conquer my fear of spiders...probably by making them extinct
5.) Learn to speak another language.
If you could only have one wish come true tomorrow what would it be? Wishing for more wishes doesn’t count. To be on a tropical beach with my boy right....NOW!
Have you ever volunteered for or supported a charity or a noble cause? I've worked a big with Burton's Chill program, but that's it. I'd like to do more in the future.
If you could dedicate your entire life to supporting a charitable cause, what would it be? I'd have to look into it a bit more.
Do you do anything in your daily life that is considered GREEN? I recycle. I fly and travel so much and own a snowmobile. The earth basically hates me.
If you could be anyone else in the world for one day, who would you be? Someone in a third world country. I can only imagine how much you would learn and how much perspective you'd gain from living in poverty for just one day.
What do you think you will do after you are done snowboarding? Travel and then go back to school.
I hear you know a lot about fish, why is that? My dad's a commercial salmon fisherman, so I know quite a bit about that end of things. My best advice, don't eat farmed fish. So gross.
