Adam Venanzi

Denver, CO

Roughly 20-years ago I was introduced to snowboarding and I knew instantaneously, this is for me.  Although it was a bit of a struggle getting to the mountains from where I grew up in New Jersey, I made every effort to get my parents to drive me.  Their rules included no flips, spins, big airs and of course, no getting hurt.  I’m pretty sure I broke every single one of those rules, almost immediately. 

Year-over-year, I find myself pushing harder to reach new heights and taking the route less traveled.  This past season I skinned up Quandary Peak, here in Colorado with a few friends and had one of the best runs of my life.  Although it was an amazing run, we found ourselves completely lost in the backcountry as the slope began leveling out.  No foot or ski tracks to be seen anywhere around us except for our own.  About an hour and a half later, dehydrated and sunburned, we finally found our way, but it sure was one of the most challenging mountain adventures I’ve ever been on.  This is not the first, and certainly not the last time getting lost on the mountain has happened, as I tend to gravitate towards untracked POW lines and simply Give'r.

Whether I’m out hiking with my wife and two Australian Shepherds on the weekend or getting first tracks in the backcountry or at the resorts, I live my life to the fullest and Give’r all I got.  Get outside, enjoy nature and always challenge yourself to go bigger and be the best you can be.