Interview by Tom Kingsnorth (@tomkingsnorth)
Photos by Tyler Ravelle (@tyler_ravelle)

Where are you from, and what came first for you: snowboarding or photography?
My name is Tyler Ravelle, and I'm from the west coast of Canada. I was born in Vancouver. Snowboarding came first for me; my dad got me a snowboard so I could basically hang out with him when I was about six or seven, and the rest is history. I started skateboarding and snowboarding and diving into this culture as young as I could, mostly through magazines.

What’s your history in the world of board sports?
Growing up, I was surrounded by skateboarding and snowboarding, so many VHSs, DVDs, and magazines I couldn't get enough of skate and snow life. That quickly shaped who I was, even as a pre-teen.

How did you get into photography?
I got into photography because I was skating a lot in the summer with my friends at the skate park. One of my friends, Blake, was a filmmaker, and I wanted to hang with those guys more, so I got into shooting photos of skateboarding in high school. Then we'd bring my camera on Ski Club trips and go shoot in the park. I would do contests, and when I wasn't doing contests, I tried to create my own content by shooting me and my friends snowboarding.

How did you get into snowboarding?
I got into snowboarding because my dad was always trying to have the most fun possible with me. I would say I was probably his best friend. Since I was a kid, I was always down to go riding or go to Whistler, and it quickly became the thing we shared the most together. I made most of my good friends in life now still through snowboarding and that community.

Can you describe your style of photography?
I'd say my style is a little bit more raw and real. Shooting moments between action shots gets me really stoked, the portraits, landscapes, moments between the action. I would also describe myself as being quite dynamic. Sometimes I love getting weird with flashes in the studio or bringing the studio outdoors. I have a mix of contemporary and new-age photography.

What's the upside of being a photographer?
The upside of being a photographer is how you see the world. You see every sunset as an opportunity to slow down, the way you see landscapes, you kind of slow down to document it. The best part is the people it attracts, the athletes, creatives, people in marketing. Anyone I've met along this way has made this journey beautiful. The friendships and relationships are now the best part of being a photographer.

What’s the downside?
The downside is sometimes waiting over a year to get paid for projects. And also, always wanting to shoot and achieve the next thing in this creative life, it's sometimes hard for me to slow down.

What's the best advice you've ever received?
From my grandma: “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” When I'm stressed about small things, I remind myself there are bigger things at play and to romanticize life and have the most fun possible.

What's the worst?
To not try to do it all. Many people stay really niched, but I enjoy shooting all aspects of life and the in-between moments, more than just action sports. Don’t be afraid to spread your wings.

Does photography pay the bills, or do you also have other jobs?
Photography has been my full-time job for five years, and I worked up to that point. Before that, it was a struggle to pay bills. If I had to buy a lens because I broke something, it would be the end of the world. But many clients now see the value of what I do, and the clients and athletes I work with have my back. I’ve been able to make a living, save a little, and buy new camera gear. Never in a million years did I think it would have worked out like this, but I'm happy it did. Before this, I used to drill for oil in the winter, run excavators, and put ship pipes in the ground. I've paid my dues while supplementing photography to get here, and I'm thankful it happened.

Did you go to school for photography?
I am a YouTube schooler. No formal training, just real-world experience and trial and error. I almost went to school for law, I got a scholarship, but I chose to stay in Whistler and be a snowboarder and chase that dream instead. School doesn’t matter to me, right now it’s the time where you can learn business and creative skills with enough grit and grind. The mentality I had when I was drilling for oil, working 12 hours a day, commuting an hour and a half each way, basically 14 and a half hours of work every day. If I put that time and energy into learning and applying skills by pitching, building decks, and improving photography. If I failed after doing that for 14 hours a day, I’m basically an idiot, because that’s so much output towards photography that you should be able to make it happen.

What got you hooked on snowboarding, and how did this passion evolve over the years?
Like any kid, I remember being in the park and seeing all the cool jibbers and jumpers ride Forum boards. I was so into that team. That was how it evolved from being a kid to a teenager and wanting to do contests and maybe be a professional snowboarder. Trying to get sponsors and improve motivated me. The Forum team and my friends always wanting to ride and shoot really motivated me.

What would your dream trip be to shoot, where are you going, and who are you bringing?
Alaska is my favorite place to shoot. I shot a cover with Spencer O’Brien there. She's one of my closest friends, so I'd go back to Alaska, go heli skiing. I would bring Spencer, my best friend Mason Mashon, young gun Sean Miskiman, and Miles Fallon. That’ll be my little AK crew, and it'll be entertaining to watch Miles flirt with Spencer when we're not riding. So, I'd be stoked on that.

