During the Winter of 2003-2004, I decided to volunteer my time at Mt. High to get a season pass instead of buying one. I worked for USASA (USA Snowboard Association) helping to coordinate all of the competitions that were held at Mt. High. Throughout the season I got to spend a lot of time with Chuck and had a lot of great conversations. I was at a turning point in my life and knew I wanted to go out into the world and do big things, but had just started a stable career and had never left home. Chuck would tell me how young I was, how much time and opportunity I had , stories of all of the things he's done and risks he's taken... good advice that he heard. Shortly after that season, I moved to Mammoth Lakes and we emailed back and forth for the few months that I was there. As the years have passed, he would pop into my head every now and then and I would think about emailing him again, but never did. I thought that I would cross paths with him again if I ever went to ride at Mt. High.
I googled his name when I got home to see when and how he died. He passed on February 14 from complications from a lung illness. I learned that he was co founder of NSSA (National Scholastic Surf Association) and founder of USASA. I didn't know he was the actual founder of USASA...how amazing that I once had a relationship to an innovator in the industry. For all of our future Olympians and Xgames competitors, USASA is the gateway to get there. It is where riders like Shawn White, Hannah Teter, and Kelly Clark got their start. This hits home for me because Tarl's and my future children will most likely be competing in these weekend events, and I knew the man who made it possible.
