March 11, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Chas Guldemond: Serious about fun

by Marty Basch/

Chas Guldemond grew up in Laconia, N.H., and has his sights set on the U.S. Open. (photo: Ninja)

Chas Guldemond grew up in Laconia, N.H., and has his sights set on the U.S. Open. (photo: Ninja)

Chas Guldemond is serious about having fun. The 21-year-old pro snowboarder who grew up in Laconia, N.H., and attended Waterville Valley Academy is having that, and more.

Just this season, he's traveled around the world. As the 27th annual US Open Snowboarding Championships approach March 16-22 at southern Vermont's Stratton Mountain with Olympic riders such as Shaun White, Kelly Clark and Hannah Teter and Olympic hopefuls including Kevin Pearce, Ellery Hollingsworth and Charles Reid expected in the house, the goofy-footed rider is first on the Burton Global World Tour and second on the TTR World Tour. The Global Tour is serious business, as snowboarders compete at international events and a cool 100 grand goes to the top male and female finishers.

Turning 22 in April, Guldemond took third in slopestyle at the Northstar stop of the Winter Dew Tour, fourth in slopestyle at the Winter X Games and second in the Nissan X Trail Jam Quarterpipe.

"I snowboard because I love it," Guldemond said on the phone from California's Northstar-at-Tahoe, where he now lives and trains. "Every kid that is a good snowboarder has to have fun. All the sponsorship and money, that's superficial. It is all about having fun. When the opportunity comes, you take it."

Guldemond is quick to thank his parents, Paul and Cindy, and his former Waterville Valley Academy coach Bill Enos for grooming his way to snowboarding success.

"I grew up around a lot of people who wanted to ride for fun," he said. "There was a good vibe there (in New Hampshire). I learned to ride in various conditions and was super fortunate to have my parents send me to Waterville where they have the best coach in the world, Bill Enos."

Enos is a former U.S. Snowboard Team member and current snowboard program director and head coach for the Academy's Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers Ski Club.

"Chas has always been a little hyper," Enos said. "He works his butt off. He has a great work ethic from his parents and never had a bad attitude towards competition, or a jump or a day. He's just a positive kid."

Guldemond says he is focused on slopestyle.

"My mind is set on slopestyle and then halfpipe," he said. "Most of my preparation goes into slopestyle, and halfpipe is the icing on the cake."

Guldemond started snowboarding at age 9 and found himself on the podium at the 2006 US Open in a second-place slopestyle finish next to Shaun White. The next season he won the Australian Open.

The only pressure Guldemond feels is the pressure he puts on himself. He takes his riding one day at a time.

"Every time I get into a contest I want to win," he said. "I want to put down the best run I can and have fun."

But no matter how high he goes over the snow, he always remains rooted in the Granite State.

"My parents and the people I grew up with molded me into who I am," Guldemond said. "I'm an appreciative person. I feel like my life is a blessing."

And a whole lot of fun.

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