What's your perspective on the role of photography and snowboarding in promoting self-expression and individuality? How have these activities allowed you to express yourself in unique ways?
Photography will always hold a place in my heart. Growing up, magazines would surround my room, and I couldn't get enough of these still images, looking up to photographers like Scott Serfas and wondering how they did it. The way you shoot is a way of promoting who you are and how you feel in that moment, how you work with your blues and whites and your shadows and highlights. Seasons of heartbreak show dark and gritty work; seasons of being in love are brighter and more positive. It’s cool that you can show the rider's feelings and style, but also your own creative perspective.

What does your life look like nowadays?
My life looks busy these days, more than I could have imagined. Summertime, I shoot moto bike, skate, surf, and work with brands like KTM, Red Bull, and Oakley. Winter months are chasing snowboarding, sometimes skiing, and spending time on snowboards, split boards and in heli’s. Looking back at 13-year-old me, this is beyond a dream. It’s important to remind myself of that, and even as we do this interview, it’s a beautiful reminder of how beautiful life is.

What inspires you these days, inside and outside of snowboarding?
The creative community inside and outside snowboarding inspires me. There’s no limit to how you edit, see things, shoot, or use light and flashes. Inspiration comes from people I admire. I try to limit phone time and soak up the good stuff.

What does “style” mean to you?
Style is the signature of who you are, your imagery, snowboarding, and how you carry yourself. My photo style is clean; my riding style is gritty. I’ve worked on developing a style with my blues, whites, and shadows to make things pop so people can recognize my work.

Do you plan your work, or is your style spontaneous?
It's a mix of both. Favourite images often come from last-minute trips to Tahiti, Japan, or Alaska. Planning sometimes helps pay for trips. Specific pieces and passion projects show capabilities; spontaneous work shows creativity

Favourite photographers right now?
Number one is Mason Mashon, my best buddy, a friend and mentor willing to share knowledge. Oli Gagnon also inspires me, especially with film, though he might not know I exist.

What's next for Tyler Ravelle?
Deepening relationships with the land and the people I surround myself with, being intentional with how I shoot and who I spend time with, pushing creativity with light, flash, and new environments. I’m grateful for brands and people trusting me to tell stories through my eyes. Thanks Tom, and thanks Mother Earth for such a beautiful playground.

This article was originally published as the intro of Pleasure #158. For the complete reading experience, with more photos and the unmatched feel of a print magazine, order your copy of the magazine here, or even better, support print by becoming a subscriber!

Pleasure #158

€12.90

On the Cover: Justin Phipps, Shot by Liam Glass

In the Mag: A conversation with Yanneck Konda, Justin Phipps Youngblood, Tyler Ravelle Gallery, Riding Ripples: Manuel Diaz by Mariano Gibert, Armada Snowboards: From Prototypes to Production, Rome Snowboards: Roadside Attractions, Industry People: Ryu Atobe, Events: Banked Bakony

This is it, our first winter of Pleasure Mag done and dusted.

While all of our new crew has worked on every issue that has come out since October, the former team still played a major role in finding and issuing content for this volume of magazines, and with that, left behind a much-appreciated framework for us all to learn the ropes. Thank you for that, Tom, Stefan & Lisa.

In a conversation with former Managing Editor Stefan, he told Veroniqi and me that this season of mags would be one of survival for us, that we should roll with the punches and learn as much as we could in the process. Oh, and there were punches, that’s for sure: late-night proofreading sessions, missing images, last-second cover changes, communication issues, e-mails getting lost in the abyss, the list goes on – But we somehow made it through to the other side.

What a season it’s been. Brands surprisingly going under, others popping up, our goggle-strap-over-helmet-wearing friends going on the big conquest for FIS-governed glory, while smaller grassroots events are flourishing once more. It’s an interesting time to care about snowboarding. There’s so much going on, both inside and outside of this little bubble most of us hold so dear. It can be confusing at times, but in the end, it’s just snowboarding. How you make sense of it, what importance you give to it, and how you approach it - it’s all yours.

That being said, it’s been a fantastic ride so far, figuring out how to do things, what we want to do, and what to avoid, and what voice we want this magazine to take in the future. After all this trial and error, everyone is now eager to fully take over the steering wheel of this ship that was previously still sailing a predetermined course. But enough of that, just keep your eyes peeled for what’s hitting your mailbox right around the time you’ll be feeling the itch for some turns coming back for the first time after a long, hot summer.

With the cold months having passed, it’s now finally time to reap the benefits of spring. Sun, slush, and smiles all over. And while there certainly will be some melancholy attached to the mountains once again losing their mysterious white cloth, just don’t forget that every ending also marks a new beginning.

Can’t wait to see you all hotlapping <3

– Alex

P.S. Never hesitate to use that sunscreen your friend is offering you!

Language:

FROM THE MAG: Tyler Ravelle Gallery

FROM THE MAG: Yanneck Konda Interview